Dish Now or Wait for SuperDish?

[EatingPie]

Kind of an inevitable question, but I have a bit of a twist.

I am primarily interested in Dish's HD content, and the ability to record. In particular HD-HBO, HD-SHO and Dish HD-PPV.

In order to record *now*, I would need the Dish 5000+HD Modulator. I would be able to run this to my Mitsubishi 73711 and then Firewire to my JVC D-VHS. Problem is I have no clue what Dishes I need! I hear about these "Dish Pro" and "Legacy" systems, and I am not sure what they are all about, or which the 5K+Mod will work with. Or what the future holds for these.

An easier solution would be to *wait* and purchase the SuperDish and 211, which is made for Mitsubishi sets. But HOW LONG will I have to wait?

The deep desire of my heart is to record Star Wars: AOTC from HBO in June. Obviously the SuperDish ain't gonna be out by then. But maybe the ETA is close enough that I'd be able to catch a re-run. I've heard anything from September to December/January on the SuperDish. Which do people think more likely? Especially given Dish's notoriously delayed product launches...

TIA.

-Pie

[Ken_F]

In order to record *now*, I would need the Dish 5000+HD Modulator. I would be able to run this to my Mitsubishi 73711 and then Firewire to my JVC D-VHS. Problem is I have no clue what Dishes I need! I hear about these "Dish Pro" and "Legacy" systems, and I am not sure what they are all about, or which the 5K+Mod will work with. Or what the future holds for these.The 5000 + modulator will only support QPSK delivered HDTV channels. Right now, those include HBO, Showtime, PPV, and the demo channel on 61.5 and 148. The 5000 + modulator will not work with more recent HDTV channels like Discovery, nor will it work with future HDTV channels, as they will use 8PSK modulation (according to Echostar). Nor is the 5000 + modulator expected to work with the Superdish, because all HDTV channels at those slots are expected to use 8PSK. For that reason, Dish offered a modulator to 6000 receiver upgrade option quite some time ago.

An easier solution would be to *wait* and purchase the SuperDish and 211, which is made for Mitsubishi sets. But HOW LONG will I have to wait?You would do best to wait for the 211 for the Mitsubishi, or if you don't mind component video, the 921. The rumored release timetable for the 211 puts availability at around September. Same goes for the 921.

According to the recent charlie chat, the Superdish should be available in July. Dish Network is to provide further details, including a product demo, on the 921 and other upcoming HDTV equipment at the July technical chat. But once again, HDTV from the Superdish almost certainly won't be supported by the 5000 + modulator. If you want to use the 5000 + modulator to record HBO and Showtime, you would need a second dish pointed at 61.5 or 148.

[houset]

Ken,

When the 921 and the other hd receiver comes out, will the 6000 be considered unsupported, or should we be good for a while with the 6000. I would hate to be forced to upgrade the receiver when I just bought it a year ago..

[boba]

DISH has supported all older receivers to the limits of the technology built into the receiver at the time of production. So I expect the 6000 will be supported into the future as long as possible.

[Ken_F]

houset,

When the 921 and the other hd receiver comes out, will the 6000 be considered unsupported, or should we be good for a while with the 6000.The 6000 will continue to be supported. The 5000 isn't supported because of the limitations of the hardware (5000 can't receive 8PSK channels). The 6000 has no such limitations--assuming you have the 8PSK module.

That said, when Dish has been forced to drop support for a receiver, as they did for the 5000 + modulator, they still offered a trade-in program so people could upgrade at reduced cost. Owners of the 5000 modulator were able to get almost the full value (original purchase price) of that unit toward the purchase of a 6000. And those owners of the 5000 + modulator who decided not to take the trade-in deal continue to receive all the HDTV they did before--owners of the 5000 just can't receive new HDTV channels that use 8PSK.

