Encore (channel 340) missing from my program guide

[tsmacro]

So i'm surfing through my guide and it seems Encore 340 is gone. I'm pretty sure it was there last night as I was surfing through the movie channels. All the rest of the Encore package seems to be there, just the main channel (and only one in HD) seems to be gone, anyone else notice this or is it just me?

[runner861]

I still have it.

[tsmacro]

I still have it.

Ok, thanks, i'll try a receiver reset at some point then.

[tsmacro]

Ok, it's not receiver specific, both my receivers don't have it, so it has to do with my account. Did a front panel reset and a check switch on my secondary receiver, neither did the trick, hard reset is tough to do on that one based on where it's plugged in. Haven't done anything with the primary receiver yet as i'm watching something that I don't want to interrupt. I don't seem to be missing any other channels from my top 250 plus HD plus Platinum w/ HBO and WWOR & WPIX.

[James Long]

You will probably need to call DISH (or use their online live contact).
If you have the rest of the package you should be getting this channel.

[tsmacro]

You will probably need to call DISH (or use their online live contact).
If you have the rest of the package you should be getting this channel.

Yeah, since there's not anything that i'm aware of that I want to watch on Encore tonight i'll probably let it go until tomorrow and see if the overnight program guide update makes it re-appear, if not i'll call tomorrow am.

[Dr Pepper]

Yeah, since there's not anything that i'm aware of that I want to watch on Encore tonight i'll probably let it go until tomorrow and see if the overnight program guide update makes it re-appear, if not i'll call tomorrow am.

I think encore HD went to the platinum pack along with palladia and Hd theater.

[kalone]

I think encore HD went to the platinum pack along with palladia and Hd theater.No I canceled Platinum yesterday and I still have both SD and HD Encore. I have AEP

[jpd31]

I too am missing Encore HD. I made a programming change to my account this morning. I removed HBO and Showtime from my account. After the change was made I lost Encore HD. I subscribe to the Top 250, so I should get it. I did a Dish Chat this afternoon and they could not figure out the problem. I posted this on SatelliteGuys.US forum and there are other people that are having the same problem.

If you go to Zap2It's website and look at your local listings for Top 250, Encore HD is not listed. I have looked at the guide info on the receiver and Encore HD is totally missing from the list. Encore SD is listed but in red.

Something Dish has messed up on since the June 3rd changes. There CSR's don't know of the problem when you talk to them.

[willymac]

When I did a Dish chat last night, they said that it was an engineering problem and that they were working on it. She supposedly tried to reauthorize my receiver and I pulled the plug and let it reboot and still no Encore HD. So hopefully they get it back working.

[jpd31]

When I did a Dish chat last night, they said that it was an engineering problem and that they were working on it. She supposedly tried to reauthorize my receiver and I pulled the plug and let it reboot and still no Encore HD. So hopefully they get it back working.

Well, that is good to hear that they are working on it. Wish they send out a memo to the rest of the CSR's at Dish so they don't waste the customers time to reauthorize and unplug the receiver. Was online with them for over an hour and still have no Encore HD.

[GrumpyBear]

An engineering problem? Strange how it would effect just a few users then. Watched Fast Times at Ridgemont High this morning, and just getting back and Encore HD is still in the guide. Did they say what kind of engineering problem it was that would effect a few people?

[willymac]

No, that is all they told me and I'm pretty sure it was just to get me off their backs. From what I'm seeing is that it only affected people who made ANY change to their programming. I migrated from western arc to eastern arc and got my locals. That is the only change I made, some other people dropped platinum and/or other changes to still have AT250.

[phrelin]

Did anyone on the Western Arc lose 340?

[Paul Secic]

So i'm surfing through my guide and it seems Encore 340 is gone. I'm pretty sure it was there last night as I was surfing through the movie channels. All the rest of the Encore package seems to be there, just the main channel (and only one in HD) seems to be gone, anyone else notice this or is it just me?

I have it also.

[TheShepherd]

Did anyone on the Western Arc lose 340?
I'm in Wyoming and I lost it when I went to free HD.

