Hoopla about whole house DVR

[Tampa8]

I am having a hard time understanding what the big difference is between what Direct TV offers, and Dish regarding whole home. I understand Dish doesn't advertise it as such, but to me, they have a very reasonable alternative. I am directing this more to those that just have to have what Direct offers or might consider leaving Dish, or are so very upset by the time frame for it.

Direct - At least one DVR needed. If others are not a DVR you cannot pause etc.. live shows, but you could record them then be able to do the tricks. Add other DVR's and you can do everything. Of course in each case, you can "see" the home DVR and watch or record anything from it or to it. You can pause in one room, continue in another.

Dish - At least two DVR's, at least one EHD. You can record in one room, then watch it in another. If you are watching in one room, you can walk to the other and continue watching it. True you can not pause and pick up from that point, but how often is that such a big deal? Other than movies, wait for a commercial then go to the other room. OR, put the other receiver on that channel before hand.
You also get the added benefit of archiving should you decide on keeping the program. I have two identical EHD's (a third one not the same) that way all I do is keep the connections (power and to the receiver) in place and simply swap EHD's when I want to.

I certainly realize it is not quite as convenient, though you do have the archiving available while doing it. But my point is, this will work quite well, enough that it makes me wonder how it is that some can not live with that solution for now? What am I missing? I have left one room, gone to another and turned on the receiver to the program I was watching for years! Lol
Again, the whole house solution can be slick if done right, but really, how much better is it than what we can do now?

 

[3HaloODST]

I agree with your post. Though some will call you a "fan boy" for thinking such.

 

[mfoster711]

Dish....You can record in one room, then watch it in another. If you are watching in one room, you can walk to the other and continue watching it.

Not in HD! It's that simple.

 

[pabeader]

why not?

 

[DishSubLA]

The masses want to be able to press a button and get have access to all their recordings without investing in an EHD--they don't even know what the is--and mess about bending down to plug the EHD to archive, wait several minutes, then bend down again to disconnect, then go to the other room, bend down again, connect it, etc., and they don't even have the "techie" skills to do just those seemingly simple steps. The masses aren't going for the archived route.

The XiP 813 is exactly what the techie challenged masses have been waiting for. The installer install the boxes and thin client and THAT's IT! Now they have 3 tuners on the network and all the content in HD from any TV connected to the thin client with ALL trick play and PIP (confirmed by Scott). Want more tuners? Another 813 can be installed to easily and seamlessly connect to the network and now one has 6 tuners on the network accessible from all the TV's and all content on the 2nd 813 is also on the network. All Joe Blow has to do is press a few buttons on his remote that any monkey can do and no overwhelming complexity to people who haven't a clue what to do with an external HDD. It is an elegant situation that I think is going to be the biggest things since Dish introduced it's DVR's and for the very same reason of simplicity and elegance and NO TECH knowledge required.

 

[Tampa8]

Not in HD! It's that simple.

Re read my post, you most cerainly can. It's that simple.

 

[3HaloODST]

Since we're talking about the masses... Hell the masses don't have DVRs and they're just now getting HD...

 

[Tampa8]

The masses aren't going for the archived route.

The XiP 813 is exactly what the techie challenged masses have been waiting for.

I am not sure I agree about not going for the archived route, it seems to me that has been a huge hit for those who know about it.
When you say the techie challenged want the easy way, I most certainly agree. But my premise is why are those who come here to post, who for the most part are very capable of using the EHD, up in arms that if Dish doesn't get this soon they will look to Direct TV. If you are saying they are just too lazy, that may be true, and sad.

3HaloODST has a point, but Dish and Direct are heavy into DVR's for a long time, before HD so I'm guessing alot of their cusomers do have at least one DVR.

 

[jimdandyvi]

While the 813 is an interesting concept, the downsides as I see it are you have no TV anywhere if the 813 craps out unless you can switch to OTA without needing a receiver.

