Dish Networks requiring HD receiver upgrade

[Rob]

I got a call from Dish today saying I need to schedule a free upgrade of my dish networks HD receivers or I won't be able to continue receiving HD. Does anyone have any information on this? Are they killing my existing vip-211 R5000 mod?

[fidget]

I am guessing that they are converting everything away from MPEG-2 and over to h.264.

[Flash69]

There have been rumors of Dish converting to a new encryption algorithm. It is called Nagravision 3 (N3). From what I understand Bell ExpressVu (BEV - Canada sat company) is almost done with their N3 card swap. The general consensus is Dish does anything BEV does for encryption.

As far as your R5000 mod I don't know that the card swap will affect the mod. From my understanding you have to insert the card and possibly call Dish to activate it.

[stanger89]

But a VIP 211 is a H.264-capable box. But yeah, Satelliteguys has a thread basically confirming though that Dish is moving all HD to MPEG-4 on August 1, and thus upgrading older recievers like the old 6000.

[Rob]

I use to have a 6000, but now I only have 2 vip-211's; hopefully they think I still have the 6000 and it needs to be upgraded (but I would have thought they would know that the 211's are all that is active).

[mikesm]

That loss of that new satellite must have forced them to adjust their HD plans. Moving everything to H.264 will buy them some time until a replacement bird is launched. Next time they should avoid Russian launchers...

[Rob]

I called dish this morning and they initially started to schedule a time for a tech to come out and swap out my recievers. I asked what they were swapping them for and she said the 811's need to be swapped out. I told her I have Vip-211's and after checking on it, she told me I do not need to swap anything.

Why they called me in the first place I have no idea, since they could see that I have 2 vip-211's.

[garyellis]

I need some help, please...

I am thinking of getting the Dish Network HD only package for $29/month..

If I get it and get a VIP211...how do I output from the VIP211 to my computer and Sage? Can I go from the VIP211 to an HDHR?


Thanks...

Gary Ellis

[Rob]

I use a vip-211 with the R500 modification (usb connection to my sage server). Another alternative would be the HD-PVR since the Vip-211 has component output. I am not familiar with the HDHR, but I don't think that would work with a vip-211.

[Flash69]

Originally Posted by garyellis

I need some help, please...

I am thinking of getting the Dish Network HD only package for $29/month..

If I get it and get a VIP211...how do I output from the VIP211 to my computer and Sage? Can I go from the VIP211 to an HDHR?

If you are wanting HD from the ViP-211 there are 2 options that I am aware of.

1. HD-PVR
2. R5000 mod

[paulbeers]

HDHR is only good for Clear QAM and OTA tuning. However, it is very good at those things.....

[garyellis]

well..I was afraid that might be the answer...

I was looking at taking out my Time Warner Cable and replacing it with a combination of OTA HD local channels and Dish network HD only package...

My Time Warner cable bill here in NC is $53.45 per month for standard cable..I get HD locals using the HDHR.

The Dish Network HD only package with 2 receivers is $36.75...And I get a bunch more HD channels. And of course OTA is free with a DIY antenae.

But, buying 2 HD PVR's may offset a little too much of the savings, for now..

Thanks,

Gary

[Enormous]

Gary,

I recently signed up for the DishHD package, but I have not yet purchased any HD-PVRs. I've just been capturing the HD shows from my two 211's via s-video. So far I am very pleased with the picture quality. It's obviously not HD quality, but it's far clearer than what I was getting from regular SD cable. The one caveat is that you need to change the aspect ratio on the recorded content so it plays back full screen. I'm actually so pleased with the picture quality that it will take quite a bit of convincing to make the HD-PVR plunge now!

[garyellis]

What are you using to capture the Svideo? I have a Hauppauge 150 and a Hauppauge 500 card.

That could be a good solution for a while until I can afford a couple of HD PVR's and more importantly, the whole switch to digital thing shakes out.

Thanks,

Gary Ellis

[Enormous]

Originally Posted by garyellis

What are you using to capture the Svideo? I have a Hauppauge 150 and a Hauppauge 500 card.

I'm using two HVR-1600 cards to capture the s-video and analog audio. I also use the digital inputs on those cards to capture QAM signal from Comcast. I'm also using a USB-UIRT to control the Vip211s.