[tsmacro]

I'm on Western Arc and it didn't magically re-appear over night either. Actually I didn't even remember about it until I was about to walk out the door for work so I haven't contacted them yet either. I'll try to remember when I get home tonight.

[Chris24]

The Encore Channel is still on my guide.

[tsmacro]

Ok just got off the phone and was told that the reason that I don't have Encore is because it's part of the the Starz package. I asked when that changed and I was told it has always been that way. I explained that I had Dish for over 6 1/2 years and that whenever I had subscribed to the top 250 or the Encore movie package I had always received it and that it had just recently disappeared over the weekend. I was told that I had must have been receiving it accidentally and that I should consider myself lucky that I got an extra channel that I hadn't been paying for. I pressed again and told him that you mean over all these years and all the times i've upgraded and downgraded my service, upgraded my equipment and not once in all those times it was ever noticed that my account was getting a channel I wasn't supposed to and my receiver kept authorizing me to receive it? Once again I asked are you sure this didn't recently change when they made the new changes at the end of last week. He assured me that it had always been this way and that the Encore movie package only included Encore West, Encore Western, Encore Action, Encore Mystery, Encore Drama and Encore Love (he didn't mention Encore WAM) and that Encore itself is part of the Starz package.

[GrumpyBear]

Need to have Coldsteel, or somebody on the inside, weigh in on this one. I don't have Starz, I have never had Starz, I have always had Encore 340, with my 250 package, I have had the Encore East for as long as I can remember,and I still have Encore 340 in HD today. Now I do have the Platinum Package, and I did notice that on the webpage That Encore East(340) is no longer included in the AT250 package, and this is something new. All the other Encore channels are included though.
ENCORE (WEST)
ENCORE ACTION
ENCORE DRAMA
ENCORE LOVE
ENCORE MYSTERIES
ENCORE WAM
ENCORE WESTERNS

So we need to find out if Encore East is in Platinum and Starz.

[tsmacro]

Need to have Coldsteel, or somebody on the inside, weigh in on this one. I don't have Starz, I have never had Starz, I have always had Encore 340, with my 250 package, I have had the Encore East for as long as I can remember,and I still have Encore 340 in HD today. Now I do have the Platinum Package, and I did notice that on the webpage That Encore East(340) is no longer included in the AT250 package, and this is something new. All the other Encore channels are included though.
ENCORE (WEST)
ENCORE ACTION
ENCORE DRAMA
ENCORE LOVE
ENCORE MYSTERIES
ENCORE WAM
ENCORE WESTERNS

So we need to find out if Encore East is in Platinum and Starz.

I have Platinum so it's not part of that apparently, but I don't have Starz. Like I said this sounds like a new development to me despite Dish's CSR (actually he was one from tech support) assurances that it's always been this way.

[GrumpyBear]

I have Platinum so it's not part of that apparently, but I don't have Starz. Like I said this sounds like a new development to me despite Dish's CSR (actually he was one from tech support) assurances that it's always been this way.
Well I know for a fact it hasn't ALWAYS been this way, CSR, is reading from some list that was just updated, and saying it well since the new page has it this way, its always been this way. Sucks when you run into less than helpful CSR's.

[tsmacro]

Well I know for a fact it hasn't ALWAYS been this way, CSR, is reading from some list that was just updated, and saying it well since the new page has it this way, its always been this way. Sucks when you run into less than helpful CSR's.


You know it would've been ok (well I would've been disappointed over losing a channel but I would've accepted the answer) if he had just told me that according to his current info that Encore is part of the Starz package and when I questioned when that happened if he just told me he wasn't sure but that's how it is now I would've been satisfied. For him to insist that is the way its always been though just sorta irked me.

[Kent Taylor]

It may be part of the Starz package, but I don't get the Starz package and I'm receiving channel 340. I do sub to Platinum HD but I'm not sure if it's part of that package or not. I haven't seen it listed in the Platinum package.

