Questions for the Tech Chat May 13th, 2002

[Scott Greczkowski]

On Monday Night May 13th, Dish Network will be holding their Quarterly Tech Chat LIVE.

Channel 101 - 9-10 pm EST
Channel 251 - 9-10 pm EST

As the Tech Chat approaches we ask that you post your questions for the tech chat here.

Also on Monday May 13th we will open up our DBStalk.COM Chat area so that users can chat durring the chat. We will try to work with Dish Network so that they can view our chat as the Tech Chat airs on TV (who knows maybe they could read questions or comments directly from our chat!)

So think of your best technical questions and post them here!

[Mark Lamutt]

Dish Home has caused many problems with my 4900, and others 4900s and 3900s with random receiver lockups and crashes. Receivers have to be reset by pulling the power or smartcard. Will you fix the problem before sending it to the 501s (PLEASE!)?

[Chris Blount]

Dishplayer bugs that I've noticed since the last upgrade include momentary random blackouts and the Dishplayer being turned on every morning (stays on after the 3AM download).

While these aren't "big" problems they do become quite annoying. Any chance these will be fixed?

[Scott Greczkowski]

Will we FINALLY get to see a LIVE demonstration of the 721?

Showing a unit just sitting there not running does not do anything for me, show us what this baby can do!

[EricG]

Show us the DishPro line of LNBs and Switches.

[Neil Derryberry]

Better yet, give us a price and a release date!

[DarrellP]

When is the 921 coming out? Does it have a VGA connection?
Will a DVI/Firewire/HDCP module be developed for the 6000?
PSIP guide data for local OTA on the 6000?
Will the 6000 ever be fixed so it doesn't need a satellite connection?
VCR functions for the 501? (Slow mo, Frame advance)
Will the Frickin Timers ever get fixed on the 501? (I think 154 fixed them!)

Enough for this year!

[MarkA]

When's the next DISHPlayer upgrade to fix remaining bugs?

[10056753]

When can we see the benefits of the new e*7, and will this mean pixelization on sporting events (football especially) will go away? What do we need to do to take advantage of the new sat?

[STXJim]

I'm with Scott...
I wouldn't mind having the whole show devoted to the 721.
Oh...except for the last 10 min. Then we need to go to Circuit City and pick out a nice new silver TV to go with it.:rolleyes: :D

[Mark Holtz]

First of all... kudos on sending a "new features" video on the 501, adding search function, and the 9 day guide.

Secondly, whats the status of Echostar 8, and will we see the launch?

Also, will the timer screens be renovated to be more user friendly, and will we have the option of turning off "Mr. Blinky" the clock?

And, when will the 301 receivers hold a 44-hour guide again?

When will be able to use themes to show programming on just subscribed channels instead of all possible channels?

I stayed up for the download last night.It took the download,then crashed,then turned itself on for the 5 min EPG download.Is this a new revision of the 5 min. downlad bug? Oh and by the way after the 5 min. download it stayed on

[BobaBird]

This question was sent for the Feb 11 show, no response ever received:

In the past couple weeks there have been too many instances of the DISHPlayer failing to receive the program guide in the nightly download.

Given that:
- MSN can't seem to get the download package right even when notified of the problem
- DP seems to have trouble handling corrupt downloads
- The listings from MSN are not as accurate, for instance this Tech
Forum again does not appear on the DP guide
- The switch check or option code method of loading the 2-day guide takes 5-6 minutes
- The 501 gets a 9-day guide in 2 minutes

Can the DP be programmed to use 9-day guide from Dish instead of the guide from MSN, or at least instead of the 2-day guide?

[BobaBird]

This question was sent for the Feb 11 show, no response ever received:

There are a couple of small but frustrated group of customers who now have a need to view both 61.5 and 148.

- Locals on 148, HD Demo on 61.5
- Locals on 148, Sky Angel on 61.5

The first group can be satisfied by putting the Demo channel on 148 but that's not an option for Sky Angel.

A few users have experimented with an SW64 / SW21 cascade on the newer receivers that have 129 on the dish pointing screen. It seems to work but is unstable, requiring a switch check each time the receiver is turned on. Has this been tested? Opinions?

Others maintain that connecting 61.5 and 148 at the same time will confuse the receiver. True? Any adverse effects?

Is there, or will there be, an officially supported method of viewing 4 satellites on a single receiver?

[BobaBird]

This question was sent for the Feb 11 show, no response ever received though a few parts of it were touched on in the scripted part of the show:

When will the Pro line switches be available?
Will they work with existing LNBs?
Will they work with older (pre 301/501/721) receivers?
What are the advantages?

