Potential newbie has questions

[Mike109]

I’m considering dumping Comcast & get Dish. I’ve read through several threads & also visited a couple Dish dealers. The dealer’s sales people only know basic product information & I’m getting conflicting info. So I have a few questions.

If I add an external HDD do I need the Dish DVR in order to watch the programs, or can I just plug the drive into my PC and watch the programs? IOW if I cancel Dish at some point in time will the programs on the external drive become non-watchable?

Can I copy programs from the DVR and save them to my PC in a watchable format? This almost sounds like the above question but is slightly different.

What connection do I need in order to order an on demand or PPV program, a land line phone or Ethernet?

One salesperson said all on-demand is 1080p and that I would need a 1080P HDTV in order to watch it. Is this true?

Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

[garys]

You would need an HD receiver, either a 211 (non-dvr) or a dvr model, 622, 722(k) or 922. EHD's do not work with another other receivers. No, copying them will not work as they are encrypted and will only playback through a Dish receiver (should answer both similar questions). PPV can be ordered through any receiver (no connections required), on demand is through the HD dvr receivers hooked up via eithernet. On Demand is not all 1080p and can be played through most tv's, (sounds like person trying to sell you new tv).

[shadough]

Q 1: Refer to post above cuz I'm not sure, but wouldn't a 222k receiver also be compatitble w/ the EHD?

Q 2: You can save files on the EHD and even transfer to a pc but they will need to be transferred back to the EHD an conncted to the receiver to watch them. Not sure if you can watch them if the receiver has no service or not *shrug*

Q 3: You will need either a phone line OR ethernet to order PPV. Some older model receivers can order with neither but thru my expierence, I'm not able to even order PPV unless either a phone or internet connection is connected.

Q 4: There is some 1080p content but no, not everything is.

[SaltiDawg]

...

Q 2: You can save files on the EHD and even transfer to a pc but they will need to be transferred back to the EHD an conncted to the receiver to watch them. ...

I don't believe this is correct. You can "transfer" a file by viewing the file on the Dish receiver and taking an analog SD signal out and sending it to a PC with a TV card. (S-video or composite signals.) The resulting file would be down-rezzed SD and there is no way to record that signal back to the EHD... and I don't see why you would want to. :)

[phrelin]

I’m considering dumping Comcast & get Dish. I’ve read through several threads & also visited a couple Dish dealers. The dealer’s sales people only know basic product information & I’m getting conflicting info. So I have a few questions.

If I add an external HDD do I need the Dish DVR in order to watch the programs, or can I just plug the drive into my PC and watch the programs? IOW if I cancel Dish at some point in time will the programs on the external drive become non-watchable?EHD drives are Linux format and the files are specially encrypted. You can only watch them on Dish equipment - and only on the active account which is reflected in the code assigned to the drive - and if it's set up on one of the ViP DVR's on that account, it can only be viewed through a ViP DVR on that account currently or in the future. It's my understanding you can't move EHD's between ViP DVR's and the non-DVR receivers even if like the 211 they can become a DVR using an EHD.Can I copy programs from the DVR and save them to my PC in a watchable format? This almost sounds like the above question but is slightly different.If you literally mean "copy" as in copying a file between drives, the answer is no. If you mean can you backup what's on your EHD, there are methods. But the files are not viewable on a computer. You can play back content from your Dish DVR and record it on your computer or DVD recorder.What connection do I need in order to order an on demand or PPV program, a land line phone or Ethernet?

One salesperson said all on-demand is 1080p and that I would need a 1080P HDTV in order to watch it. Is this true?Either, for the stuff that's downloaded from the satellites overnight and shows up on the 500's channels. Currently on my 722 I have 43 listed that are HD and require HDMI and 30 that are DVD quality. You can also order on-line movies and other programming that requires an internet connection and works fine. But it has to be downloaded requiring time in "hours" then watched. At this point in time, that content is not streamed.

The "on demand" content quantity is not as good with satellite as it is with Comcast. But it is there.

[garys]

Q 1: Refer to post above cuz I'm not sure, but wouldn't a 222k receiver also be compatitble w/ the EHD?

Q 2: You can save files on the EHD and even transfer to a pc but they will need to be transferred back to the EHD an conncted to the receiver to watch them. Not sure if you can watch them if the receiver has no service or not *shrug*

Q 3: You will need either a phone line OR ethernet to order PPV. Some older model receivers can order with neither but thru my expierence, I'm not able to even order PPV unless either a phone or internet connection is connected.