[GrumpyBear]

It may be part of the Starz package, but I don't get the Starz package and I'm receiving channel 340. I do sub to Platinum HD but I'm not sure if it's part of that package or not. I haven't seen it listed in the Platinum package.
I don't think, its part of Platinum package either, I was just saying what package I have to go along with, with 250 HD for life. Encore is part of the Starz Family, I just never heard of Encore East being in the Starz Package before. I did notice though with some of the recent changes, Encore East, is NOT showing up in the 250 package along with the other Encore stations.
What is also wierd is how most still have Encore East, and a few are missing it after the HD for life came out, and Platinum was back to be a stand alone package.

[l8er]

From the channel listing pdf available here (http://www.dishnetwork.com/downloads/Channel-Lineup/StandardHDChannelGuide.pdf), Encore (east) is listed with the Starz channels, while all of the Encore channels are listed with "America's Top 250 with HD".

[dishwater]

The dish website still lists Encore in the 250 HD package. http://www.dishnetwork.com/hdtv/customer.aspx

[GrumpyBear]

From the channel listing pdf available here (http://www.dishnetwork.com/downloads/Channel-Lineup/StandardHDChannelGuide.pdf), Encore (east) is listed with the Starz channels, while all of the Encore channels are listed with "America's Top 250 with HD".

That pdf also shows Encore E, included in AT 250/HD package, on the 2nd page.
Dish's website also shows Encore E in the AT 250 with HD. Really wierd.
Doesn't explain why some have it like always, and why some don't.


America’s Top 250
with HD +
America’s Top 250 includes all of America’s
Top 200 and the channels listed below.
indicates channels available in both standard
and high defnition. (HD-only indicates
channels not available in standard defnition.)
Biography Channel 119
Bloomberg Television 203
Boomerang SAP 175
Chiller 199
CNBC World 207
Discovery Kids 179
DIY 111
Encore (E) -HD only 340
Encore (W) SAP 341
Encore Action 343
Encore Drama 345
Encore Love 346
Encore Mystery 344
Encore Wam 347
Encore Westerns 342
BIO
BITV
BOOM
CHILR
CNBCW
DKIDS
DIY
ENCOR
ENCRW
EACTN
EDRAM
ELOVE
EMYST
EWAM
EWSTN

[James Long]

There is something odd going on with some people's accounts.

Encore East has been part of the Starz package for years.
Encore West was part of the AT250 package (and still is).
http://www.dishnetwork.com/packages/comparisonguide/default.aspx

Since the day Encore East was added as a HD channel DISH provided it to BOTH the "Starz! Super Pack" subscribers (and AEP customers) who pay for Encore East and the AT250 customers who pay for Encore West. A nice bonus as in effect they get Encore East without it being in the base SD package.

Perhaps that is what got lost when DISH rebuilt their packages last week. HD East being included with SD West at the AT250/HD250 level.

[GrumpyBear]

There is something odd going on with some people's accounts.

Encore East has been part of the Starz package for years.
Encore West was part of the AT250 package (and still is).
http://www.dishnetwork.com/packages/comparisonguide/default.aspx

Since the day Encore East was added as a HD channel DISH provided it to BOTH the "Starz! Super Pack" subscribers (and AEP customers) who pay for Encore East and the AT250 customers who pay for Encore West. A nice bonus as in effect they get Encore East without it being in the base SD package.

Perhaps that is what got lost when DISH rebuilt their packages last week. HD East being included with SD West at the AT250/HD250 level.
It still shows Encore(E)HD, included as part of the AT250 w/HD, in every reference. Really wierd anybody with AT250 w/HD would lose it, and how its only effecting a few(at least so far) users.

[tsmacro]

I was prepared to just accept that Encore (E) HD was just no longer included with my package but after seeing further evidence here that it should be including per Dish's own website it looks like i'll have to make another call and play another round of csr roulette.

[James Long]

It still shows Encore(E)HD, included as part of the AT250 w/HD, in every reference. Really wierd anybody with AT250 w/HD would lose it, and how its only effecting a few(at least so far) users.DISH added a "regional restriction" to Encore HD (and a few other channels) when making some changes on June 2nd that will affect Alaska and Hawaii. Perhaps that is what is not matching up.