The second potential problem is the complexity of trouble shooting the system is there is a problem. Just power cycling the 813 receiver, the 110s, the plug in USB OTA tunners, EHD, checking for loose connections and/or damaged cables would be a project. I know my wife wouldn't or couldn't do it.

If I was out of town and the 813 glitched and my wife couldn't watch TV anyplace while I was gone that would be the end of Dish in our home and/or depending on what she missed on TV our marriage.

Jim

 

[KAB]

While the 813 is an interesting concept, the downsides as I see it are you have no TV anywhere if the 813 craps out unless you can switch to OTA without needing a receiver.

The second potential problem is the complexity of trouble shooting the system is there is a problem. Just power cycling the 813 receiver, the 110s, the plug in USB OTA tunners, EHD, checking for loose connections and/or damaged cables would be a project. I know my wife wouldn't or couldn't do it.

If I was out of town and the 813 glitched and my wife couldn't watch TV anyplace while I was gone that would be the end of Dish in our home and/or depending on what she missed on TV our marriage.

Jim

Not much of a marriage if a tech glitch would threaten it. Or, are you just being dramatic?

 

[englishtycoon]

While the 813 is an interesting concept, the downsides as I see it are you have no TV anywhere if the 813 craps out unless you can switch to OTA without needing a receiver.

The second potential problem is the complexity of trouble shooting the system is there is a problem. Just power cycling the 813 receiver, the 110s, the plug in USB OTA tunners, EHD, checking for loose connections and/or damaged cables would be a project. I know my wife wouldn't or couldn't do it.

If I was out of town and the 813 glitched and my wife couldn't watch TV anyplace while I was gone that would be the end of Dish in our home and/or depending on what she missed on TV our marriage.

Jim

Your in the Caribbean, your wife can't go without TV for a couple of days. just premix some Buskwackers before you leave.

 

[empiretc]

I am having a hard time understanding what the big difference is between what Direct TV offers, and Dish regarding whole home. I understand Dish doesn't advertise it as such, but to me, they have a very reasonable alternative. I am directing this more to those that just have to have what Direct offers or might consider leaving Dish, or are so very upset by the time frame for it.

Direct - At least one DVR needed. If others are not a DVR you cannot pause etc.. live shows, but you could record them then be able to do the tricks. Add other DVR's and you can do everything. Of course in each case, you can "see" the home DVR and watch or record anything from it or to it. You can pause in one room, continue in another.

Dish - At least two DVR's, at least one EHD. You can record in one room, then watch it in another. If you are watching in one room, you can walk to the other and continue watching it. True you can not pause and pick up from that point, but how often is that such a big deal? Other than movies, wait for a commercial then go to the other room. OR, put the other receiver on that channel before hand.
You also get the added benefit of archiving should you decide on keeping the program. I have two identical EHD's (a third one not the same) that way all I do is keep the connections (power and to the receiver) in place and simply swap EHD's when I want to.

I certainly realize it is not quite as convenient, though you do have the archiving available while doing it. But my point is, this will work quite well, enough that it makes me wonder how it is that some can not live with that solution for now? What am I missing? I have left one room, gone to another and turned on the receiver to the program I was watching for years! Lol
Again, the whole house solution can be slick if done right, but really, how much better is it than what we can do now?

sneaker-net!!! it dominated before ethernet!!

you have a valid point with the EHD, though. if it is so critical to people, they can do the whole home distribution via TV1 hdmi/component connections for their HD-MRV needs. however, this will take some time and cost some money. that is probably the biggest thing about it considering they can just call D* and have everything installed and setup for them (free in most cases)...

 

[powerhouse1960]

Dish Mrv carry your TV and Dvr to the room you want to watch it
Now that's Tv everywhere

 

[mdram]

the only issue i can think of wiht your original post is your apples to oranges
put 2 dvrs in each system and both can pause at the locations

true you cant carry an ehd around, and cant archive, but you get the trick stuff both places
thats more of a fair comparison

the only 2 things i would like to see added is the archiving, but i never use it
and the ability for the tuners to seek out one that is free to record

 

[jimdandyvi]

She prefers rum punch or wine.

