ExpressVu and Dish Network Software Versions

[Jacob S]

Does ExpressVu and Dish Network have the same software versions in their receivers or different ones? Are they all released at the same time or different times or does Dish release them for ExpressVu since they make their equipment?

[Darkman]

they have different software versions...

besides - there is no way it could be the same anyhow - cuz dish has 5 birds on the Install Menu, where EVu has only one bird (and maybe soon 2 birds)...
But the birds are different in any case....

[Steve Mehs]

The user interface is the same, but the software versions are different. Last I heard the 5100 didn't have the search feature, anyone know if it has it now?

[Darkman]

not sure on that - but pretty sure 5100 is like 501, and 3100 is like 301 IRD (or something like that)

[PeterB]

Thier 4700s havent been updated to 4900-like features either...

[Darkman]

Correct:
Dish's 4700 went to 4900
Bev's 4700 is still 4700 (no open tv, etc - unlike bev's 3100 or 5100)...And not sure if Bev is even planning on upgrading 4700s to 4900s....
and 3900 Bevs (or 309 - hehe) doesn't exist
There is a 2700 Bev btw - but different software (of course) regardless

[Jacob S]

Very interesting. So do they have different software versions on their 501/508 and 721 or do they not have these receivers or is the 5100 an American 501? Do they have features that we do not have? What is the link to the Canadian Satellite forums?

[Darkman]

not sure about the link to such forums...but:
Bev doesn't have 508 or 721 models (or 5800 and 7210 or something like that ( whatever 508 or 721 would have been called if existed :) )
But 501 is identical receiver to 5100
and 301 is identical receiver to 3100
(and the software download makes it to be one or another...Like put it this way - i am pretty sure if take brand new Bev's 3100 out of the box and plug it in and read Sys Info screen (before it took the Bev's software upgrade) - it would even read as 301 :) , but after Bev's software upgrade is taken - it would become 3100 :)
same goes with other versions...
like not exactly sure now - but i think 4000 (Dish), would be something like 4000C (Bev)...pretty sure 4000 existed on Bev too..
off the top of my head - Bev maybe has 2700, 1000, 3100 (301), 5100 (501), 3000 or 3500, 4000, and 4700
and 5100 is the top IRD sold...to my best knowledge there is no 508 (5800) or 721 or even 921 (hehe) on the market

As to features..Most of them just software controlled...like they might have something different ( lets say couple more or less features on the Menu, etc)...
I know Bev's 3100 has now Caller ID support...
As to Open Home (aka Interactive TV) at Bev - it looks somewhat different from Dish as well (same idea though)... - it has weather (with Canadian cities, American cities, and actually Most Large cities World wide (unlike Echo) - which is impressing!)..and the weather is in C and not F...
then they got Games, Horroscope, Lotteries, Trivia (pretty nice), etc...
I hear UK has nice Open TV (remember they had a guy at Chat) - it is quite progressed there...Maybe Dish will follow eventually

[Steve Mehs]

There is no PVR5800, but if you go to the Yahoo DishRip Group, you can make your own out of a 5100 :) Only current BEV IRDs are the 3100, 5100 and 6000. Anyone that's interested, you can check out BEVs website and see screen shots of their interactive tv applications. Their games service is through Ludi TV.

[PeterB]

Bev is going to release a 5800 soon, they have mentioned it on the barker channel.

Still no word on a 721, or a 921....

[UnnDunn]

Originally posted by Darkman
I hear UK has nice Open TV (remember they had a guy at Chat) - it is quite progressed there...Maybe Dish will follow eventually Check out a list of all the OpenTV (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/displayinfo.php?id=4444)channels available in the UK... It makes the selection from E* look positively anemic.

[Darkman]

Originally posted by PeterB
Bev is going to release a 5800 soon, they have mentioned it on the barker channel.

Still no word on a 721, or a 921....

Ya...Makes Bev look kinda like a Clearance / Liquidation Center for E*, eh? :lol: :blush: :D :(

UnnDunn - ya.. that is what i ment...

