How do you get DishNetwork to take OTA complaint seriously?

[speedboat]

I installed a rooftop DB8 and connected it to my VIP722. It picked up 8 OTA channels. I do subscribe to locals, but wanted that 3rd HD recording stream.

The OTA guide is correct for 7 of the 8 channels. Channel 6.1 (KAAL - local ABC) shows the guide for KTTC (10.1 - NBC).

I did a little reseach and found out that KAAL is broadcasting on 2 digital channels (33 & 36). 33 was suppose to be a temporary channel before the transition, and 36 is the permanent channel.

I think the reason DishNetwork has this screwed up is that 10.1 (KTTC) temporarily used digital channel 36 before the transition. KTTC switched to their permanent home months ago and KAAL started broadcastsing on both 33 and 36.

I've tried to explain this to DishNetwork via phone, chat and email. No one seems capable of understanding! What can I do? I read on another forum that contacting the FCC might help, but as I suspected, if the goverment does respond it will take weeks, months or years.

It would be better if I had no guide. With an incorrect guide, the 722 keeps getting it's wires crossed if I'm recording the program twice, once using the proper channel and guide and once with the wrong guide and OTA channel.


Any suggestions?

Al

[john_895]

And to think I was the only one having this issue! I'm in Mason City and also receive my OTA ABC (6) from KAAL and NBC (10) from KTTC. I have the exact same issue as you do (a coworker of mine also has the problem) - and we have tried everything we can think of to get this corrected as well.

So strange that we just started having issues a few months ago - because up until that time it had been working beautifully for me for years!

This whole ordeal has been going on for weeks now and it's been extremely frustrating! I was hoping it would be resolved before the start of the fall TV schedule but we don't appear to have gotten anywhere!

[Jason Nipp]

I have forwarded your complaint to some friends that may be able to help.

[Jason Nipp]

Below is a response from a friend, but there is also a question to you for clarification. If you could clarify, and give what is being suggested a try a well.

Thanks - Jason

... Most likely the broadcaster has the wrong RF channel specified in their SI data. But I'm not clear on something in the complaint. Do they see the channel listed twice in the guide? It may be that both channels 33 and 36 are live simultaneously but with conflicting tables. If they know channel 36 to be correct, then one quick fix may be to delete channel 6.1 from their scan (menu-6-9) and then mark the local KAAL entries in the list, select delete and the done to save. This should remove both entries from the guide. Then go back to local channels (menu-6-9), select add locals, and enter the RF channel number (36) directly in the box above the signal bar. When it locks, select done and verify that channel 6.1 KAAL shows in the list and select done to let it save the list to memory. The trouble could be that if they just scan in the locals it may be adding 6.1 twice but with corrupt data. If they ever do a scan locals again though, it may catch and save bad data if the broadcaster has both signals active.

[john_895]

Jason,

Thank you for your help.

To clarify - I do NOT have (2) KAAL's showing up OTA. I can/will certainly attach a picture if it would help - I realize it's difficult to understand our issues unless you're right here looking at the screen!

I tried your suggestion anyway and it seems to have fixed the guide info! Thank you so much!

[jscudder]

I have forwarded your complaint to some friends that may be able to help.

Maybe your friends can look into my OTA issues with Dish also??

I live on the northern fringe of the Boston DMA (03226). The next town over is in the Portland/Auburn ME DMA. Being this close I can receive all of the Portland OTA stations with my VIP222. The Portland channels and sub-channels integrate nicely with the Boston Dish locals in my guide except for one station...WPFO 23 the Portland Fox affilliate. This station just shows up as 'Digital Service' in the EPG.

BTW, WPFO 23 is a relatively new digital OTA station. It began broadcasting digitally 7 months ago in February 2009. Up till then it was only an analog station. WPFO is included in the Dish Portland/Auburn ME locals and was supplied to Dish prior to February 2009 via land line.

It seems strange to me the that of the 12 OTA channels and subchannels that i receive from Portland, only 1 does not show up in the guide. I have been back and forth with Dish on this issue for these past 7 months. They blame it on my receiver being located outside of the Portland DMA. If that were the case, why am I receiving EPG info on other 11 stations? I think the problem is related to missing info from Tribune.

Hopefully your friends can help with this.

John

[jkane]

Same thing happened in Milwaukee. Dish only gives you what they get. You MUST talk to the TV Station and tell them your problem. Only the TV station you watch cares about their own guide data being right. They have all the power to get it fixed, and if they want it fixed, they will do it. If they don't care if you watch their programs, they will do nothing.

Blaming Dish for the guide data being wrong is like blaming your CD player maker because the CD you bought has a typo on it. They simply repeat what data they are fed through the data stream.

Do I think this is a great business model? NO! I think dish should care more. But they don't, and neither do their competitors. If you want traction, call the TV station. They will be the only ones who care.

[speedboat]

Last night I did my weekly ritual of removing 6.1 from the OTA list. Saving. Re-adding 6.1. Allow the Program Guide to update.

The difference is...for the first time it got the proper KAAL program guide.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Whomever did whatever. Thank You!

Chat Sessions Failed.

Phone Calls Failed.

Emails Failed.

Writing the FCC Failed.

One post to dbstalk and the problem is fixed.

My 722 just got 50% better, as I can now record 3 HD streams at once!

Did I say....... THANK YOU!!!!!!

(And yes, the channel only appeared once)

[Jason Nipp]

Last night I did my weekly ritual of removing 6.1 from the OTA list. Saving. Re-adding 6.1. Allow the Program Guide to update.

The difference is...for the first time it got the proper KAAL program guide.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Whomever did whatever. Thank You!

Chat Sessions Failed.

Phone Calls Failed.

Emails Failed.

Writing the FCC Failed.

One post to dbstalk and the problem is fixed.

My 722 just got 50% better, as I can now record 3 HD streams at once!

Did I say....... THANK YOU!!!!!!

(And yes, the channel only appeared once)Your welcome....

oh and our friends thank you for your patience and patronage.