Q 4: There is some 1080p content but no, not everything is.

1. No, the 222 cannot use an EHD.
2. No, if the EHD is hooked up to a pc, it would need to be reformated when reconnected to the receiver thus erasing the recordings.
3. PPV can be ordered through your account on Dish's website or via telephone call, the receivers do not to be connected to anything for this to work.

[GrumpyBear]

1. No, the 222 cannot use an EHD.
2. No, if the EHD is hooked up to a pc, it would need to be reformated when reconnected to the receiver thus erasing the recordings.
3. PPV can be ordered through your account on Dish's website or via telephone call, the receivers do not to be connected to anything for this to work.

Sorry please lookup DISHarc, and you will find lots of information about backing up and restoring a Dish EHD. I just upgraded 3 differnt 1TB drives, to 3 brand new 2TB drives and moved all the saved shows from the 1TB drives to the 2TB drives, by doing a backup and restore. Computers don't just format a EHD once it gets attached. If you are running a Windows box, get the Unix extensions or get a Unix utility, and you can mount the EHD and backup your EHD's all day long, and restore when ever you want too. The encrypton key is for the household and not for just a particular DVR and EHD.

Now you will need a Dish Reciever to watch any of the shows on the EHD. As Phrelin said there is a encryption key. The encryption key is a household key, so a EHD(s) can be moved from any 612, 622, 722, and 922, to any 612, 622, 722, 922 on your account. 211's support EHD's but that EHD can NOT be shared with a 612, 622, 722, or 922, as the soft ware is written to it. Dish EHDS also do NOT disable the enternal Hard disk that comes with the DVR.

[Stewart Vernon]

If I add an external HDD do I need the Dish DVR in order to watch the programs, or can I just plug the drive into my PC and watch the programs? IOW if I cancel Dish at some point in time will the programs on the external drive become non-watchable?

Programs on the EHD will only be watchable on the Dish DVR you connect to (or if you have similar 612/622/722/722K/922 you can share between all receivers on your account).

If you cancel Dish, you will no longer be able to watch programs on the EHD, even if you own the Dish receivers as opposed to lease. Also, you likely would not be able to re-activate Dish again and use them because your account would change. Note, there *may* be a way to get your old account activated if you haven't been gone too long.

Can I copy programs from the DVR and save them to my PC in a watchable format? This almost sounds like the above question but is slightly different.

No. While technically speaking you could connect to a computer that recognizes the Linux partition and see what is on the hard drive and move it around... nothing you do will help you to watch those programs in any other way than attached to a Dish DVR on your account.

What connection do I need in order to order an on demand or PPV program, a land line phone or Ethernet?

You can order PPV from the Dish Web site without connecting to a phone or Ethernet. You can also order PPV over the phone, but I believe they charge extra for that.

IF you don't connect to either phone or Ethernet, you could (depending on your configuration and Dish's mood) find yourself getting called as to why your receiver isn't connecter per the terms of service.

Dish On Demand content is transferred via SAT to your receiver, usually overnight, and can be watched immediately if you are connected to phone/Ethernet to place the order.

Dish Online content is delivered via broadband, however, and can only be ordered and watched if you are connected via Ethernet.

One salesperson said all on-demand is 1080p and that I would need a 1080P HDTV in order to watch it. Is this true?

Dish does have some On Demand and Online 1080p content... but you do not have to have a 1080p HDTV to watch it. Usually these cost more to rent, so there isn't a whole lot of reason to pay to rent these if you don't have a 1080p HDTV... so you would rent the non-1080p versions instead... BUT if you wanted, you can still rent them and they will play in a lower resolution that your TV supports.

[SaltiDawg]

...

IF you don't connect to either phone or Ethernet, you could (depending on your configuration and Dish's mood) find yourself getting called as to why your receiver isn't connecter per the terms of service. ...
I thought the requirement to be so connected was done away with this past Spring. :confused:

[Jim5506]

I thought the requirement to be so connected was done away with this past Spring. :confused:


It was.

They were charging $5 per receiver and forgiving if connected, last Feb the dropped the forgiveness and connection is no longer required.

[Stewart Vernon]

It was.

