Newbee Quesiton - HD channels twice

[pmgreen]

I just got a 722 and noticed the HD channels are listed twice. For example ESPN HD is 140 and 9xxx. The content seems to be the same so my question is what is the difference? Is one better than the other?

Thanks

 

[ncted]

They are the same channel, just listed twice. The 9xxx channel is the real channel number. 140 is just what it is mapped down to, so it is easier to find with the other ESPN channels.

Ted

 

[highdefjeff]

Software on the receiver takes the channels from those high numbers and moves them to the place in your guide where you're likely to expect them. Locals, for example, are moved down to the numbers that you are used to seeing them.

 

[Hall]

What was probably happening was a customer knew Dish offered ESPN HD or Showtime HD but expected them to be in the same area as the other ESPN or Showtime channels. They'd tune to regular ESPN and think they were watching "HD". Dish had to dumb down the program guide two ways: One, adding the HD watermark over the channel number and two, putting the two right next to each other, even with the same channel number.

 

[Ilya]

It's a good thing they did it. With so many SD channels going HD these days you don't have to memorize all those new 4-digit numbers.

 

[steve4810]

What was probably happening was a customer knew Dish offered ESPN HD or Showtime HD but expected them to be in the same area as the other ESPN or Showtime channels. They'd tune to regular ESPN and think they were watching "HD". Dish had to dumb down the program guide two ways: One, adding the HD watermark over the channel number and two, putting the two right next to each other, even with the same channel number.

I don't see how you figure it is "dumbing down". The channel numbers are total artifice anyway. As long as they have to pull a number out of their butt why not pick one that makes sense to the viewing public?

By the way anyone: Is it possible or likely that other than making massive favorites lists that there will be an option to delete the extra nonsense 9000 numbers?

 

[Hall]

You can't do anything to the pre-defined lists, i.e. All Chan, All Sub, All HD, and so on.

I do call it dumbing down. People clearly couldn't find the HD channels up in the 9000-range. Remember, thousands and thousands of customers, Dish's included, hook their 311 receivers up to their new HDTVs and "they're watching HD now".

 

[grape8pe]

I don't see how you figure it is "dumbing down". The channel numbers are total artifice anyway. As long as they have to pull a number out of their butt why not pick one that makes sense to the viewing public?

By the way anyone: Is it possible or likely that other than making massive favorites lists that there will be an option to delete the extra nonsense 9000 numbers?

You can lock the channels then select "hide locked channels". When you do that they don't appear in any of the menus.

 

[KAB]

TO GET RID OF DUPLICATES in All HD guide, Menu/System Setup/Local Channels/Chan Display...List HD Channels...Disable.

 

[BFG]

but that will remove the map downs which is fine with me, but the orig poster seems to prefer them

 

[steve4810]

You can lock the channels then select "hide locked channels". When you do that they don't appear in any of the menus.

Fantastic and thanks! This does just what I wanted and I can dump all the shopping channels too.

 

[KAB]

but that will remove the map downs which is fine with me, but the orig poster seems to prefer them

Why would he?

 

[sprintcarcrazy]

I do call it dumbing down. People clearly couldn't find the HD channels up in the 9000-range. Remember, thousands and thousands of customers, Dish's included, hook their 311 receivers up to their new HDTVs and "they're watching HD now".

Man, you are so right, I don't know how many people are doing that, but it's a bunch.

Best buy installed a new TV and attached it to my neighbors 622, but never bothered to change the resolution to 1080 from 480... Also didn't attach the external OTA antenna so user could get OTA HD. I went down there and he had a game on CBS, said look at my HD, I said nope, Not HD. He was getting it via locals over Dish and they are not in HD around here. I hooked up the OTA antenna, set the resolution and installed a toslink cable to his audio unit and he was like wow !!

Another person had a 211 installed, they hooked it to his HDTV with a composite RCA.

I bet there are 1000's of Dish units pumping out 480P to their attached TV's

 

[highdefjeff]

Exactly!

The name "WOWVision!" came from the Dish customers after a service call where I would "tweak" their existing system. I couldn't call it "Holy #@%*Vision", so I settled for WOWVision!

The second half of 2006, I did around 700 service calls and HD upgrades. Of all those WITH HD ALREADY installed, only 4 were actually watching HD! The vast majority of those were still set on 480p! :shocked

The kicker for me was a fellow with 3 wall mounted HD flat panels. Best Buy had installed and set them up, he had bought three HD receivers.

For whatever reasons, I was the 4th or 5th person to his home (2nd or 3rd satellite technician, I think...) and I was there for a "searching for satellite" call, NOT a picture quality call. All of his receivers were set at 480p. (AND Best Buy's $100 guarantee DOESN'T apply to Dish...) His words were something to the effect of "You mean I spent over $3000 dollars on installation, and I haven't even been watching HD?" My response was "Take a look for yourself."

I love to say "And now would you like to see high definition?" as I exit the menu to something like the HD Food Network! What a reaction! You can actually see a look of relief on the faces of many of them as they realize that they hadn't wasted their money after all.

Of all the service calls I did, only one was about picture quality - and they were just getting spoiled and thought the SD channels didn't look as good as the HD channels!

Do your customers a favor...when on a service call, supposedly unrelated to picture quality, check for HD receivers in the home and at least check the receiver settings!!! They will love you for it and you could make a few more tips, too! :

 

[WildBill]

You can lock the channels then select "hide locked channels". When you do that they don't appear in any of the menus.

I tried this to hide all of "league pass" channels. They were removed from the All Channels and All Sub. lists but still appear in the All HD guide, which is where I really wanted to hide them. This is on a 211. Haven't tried it on my 722 yet. Is there any work around for this?

 

[jerryez]

Can they just do away with the SD channels. Will regular receivers pick up the SD version of the HD channel. If they could it would save a lotta space.

 

[Hall]

Lock the channels out and they'll disappear from ALL guides.