St. Louis HD Locals

SHADO 1

SatelliteGuys Family
Original poster
Jun 4, 2006
45
0
St. louis
I called E* this morning inquiring about the HD locals and the need of one of the newer dishes. One CSR did tell me that there is as $59.00 charge for the dish, and that only the 4 major networks are transmitted. But I also got answers from other CSR's that locals are only on the 129 sat, so a new dish is not needed (WRONG), yes, the locals are on the 118.7 sat, but I don't qualify, and he could not tell me why (WRONG). So it's a matter of who you get. Later today after there system upgrades the info I'll try calling an account specialist and see what answer I get. I was told that the new dishes are in extremely short supply (where have I heard that one before---622---), and it may be a few weeks before anyone has them.
 
Any more info on this? Does STL truly have locals on HD? This is what I was waiting for to make the switch to a new HD box and over to the new HD packages. Up until now the 6000 was fine for HD as well as the cost.
 
The GOOD news...

Yes, they are available.

The BAD news...

They are on the 118.7 sat, so you need one of the newer dishes (500+ or 1000+) to get it.

The really BAD news...

None of those dishes are available yet, and from what I was told there is a charge for them.
 
Install tomorrow we'll see

Spent a good chunk of yesterday trying to uprgrade to HD with St. Louis Locals. No one I talked to indicated ther would be a problem with sat dishes. The last CSR I talked to I specifically said I need a 1000+ and had been told they were in short supply--he said they had plenty and set installation for tomorrow. I have no confidence that any of the people had a handle on what was going on. I just don't think they are given the right information and they have no flexability. Because of their policies the installer will have to run a lot of wire then in about a month redo most of what they have done. If my worst fears are realized tomorrow I will probably call Direct TV and investigate starting from scratch.
 
Good luck with your possible install. I called AT&T/DISH yesterday. They have no info about HD locals in Indianapolis and no clue if any new equipment would be needed to receive them. The tech I talked too had no idea what the 118.7 satelitte was. Go figure.
 
I called today 7/11 and they transfered me to tech support and she knew exactly what to do. She took off the locals and added them back, then scheduled me for an install on 7/20 with the Dish 500+. (Already have a dish pointing at 61.5) They did charge me $199.95 for the dish but did a credit to my account for $199.95 and the dish and install is free. Now I just have to wait for the install.
 
I am new to dish, about 1 1/2 weeks now. I went through a local retailer, and told them that I wanted the dish that would receive the new hd locals. He assured me they would install what I would need.
Well, yesterday I found out that I have dish 1000 and not the 1000+. Just called the dealer and they want $55 for the new dish. He said that they just found out yesterday about people needing the 1000+ for the hd locals.
Called the csr, she said that I have 90 day satisfaction guarantee and to call the dealer again for a free dish.
I think Ill try another csr and see if I can get it through them.
Anyone know how long the dish 1000+ has been out, the dealer told me that they came out yesterday?
 
Installed Tuesday

St. Louis HD Locals were installed Tuesday. There are a number of issues regarding HD and the 622 but for here I will confine it to locals. I have not had time to play around with the TV so this is prelimilary. I watch network TV, movies and some sports so the main reason for wanting HD was network TV. I thought all network HD would be in 16:9 format but apperantly not. Less then half what I recieve fills my 42" TV. Most is 4:3 and is annoying I don't like stretch and zoom cuts off too much. There Is some problems with pixalation but the installer did not even know that St. Louis locals were available and I'm not real comfortable that the install is correct. All the local channels are listed twice in the Guide even when it is set for "All HD" so I don't know what that is all about. Also they are listed in the five digit number format even though I changed the setting that is supposed to control that. I've read a lot about formats on this site and heard various things. Once and for all isn't all network TV in HD and shouldn't it be in 16:9 format. Thanks
 
In Local Channels not all programs are in HD format. Primetime TV is in HD and most Sporting events are in HD.
 
Clarification

I don't want to sound too negative because Dish has been great and most of the HD is awsome. Also audio optic connection on the 622 has made my home theatre sound system much better. As far as the aspect ratio I am talking about prime time network programing. Fox seems to be 16:9, most of ABC is 16:9 but audio frequently out of sync. ABC and CBS seems to be 4:3 but the picture quality seems to be HD. The Rock Star show (I think its on CBS) when set to normal was 4:3. I haven't had much time yet to watch TV but it seems but it seems that primetime ABC and CBS is coming accross in 4:3 format. Thanks
 
Should Not Assume

Interesting I went to CBS website and got a list of HD broadcasts. Tuesday the night of my install nothing was broadcast in HD on CBS. Last night only two shows were in HD. Seems all these reality shows are not HD--I can live with that. Guess I assumed all network primetime was HD. I will say the program description on the PG indicates HD when apperantly it is not. Kinda confusing.
 
well considering the fact that ABC in st. Louis is owned by Sinclair, I'm suprised that we even have them in SD let alone HD. But CBS suprises me, I thought that ch. 4 would be better would be better.
 
jhamps10 said:
well considering the fact that ABC in st. Louis is owned by Sinclair, I'm suprised that we even have them in SD let alone HD. But CBS suprises me, I thought that ch. 4 would be better would be better.

Better in what respect? They have some pretty good PQ already.
 
Whoops, I just realized that I bashed ch. 4, They DO have good PQ, even on a non-HD tv when I had cable in Maryland Heights, they had the HD feed of Fox, Cbs, and NBC.

All were pretty good IMO,

I meant to mention about Ch. 9, PBS, but I'm not sure that E* got them in HD yet. But then when they have 3 sub channels, no wonder why they have bad PQ.

Speaking of sub channels, does the sat have subchannels on it like weatherplus from Ch. 5?
 
Well I got a call from Dish today and they had to push back the install of the Dish 500+ due to not having enough dishes. They pushed the install back to August 3rd. They did offer a $20 credit due to the push back date, so not a bad deal. Free dish and install and a $20 credit. not bad even though I have to wait.
 
Jim:

I don't know if it makes you feel better or not; but I just got the "push back" call myself.

Arrrgggh... (expletive, expletive, expletive).

Ok, all better now. Dish botches yet another introduction.

Cheers,
 
I just love Dish's complete lack of anything resembling planning on this topic.

I am now getting my 2nd push back call of the day, to between August 1 and August 6.

Geeze, do you think they might be able to figure out when this will actually be available?
 
I received my new dish on Friday 8/4 and have good picture quality on the St. Louis HD locals. The installer was great. He did not know much about the new dish and I gave him the installtion information for my settings but he did do a great job. He did put up the 1000+ and take down my 61.5 satellite even though dish was only going to put up the 500+. I have good strength on all 4 satellites. The installer even called my house Sunday morning to check to make sure everything was still working and to let me know that he had other installers calling for the information I gave him to set up the dish.
 
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