[Paul Secic]

Ok just got off the phone and was told that the reason that I don't have Encore is because it's part of the the Starz package. I asked when that changed and I was told it has always been that way. I explained that I had Dish for over 6 1/2 years and that whenever I had subscribed to the top 250 or the Encore movie package I had always received it and that it had just recently disappeared over the weekend. I was told that I had must have been receiving it accidentally and that I should consider myself lucky that I got an extra channel that I hadn't been paying for. I pressed again and told him that you mean over all these years and all the times i've upgraded and downgraded my service, upgraded my equipment and not once in all those times it was ever noticed that my account was getting a channel I wasn't supposed to and my receiver kept authorizing me to receive it? Once again I asked are you sure this didn't recently change when they made the new changes at the end of last week. He assured me that it had always been this way and that the Encore movie package only included Encore West, Encore Western, Encore Action, Encore Mystery, Encore Drama and Encore Love (he didn't mention Encore WAM) and that Encore itself is part of the Starz package.

The CSR is right. You must subscribe to STARZ to get ENCORE channel 340 in HD.. I know it sound nuts.

[GrumpyBear]

DISH added a "regional restriction" to Encore HD (and a few other channels) when making some changes on June 2nd that will affect Alaska and Hawaii. Perhaps that is what is not matching up.
To be honest, I would have to defer to people like you, as I would have no idea. tsmarco, geographicly is pretty close to you, well at least on the longitude he is. Its just strange a AT250 w/HD user would lose Encore HD(I will say Encore HD from now on, as Encore West isn't HD, currently)

[GrumpyBear]

The CSR is right. You must subscribe to STARZ to get ENCORE channel 340 in HD.. I know it sound nuts.
No I don't think the CSR is right at all. I only have AT 250 w/HD and get Encore, and have for years. Every Dish site, shows Encore E HD only, still included in AT 250 w HD.

[Paul Secic]

You know it would've been ok (well I would've been disappointed over losing a channel but I would've accepted the answer) if he had just told me that according to his current info that Encore is part of the Starz package and when I questioned when that happened if he just told me he wasn't sure but that's how it is now I would've been satisfied. For him to insist that is the way its always been though just sorta irked me.

You can watch some ENCORE movies on RETROPLEX HD because STARZ also owns RETROPLEX HD, INDIEPLEX HD and MOVIEPLEX HD.

http://www.starz.com/channels/movieplex/retroplex/

[phrelin]

Has anyone dropped a note to ceo@ since this seems to be more than a problem for a single subscriber?

[tsmacro]

Ok just got off the phone and it took the CSR plenty of time of doing "research" while I waited on hold. This time I got told that I was indeed supposed to get the HD version of Encore E but not the SD version. Ok fine with me, it was only the HD version I cared about. Now she attempted to send a hit to my receiver but it wasn't working and ended up having her ask for my receiver #, smart card # and software version and told me she was referring my issue to engineering and that I should be expecting a call within 24 hours with and update.

[GrumpyBear]

Ok just got off the phone and it took the CSR plenty of time of doing "research" while I waited on hold. This time I got told that I was indeed supposed to get the HD version of Encore E but not the SD version. Ok fine with me, it was only the HD version I cared about. Now she attempted to send a hit to my receiver but it wasn't working and ended up having her ask for my receiver #, smart card # and software version and told me she was referring my issue to engineering and that I should be expecting a call within 24 hours with and update.

Well at least they understand you SHOULD be getting Encore HD. Hope it gets resolved soon.

[Paul Secic]

It still shows Encore(E)HD, included as part of the AT250 w/HD, in every reference. Really wierd anybody with AT250 w/HD would lose it, and how its only effecting a few(at least so far) users.

Before 2008 & HD I had AT 200 which didn't have ENCORE you could order it ala cart for $5 per month. For
some reason ENCORE/WAM wasn't included. I always thought it was odd.

[GrumpyBear]

Before 2008 & HD I had AT 200 which didn't have ENCORE you could order it ala cart for $5 per month. For
some reason ENCORE/WAM wasn't included. I always thought it was odd.

For as long as Encore east has been HD, Channel 340 has been included with the AT250 w/HD. You recieved all the Encore's that way.

