[RollTide1017]

My family and I are about to move into our first house and I'm considering going with E because the cable companies are not that good here. First thing that lead me to E over D was that E at least offers my locals in SD only when D doesn't even offer them at all. Second main reason for considering E was there Turbo HD only packages.

My main concern with the Turbo HD option was how it will be viewed on my 2 SDTVs (only have one HDTV). I've read mixed reports around the web about Turbo HD only customers also getting the SD counter part of the HD channels, that have one, for your SDTVs. Is this true or is the image just down converted from the HD channels? If itis down converted, dose that mean you will see a 16x9 letterboxed image on your SDTVs? If so, I may have to look at other options because one of our TVs is an old 13" and a letterboxed image on it would be very annoying.

Also, I will be using an OTA as well and was wandering if you can record 2 OTA shows at the same time?

One last question. What is the cheapest AT package that includes all the HD channels that would be in the Turbo HD Gold + Platinum package?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Ray_Clum]

My main concern with the Turbo HD option was how it will be viewed on my 2 SDTVs (only have one HDTV). I've read mixed reports around the web about Turbo HD only customers also getting the SD counter part of the HD channels, that have one, for your SDTVs. Is this true or is the image just down converted from the HD channels? If itis down converted, dose that mean you will see a 16x9 letterboxed image on your SDTVs? If so, I may have to look at other options because one of our TVs is an old 13" and a letterboxed image on it would be very annoying.

Yes, the HD channel viewed on an SDTV will be letterboxed. There have been various reports on whether or not the SD channel comes along with the HD. I don't have an HD Only pack, so I don't know.

Also, I will be using an OTA as well and was wandering if you can record 2 OTA shows at the same time?

No. There is only one OTA tuner, so it will only watch or record one OTA channel. However, this does not preclude you from recording with your two tuners on your 622 or 722 receiver.

One last question. What is the cheapest AT package that includes all the HD channels that would be in the Turbo HD Gold + Platinum package?

AT250 + HD Gold + HD Platinum. With a DVR, you can get the DVR Advantage, in which case you're looking at $79.99 per month, plus any additional receiver fees to cover your other TV's.

Thanks for the help.

De nada.

 

[Kevin Brown]

My main concern with the Turbo HD option was how it will be viewed on my 2 SDTVs (only have one HDTV). I've read mixed reports around the web about Turbo HD only customers also getting the SD counter part of the HD channels, that have one, for your SDTVs. Is this true or is the image just down converted from the HD channels? If itis down converted, dose that mean you will see a 16x9 letterboxed image on your SDTVs? If so, I may have to look at other options because one of our TVs is an old 13" and a letterboxed image on it would be very annoying.

I have Turbo HD, but I think it's just new "marketing speak" for anything related to HD on Dish. I also get the SD channels. (I had SD service before. Adding HD did just that: added HD to what I already had.) However, if you watch the HD version of a channel even on an SD TV, the video quality will be better. As far as aspect ratio, you can control this with your Dish receiver. You can use Partial Zoom or full Zoom to get rid of the upper and lower black bars.

 

[E91]

I have Turbo Gold only - no SD channels at all. I do most of my TV watching on my Samsung LCD and SD channels look like crap on that set.

But, I also ran the coaxial line form the HD set to my older SD set in kitchen area, so I can watch news and such while I eat.

There are actually some SD channels, despite the fact that I am only paying for HD channels. The locals that still broadcast in SD are there, as well as SD variants of CNN and few of the other standard cable channels. The HD channels are downcoverted without much problem too. They don't look bad at all. I have it set to "stretch" on the SD set, and it doesn't look distored or anything like that. Its really fine for that purpose.

I wouldn't recommend one of these packages for those who don't have an HD set somewhere in the house. But, for me, its perfect. I saw no point in subscribing to a bunch of SD channels that are going to look like crud on my main TV and basically be unwatchable.

 

[Jim5506]

The all HD programming packages will display on SD TV's that are connected to HD receivers.

HD channels will be letterboxed, but with the format button you can zoom the picture to fill the screen.

 

[dandirk]

There are actually some SD channels, despite the fact that I am only paying for HD channels. The locals that still broadcast in SD are there, as well as SD variants of CNN and few of the other standard cable channels. The HD channels are downcoverted without much problem too. They don't look bad at all. I have it set to "stretch" on the SD set, and it doesn't look distored or anything like that. Its really fine for that purpose.

I just got the HD Bronze package and have a bunch of SD channels... I think if you get DVR server with an HD Turbo package they throw in one of the AT (DVR Advantage) packages cause its cheaper for you...

 

[andyin137]

There is absolutely no problem viewing HD channels on a SD TV.I am doing that as we speak,depending on your tv the picture is quite Good,you can also adjust the ratio for you dont get the black bars.

 

[E91]

I just got the HD Bronze package and have a bunch of SD channels... I think if you get DVR server with an HD Turbo package they throw in one of the AT (DVR Advantage) packages cause its cheaper for you...

I don't think that is what is happening. Basically, E* put SD variants of the HD channels side-by-side. For example, if you go to the program guide, you'll see two versions of channel 200 - HD and SD. I think thsi has something to do with their interactive TV features, because I notice those are available only on the SD channels.

 

[RollTide1017]

Thanks for all the replies everyone, very helpful.

One other question; If I subscribe to the HD only package can you add some SD channels a la carte? Years ago (like 5 or 6) when I had DirecTV I was able to add the Golf Channel a la carte even though it wasn't part of the package I subscribed too. It cost something like $3 per channel back then. There are a few SD channels that E* doesn't currently have in HD that I'd like to get (like Nick for one) but, not enough to go with one of the AT packages.

 

[BattleZone]

Dish is not allowing any SD channels or packages to be added to the HD-only packages.

 

[davethestalker]

The DVR (722) can be set into 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i.