[Jacob S]

Maybe they should offer HD channels for the 5000 owners on the wing slots and offer new HD channels for the 6000 owners on the SuperDish, at least give the 5000 customers some more choices to make it more worthwhile in their investment. I figure if they do that then it would be harder to get them to get the 6000 and SuperDish so they would not do it because of that reason plus waste of bandwidth.

Can those with a 6000 pick up channels that those can pick up with a 5000 receiver?

[EatingPie]

I'm actually curious about what hardware you need for the 5000 as well (Dishes, etc.). Is it exactly the same as with the 6000?

-Pie

[Scott Greczkowski]

The 5000 is DEAD.

The HD Channels it can get today are the same HD Channels it will get tommorow. The HD Channels it gets it should always continue to get.

If a 5000 owner wants the new HD Channels they need to upgrade to a new receiver which supports 8PSK technology.

[Ken_F]

I'm actually curious about what hardware you need for the 5000 as well (Dishes, etc.). Is it exactly the same as with the 6000?Right now, the 5000 requires the same two-dish solution for HDTV as the 6000. The 6000 (and future Dish HD receivers) will be moving to a one-dish solution for all standard and HDTV programming this summer, while the 5000 will continue to require two.

Can those with a 6000 pick up channels that those can pick up with a 5000 receiver?Yes, the 6000 picks up everything the 5000 can, plus new and upcoming channels (like Discovery and the Hdnets) that the 5000 will not.

Maybe they should offer HD channels for the 5000 owners on the wing slots and offer new HD channels for the 6000 owners on the SuperDish, at least give the 5000 customers some more choices to make it more worthwhile in their investmentThat would be a total waste. There are probably no more than a few thousand 5000 + module owners remaining after Dish Network's trade-in program that let customers purchase the 6000 for ~$249.

[EatingPie]

That would be a total waste. There are probably no more than a few thousand 5000 + module owners remaining after Dish Network's trade-in program that let customers purchase the 6000 for ~$249.
But those few thousand people will be able to record Star Wars:AOTC in HD from HBO this June!!

And I won't... :( sniff sniff...

-Pie

[Ken_F]

EatingPie,

Well, if you were truly desperate, you could get a 6000 modified by 169time.com for $999. They will mod a 6000 for Firewire recording for $999. Is a AOTC recording really worth that much $$$ though? :)

[DISHjanitor]

Why don't you just wait for the blue-laser DVD of Star Wars in 2 or 3 years and get the regular DVD for now?

[EatingPie]

Well, if you were truly desperate, you could get a 6000 modified by 169time.com for $999.

I am TRULY desperate... But not THAT desperate! Thing is, I would still have to buy into the soon-to-be-obsolete 2 Dish solution as well as either the modded 6K or 5K+modulator. So it's pricey pricey and VERY difficult to explain to the wife about obsolescence occurring 2 months after purchase!

Why don't you just wait for the blue-laser DVD of Star Wars in 2 or 3 years and get the regular DVD for now?

I have the regular DVD right now, and it is certainly the best DVD I've ever seen. That's why I REALLY want an HD version... and that HD version is just barely out of reach (unless someone in San Diego has the goods and invites me over to record it... hint hint...).

On the Blue-Laser version, that is soooooo vapor ware I don't even have a comment... But I will anyway: that is soooooo vapor ware!
And actually Lucas' comment on blue laser Star Wars wasn't anything beyond "yeah that'd be cool," which he said even BEFORE Star Wars: TPM hit DVD!

-Pie

[Jacob S]

The 921 will probably be in development for around 2 years by the time it is released so I would wonder if it would be more out of date by the time it is released or if they had updated some of the hardware on the receivers if they had already started producing them and changed them to update with current times.

They did not have the 301 out long when they made thep lans for the 921 and already are making plans for the what I believe is the 301 replacement (111 and 311) in which will be an upgrade from the current 301 so I wonder if they will go ahead and do the same with the 921.

Also I wonder if they are going to come out with a similar new release with the 508 and 721 to a newer version that is currently out now.