Dish Newbie Questions

[nchdtv]

Hello All!

I am a new member to Dish Network after having been a Directv customer for 5 years.

Overall, I am very impressed so far with Dish Network (it was installed this past Friday). I have a few questions though:

1. I have 4 units in my home (3 - 301 units & 1 - 508 PVR unit). For some reason the 301's are not downloading the guide properly. Anything past about 1 hour out from the current time says "No Information Available". Also, when I'm in split guide view (with the video window), the window says "Searching for Satellite Info". I had this same problem initially with the 508 unit, but it cleared when I unplugged the unit and left it on (without the TV on for about 30 minutes).

What can I do to get the guide to properly download on the 301's? Do I have to unplug the unit? Take out the card? Please help!

2. It's going to be hard to go without NFL Sunday ticket, but at least I was looking forward to still having my NHL Center Ice package. When I called to order that, I was suprised when the rep told me that NHL Center Ice could only be viewed on 1 of my 4 units. What!!!! With Directv, whenever you ordered a season package to any of the sports, I could watch it on any unit in the home. Is there some "way" around this?

[angiodan]

Complete crap on viewing NHL CI on only one reciever. I get it on all three of mine. The rep doesn't know what they are talking about.

Give the recievers time to download the info. The 508 holds 9 days which it sounds like you have taken care of. The 301's are less I think, but I'm sure someone else on the board would know for sure.

BTW, welcome to DBSTalk.com!

[scooper]

Sorry - that is pretty typical for the non-PVR Dish receivers (on the guide, that is). It MAY help to do a reset on the receiver, but generally, I just don't worry about it.

[nchdtv]

I still don't understand why my 301's won't seem to download any guide data past about 1 hour from the current time.

Also, the video window is still blank. Can someone tell me how to "reboot" or "restart" these receivers.

[TNGTony]

NC,

The 501/508 receivers load the guide info into the hard drive and store it there. When you hit the "guide" button on the remote, the receiver accesses the info from the hard drive. And that quide can store up to 9 days of info. When you initially had "problems" with the 508, you had not given it the oportunity to download the guide. By turning it off and leaving it plugged it, it gave the receiver the chance to download the guide.

The 301 however does not have a hard drive. It stores the guide information on VERY LIMITED flash-rom memory. There are so many channels up there that your receiver tries to load (even the ones you don't subscribe to) that it runs out of memory only after a couple of hours in the future. If you've had your receiver on for a few hours, the guide info cannot be updated since the receiver cannot "tune in" to the proper "channel" to get the guide info. So when you hit the guide button, the receiver needs to "change the channel" to get the guide info. Your receiver will display a blank or "retreving program info" on the live window while it is retreving program info from the satellite.

Again there are so many channels up there that it takes a while for the satellite (which is continuously spooling 44 hour and 9 day guides) to come around to the information your receiver is waiting for.

See ya
Tony

[nchdtv]

If I understand Tony's repsonse, I am not alone in this situation with the 301 not displaying the guide out past 1 hour or displaying live video in the guide window.

Does this not make the feature of the live video window completely useless on the 301 model then? Do you all live with the ability to not be able to see future programs when looking at the guide through a 301.

Trying not to be a Directv snob....but I never had any problems accessing guide information on my Sony Directv recievers which were non-PVR related. I would assume they are akin to the 301 in terms of design.

So that's just it....I have to live with it (or upgrade all my receivers to 508's?)

[FTA Michael]

Or you can try my approach - plug in a stand-alone TiVo. That gives you a 99% accurate program guide 10 days out, plus you can record shows and stuff.

[dishrich]

Originally posted by nchdtv
I am a new member to Dish Network after having been a Directv customer for 5 years.

Just curious, WHY did you switch to E* after 5 years?

[nchdtv]

Dishrich,

I switched because:

1. I wanted a Tivo or PVR. It just made sense to lease the PVR through Dish network rather than paying at least $240 for a Directivo. Also there was a $5.99/mo mirroring fee for Directivo.

2. I plan on going HD sometime in the future and from what I've read Dish is ahead of Directv in that regard.

Even with the "minor" issue I raised in this thread and the exclusion of NFL Sunday ticket on Dish, I am more impressed with the picture quality/service with Dish vs. Directv and am happy overall with my decision.

[Turbohawk]

I have Dishnet vs DirectTV/Cable because of a noticeable picture quality superiority. Pricewise, Dish seems to be a little cheaper, which is also a good thing. And I sure love the 508, especially since you aren't required to pay to use it! (live Tivo, DP, etc.)

Are the pircture quality differences due to the compression algorithms or something else? I do notice that the local channels come in looking like a 3rd generation reproduction at best: real washed out looking.

[dishrich]

Originally posted by nchdtv
I wanted a Tivo or PVR. It just made sense to lease the PVR through Dish network rather than paying at least $240 for a Directivo. Also there was a $5.99/mo mirroring fee for Directivo.

It's actually only $4.99 for mirroring, same as Dish. Maybe you're thinking of the $4.99 Tivo fee, but by the same token, you would have had TWO tuners in ONE box, which pretty much negates the $4.99 Tivo fee to begin with. Also, D* is advertising $199 D-Tivos even for existing customers.

Even with the "minor" issue I raised in this thread...

Well, as long as you think NOT having a working prog guide on THREE receivers is a "minor" issue & you're happy with that, I guess whatever floats your boat... :shrug: :lol: :confused:

I find it completely amazing that some people have no problem NOT getting a service they are paying for, (a working prog guide on ALL receivers) but I guess that's me - I WANT a working prog guide on ALL my receivers & I shouldn't have to buy a PVR to get it!

[jerryez]

I have the Dish 6000 HD reciever and the guide data sucks on it also. It goes out about 3 hours sometimes, at best. I just use my standalone TiVo for the perfect guide. The Dish 6000 is only good for Now Playing info only.