Did without TV for six weeks in 2008 when hurricane Omar blew a lot of poles down. Electric utility had all their poles reset and power restored within ten days. Inept CATV provider took six weeks to rehang their plant. That is why I now have Dish. All I have to do is remount the reflector when the wind dies down and start my generator and I am good to go.

Wife is not into gadgets, has no patience wants everything very simple. I had a home theater system set up but somehow she would get things screwed up and have pictures but no sound. Just one of many failed experiments. She doesn't even use the Dish remote to change program sources. Gets up walks to TV and pushes buttons to get DVD as input. Never uses the DVR function other than to pause live TV. I record some shows for her so she has something to watch when I have a game on.

While my wife may be in the minority about wanting the greatest technology vs simplicity I would guess that there are lots of Dish's 14 million subs also want it simple and as cheap as possible. Does anyone know how many Dish subscribers opted for the 922, Google TV, Sling adapters? Can the 813 & 110 receivers be made bullet proof enough they will function in a household with a Luddite wife and a bunch of kids who randomly press buttons? What happens when the kids decide to record every carton shown everyday for ever so there is no room on the HD for something you want?

Jim

 

[KAB]

What happens when the kids decide to record every carton shown everyday for ever so there is no room on the HD for something you want?

Jim

That's what EHDs are for.

 

[yaz96]

Since we're talking about the masses... Hell the masses don't have DVRs and they're just now getting HD...

Is your head in a hole in the ground?

 

[yaz96]

I am having a hard time understanding what the big difference is between what Direct TV offers, and Dish regarding whole home. I understand Dish doesn't advertise it as such, but to me, they have a very reasonable alternative. I am directing this more to those that just have to have what Direct offers or might consider leaving Dish, or are so very upset by the time frame for it.

Direct - At least one DVR needed. If others are not a DVR you cannot pause etc.. live shows, but you could record them then be able to do the tricks. Add other DVR's and you can do everything. Of course in each case, you can "see" the home DVR and watch or record anything from it or to it. You can pause in one room, continue in another.

Dish - At least two DVR's, at least one EHD. You can record in one room, then watch it in another. If you are watching in one room, you can walk to the other and continue watching it. True you can not pause and pick up from that point, but how often is that such a big deal? Other than movies, wait for a commercial then go to the other room. OR, put the other receiver on that channel before hand.
You also get the added benefit of archiving should you decide on keeping the program. I have two identical EHD's (a third one not the same) that way all I do is keep the connections (power and to the receiver) in place and simply swap EHD's when I want to.

I certainly realize it is not quite as convenient, though you do have the archiving available while doing it. But my point is, this will work quite well, enough that it makes me wonder how it is that some can not live with that solution for now? What am I missing? I have left one room, gone to another and turned on the receiver to the program I was watching for years! Lol
Again, the whole house solution can be slick if done right, but really, how much better is it than what we can do now?

In other words, you are not a consumer that sees or has a need, or a desire, for a Total Home viewing solution. Good for you!

You transfer your recordings to and walk your EHD's to your other rooms(plugging and unplugging of course, as well as waiting for the receiver to recognize the EHD) , while others will comfortably watch their shows in whatever room they want, without having to go in before-hand and change the channel, or worry about missing some of their show.

 

[Scherrman]

You would think that almost everyone has a DVR but Dish said only 30 some percent of it's customers have a DVR. I was very surprised.

 

[MikeD-C05]

You would think that almost everyone has a DVR but Dish said only 30 some percent of it's customers have a DVR. I was very surprised.

Considering that DISH has has had a pvr or dvr since August of 99 , that is very low numbers in dvr penetration. Of course if DISH didn't have so many different versions of their receivers, they might have consolidated down to one standard dvr by now and they could of added more to their sub base.