No single tuner HDDVR?

[Bob Saylor]

Hi. After lurking in the shadows for a couple of weeks I decided to join the forum.

I had a Dish system installed about three weeks ago and one of the receivers is a 508.

After looking over the Dish HD promos I noticed that the receivers jump from the 811 right to the 921. The 811 is not a DVR and the 921 is a dual tuner DVR as well as being very expensive and out of reach for many subs. I wonder why Dish isn't going to make a single tuner DVR, maybe based on the 811? It would be more affordable for most - including me. Maybe in the future? :confused:

[chris_h]

Where was it that you were "looking over Dish HD promos" ? I have yet to see anything official in writing from Dish regarding the 921. I suspect that the incremental cost of the second tuner is so little compared to the rest of the unit, that it would only cut out a small part of the cost of the 921, so it is simpler for them to keep the number of receivers down, and keep more people happy. However, with the DVR fees recently announced, the only ones who will be easy to keep happy are the AEP subscribers.

[boba]

Lets see 111,301,311,322,501,508,510,522,6000U,211,811,921 receivers are all available or forcast to be available this fall. Is this what you interpret as keeping it simple Chris h?

[Cyclone]

I think he was likely looking at http://www.dishretailer.com/ts2003 and seeing the 921 stuff there. I have noticed that that Single Tuner JVC 9000 PVR is MIA. I guess it was dropped.

[Scott Greczkowski]

I do believe (and someone from Dish can correct me if am wrong) that the 921 will work in Single Tuner mode with only one tuner hooked up.

[Jerry G]

I do believe (and someone from Dish can correct me if am wrong) that the 921 will work in Single Tuner mode with only one tuner hooked up.

I sure hope it will work in single tuner mode. For some of us, that's the best we can do because Dish decided to wait until 2004 to release the DP+4:4 switch that would have allowed us to split the single feed into two for both tuners. Just another Dish fumble to add to all the rest of their fumbles.

[Bob Saylor]

But the 921 would be a darn expensive move if one only needed to use it only in single tuner mode. This may be a good question to ask at the HD "Charlie Chat". "Why don't they have an HD single tuner DVR coming out?"

I may end up having to put the 508 on my second set and use the 811/VCR setup on my widescreen. Of course the VCR won't record HD. It would be nice to make one move and be done with it. I'm concerned that I'll get an 811 and then Dish will announce a new DVR.

[Ken_F]

But the 921 would be a darn expensive move if one only needed to use it only in single tuner mode. This may be a good question to ask at the HD "Charlie Chat". "Why don't they have an HD single tuner DVR coming out?" I don't think there would be much of a a difference in cost between a single tuner and dual tuner HD PVR. The part difference between a dual tuner product and a single tuner product is insignificant, at least when compared to the other component costs in a HD PVR. A bit less memory might be required, but you'd still want a massive hard drive, which is by far the most expensive component in the product.

I think a dual tuner product at $999 is far more compelling than a potential single tuner product at $899, or even $799.

[Bob Saylor]

I never thought about it in that way. Thanks Ken. I really like the PVR as opposed to a VCR. I may have to go for a 921 in spite of the cost and put up with the fee.

[jerryyyyy]

Am I m issing something on the 921 because it seems after listening to the last Charley Chat there will be very few HD channel available even with the new sat, and those I bet at extra cost. As a proud owner of the bug ridden 721, I do not feel like I am going to rush into this.

[Jerry G]

Am I m issing something on the 921 because it seems after listening to the last Charley Chat there will be very few HD channel available even with the new sat, and those I bet at extra cost. As a proud owner of the bug ridden 721, I do not feel like I am going to rush into this.

I guess "very few" is a relative term. But here's what should be going up on 105 that don't exist now on Dish:

HDNet
HDNet Movies
ESPN HD
Bravo HD+
Cinemax HD
Starz HD

This more than doubles what is currently offered in HD.

Regarding the fee, there will absolutely be a fee. There's a $7.99/month fee right now for Discovery HD. DirecTV has a package for $10.99/month with Discovery HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, and ESPN HD. Expect something along similar lines with Dish. Why do you think these additional channels should be free?

[Mike123abc]

I guess "very few" is a relative term. But here's what should be going up on 105 that don't exist now on Dish:

HDNet
HDNet Movies
ESPN HD
Bravo HD+
Cinemax HD
Starz HD

This more than doubles what is currently offered in HD.

Regarding the fee, there will absolutely be a fee. There's a $7.99/month fee right now for Discovery HD. DirecTV has a package for $10.99/month with Discovery HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, and ESPN HD. Expect something along similar lines with Dish. Why do you think these additional channels should be free?

Actually one would expect the starz and the cinemax ones to be free if you sub to their package. ESPN/Bravo really should be if they are just mirroring their existing channels. It is kind of a rip off to have to pay 2x for the same channel.

But I realize this is the time to cash in on any HD and they will all charge whatever they think they think the market will bear.

[Jerry G]

Actually one would expect the starz and the cinemax ones to be free if you sub to their package. ESPN/Bravo really should be if they are just mirroring their existing channels. It is kind of a rip off to have to pay 2x for the same channel.

But I realize this is the time to cash in on any HD and they will all charge whatever they think they think the market will bear.

You are, of course, correct about Starz and Cinemax. If I recall correctly, there will be an additional Starz HD (or was it that lower rez) channel that won't be a mirror and that might be part of an extra HD package. I suspect that Bravo HD+ will not mirror the SD Bravo channel (take a look at the Bravo HD web page), and therefore might be part of an additional HD package for an additional charge.

[Larry]

Am I m issing something on the 921 because it seems after listening to the last Charley Chat there will be very few HD channel available even with the new sat, and those I bet at extra cost. As a proud owner of the bug ridden 721, I do not feel like I am going to rush into this.

I would add that the 921 is supposed to be able to record OTA HD programming in addition to whatever E* HD programming might become available.