[Steve Mehs]

Any word on the pricing of the PVR5800? When I make that trip to RadioShack, I'm going to have to make the decision of basic or PVR, a decision that I can't seem to make now. The 3100 would be great for only approx $135 USD, but with the PVR, I would have DD/PCM capability and be able to record programming, if the programming packages I chose has anything worth while. Only time I would need to have both PVRs recording is Monday nights for Miracles and CSI Miami. The 5X00 is certainly not that cheap even in USD. And if for some unbeknown reason something happens to my Bell service I'm out all that additional money on the PVR.

[Phantom Flyer]

Originally posted by Darkman

Ya...Makes Bev look kinda like a Clearance / Liquidation Center for E*, eh?
UnnDunn - ya.. that is what i ment...

.. and yet Bev subs think that Dish subs are the beta testers for the E* hardware that they eventually get :lol:

[sampatterson]

LOL!  :lol: :lol: :lol:

Originally posted by Phantom Flyer


.. and yet Bev subs think that Dish subs are the beta testers for the E* hardware that they eventually get :lol:

[Darkman]

hehe - i hear you...

but with 5800 being non-existant yet, i wonder when Bev will actually get to 721s and 921s (lol - if ever of course) :-)

[Steve Mehs]

All kiding aside, I think that it's a major advatage that Bell uses the same hardware, competition wise. Star Choice doesn't have a PVR/STB yet, if BEV can get a 721 (7120, I guess) that will widen the gap. Plus Bell didn't have to worry about dish/lnb/switch developmet as much as SC did when they expanded to multisat locations.

[PeterB]

Originally posted by Steve Mehs
Any word on the pricing of the PVR5800? When I make that trip to RadioShack, I'm going to have to make the decision of basic or PVR, a decision that I can't seem to make now. The 3100 would be great for only approx $135 USD, but with the PVR, I would have DD/PCM capability and be able to record programming, if the programming packages I chose has anything worth while. Only time I would need to have both PVRs recording is Monday nights for Miracles and CSI Miami. The 5X00 is certainly not that cheap even in USD. And if for some unbeknown reason something happens to my Bell service I'm out all that additional money on the PVR.

Well there is another option, but it does require a little exercise into the "Dark Side"

I have a BEV 2700 i purchased on a trip over the border over 2 years ago, I have an active subscription on it, I wanted a 4700, but they were insanely expensive..

flash foward about a year, I was given a used 4700 for free, no card or remote...Id love to put this on my bev setup, as I have no need for a dish reciever anymore, but bev wont activate it as its a "dish" reciever

So I altered my 4700 to have the info from my 2700. Take my activated card and pop it in the 4700, and presto. Nothing illegal done, just moved my card to a different reciever.

So what im saying, is if you arent scared of a little soldering, and some reading, buy the cheapest bev system you can get. then look for a deal on a used 501/508 and convert it when you do..

[Darkman]

Originally posted by PeterB


Well there is another option, but it does require a little exercise into the "Dark Side"

I have a BEV 2700 i purchased on a trip over the border over 2 years ago, I have an active subscription on it, I wanted a 4700, but they were insanely expensive..

flash foward about a year, I was given a used 4700 for free, no card or remote...Id love to put this on my bev setup, as I have no need for a dish reciever anymore, but bev wont activate it as its a "dish" reciever

So I altered my 4700 to have the info from my 2700. Take my activated card and pop it in the 4700, and presto. Nothing illegal done, just moved my card to a different reciever.

hehe - 4700 Bev doesn't even have a Pic in Guide :)
I guess you gained Timer, UHF remote, Surround sound, etc though :)

[PeterB]

The DD 5.1 was the biggie for me... If i come accross a good deal on a 501, ill do the same thing, return the 4700 to its original state, and ebay it.. :)

[dtvchick]

I have a dish 3900 can someone help me with converting it to BEV???

[TonyM]

I have a dish 3900 can someone help me with converting it to BEV???

Please don't bring year old threads up to ask a question...start a new topic :)

but to answer your question... they arent compatible. You can't convert a Dish receiver to receive Bell. They have 2 separate setups. Dish wont activate a Bell receiver and vise versa.

[dtvchick]

Sorry!

Apparently you can convert it is just harder with the 3900!

[James Long]

Apparently you can convert it is just harder with the 3900!
Apparently you are just trolling, since that was not the answer given - nor is it correct. Buy and subscribe legit - then come talk about it.

JL