"Short" Tech Forum on Aug. 11th

1948 Views 16 Replies 12 Participants Last post by BobaBird, Aug 13, 2008

Bill R

Discussion Starter · Aug 4, 2008

I was looking through the guide and I notice that the Tech Forum on Aug. 11th (ch 101, 9 PM EDT) is only listed as 30 minutes.

Is this a mistake or are we just getting a short Tech Forum this month?

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KevinRS

· #2 · Aug 12, 2008

I recorded, then watched it, and... what is the point now? they talk about turboHD(no new info that's not on the website and commercials) olympics, then a bunch of unrelated electronics that they gave away, like a commercial for the stuff like flash drives, keyboards, webcams, etc. given to the trivia winner. Then the digital broadcast transition. Then a few questions that I've seen answered lots of times here.

They said they are no longer answering questions live by phone and email, though the website still says they do.

There was apparently a live chat for an hour after it, on the web, but the reason I recorded it was I was at work until an hour after it ended.
Maybe some questions of interest were asked and answered on the chat, but I guess I'll never know.

I was going to set a timer to record the tech forums, but if this is the new format, I don't see a reason to bother. Sure watch it live for the chance to win several hundred dollars worth of random electronics and computer accessories, but recording was pointless.

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jclewter79

· #3 · Aug 12, 2008

Heck, I forgot all about the tech forum. I guess if this all they are going to do it kinda sucks. Would have been nice if we had known about the new format before it aired, wonder if anybody has a copy of the chat that took place after the show.

KevinRS

· #4 · Aug 12, 2008

apparently the "chat" was just 1-1 tech support, so no one saw what anyone else asked and got answered, Actually, it may not have been even that good, some have reported it was chat with a sales rep.
I'm guessing it may be something like the live support that comes up if you play with setting up an order for service on the web site and a chat window pops up with a rep to "help" you

reddice

· #5 · Aug 12, 2008

It sucked. It was like watching a 30 minute infomercial. It use to be like the Charlie Chats but now those chats are the only thing to look forward too.

KevinRS

· #6 · Aug 12, 2008

that's probably why they are looking for a new name, though they said they would still have the tech info+add non-tech info, and have twice as much info in half the time, it was a lie

James Long

· #7 · Aug 12, 2008

They should have skipped it for the Olympics. I was too busy watching people do interesting things on TV to even notice there was a broadcast Tech Forum. Thanks for the summaries!

KevinRS

· #8 · Aug 12, 2008

maybe they did skip it for the olympics...
maybe they will have something more in the next one, but that's 3 months away

Bill R

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 12, 2008

KevinRS said:
apparently the "chat" was just 1-1 tech support, so no one saw what anyone else asked and got answered

I did go to the "Mr. DISH" "chat" after the forum. It just just as bad (if not worse) that the so called forum. The rep that I got could not answer any of the tech questions that I asked (I gave up after three).

The format for the Tech Forum needs to go back to the way it was -- live (with real DISH Network information) and with people that can answer the tech questions that we have. I hope that people do watch the replay just to see how bad that DISH has ruined the tech forum and then send their comments to [email protected]

david803sc

· #10 · Aug 12, 2008

The Tech Forum was a joke and for those thinking it will come back, it won't they said this was the new format and and have a contest now to rename the program, its a joke and I will no longer waste my time watching this PR propaganda forum.

David

James Long

· #11 · Aug 12, 2008

I stayed up to watch the 5am replay and promptly fell asleep during the program.
At 5:30am I woke up, turned off the TV and went to bed.

Yes ... it was that good.

Anyone who has ever complained about a Charlie Chat or Tech Forum should watch this show (preferably record it and watch at 15x) and realize how good the real shows were. The program is no longer aimed at us ... the technically ept that want to get a hint of what is happening "inside Dish".

What made Charlie Chat/Tech Forum great was that the hosts were top line people who spoke live, occasionally spoke too much and took the risk of taking questions. Now it is just another 30 minutes of nothing.

They even made Leslie Harper unappealing to watch. That takes talent.

The best thing to happen now would be for DISH to fire/reassign whatever consultant redesigned the show and go back to the old live format. While they are at it they should go back to monthly programs as well.

A format change wouldn't be bad ... perhaps do an hour show monthly with 30 minutes of "programming" chat followed by 30 minutes of "tech" chat followed by a reminder that their CSRs are always available online or via phone for questions and upgrades. Even if they pre-taped (avoiding off the cuff) the show needs to be hosted by DISH's top people ... Leslie should be an expert not a co-host.

The Chat/Forum needs to show how friendly and intelligent DISH is - that show just didn't cut it.

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phrelin

· #12 · Aug 12, 2008

James Long said:
The Chat/Forum needs to show how friendly and intelligent DISH is....

Seems to me like it does.

kal915

· #13 · Aug 12, 2008

david803sc said:
The Tech Forum was a joke and for those thinking it will come back, it won't they said this was the new format and and have a contest now to rename the program, its a joke and I will no longer waste my time watching this PR propaganda forum.

David

I watched it till the end waiting to see if they announced anything.
Bring back the old forum!

4bama

· #14 · Aug 12, 2008

kal915 said:
I watched it till the end waiting to see if they announced anything.
Bring back the old forum!

The only useful info I got from the entire show was that the new satellite will be operational "by the end of August" and will provide a stronger downlink signal that will "burn through rain fade" conditions.

HDRoberts

· #15 · Aug 12, 2008

4bama said:
The only useful info I got from the entire show was that the new satellite will be operational "by the end of August" and will provide a stronger downlink signal that will "burn through rain fade" conditions.

In theory, yes. What they probably failed to mention is future plans to lower the Forward Error Correction data so as to squeeze more data per TP. This may have the effect of canceling out the improvements to the downlink power.

Jim5506

· #16 · Aug 13, 2008

Log in to the Dish website and go to the Dish Broadcasts area and voice your opinion directly to them.

The more they get ripped for the lame content, maybe they'll rethink the dumb idea it was.

BobaBird

· #17 · Aug 13, 2008

Mainly out of habit, I slapped together a summary, only to find that KevinRS had already done just as good a job in post #2.
Anyway, it's at http://www.dishuser.org/tech0808.php

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