[Paul Secic]

For as long as Encore east has been HD, Channel 340 has been included with the AT250 w/HD. You recieved all the Encore's that way.

Don't you have AT 200? Or am I mistaken? Just curious.:)

[GrumpyBear]

Don't you have AT 200? Or am I mistaken? Just curious.:)

No I have AT250, have for sometime. I add HBO and Showtime every so often, but drop them often too. I don't think I have referenced anything but AT250 anywere in this thread, if I did it was a fat finger, mistake.

[tsmacro]

So they said they'd call me back in 24 hours it's now over 36 and still no Encore HD and no they haven't gotten back to me. Well if I don't hear back by tonight it might be time to give that ceo e-mail a try. It's ceo@dishnetwork.com, right?

[phrelin]

So they said they'd call me back in 24 hours it's now over 36 and still no Encore HD and no they haven't gotten back to me. Well if I don't hear back by tonight it might be time to give that ceo e-mail a try. It's ceo@dishnetwork.com, right?Right, and be sure to include both the phone number associated with the account and a daytime phone number, and you might want to refer them to this DBSTalk thread (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=2493624#post2493624) to indicate that there are many who have this problem. (I've hyperlinked the blue text so all you need to do is copy and paste).

[tsmacro]

Right, and be sure to include both the phone number associated with the account and a daytime phone number, and you might want to refer them to this DBSTalk thread (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=2493624#post2493624) to indicate that there are many who have this problem. (I've hyperlinked the blue text so all you need to do is copy and paste).


Thanks, will do.

[Paul Secic]

No I have AT250, have for sometime. I add HBO and Showtime every so often, but drop them often too. I don't think I have referenced anything but AT250 anywere in this thread, if I did it was a fat finger, mistake.

I've got AEP now since September. That's probably why I get ENCORE ch 240 HD. I read a few months ago STARZ will add ENCORE West ch 241 HD at some point.

[tsmacro]

Ok well I never did hear back from anyone at Dish, but the important thing is that as of this am Encore HD is back! :)

[willymac]

still no encore HD for me, i guess I'll chat in again later on this evening

[willymac]

Well after chatting in, they rehit my receiver and now I have it once agian. They tried to do it about a week ago or so and it was unsucessful. Now if I could just get my local Fox station to come on, I'd be set, but thats a different subject.

[jsk]

I have AT250 (SD), no premiums and I don't think that I have ever had 340 (ENCOR), but I do have 341 (ENCRW) and all of the other Encore channels (342-347).

[GrumpyBear]

I have AT250 (SD), no premiums and I don't think that I have ever had 340 (ENCOR), but I do have 341 (ENCRW) and all of the other Encore channels (342-347).
340 is only included with AT250 w/HD. Some people, with HD and AT250 lost thier Encore340 when they flicked the switch to free HD., Why I don't think anybody has discovered.

[tcatdbs]

I chatted asking why my Ch 340 disappeared (after I switched from Starz to Showtime), thinking I was grandfatherd with Absolute to get Ch 340:

