[Chuckmcd]

So I'm buying a house and an HDTV... yippee me.

I currently have comcast, and I haven't been a big fan of their service here. the dvr stinks and the service is unreliable. The area I am moving is using "beyond communications" as their provider, but after talking to them yesterday the actual cable will be done through, or in conjunction with, dish network.

I'm new to the world of HD, and I haven't got a clue what to look for in service plans. so my questions are as follows...

What do I need as far as HD programming goes (tv will have a built in tuner, so I shouldn't need any hardware from the provider)

I'm addicted to DVR. I have a ton of kids shows recorded, and anything my wife and I watch we record and watch on our schedule, so does anyone out there have a dish network DVR. how does it work, is it worth it.

I could also get a DVD recorder and an AppleTV, and rip shows to iTunes and then store them that way. I'm beginning to like this idea because it allows me to keep better track of the shows I keep than the comcast DVR (their interface is terrible). Will iTunes allow me to store video on a different drive than the start up disk?

I know Tivo may be an option, but I don't want to be paying another monthly service fee, and I'd really love to be able to control everything through my iMac at the house.

Any suggestions, or warnings here would be much appreciated.

thanks

[Teronzhul]

I don't have dish, nor have I used their service more than a few minutes, but I know a good bit about dbs in general.

1. Your HDTVs internal tuner is irrelevant as it can't decode the encryption methods used by satellite providers. It can be used with an antenna or cable source most likely, which you apparently won't have. You will need a set top box for each television with a possible exception if you use their dvr.

2. Assuming you do want a HD-DVR, their current model is the ViP622. I've heard lots of good and bad about it. It doesn't match up to a tivo, but a tivo is completely out of the picture for HD satellite services anyway. The nicest feature of the 622 is that it has multiroom capability. Since it is a dual tuner dvr, the second tuner can be used to feed a vhf modulated signal to a second tv in the house. It has 2 included rf remotes, so you can use one in another room without line of sight. It is a spiffy idea that cuts down on one $5 a month set top box fee. The other nice thing is that Dish is currently running a promo where you can get the 622 for free after rebate.

3. The next question is are you REALLY sure you want Dish net. With either of the satellite providers you're going to be forced into a multi year contract for high definition services. I believe Dish is 18 months and Directv is 24 months. In either case it sucks to be locked in to something you've never actually used before.

4. Now for the HD specific content. Dish does currently have the most HD content available. They have a total of around 30 HD channels, while Directv has approximately 10-15 depending on whether your HD locals are available. Now, 8 of Dish nets HD channels are Voom content (read trash) and Directv is much more likely to have your local channels broadcast in HD available. Assuming a June satellite launch goes off as planned, Directv will also leapfrog the competition on number of HD channels broadcast come September. Dish is rather limited on what they can do in response, as their satellite capacity is essentially maxed.

Further, both Sat companies are currently downrezzing their content. ie 1920x1080 becomes 1440x1080 or 1280x1080 depending on the channel. Directv may stop this practice when their new sats go up this summer, or they may not. In many cases, the cable companies actually provide a better picture for their HD channels, although few of them offer anywhere near the number Dish is currently offering.

5. OTA antennas are always an option if you live within 40-50 miles of broadcast towers. I currently get all of my major network channels in HD via OTA and you already have a tv with a built in tuner.

6. There are several dbs forums out there, satelliteguys.us is one of the more Dish centric, and dbstalk.com has more Directv information and is affiliated with avsforum.

[ghporter]

There are two different direct broadcast satellite providers in the U.S.: Dish Network and DirecTV. Compare the offerings before you purchase. They have somewhat different lineups and a different idea of what goes in different levels of programming packages.

[Chuckmcd]

I'm not actually going to be dealing with dish at all. My provider will be a company call "beyond communications". My house has the normal look coax wall hook up and "seems" to be a typical cable provider, but when I called to ask about service I found out that the service provided is through Dish Network.

I have called and sent e-mails to them requesting more technical information about the cable hook up since everything they've given me implies that I can simply plug into the wall jacks in the house (pre-wired for ethernet) and connect to the internet. They mention nothing of a modem or even a router.

essentially what I will be getting is the locked down service of a cable provider... you can use this one and only this one, sort of thing... but the service, in the end, will be provided through Dish Network, no matter what my bill may say.

I did check out the Voom service and it does look like utter crap. So Tivo is out of the question and apparently I have to upgrade to one of the 200-250 channel options to get anything other than local HD and that appears to just be Discovery and ESPN (the only 2 I would use)... that would be an extra $80 a month for 2 more HD channels.

Does anyone know how the typical picture of the SD channels would look over Dish network on an HDTV?

[Teronzhul]

Unless you're in an MDU (multiple dwelling unit) and not a single family home, you will still be using standard dish net equipment. DBS equipment was designed to function over standard RG6 coax, just like cable systems. The actual operation is a bit different, but just looking at house wiring it would appear quite similar.

I would imagine you're getting standard dish service, just through a middleman. For example, over here the Escambia River Utilities Authority has the rights to market/sell Directv, and you even pay your bill to the ERUA, but in the end you receive a normal Directv package. Nothing more or less.

SD service over satellite is generally quite good as its an all digital signal. It is superior to what you'll find in most analogue cable systems at least. I've been told in the past that the satcos downrez their SD streams as well, but I have a hard time telling. I guarantee in my market my Directv picture is superior to our cable provider.

[residentEvil]

the directv ad is misleading. they will have the CAPACITY to add several hundred new national HD channels. by this time next year, while another 80 or so national HD channels are planned there is no guarantee that a) they will be live and b) directtv will get contracts in place for them.

things like ABC Family HD, Disney Channel HD, ESPNEWS HD and Toon Disney HD for mid 2008 are supposed to be live on directtv first (ABC and directtv made the announcement at CES this year)

all i'm saying is, don't bet on it until you see it buy service of what meets your needs now not what COULD happen in mid to late 2008.

[residentEvil]

here is what i could find on national HD channels (current and planned):

National HD Networks Currently Available (Your service provider may not carry these networks):
ABC HD
CBS HD
NBC HD
Fox HD
CW HD
PBS HD
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
NFL Network HD
HD Net
HD Net Movies
INHD
Universal HD
Discovery HD
Wealth TV HD
National Geographic HD
HBO HD
Cinemax HD
Showtime HD
TMC HD
Starz HD
TNT HD
MHD Music High Definition
A&E HD
HGTV HD
Food Network HD
Outdoor channel HD
NBA TV HD
Versus - Sprorts Programming
Golf Channel HD
FSN HD
+15 Voom Channels

Networks announced for 2007:
Sci Fi Channel HD
FX HD
Speed HD
History Channel HD
Bravo Network HD
CNN HD Fall of 2007
Weather Channel HD fall 2007

Rumor for 2007:
TBS HD
Cartoon Network HD
USA Network HD
Fox News HD

Networks Announced for 2008:
Disney Channel HD 2008
ESPNEWS HD 2008
Toon Disney HD 2008

Announced but no time frame given:
ABC Family HD

[residentEvil]

so at the most, not counting VOOM (dish won't let them get that programming obviously), direct tv could have 45 or so channels. IF all channels come to being and direct tv can get contracts.

[residentEvil]

oh, and of course...channels mean nothing. the real kicker is what PROGRAMMING will be in HD