Echostar answers YOUR HD questions! ?

[ride525]

Echostar has been great answering the techical questions. We need a thread to get some HD answers.

I've called Dish twice and the CSRs know less than I do. I've written three emails, and two of them got answered with the same non-answers.

Directv is running a $399 "convert to HD" special, with two of their receivers, dish, and installation. And they have the same deal for $99 if you want to pay $10 extra a month. What will Dish offer current subscribers?

Will SuperDish be available to us about October 1? What will it cost, hardware and install?

When will 811 receiver be available? Will existing subscribers have to pay the $299, or will there be a special for existing customers?

What will the Dish HD pak consist of and how much will it cost? I understand this may be in a state of flux, so maybe can't be answered right away.

The lack of answers to these HD questions is causing an exodus of customers to Directv. I am not far away from joining them. There must be folks at Dish that know the answers to these questions. It would be nice to find out now, instead of that "tune in the next Charlie Chat".

So how about it Echostar? Some answers to our HD questions, please?

Thanks,

Jeff

[Jerry G]

My switch to DirecTV is soooooo close to happening. I'd also love to hear the answers to those questions now, but it won't happen. It would steal Charlie's chance to be a star on the next chat. That being said, it wouldn't surprise me if Dish postpones the chat to avoid answering still unanswerable questions or that Dish has the chat and again tells us to wait for this information. Yes, my confidence in and respect for Dish is at an all time low.

[Scott Greczkowski]

Jeff,

I am happy to announce that all your questions will be answered on next months Charlie Chat (Renamed the Charlie Chat HD Special) :)

HD is going to start moving really quickly after this chat happens!

Hang in there, I believe you will be happy with what Charlie has to say. :)

[Jerry G]

Jeff,

I am happy to announce that all your questions will be answered on next months Charlie Chat (Renamed the Charlie Chat HD Special) :)

HD is going to start moving really quickly after this chat happens!

Hang in there, I believe you will be happy with what Charlie has to say. :)

Scott, with all due respect (and I know you have the best of intentions), perhaps it would be better if you didn't post this kind of statement. After the way you (and us) were shafted with misinformation before the last chat, I don't believe anything that's posted in this regard and it's just another invitation to become even more frustrated and angry with Dish, and ultimately perhaps the messenger.

[Mike123abc]

It is much easier to be more confident in Dish now... They now have 2 more satellites in position to start up these new services. You know they are not going to let hundreds of millions of dollars in satellites sit idle (they just launched 121 and paid $50million up front for 105).

The question comes up now is what are they going to do with all the excess capacity on the wings?

[Scott Greczkowski]

No I have it on good word whats going to be said, but unfortunately I can't say anything yet. :(

A few members I know have this information already as they have forwarded me copies of their emails from Dish Network.

Let's just say there is going to be a LOT going on next month. :D

[Lee L]

Show me the money!!!

Or better yet, Dish, show me some equipment and I'll show you some money.

[AkShark]

What day has this chat been scheduled for?

[ride525]

What day has this chat been scheduled for?

September 8, and rebroadccasts after that.

[scottchez]

My Neighbor got tired of waiting for Dish to get a real HDTV system going.

He just switched to Direct TV with HDVT and got the new Direct TIvo and Tripple LNB for $99 for new customers plus he got the switch to HDTV deal.

Dish needs to counter with a good package soon before they loose more customers.

Or at least tell people what it is going to be so they can make an informed decision and maybe wait an other month.

I hate see more leave.

[ride525]

Jeff,

I am happy to announce that all your questions will be answered on next months Charlie Chat (Renamed the Charlie Chat HD Special) :)

HD is going to start moving really quickly after this chat happens!

Hang in there, I believe you will be happy with what Charlie has to say. :)

Scott,

Thanks for taking time to post, and for running dbstalk.

I'm just frustated. I know you (and apparently others that have received emails) know a lot more about what is going on. I just can't get Dish to tell me over the phone or via email. And it seems like there has been some of the "tune into the next Charlie Chat and find out more" going on for awhile, without real hard information coming out.

As I mentioned earlier, I have been considering switching to Directv because Directv has the dish, HD receivers, and programming already in place and pretty well tested. I am worried about the 811, it will be new, and will it be full of bugs.

Perhaps, stealing a line from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory:

I want the works
I want the whole works
Presents and prizes and sweets and surprises
Of all shapes and sizes
And now
Don't care how
I want it now
Don't care how
I want it now

Thanks again, looking forward to any information you can share,

Jeff

[clapple]

What day has this chat been scheduled for?