They were charging $5 per receiver and forgiving if connected, last Feb the dropped the forgiveness and connection is no longer required.

Not true.

They did away with the $5 credit for dual tuner receivers connected to a phone line... but the requirement is still in the terms and conditions.

You might not have a problem if you have a single receiver and not connected... but you can be sure that if you have several receivers and none connected to a phone line that you will get a call at some point from the audit department.

It's still very clear in the terms & conditions that either a phone or internet connection is required.

[SaltiDawg]

...
It's still very clear in the terms & conditions that either a phone or internet connection is required.
Those very same Terms & Conditions still specify that they may collect the $5 Fee if you don't do so.

[Mike109]

Thanks everyone for all the information.

Regarding watching TV series that one might have missed. For example if I did not record "CSI" with Comcast, I can watch it as free HD On Demand as they have popular TV series available going back 4 or 5 episodes. The one Dish salesperson showed me one such program from last week, but he did not know if they could go back to earlier episodes.

Can Dish go back several episodes/weeks for some TV programs?

[Stewart Vernon]

Those very same Terms & Conditions still specify that they may collect the $5 Fee if you don't do so.

Which is why we shouldn't assume just because they aren't doing it that they can't enforce the clause in the terms...

[Stewart Vernon]

Thanks everyone for all the information.

Regarding watching TV series that one might have missed. For example if I did not record "CSI" with Comcast, I can watch it as free HD On Demand as they have popular TV series available going back 4 or 5 episodes. The one Dish salesperson showed me one such program from last week, but he did not know if they could go back to earlier episodes.

Can Dish go back several episodes/weeks for some TV programs?

Dish has what it has... I know that sounds wishy-washy :) I've seen some shows that they have multiple episodes available via Dish Online for broadband download... but I've seen other shows that only have a single episode.

I'm honestly not sure what contracts they have in place for what content... so I usually just search and see if something is there, which I know doesn't help your specific question.

[James Long]

Those very same Terms & Conditions still specify that they may collect the $5 Fee if you don't do so.
That's not the worst they can do under the Terms & Conditions ... Deactivating receivers not connected to a phone line seems to be a favorite trick. Kind of annoying.

[SaltiDawg]

Not true.

They did away with the $5 credit for dual tuner receivers connected to a phone line... but the requirement is still in the terms and conditions.
... .

Stewart,

I'm seeing more and more people posting saying they understand that the requirement no longer exists. Do you know where they got that impression? If true, it wouldn't be the first time that E* was simply tardy in updating their web site.

[Kent Taylor]

Wasn't that requirement dropped in February? That's where I got the impression.

[GrumpyBear]

The Credit went away, so that is why most believe the Requirement went away. Those under the 3 DVR threshold will probably never hear about not having the phone line or network connected. Now those over 4+, could get that friendly/unfriendly call, from the audit department. Just ask that consumer guy on CNN, that had his shutdown, for not having the phoneline connected. Audit department struck.

[Stewart Vernon]

As Grumpy said... the $5 credit went away this past Feb, and some people have ran with that as thinking the requirement went away too.

BUT that is just as erroneous as was the people who thought previously the choice was $5 or connect. Even if you paid the $5 in the past for not-connecting, the requirement was not waived... and if you were audited you could still fail and have receivers deactivated.

A lot of people don't even know about the requirement at all, so it doesn't take much erroneous info to convince them of the misunderstanding... and I suspect you'll get the usual mixed bag of info from a Dish CSR if you called and asked them about it.

All we really have to go on is that the terms and conditions document hasn't been changed to drop the connection requirement AND we still see people with multiple receivers popping in from time to time to say they were audited OR had receivers deactivated and they had to go through the audit group to get service back.

[SaltiDawg]

...

All we really have to go on is that the terms and conditions document hasn't been changed to drop the connection requirement AND we still see people with multiple receivers popping in from time to time to say they were audited OR had receivers deactivated and they had to go through the audit group to get service back.
Stewart,

Nothing after "AND" in your above says anything about whether or not there is a requirement to have a phone connection.

The fact that the terms and conditions have not been updated may not be definitive.

[James Long]

Nothing after "AND" in your above says anything about whether or not there is a requirement to have a phone connection.Actually, it does. DISH continues to enforce the requirement to have a phone connection. Consider any action that restarts the receivers without a phone line connection (such as completion of the audit process) a temporary waiver. They WILL call again if you don't connect all receivers to a phone line.