(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: When did you drop starz?
Tom: Yesterday
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: The issue is that the encore movie channel, is no longer part of the Encore package.
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: The encore movie pack is 341-346
Tom: I never subscribed to he Encore movie package, channel 340 was part of the Absolute HD package
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: I'm sorry, the channel is only a part of the Starz movie package
Tom: How come many of your other subscribers (on Absolute) still get channel 340?
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: No sir, sorry for the confusion.
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: I noticed it is listed on the Website, but it is not part of the package
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: That is why it is missing
Tom: I was "gauranteed" to get all the Absolute channels. I have a channel listing from your website of the "Absolute channels and Encore -E HD is on the list
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: I'm sorry for the confusion. We are working to update the Website as soon as possible and I completely understand your frustration, I would be upset too if advertised.
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: The starz pack is the only with 340
Tom: This is a list from 2 years ago, your site will not show this today. It's part of the "Absolute" package from what I understand.
Tom: Many customers are still getting channel 340, and many had it just "disappear"... see here: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=178775
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: DBstalk.com
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: That is not even our website sir?
Tom: That's where many of your customers go to find out what kind of problems you are having, this is one.
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: Try this link to see the channels.
The agent is sending you to http://www.dishnetwork.com/packages/programming/default.aspx.
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: That is our link for the packages.
Tom: I'm not interested in what you currently offer. I only want the channels I was promised in the "Absolute package" (that I have grandfathered)
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: Can you please press the menu button on the remote followed by 6 (System Setup), 1 (Installation), then 3 (System Info) and tell me what is listed in field E? (If Warning 504 appears please select yes to access the system info screen.)
Tom: RXX XXXX 4075-XX
Tom: and SXX XXXX 1887-XX
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: Thanks
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: Give me a moment to confirm what happened
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: As of 6/3/10, all the packages we have, were affected by the company wide change. the way it worked was that, the channel 340, is now only part of the STARZ movie package.
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: Since you don't have starz, that is why you don't have that channel anymore.
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: I would be happy to add it for you?
Tom: No thanks, I just dropped it yesterday. I guess being "grandfathered"to Absolute doesn't mean anything.
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: You were grandfathered, but the issue is not that.
(24DrDep) Edgar S.M3Q: channel 340, is now only part of the STARZ movie package only
Tom: OK

[DJ Lon]

Did anyone on the Western Arc lose 340?

Yes. I went through over an hour of CSR technobabble/rebooting/hold, please, etc. last Tuesday and still no 9505/340. I called back today and CSR saw notes on my account and said I need a new smart card. About an hour later 9505/340 mysteriously appeared. I haven't called back...yet.

UPDATE: Called Dish back, told 'em had 9505/340 now...they still insist on smart card replacement.

[nmetro]

So, if you have AT250, HD for Life, Platinum+HD, when DISH gave everyone HD for Life their wonderful engineers screwed up and dropped Encore HD East. And if you want Encore HD East again, you have to beg and plead with a CSR in India or the Philippines, who thinks they no English, to try to get a channel back that you are paying for? Is that correct? And DISH wonders why they are losing customers. Several months back; it was almost like an Act of Congress to get BET HD, and a couple of other HD channels (even though they were part of the package, the CSRs claimed up and down it wasn't). Back then it was all the different package color names that confused CSR's, what is it this time?

Not that I watch Encore East HD a lot, but the ideas of playing the CSR game gets old after a while.

[SaltiDawg]

...you have to beg and plead with a CSR in India or the Philippines, who thinks they no (sic) English, ...
This is the risk you take when you belittle people from other countries. :)

[RasputinAXP]

you have to beg and plead with a CSR in India or the Philippines, who thinks they no English, to try to get a channel back that you are paying for? Is that correct?


:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[nmetro]

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:


Good laugh at a person who is visually impaired and made a typo. I made a typo and I have severe nearsightedness. I did not see the typo before I sent the message. It goes to show the insensitive people on this blog.

And by the way, I see each job in India and the Philippines, as one unemployed American over here. So, I typed "no" instead of "know"; its that a crime?

[RasputinAXP]

Good laugh at a person who is visually impaired and made a typo. I made a typo and I have severe nearsightedness. I did not see the typo before I sent the message. It goes to show the insensitive people on this blog.

And by the way, I see each job in India and the Philippines, as one unemployed American over here. So, I typed "no" instead of "know"; its that a crime?

You'd think before making a nice, pejorative statement like you did that you'd have at least double-checked it. Aw, I'm insensitive. Well so are you. I'm Indian.

Well, not really. But see how we can both play the game?

Get back to the topic at hand. More time talking about Encore, less time slamming phone reps.

[Michael P]

I just signed up for "Free HD for Life" and was expecting to see Encore 340 HD since it's PUBLISHED as being part of 250HD (since they don't carry Encore West in HD they have been giving 250HD subs 340 in HD only and 341 in SD).

Well I too was not getting 340HD so I called tech support (my first call was on the day after "free HD for life" was first offered to existing subs). It did not take much convincing to prove that I was supposed to get the channel, and had actually received the channel in the past when I had 3 free months of Starz/Encore w/HBO a year ago.