A Monday Night Football day????????????????

[Mark Lamutt]

The Chats are always scheduled for the 2nd Monday of each month.

[jbuell1]

It was a bad move for E* to wait until after football season to announce their plans for HD, both hardware and programming. I made the jump to D* just this week because D* has what I want. They lost me as a customer but only because they waited too long to let me know what it would cost for a receiver other than an outdated 6000 and when it would be available along with when I would be able to get the additional HD programming. I'm sure there are many others out there waiting to make a decision.

[GreyGhost00]

This whole "wait until the Charlie Chat" thing has me pretty peeved. I've held off switching, even though D* had HDTV now. With football season starting, there's added incentive for me to jump ship. If Dish knows what they're going to do, then just announce it already. I feel like we're all being jerked around by E* at this point. The fact that it's been "leaked" to others is even more frustrating.

Let's say for argument's sake that Charlie comes out on Sept. 8 and says that Dish will launch their HD package on Oct. 1 with a price of $10.98. SuperDish and the 811 will be available at that time as well, with a $50 upgrade to the Superdish if you commit to a year of the HD package, AT150 and enroll in CC autopay. And that the 811 will be offered to existing subs at $299. And that the channels in the initial launch of the package will be HDNet HDNet Movies, ESPN-HD and Discovery HD, with plans to add up to four additional HD channels "soon".

So what?!?!?

That brings them up to the level of D*. And with a first generation box with no other choices (been there, done that with E*). What is served by waiting until Sept. 8??????

Unless there is some added value that is better served by waiting, I think it's insulting for Dish to string us along. I'm begining to believe that the attitude evidenced during the Tech Chat last month is indicative of the company's entire approach towards customers.

OK, I'm fairly angered at this point by a company that I used to be an ardent supporter of. But they've alienated me to the point where I'm tired of being played like a puppet. Just announce it already, otherwise you can have all the Charlie Chats you want - I'll be watching D*.

[clapple]

>> What is served by waiting until Sept. 8?????? <<

Waiting till Sept.8 is just the start. The rumor is, that Super Dish and new HD programming will be availabe "around" Oct.1. What ever that actually means. Then we wait for distribution and installation. If we are lucky, football season will only be half gone, when we actually start getting ESPN-HD and whatever else. The only reason I will hang around, for now, is I am getting what I want from BEV.

[Scott Greczkowski]

Unfortunately like it or not your going to have to wait.

There were a number of delays with this project and most of the big delays were outside Dish Networks control (ie launching and moving / testing satellites) Other things such as the SuperDish could not even go into production until the satellites were up and tested.

If your a NFL fan looking to get NFL games in HD on Dish, I have to say your might be disapointed. Again as I have been saying all along ESPN-HD will be part of the Dish package but I do not see Dish making any arangements with the NFL to offer the additional HD NFL games available to all Dish Network customers.

Yes the "around" October 1st date is correct.

I am guessing that for some the around October 1st date will be before October 1st, while others it will be after October 1st, the question is how your local retailer wants to do things. If they want to become an avid SuperDish supporter, then they will be one of the early ones to Support the SuperDish, if your local dealer is one of those to know last then chances are the SuperDish will be available to you after the 1st. If the SuperDish is made available to folks like Dish Depot for the home user to install it themselves then your looking at around October 1st. (I have heard that the SuperDish is a little harder to setup so I don't know if thats an option yet)

If you want the largest selection of HD today go to DirecTV, it's up and it's running. If you want the possibility of MORE HDTV then wait it out on Dish, they are investing MILLIONS in HDTV, and again its not going as fast as THEY wanted but rest assured when it's all done HDTV fans WILL be happy.

I know waiting is the hardest part.

[clapple]

>> I know waiting is the hardest part. <<

Scott,

It could have been made a little easier, if Dish had given us something more than, "Wait till next month". Most of us can handle a delay, with an explanation; but Charlie has handled this poorly.

BEV gives me Sunday Night football, in HD, on TSN. So I will wait and see.

Red

[Scott Greczkowski]

Clapple, I agree 100% with you.

There were better ways of doing things, I believe the lack of official information though was to help Dish with negoations with other channels and services. :)

Let's hope that was the reason.

[gpflepsen]

So Scott, is the Rainbow HD thing coming into play here?