Any chance of getting a switch with more than 4 outputs. A single Dish account can have up to 6 receivers. Also each dual tuner receiver* will take 2 outputs. Seems a 6 or 8 output switch would be less expensive and simpler to install than the dual SW64/SW44 solution.

*By the way, when will the 721 be released?

Follow-up to Feb 11 Forum: Are the existing Twin and Quad part of the dish pro line? You showed what looked like a Twin with the dish pro logo, leading me to think it is different.

[MarkA]

Hey 10056753, I can answer your question for you! So you don't need to waste Charlie's time: (and you can get a more honest answer:):

"When can we see the benefits of the new e*7"

today, spots are starting

"and will this mean pixelization on sporting events (football especially) will go away?"

No, pixelization is a fact of life in an MPEG2 compression environment. It can be significantly reduced. However, I doubt it will be reduced much by the spots since they just want them to add more channels at the current quality

"What do we need to do to take advantage of the new sat?

A DISH Network satellite receiver connected to a satellite DISH pointed correctly to 119° W.L.

[jmeluni]

When will Echostar 8 launch and will Syracuse, NY locals be added after it's launched?

[Adam Richey]

How much of the interactive content is going to be free? I do not want to pay for the games because I wouldn't play them that much. Also, are there any updates on new locals cities or new locals for cities already provided? Any new basic channels coming?

[JWT]

"A few users have experimented with an SW64 / SW21 cascade on the newer receivers that have 129 on the dish pointing screen. It seems to work but is unstable, requiring a switch check each time the receiver is turned on. Has this been tested? Opinions? "

I have this setup for my 301 & 501. Both seem to be stable but the 301 will go through spurts of the " problem detecting multiswitch screen" but most of the time if I leave it alone it automatically works after about 15 seconds. If that doesn`t work then I go to the point dish screen and see which satellite is only being seen then scroll over and select that satellite and usually it will see the others after selecting the only one it sees. Very rarely do I have to do the complete check switch. And the 501 has never had a problem with the switch set-up since I installed it.

[Jacob S]

(> When is caller id being added to 301?
(> Is dishpro lnbf and switch compatible with non dishpro lnbf and receivers?
(> When is 721, 522, etc. coming out?
(> When are we going to be able to use the serial port on the 501 to connect hardware to it?

All other info and questions is at my website

[Scott Greczkowski]

1) I understand that the 301 has caller id now
2) No the Dishpro LNBS and switches will onlyh with with Dishpro receivers. In order for them to work with older legacy receivers you will need a special adaptor on each legacy receiver.
3) The 721 will be out in very limited quanaties at the end of May. The 522 is due early next year.
4) I dont have an answer for that one. :D

[STXJim]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski

The 721 will be out at the end of May.


Scott...You crack me up!:D

I would like to see final answers and reasons E* can't offer...

OpenTV on the 6000. MSRP $499 (flag ship 2001)
All Sub on the 5000. MSRP $399 (flag ship 1998)

E* appears more interested in investing upgrade dollars into their low end receivers. So given the existing formula, a sub looking to upgrade equipment, or a new sub looking to buy equipment should not invest any money into any E* (flag ship) models. The equipment will be quickly be abandoned by E*.

[John Walsh]

Give us some insight on the 921. Realistic release date etc. (I know that is asking a lot)

[STXJim]

I'm beginning to wonder if the Tech Forum is still going to be aired.
It's not listed in the EPG and it isn't posted on Dishnetwork's web site.:shrug:

[Scott Greczkowski]

After the news that comes out tommorow they might want to reconsider airing it.

Stay Tuned. :D

(I do hope the show goes on though!)

[MarkA]

Guest, to make things worse, Echostar claimed the 6000 would be upgraded to OpenTV for a long time. That's grounds for a lawsuit if you have a 6000 IMHO:)

[Marcus S]

E* promised All Sub for the 5000 on one of the Charlie Chat's, then later retracted, using the not enough memory excuse. E* will probably pull that same excuse out for the 6000. Agree that the two most expensive models made (less the JVC D player) get the back seat of upgrades every time.

[Scott Greczkowski]

The 5000 is dead. Dish Network confirmed today that it will stop broadcasting its HD Channels in a format which the Dish 5000 can receive.

Check this out for more information http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3537

(BTW this is the BIG NEWS that I have been hinting to over the past few days) :)

[Richard King]

The 5000 is dead.