When the tech failed to make it happen, they said that they were going to escalate the problem. I patently waited a week and then called back last Sunday. This time the tech did all the same things, but in a different order (pulling the plug first before running a check switch to force a download of the guide data) did the trick.

BTW: I believe the problem stems from the actual channel number 9505. That channel was not showing up in my guide, not even in the red (I keep my guide on "All Chan" so if it's not there it can't map down to 340).

What I don't understand is why other premium channels (SHO, HBO, Starz, SHOCS to name a few) do show up in the 9500's in red while others don't unless you subscribe.

I also don't understand how that chat person could make a blanket statement that 340 HD is no longer in 250 or absolute.

[James Long]

What I don't understand is why other premium channels (SHO, HBO, Starz, SHOCS to name a few) do show up in the 9500's in red while others don't unless you subscribe.There is a flag that can be set on the channel that can "hide" it to non-subscribers. Whether or not it is set depends on if DISH wants non-subscribers to see the channel and be tempted to subscribe. Locals are "hidden" because no one needs to see thousands of channels they can't subscribe to ... but the basic, Latino and most international channels are not hidden. (Dish can also flag unsubscribed channels green and link them to DISH Home Interactive for ordering.)

Sometimes the channels in red are not consistent.

[tcatdbs]

Are you saying you powered off and when it rebooted ch340 was there? My CSR guy also said it wasn't part of 250 or Absolute, and their online info was wrong and would be changed soon... Just curious if other Absolute subscribers who don't have Starz or Movie Pack, do still have channel 340.

I don't really care with all the other HD they've added to Absolute, but if I'm "supposed" to get it, I want it. Soon dropping HBO and ST, for Netflix on the Wii (don't have a 1080 TV anyway).


I just signed up for "Free HD for Life" and was expecting to see Encore 340 HD since it's PUBLISHED as being part of 250HD (since they don't carry Encore West in HD they have been giving 250HD subs 340 in HD only and 341 in SD).

Well I too was not getting 340HD so I called tech support (my first call was on the day after "free HD for life" was first offered to existing subs). It did not take much convincing to prove that I was supposed to get the channel, and had actually received the channel in the past when I had 3 free months of Starz/Encore w/HBO a year ago.

When the tech failed to make it happen, they said that they were going to escalate the problem. I patently waited a week and then called back last Sunday. This time the tech did all the same things, but in a different order (pulling the plug first before running a check switch to force a download of the guide data) did the trick.

BTW: I believe the problem stems from the actual channel number 9505. That channel was not showing up in my guide, not even in the red (I keep my guide on "All Chan" so if it's not there it can't map down to 340).

What I don't understand is why other premium channels (SHO, HBO, Starz, SHOCS to name a few) do show up in the 9500's in red while others don't unless you subscribe.

I also don't understand how that chat person could make a blanket statement that 340 HD is no longer in 250 or absolute.

[Michael P]

Are you saying you powered off and when it rebooted ch340 was there? My CSR guy also said it wasn't part of 250 or Absolute, and their online info was wrong and would be changed soon... Just curious if other Absolute subscribers who don't have Starz or Movie Pack, do still have channel 340.

I don't really care with all the other HD they've added to Absolute, but if I'm "supposed" to get it, I want it. Soon dropping HBO and ST, for Netflix on the Wii (don't have a 1080 TV anyway).

There were three steps to getting Encore HD to work. First you need to get on the phone with TECH SUPPORT, not just any CSR. That tech needs to "hit" your receiver after you pull the plug and wait about 10 - 15 seconds (a "hard reboot"). Then do a check switch, which when done forces an EPG download (which takes about 5 minutes).

The first time this was tried the check switch was done first before pulling the plug. The second tech said that you have to do a hard reboot first before the check switch/guide download.

The day 340 in HD is removed from 250HD is the day Encore West 341 goes on the air in HD (and not sooner). Any CSR making statements about 340 HD not being in 250 or Absolute is wrong! All the Tech Support people I spoke with since the day I got HD free for life agreed that 340 HD does indeed belong in 250HD (and by default in Absolute).