New Dish Software Coming! (Moves Locals!)

[Scott Greczkowski]

Check this out, this email was just forwarded to me.

REMEMBER YOU HEARD THIS NEWS FIRST HERE ON DBSTALK.COM!

LOCAL DMA SOFTWARE UPDATE

Folks,

Please note that beginning Tuesday, June 11, a new software release to update the local market packages will begin to roll out to subscribers' receivers. The release will affect the local market packages in two ways:

1 All stations in a local DMA will appear on the EPG regardless of
whether a subscriber has a dish antenna pointed to the correct satellite to receive the service. If a customer selects a channel that requires a second dish but doesn't have one installed, a slate will appear on that channel advising the subscriber to call 1-800-333-DISH (1-800-333-3474) to schedule a second dish install.

2 The release will also provide channel mapping for local stations for subscribers with OpenTV boxes, 3900, 4900, 301, and 501. Subscribers with these receivers can now find their favorite local station on the same channel number as can be found from an off-air signal. For instance, in New York City, WABC is on local channel 7. DISH Network subscribers who live in the New York DMA will also be able to tune to Channel 7 to receive WABC.
Please note the software will be released in stages and not all receivers will be updated on June 11. Barring unforeseen circumstances, we anticipate the project will be completed by the end of July.

Please pass this information along to the appropriate personnel and don't hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

Thanks,
Marsha

[John Corn]

Cool, this was mass confusion for my wife, I know she will like that. She just couldn't seem to remember our local stations. :)

[Geronimo]

Of course those of us with a 7200 and a 3700 might wait forever.

[Mark Holtz]

Hmmmmm......

At present, in order to enter a 7xx or 8xx channel number, you enter the three digits and wait, or start it with a leading zero. I wonder how that will work with single/double digit numbers.

Also, in DMAs where the station is known by two channel numbers (i.e. Birmingham, AL), are they going to use both channels?

[DDRio]

I wonder if this will work with distant locals!!!

[lee635]

Originally posted by Geronimo
Of course those of us with a 7200 and a 3700 might wait forever.

How about us with 2000 and 3000 units????

[Scott Greczkowski]

I think only the opentv receivers will be the only ones to get this feature. :(

Oh well.

[DDRio]

With NY/LA & Superstations distants you get ch 2,4,5,7 twice!!!

[scooper]

Sounds like a reason to trade in the 2800 for a 301 to me ! I KNOW where our favorite local news channel is, but the wife ALWAYS goes to her favorites list to find it.

[Karl Foster]

That is great news for E* subs. It always bugs the crap out of me at my in-laws and I can never find the local channels on their system. I have been spoiled with D* and haven't had to deal with it (and thanks to Steve, I know why). Those who are technically-challenged will really appreciate this.

[pmichael]

This is indeed good news for E* subscribers. I know my wife will appreciate finding local channels mapped to the channel numbers she is used to finding them on.

[TNGTony]

Since I have a 4000, 7200 and 1000, I won't see this. But DDRio I'm 99.99999% certain that the local mapping will ONLY work for the LOCAL package and not distant packages. Those that have two local packages (not distant networks) by accident from Dish with this upgrade may have a problem! :)

See ya
Tony

[cnsf]

So, it seems we Dishplayer owners get the shaft again. :-(

Would have been nice, but now that my wife is used to scanning through 241, 243, 245, etc., getting her back to 2, 4, 5, 7 may be a new issue......

I still can't justify buying two 501s.....any suggestions on whether to think about the 501s now or wait for the 721s?

[DarrellP]

This would really confuse a 6000!

[Adam Richey]

I'm happy to hear this. It's a little unexpected, but I look forward to this.

[jrjcd]

i guess not enough folk are calling up dnsc for their free(by next year) second dish...lol

[psecic]

Originally posted by Z'Loth
Hmmmmm......

At present, in order to enter a 7xx or 8xx channel number, you enter the three digits and wait, or start it with a leading zero. I wonder how that will work with single/double digit numbers.

