P3.85 and OTA Guide-Again

[johnr475]

I got my hand slapped for posting this in the 811 support forum. Let's see if it gets slapped for posting in the general discussion forum:

I just checked this morning and my local guide data was gone. I also checked software version and it's 3.85. They want you to sub to locals just to get guide info. I won't be held hostage by Dish. That's the reason why I haven't upgraded to a new 211. Fios is in my not too distant future. So Dish is going to potentially lose a $90 a month sub because they removed guide data to try and squeeze me for 5 bucks. Now thats a real sound business plan!:D

[Michael P]

Here, here!

[lparsons21]

Well, I won't slap your hand, but why would you think Dish has an obligation of any sort to provide a guide to channels you don't subscribe to and pay them for? I'm surprised that you ever got them if you never subscribed to the locals. Think of it like this. For $5 you get to subscribe to the locals with the guide, the cost to give you that guide is included.

I have more to complain about. I subscribe to locals but get the HD of them OTA because we don't have satellite HD broadcast channels yet. And even though I'm paying for the local subscription, I don't get the subchannel guides except for the mirror of the main channel.

[johnr475]

Well, I won't slap your hand, but why would you think Dish has an obligation of any sort to provide a guide to channels you don't subscribe to and pay them for? I'm surprised that you ever got them if you never subscribed to the locals. Think of it like this. For $5 you get to subscribe to the locals with the guide, the cost to give you that guide is included.

I have more to complain about. I subscribe to locals but get the HD of them OTA because we don't have satellite HD broadcast channels yet. And even though I'm paying for the local subscription, I don't get the subchannel guides except for the mirror of the main channel.

Dish does have an obligation to provide them. When I got the 811 they advertised it with OTA guide data.Now they take them away to get me to sub to locals that I get over the air,which they don't provide in HD. I have had the 811 for a over 2 years and I always got local guide data without subbing to locals. And Like you, I never got subchannel info. The 5 bucks is not the issue. The real issue is that this is a sleazy way to do business. So if you get them OTA why are you paying for locals?Just to get guide data? Buy a TV Guide:D

[Mikey]

When I signed up three years ago, I got an 811 and three 311 receivers, so I subbed to the Dish locals to get those on the 311 boxes. Since then I traded one 311 for another 811, and a different 311 for a 211. Then I dropped the other 311.

At any rate, even though I get OTA on the 211, I'm still glad to have the EPG data for those OTA locals on that box, and I'm not planning on dropping the EPG to save $5.

If you want any new HD from Dish, you'll have to give up that 811 sometime, and you won't have the local EPG on the new box unless you give up the $5. This may be Dish's way of urging you to upgrade.

[lparsons21]

I like way too much of the evening shows on broadcast to just have one tuner for them. There are at least a couple of nights where I'm recording with all 3 tuners to get the shows I want. That's a good thing, the bad thing is that only one of them will get HD OTA.

BTW, I had the 811 before I got my 622 and don't remember any advertising about the guide being there if you weren't subscribed to sat locals. I could certainly be wrong though. Just for info, you won't get the local guide without subscription on the 211 or 622 either, should you decide to upgrade.

[david803sc]

I agree, I will also add DirecTV provides the OTA Guide Data for local channels without paying the extra $5 doe satellite locals. I guess Dish just thinks it is not that important, even though their competitor provides this service free of charge to it's customers.

Just a bad business decision I believe.

[James Long]

I agree, I will also add DirecTV provides the OTA Guide Data for local channels without paying the extra $5 doe satellite locals.DirecTV requires all new subs to subscribe to their locals. I'm suprised that they allow older subs to remain unsubscribed to locals at this point. Not exactly "free" data, just included in their package prices (currently starting at $49.99 for new subscribers - Except the $24.99 Family Pack).

I'll be glad when they get all that data turned back on! I don't mind the 'extra charge' for EPG data ... it is worth the money. Plus I can watch and record the SD locals (recording HD takes up too much hard drive space for programs that are upconverts on OTA HD anyways).

[Stewart Vernon]

TV Guide the magazine is at least 1 buck per issue on subscription I believe... so that's about the cost of paying for locals on Dish to get the EPG data... and it is for 9 days rather than 7 in the paper guide... and yes, you could get listings for free at various Web sites too... but the Dish EPG info lets you fire off timers to record stuff.

Dish is paying someone for the EPG info... it doesn't come for free... so I'm ok with them bundling it in as part of the cost of locals. Besides, sometimes my locals multicast and have something different on the SD channel than the HD channel.