For those who have not connected phone lines and have not been audited or lost use of receivers rejoice! Those who have dealt with the audit team or had receivers go dead due to a bad phone line connection can tell you - the phone line requirement is real and often enforced.

[Dish.Girl]

Wasn't that requirement dropped in February? That's where I got the impression.

Some-what correct. They aren't charging the customers, but they are pressing technicians to connect via Internet on ViP model receivers or by phone on standard equipment.

I give it a few weeks, they'll start penalizing subs for failure to connect.

[GrumpyBear]

Some-what correct. They aren't charging the customers, but they are pressing technicians to connect via Internet on ViP model receivers or by phone on standard equipment.

I give it a few weeks, they'll start penalizing subs for failure to connect.

I doubt Dish will be penalizing subs over not having it, until they go back to giving you $5 off your account for having it, and I don't see that happening either.

Only people that have to worry about it, are those with 4+ DVR/recievers. Audit dept will keep those people on thier toes.

[CABill]

I doubt Dish will be penalizing subs over not having it, until they go back to giving you $5 off your account for having it, and I don't see that happening either.

Even today DISH continues to penalize some people $5/month for not having a phone connection on a Duo. Not sure of the precise rules but if someone had 3 Duos and NONE were connected and they were charged (could be waived, ...) the $5 under the old rules, they were charged $5/month for each Duo after the 1st when other people started getting $5 credits for 6 months to ease the extra receiver fee increases. AFAIK, to folks that got the $5/month charges didn't stop after 6 months like the credits did.

[Jim5506]

Waiver of the $5 charge was done away with in February for everyone - everybody now pays it whether they are connected or not, it's included in the new fee structure.

[James Long]

Even today DISH continues to penalize some people $5/month for not having a phone connection on a Duo.Really? As a separate line item on the bill? That should have ended in February.

[CABill]

Really? As a separate line item on the bill? That should have ended in February.
Yes, Really!
TV2 Receiver Connection $5
continues to appear as a line item on certain people's bills. And it is correct. It did end for most people, but buried in some of the Addl Rec price increase threads is info on the people that the fee would NOT be disappearing for. Mabye morphing into a different named $5 fee, can't recall. There was someone here just a week or so ago that was still being billed the $5 because his old Duo hadn't been removed from the account. Once it was removed, the $5 TV2 fee disappeared as well. Other posts here this summer with the fee.

Waiver of the TV2 charge was NOT done away with for everyone. It went away for the vast majority, but there were people that were paying the $5 in Feb and continued to pay it on subsequent bills. It didn't apply to me, but it was something close to
multiple Duos where none were connected would continue to be charged $5/month for each, with the 1st Duo exempted.
Something else about having a Duo flagged was fee waived entered into the picture too.

We'd need a CSR/TSR to confirm if it is really supposed to still be charged or disappear 6 months after Feb like the $5 credits. It seems to still exist on some users August bills as TV2 Receiver Connection $5.

[James Long]

It sounds like DISH needs to purge their system of this charge.

[RHCP]

I'm not a Dish employee, but the way I heard is that the "No TV2 Connection Fee" is charged, or not, depending on whether you had a phone line connected prior to 2/1/10:

- New customers don't get charged the fee.

- Existing customers who were getting charged continued to be charged.

- Existing customers who had at least one receiver connected prior to 2/1/10 don't get charged. And, those who had more than one receiver connected got $5 credits for six months for each additional dual tuner receiver connected.

[retexan599]

I noticed that my (online) billing statements changed back in 2009 in regard to the "TV2 Receiver Connection" and "You Saved $5....Phone Line..." notation. The notation was on my statements until the August 12, 2009 statement when it disappeared and has not resurfaced as of my latest billing. I had always had a phone connection, so the $5 was always waived for me. I attached a snip of those statements for reference.

I was interested in this subject because the phone connection on my ViP622 stopped working a few months ago -- it's not the phone cord per se because I can connect a land line phone the end of the cord and get a dial tone. But the same cord plugged into the receiver does not work (no Caller I.D. announcement and it will say no phone connection when I do that diagnostice test). So I was wondering when or if I will get tagged for the lack of a phone connection. It's not really a problem for me, if it is not a problem for Dish. Thanks.