keith said:
Aha, what we users thought was a bug is really a feature! I have yet to see my 6000 interrupt the show to download guide info (except after a check switch or loss of signal), but then again, I never modified my usage pattern to circumvent the 811 "features" or accommodate the 6000.
Perhaps I am just lucky with the 6000 and unlucky with the 811.
Keith.
Keith it does it in chunks. Just slide to the right and you will hit it. The 6000 does not keep two days worth of guide info. It keeps a few hours. As for the guide the 811 getting guide info.
1) The 6000 keeps a minimum of guide info and gets the rest on demand as you scroll to the right. That is why you never see an acquiring guide info because it does not have to manage a lot. However, when you scroll to the right to see more guide info that is when you feel the pain and a lot of pain in my opinion (Previous 6000 owner). Also try Themes on the 6000 and you will soon appreciate what 2 day guide offers. Even in its current implemenation.
2) The 811 keeps a longer amount of guide info. I fully understand the argument that we should not see the 811 getting guide info and it should be transparent. I agree here and I think Dish needs to work on this algorithm a bit more.
3) The guide download after the aquiring signal is obvious a side effect of the acquiring signal. My guess is since it gets into the acquiring signal mode it is not sure the validity of the guide so it downloads a new one. The 6000 and the 811 both have the acquring signal bug.
4) I would agree that having that acquiring signal pop up when you press the guide followed by the downloading guide is very annoying. I hope they fix this one eventually and the downloading guide in this case would disappear. They way it looks to me is the bug is the acquring signal; downloading guide data following is an artificate of the bug. Could be wrong but that is my take on this one. I see it about once every 1 to 2 weeks.
I am not sure if you are making a point that the 6000 handles the guide better or not. Having owned both I would arguee even with the current implementation of the 811 and its guide issues that it is better than the 6000's implementation. What they need to add is lazy routine that runs in the background and updates the guide as it sees the information come through.
As for the 811 being a pile of crap.... Well we all have our opinions on that one.