I'm going to go consult with Chicken Little and the Boy who cried WOLF!!! and see what they say about Dish's HD plans. ;)

[boba]

Sign up now with Directv NFL Sunday Ticket get 4 months of Total Choice Premier free with $59.75/mo. for NFL Sunday Ticket. Right now it looks like 3 games per Sunday will be offered in HD, no extra cost. ESPNHD is available and their receivers are not in BETA TEST MODE they work. Smarten up don't be the donkey reaching for the carrot hanging from the stick just out of your reach.

[Jim Parker]

Due to the low look angle of 105 thru 121 in Alaska (11.6 to 16.8 deg) , the superdish probably will not have a high enough signal strength. Charlie has said repeatedly that superdish was required to get HD. I hope that some provision is made to allow for a single dish to be used to look at 105 for HD.

Charlie said in his last chat that the superdish was required because the satellite was on a different frequency. It was not clear to me which satellite he was talking about - 105, 110, 119 or 121.

Correct me if I'm wrong, 105 is a Ku band satellite and 121 is a Ku with the new Ka spotbeam. Does anybody know what Charlie was referring to about a "different frequency"?

I am hoping that if a different LNB for HD is required, that it can be installed on a 48" dish. There may be some probems with the mounting arrangement.

If I can clearly define the problem I would like to send Dish an email during the Sept chat.

[Scott Greczkowski]

I do not see Rainbow coming into play anytime soon, I have written their press contacts numerous times and have never received even the curtesy of a reply.

They just launched their satellite to get it up before the FCC pulled their licences.

It will be a long time before we hear anything from Rainbow DBS

[boba]

Jim the 105 and 121 satellites use Ku the same as the old big "C" band dishes used it is FSS frequency linear polarization. 110 &119 use Ku DBS frequency with circular polarization.

[GreyGhost00]

If you want the possibility of MORE HDTV then wait it out on Dish
The problem is that with Dish it always seems like it's "the possibility of ..."

"More" is also subjective. If it's channels I'm actually likely to watch, then it's more if not, then maybe it's equal or less. Perhaps if I knew what those channels were then I could draw a conclusion. Many of us have grown tired of the whole "just wait and see" mentality that dish uses.

I understand your affinity towards Dish given your "inside" connections, but this whole fiasco has been the biggest CF I've ever seen out of E*. Waiting is OK to a point, however, I think much of the problem was exaccerbated by Dish conveying false expectations.

I honestly never thought I'd reach this point with Dish. I've had them for 6+ years, have done business with them, visited their offices in Littleton and generally been a strong supporter of theirs. How then, did I reach this point? Is it all just me? I don't think so.

From what I'm reading, there are many others who share this view.

[Scott Greczkowski]

Well then you have a choie, to switch or wait.

Wish I could tell you more, but I can't.

The biggest problem I see out of this was a long time ago Charlie told us we would have the HDnets this summer, around October is not this summer to me. :)

[Jim Parker]

Boba
Thanks. So the LNB for 105 and 121 are different from 110 and 119. Is the 105 LNB available from any other source other than Dish that could be installed on a standard 48" dish? I'm still trying to figure out why Charlie says that a superdish is required. Why can't the same thing be accomplished with 2 or 3 standard dishes?

[Jerry G]

OK, I'm fairly angered at this point by a company that I used to be an ardent supporter of. But they've alienated me to the point where I'm tired of being played like a puppet. Just announce it already, otherwise you can have all the Charlie Chats you want - I'll be watching D*.

Exactly. It's gotten to the point that it doesn't matter if Dish will have more HD channels than DirecTV by October. Dish's attitude and actions have simply made people angry and frustrated. We're also afraid of another disappointing chat with incomplete information or more delays. And if Dish should actually announce something of substance, the stampede to try to get the equipment installed so as to get the new channels without delay is not going to be a pretty sight. I ready to switch just to stop the frustration and anger regardless if I might ultimately be shooting myself in the foot by joining DirecTV.

Bottom line is that DirecTV has the HD channels that are available right now that Dish will NOT give us today.

[ride525]

Wish I could tell you more, but I can't.


Well, you could tell us more, but are sworn to secrecy......
(there's PMs....) ;)



The biggest problem I see out of this was a long time ago Charlie told us we would have the HDnets this summer, around October is not this summer to me. :)

Well, October is sometimes called "Indian Summer".... :)

[harsh]

Jeff,

I am happy to announce that all your questions will be answered on next months Charlie Chat (Renamed the Charlie Chat HD Special) :)

HD is going to start moving really quickly after this chat happens!