Also, in DMAs where the station is known by two channel numbers (i.e. Birmingham, AL), are they going to use both channels?

What about the dang Dishplayer?

[ElJefe]

Originally posted by Z'Loth
Hmmmmm......

At present, in order to enter a 7xx or 8xx channel number, you enter the three digits and wait, or start it with a leading zero. I wonder how that will work with single/double digit numbers.


On my 3900, using a leading 0 for 7xx, 8xx, 9xx channel numbers results in the reciver stopping after 3 digits (07x, 08x, 09x) and jumping to channel 100. The only way for me to go directly to 7xx, 8xx, or 9xx channels is to wait after entering the number. Kind of annoying. It's why I've been using the 8xxx numbers for my locals instead.

[DarrellP]

On the 6000 a leading 0 takes you to your local digital channels. Channel 30 is 03001 (or 03002 if more than 1 sub channel).

[SParker]

I wish the 2700 and 3700 receivers would get this :(

[Geronimo]

In a recent Charley Cat Charley said thsi would come to all of us. Maybe if we wish really hard.

[SParker]

it surely wouldn't take much code to do it.

[psecic]

Originally posted by SParker
I wish the 2700 and 3700 receivers would get this :(

REALLY!

[Craig Fogus]

If I understand this correctly, coming June 11th, Dish will move locals to a different satellite? I will need a second dish??

Someone mentioned a second dish for free offer? Installed?

Assuming I need a second dish, how is this going to affect my plans for buying a 701? I currently have a twin lnb with two receivers (501 and a 5000) I was going to buy a quad lnb and a 701 to replace the 501. Sorry for so many questions! TIA

[HTguy]

Originally posted by cfogus
If I understand this correctly, coming June 11th, Dish will move locals to a different satellite? I will need a second dish??

Someone mentioned a second dish for free offer? Installed?

Assuming I need a second dish, how is this going to affect my plans for buying a 701? I currently have a twin lnb with two receivers (501 and a 5000) I was going to buy a quad lnb and a 701 to replace the 501. Sorry for so many questions! TIA

No, they're not moving ch's on 6/11, they are starting to "remap" them on rcvrs w/ Open TV like your 501 (not your 5000.)

I don't know what DMA you are in but if you currently get any locals from DishNW there may be a few you are not currently seeing on the 61.5 satellite. If so, you qualify for the free 2nd dish if you want them. However, they may all be on a spot beam you would get on the Dish500 soon.

If you don't need or want the 2nd dish you will want to swap the TWIN for a QUAD, like you said, when you get the 721. You can cascade either your TWIN or the QUAD you get later to a 2nd dish with SW-21 switches but only 2 "drops" will see the 2nd dish (both feeds of the 721 or one feed to both rcvrs w/only one feed to the 721 seeing the ch's on 61.5)

The only way to get feeds from all 3 sats (61.5, 110 & 119) to all inputs would be to swap the TWIN on the D500 for 2 dual LNBs and use a SW-64 switch to combine them with the dual LNB on the 2nd dish.

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by cfogus
If I understand this correctly, coming June 11th, Dish will move locals to a different satellite? I will need a second dish??

Someone mentioned a second dish for free offer? Installed?

Assuming I need a second dish, how is this going to affect my plans for buying a 701? I currently have a twin lnb with two receivers (501 and a 5000) I was going to buy a quad lnb and a 701 to replace the 501. Sorry for so many questions! TIA


Sometimes things get twisted around in here.


The topic of the thread is not moving locals from one satellite to another. It is a software change that will allow to see your locals on a different channel number. In this case your local ch 4 would be at Ch 4 not at 8xxx.


I don't know where you live but if any of your locals happen to be at 61.5 you can get them by calling 1 800-3474 and asking for a free dish.


If that is required in your case you will need a SW64 to get a 721 (I am not aware of a 701).


Happy viewing.

[Craig Fogus]

OK. That makes sense. I did mean 721. Sorry about that! Thanks!