Switching from Direct to Dish

chipvee

Well-Known SatelliteGuys Member
Feb 19, 2006
29
0
Hi, I have been a Directv customer for 3 years and started to have some issues with them so I am switching to Dish. I have 2 HDTV's and 2 SD TV's. Is there anything that I should know before they install. Is there anything I should ask for before installation. I have an appointment scheduled for December 28. I would appreciate any input. Thanks, Chip
 

dwarren2

SatelliteGuys Pro
Pub Member / Supporter
Oct 30, 2003
4,076
287
Rochester, NY Region
I would recommend getting 2 722 series receivers. If they are 722k's get the ota module if you have a home antenna. That gives you 2 sat tuners and 2 ota tuners for each receiver. The 722 outputs hd to the TV1 output and down converted sd to the TV2 output. The first receiver is included in the base cost per month. The 2nd being a duo is $17/mo. If you sign up for bill-less auto pay you get free HD for Life.
 

mdavej

SatelliteGuys Pro
Sep 19, 2010
971
47
Southeast
Also get a free (after rebate) sling adapter if that promo is still going on.

You may also want to scope out alternate locations for your dish just in case you don't have LOS from your old dish location.
 

oldengineer

SatelliteGuys Master
Lifetime Supporter
May 14, 2011
5,684
1,964
Lower Macungie Township, PA
I switched 2weeks ago after being with D* for 4 years. I swapped an HR-21 and HR-24 for a Vip722k and a Vip 612. The 612 is $7 a month less than the 722 and does have RCA and cable video outputs so if you can connect one of your sd tvs you can save some bucks. Like D* receivers you can only watch the same show on both with the 612. The cable output eliminates the need for an RF modulator that you needed with D* if you do use the non HDMI tv outs.

I'm happy with E* so far. Both receivers are very fast compared to D* although the new GUI is supposed to help them. I think you'll like the 7 channel X 2.5 hr E* guide better than D*. There is a problem with the E* guide though. It lists shows on FX, for example, that start and end a minute late as starting on the 1/2 hr and if you don't add time the ending of those shows you'll miss the endline. I missed the end of Its Always Sunny and the new Beavis and Butthead this week.
 

R0ss

SatelliteGuys Pro
Nov 14, 2009
821
2
Ayer, Ma
oldengineer said:
There is a problem with the E* guide though. It lists shows on FX, for example, that start and end a minute late as starting on the 1/2 hr and if you don't add time the ending of those shows you'll miss the endline. I missed the end of Its Always Sunny and the new Beavis and Butthead this week.

This is a network issue. It happens on abc nbc cbs and fox as well. IMHO I think this is done tomake it less attractive to time shift.

Ross

Sent from my rooted DROIDX (Liberty Gingerbread) using SatelliteGuys
 

dwarren2

SatelliteGuys Pro
Pub Member / Supporter
Oct 30, 2003
4,076
287
Rochester, NY Region
This is a network issue. It happens on abc nbc cbs and fox as well. IMHO I think this is done tomake it less attractive to time shift.

Never saw oldengineer's post. But the problem occurs when there is no commercial break between shows. There is a time lag due to the up and down links and processing at the earth station. I see this when I compare the ota signal of my locals to the dish feed.
 

oldengineer

SatelliteGuys Master
Lifetime Supporter
May 14, 2011
5,684
1,964
Lower Macungie Township, PA
This is a network issue. It happens on abc nbc cbs and fox as well. IMHO I think this is done tomake it less attractive to time shift.

Ross

Sent from my rooted DROIDX (Liberty Gingerbread) using SatelliteGuys

I agree that some networks deliberately start programs a minute or 2 late, maybe to confuse DVRs. I was trying to make the point that the guide service that D* uses actually lists the late times pretty accurately so most recordings don't have to be modified. Their guide for FX will show Always Sunny... as starting at 10:01 PM, while the E* guide shows it starting at 10:00 PM, so with E* I have to add a minute to the stop time.
 

Can I activate replacement VIP622 over web?

Dish messed me up

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