Hang in there, I believe you will be happy with what Charlie has to say. :)
Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me. 'nuff said.

[boba]

Jim Parker the LNBs for receiving FSS have been available for years but how DISH is going to use DISH PRO for the super dish switching is the unknown.

[ibglowin]

Sign up now with Directv NFL Sunday Ticket get 4 months of Total Choice Premier free with $59.75/mo. for NFL Sunday Ticket. Right now it looks like 3 games per Sunday will be offered in HD, no extra cost. ESPNHD is available and their receivers are not in BETA TEST MODE they work. Smarten up don't be the donkey reaching for the carrot hanging from the stick just out of your reach.
I thought I read in another thread that in all reality, only one game on Sunday would be in HD (CBS) of course, the other 2 were actually Fox faux eighty P.

Anyone else have any info on this??

[newsub]

I thought I read in another thread that in all reality, only one game on Sunday would be in HD (CBS) of course, the other 2 were actually Fox faux eighty P.

Anyone else have any info on this??

any new channels coming to dish network besides hdtv? I'm starting to feel I made a wrong move in convincing my dad to go with dish network and not sticking with digital cable or going to directv. If dish doesn't add more standard channels without superdish before next august I'm more than likely going to switch to directv or get video on demand from comcast.

[rtt2]

My sources have informed me that Rainbow DBS will be launching service October 1. The reason there is not a lot of information on this project is because everyone working on it have had to sign non-disclosure forms and be very secretive.
The details are still a little murky concerning Rainbow -- The name of the satellite service may be changed. It has been rumored to use MPEG4 for SD channels and MPEG2 for HD

[Jim Parker]

Found this in the "Echostar answers your tech questions" thread

Q: Will it be possible to point a single dish at 105 or 121? What size will the dish need to be, and what kind of LNB will be required?

Yes. A 36" wide dish minimum will be needed with a bandstacked (DishPro LNBF). Currently the output of the DishPro LNBF's will need to be combined in a DP3:4 switch.

So, it looks like what I need to do is possible.

[wcswett]

Found this in the "Echostar answers your tech questions" thread
Q: Will it be possible to point a single dish at 105 or 121? What size will the dish need to be, and what kind of LNB will be required?
Yes. A 36" wide dish minimum will be needed with a bandstacked (DishPro LNBF). Currently the output of the DishPro LNBF's will need to be combined in a DP3:4 switch.
So, it looks like what I need to do is possible.

Unfortunately they haven't given out any specs on the "bandstacked Ku band LNBF" and it's quite possible that dealers won't have separate LNBF's available for a while. On a gamble, I have turned one of my two 36 in. dishes on AMC-2 at 105W and have a pretty decent signal via my free-to-air receiver. My LNBF up there right now is a standard Pansat 0.6db Ku band, so using that I should be able to at least get the lower half of the transponders (odd or even) recognized by my 6000's whenever DISH sends the software update. On my kitchen table is a brand new California Amplifier bandstacked Ku band LNBF, which I am prepared to put up in place of the Pansat as soon as I have new DISH software to test. The trick is that I don't think the bandstacked LNBF will work with my free-to-air set-up and there's no use screwing that up until there's 6000 software for testing. I'll post here if anything happens with AMC-2 at 105 (now transmitting 3 "problem" cards), or Echo 9 at 121 (moving into position right now).

--- WCS

[Jim Parker]

wcswett:
I look forward to your post.

[Zach2]

I just want to know what's going to happen to Alaska HD customers because the superdish won't work here.

[wcswett]

I just want to know what's going to happen to Alaska HD customers because the superdish won't work here.

There will be a single LNB, large dish solution, provided you can aim that low on the horizon. I doubt the dish will be UPS shippable, and you'll probably have to get it by freight. AMC-15 will make things a little better next year since it is reputed to have more power. Whatever is on 148 now will probably stay there at least until then. I'm not sure what the plans are for 157 (not sure anyone knows).

--- WCS

[BobMurdoch]

The Chats are always scheduled for the 2nd Monday of each month.

That's what two tuner DVRs are for.......

[Dave]

Well then you have a choie, to switch or wait.

Wish I could tell you more, but I can't.

The biggest problem I see out of this was a long time ago Charlie told us we would have the HDnets this summer, around October is not this summer to me. :)


Scott,

Just a quick question, if you know the answer. Is the Super Dish also going to be used by "E" to carry any Internet services.
I know they got out of that business once. But I also know that "SBC" invested $ 500 million with "E".