No, it's not. To say so is simply an exaggeration. It may eventually be dead for those with the HDTV module, but this is a small subset of 5000 owners. None of my model 5000 customers that I am aware of have the HDTV module. This is no big deal in the whole scheme of things.
(BTW this is the BIG NEWS that I have been hinting to over the past few days)
I hope you get more significant news next time. ;)

[Mark Lamutt]

This is big news to the people looking at paying huge amounts of money to record HBO-HD and Showtime-HD, and to those who recently have. The 5000 with HD modulator was the only way to record HD signals off of satellite, and with this upgrade, that ability goes the way of the dinosaur. Yes, this affects only a very small number of people, but those people have a lot of money invested in their equipment don't think that this is not a big deal.

Of course, on the other hand, Dish has never supported the recording of HD material, and really has no choice but to shut it down to appease the MPAA. And, in the long run, this move will bring me more HDTV, so as one of the people that didn't pick up a 5000 and modulator to record HD, I'm all for it. I am looking very much forward to the upcoming Discovery-HD channel.

[Chris Blount]

Originally posted by Rking401

This is no big deal in the whole scheme of things.


You are correct but it does hold significance to many people and very well worth knowing especially to those who were planning to spend large amounts of money to get their hands on the equipment.

Also, just today, we have already had over 2000 extra visitors reading just that one story. Sure, it may not effect them directly but it could effect their future purchases.

[John Corn]

Is there a Tech Chat tonight, I still can't find any info pertaining to one?:confused:

[Chris Blount]

The Tech Chat is (or might be) May 13th.

[John Corn]

:lol: hmmmm, I don't why I was thinking it was tonight.

[Mark Holtz]

According to my 501 guide... (times listed Pacific)...

101 - 6-7p Live Technical Forum
251 - 6-7p Live Technical Forum

The question now is... will TNGTony, the transponder chart god, be providing the transcript? :D

[Scott Greczkowski]

Z'Loth to answer your question, no TNGTony will not be doing the transcript, he is taking a well deserved vacation, I understand hes driving up North to see sights he has never seen before.

He will be back in a few weeks though.

I hope he has a great vacation!

[Geronimo]

So what format will it be in? What receiver can view it? what upgrade path is provided?

[STXJim]

Originally posted by John Corn

I don't why I was thinking it was tonight.

Me too.:shrug:

[markh]

As long as they take care of the 5000 owners then it's no big deal. Except that they go from 2 HD channels to 3 per transponder. That is if I read Scott's story right. A 1/3 increase in HD is big. Even bigger if I had HDTV. :)

[Scott Greczkowski]

Heres one for the tech chat.

Actually this one has been bugging me for quite awhile, just never thought to ask it untill now.

When with the Dish 6000 support the OTA EPG Data sent by Digital Stations via their PSIP stream?

I would be nice to see show listings instead of "Digital Programming" listed on my 6000 epg.

[HTguy]

Originally posted by BobaBird

A few users have experimented with an SW64 / SW21 cascade on the newer receivers that have 129 on the dish pointing screen. It seems to work but is unstable, requiring a switch check each time the receiver is turned on.

FYI, BobaBird, I use this set-up & occasionally get the "problem has been detected with your switch..." error message.

But it turns out that a switch test is not really necessary. "OKing" out of the message window usually brings up the video normally and/or changing chs or using the guide results in normal operation.

Another minor issue occurs where channels are duplicated on 61.5 & 148. If you are on one of the duplicates you can not go up/down in the direction of the twin since the rcvr "thinks" you are already on that ch. So you have to use "Browse" or the EPG to get past it.

These are essentially minor quirks, however, and once you know the work-arounds they are not big deals.

[psecic]

Why does Dishplayer with WebTV turns off suddenly when flippng channels in the 8000s? Also when are they going to take down locals in the 232-248 range? Seems like a waste of bandwith to me.

[Mark Lamutt]

I don't know about the Dishplayer, psecic, but the locals in the 232-248 range, and the rest of them in the 700's aren't taking any additional bandwidth because they are mirrored onto those channels from their base channels. One signal mapped over several different channels. Of course, if they are duplicated on the conus beams and spot beams at the same time, then they take additional bandwidth.

[John Corn]

Remember on the Charlie Chat when they mentioned the idea that allowed local channels to be numbered identical to their DMA?
When is this gonna happen? :confused:

[Mark Holtz]

Yeah, but what happens to that numbering scheme when a channel is represented by two channel numbers, not one.

[Scott Greczkowski]

When will the new Platinum keyboard for the 721 be released? How long from when the 721 comes out will it take before we can use the Web Browsing / Broadband aspects of the 721?

Thanks in advance!

[invaliduser88]

Originally posted by John Corn
Remember on the Charlie Chat when they mentioned the idea that allowed local channels to be numbered identical to their DMA?
When is this gonna happen? :confused:

Imagine the confusion for those of us with 6000's /w OA modules....