Technology Jewel in a Pig's Snout

[jzoomer]

I look at Echostar as being a leader in technology when compared with Directv. Now before you start laughing hear me out.

Look at the things Echostar has done in the area of technology:
1. First to demonstrate a dual tuner PVR
2. First to demonstrate a HD dual tuner box
3. First to switch to a 8PSK technology to get bandwidth needed for more HDTV

That is a pretty impressive list. The real trouble is that Echostar does not execute well to turn this into an advantage for them.

If you look at HDTV right now, I think that Echostar has a better road map than Directv. By switching to 8PSK technology, Echostar should be able to trump Directv in the amount of HDTV content that they can provide. Directv has no plan in this area nor are their HDTV boxes upgradeable. But then there is the problem of execution.

I have a DISH 6000 receiver that represents the state of the art of 2.5 years ago. There has been an 8PSK upgrade available but the rest of the box is an antique. I looked at a friend’s Samsung 160 receiver and it was impressive. It had big advantages over the 6000:
1. Impressive guide with picture and menus
2. DVI/HDCP connections
3. 8VSB OTA tuner that has superior multi-path rejection. (The 6000 OTA is a piece of junk)
4. Program guide for OTA stations is actually part of the Directv guide. There is actual information their instead of the words LOCAL DIGITAL CHANNEL.

I would jump to Directv but then you have to realize that Directv has less channels of DHTV than Echostar and no roadmap that would indicate that they could add more. Still, the 6000 is an antique and the prospects for a refresh anytime soon are limited. That’s why I was hoping the merger would happen. We need the execution ability of Directv with the road map of Echostar.

[Karl Foster]

Originally posted by jzoomer
I look at Echostar as being a leader in technology when compared with Directv. Now before you start laughing hear me out.

Look at the things Echostar has done in the area of technology:
1. First to demonstrate a dual tuner PVR
2. First to demonstrate a HD dual tuner box
3. First to switch to a 8PSK technology to get bandwidth needed for more HDTV



I hear you, but I have to disagree with some things here:

Item #1 - dual tuner PVR. I had an Ultimatetv dual-tuner PVR for over a year before the 721 was even announced. Ultimatetv was the first followed very closely by DirecTivo (it was originally shipped without both tuners activated). This was when the 501 was just coming on line. The 721 still lacks features that both Ultimatetv and Directivo offer (like parental controls and name-based recording).

How many E* tuners have component video outputs? How many that aren't PVR's have Dolby Digital 5.1 output? How many different HD and SD receivers does E* have to choose from?

Directv has also announced a HD PVR at the same show, and has a model which is shown in the "Official 921 discussion" in the Dish Network PVR discussion, and fifty additional LIL markets, bringing their total to 101 LIL's.

[Mike123abc]

Dish is best at not using things to their advantage:

1. Dish has 50 CONUS vs Direct 46 CONUS slots.
2. Dish has 41 wing slots vs Direct 0 wing slots.
3. Dish has 2 spot beam satellites vs Direct 1 (yes another is coming soon)
4. Dish has 8PSK

Now one could argue that DirecTV spot satellites are better designed (i.e. more capacity), but since they are putting one at 119 it will not be able to use all the capacity since Direct does not have enough transponders licensed at the slot to use the full potential, so in essence Dish and Direct will have similar spot capacity with D-7s up.

Dish in essence should be trouncing Direct with far more LIL cities, more HDTV, more channel selection, etc.... But, seems to lag DirecTV in many ways.

[jeffcarp]

I think you guys are being a little harsh on Dish Network. Yes, Dish has some strong advantages, which is the reason that I switched to them from Directv this year. But you've got to execute those advantages in a controlled way, following a business plan, meeting cash flow and providing growth for your shareholders. Let them execute. You guys that think you could run Dish with your eyes close kill me.

[Cheyenne]

Good question.... How many of you, are in business and understand the economics there of????

Look where "Charlie" is and then look where you are !#@5%??

Regards...

[jzoomer]

My memory was that DISH announced their dual-tuner product before Ultimate-TV but you are quite correct that Ultimate TV was easily first out. But my point here is that when DISH did come out with a competing product it was sub-standard to existing competition. In other words, if you could have either a 721, Ultimate TV, Tivo2 unit to use with your satellite system; 721 would not be the first choice for most people.

It may seem that I am being harsh on DISH, but I am also critical of DirecTV for not having a long range HDTV plan. However, I got to make decisions as a consumer on how to spend my money. If want to upgrade my 6000 receiver to something better, there are choices I can make. If I stay with DISH, I will have to spend over $1000 on the 921 and I have to question whether it is worth it. Will it have the features that I see in current DirecTV products with the added PVR functionality or will it be buggy, poorly integrated product? If I jump to the HD DirecTIVO, I may have a superior box, but limited number of HDTV channels to go with it.

Maybe a can put off this decision till I see the HD Tivo and 921 products when they both come out at the end of this year ;-)

[DarrellP]

The 6000 is still one of the few boxes that allow you to Zoom/Stretch an HD image. I'll take that over a pretty picture any day.