Dish Network user? You might soon become one.

[Dr. P]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-31-2008/0004859066&EDATE=
130 HD channels in 1080p! Fuck, if this is real, I might drop Direct TV. Damn, I wish Dish had the NFL Sunday ticket, though.

[Spooner]

I'm waiting for DJ to find a few minutes to explain how misunderstood and overrated 1080p is (versus 720). He schooled my ass. He does know a lot about the subject.

I know yer busy, Deej, but poke your head in here and give us all the schweet breakdown on this matter (if ya'd be so kind).

:tip:

[Dr. P]

I welcome it as well, but my stokedosity comes from 130 go dam channels more than anything.

[The BYP]

I've had dish since 1997, but now now I have to get a new hd reciever because as of the 1st of this month my old one became obsolete.

[djb]

I'm waiting for DJ to find a few minutes to explain how misunderstood and overrated 1080p is (versus 720). He schooled my ass. He does know a lot about the subject.

I know yer busy, Deej, but poke your head in here and give us all the schweet breakdown on this matter (if ya'd be so kind).

:tip:


It's not that 1080P is over-rated so much as it's over-hyped considering most programming (aside from Blu-Ray) is currently 720P. I could go on for many paragraphs but here's a quick point to consider. If Dish really delivered a 1080P signal at a respectable bit rate for all of their HD programming, it would be the best option by far and I would sign up today. Right now it appears that only special events and movies will be in 1080P and you have to pay extra to watch them in 1080P. It's not quite what they want you to think it is... yet, (but it's a step in the right direction.) The fact that they are building the infrastructure for 1080P ability is a very good thing.

[The Sav]

Here's my take on the subject based on what I've read about) and it's pretty much in line with what Deej is talking about (I think)....

I have Dish Network and I get their HD version of the USA channel which is supposedly a 1080p quality channel. And my TV is set to 1080p, so it's a no brainer, right? Well, not really... USA channel is not set up for 1080p digital broadcasting- that is unless they have an event/show that will be BROADCAST in 1080p HD. So essentially, DishNetwork/DirecTV et al might be able to deliver a better picture from their satellite but in order for the channel to be at it's best, it has to come straight from the network broadcasting it.

A couple of months ago, one of USA's programs (WWE RAW) was making this big fucking deal about how THEY were broadcasting their signal in HD. Well I already had USAHD and I thought that it was just a fucing joke.

It turns out that when I hit a certain button on my remote control, it will give me info on whatever input I'm in and it will tell me the picture quality (1080p, 720p... whatever). I had noticed that when I was watching other shows on USAHD that it was still showing 720p, but when I viewed the WWE special HD broadcast, the signal was coming in at a true HD level 1080p.

So Dish/DirecTV and the cable providers are doing their part to bring the HDTV experience to everyone, but the TV Networks have to deliver on their end to get the full benefit of that.

A lot of networks/channels are actually broadcasting in true HD (like Discovery HD) and more and more channels are having more of their programming delivered in HD. Dish Network knows this and they're trying to get a jump on this to attract more consumers.

[Dr. P]

If I could get the Sunday Ticket on Dish, I'd consider swapping today. I have to shrink my screen to watch non-hd programs, it's like watching a black and white set now.

[The Sav]

Dude, that was almost a deal breaker for me too, but to be honest with ya, I can only get in on about 3 games a day anyway.... There's no way I'm ever gonna catch all 14 games every goddamn weej.

And I've been without Direct since 2005 so that first year w/o Sunday Ticket was rough. It was tough leaving them for Cumcast and I didn't want to, but I was tired of dial up internet and that Comcast bundle was the best deal in town at the time.

Now Dish Network has the best deal for me... but that's a whole other story for another time.

[djb]

A couple of months ago, one of USA's programs (WWE RAW) was making this big fucking deal about how THEY were broadcasting their signal in HD....

It turns out that when I hit a certain button on my remote control, it will give me info on whatever input I'm in and it will tell me the picture quality (1080p, 720p... whatever). I had noticed that when I was watching other shows on USAHD that it was still showing 720p, but when I viewed the WWE special HD broadcast, the signal was coming in at a true HD level 1080p.
.

It would have been 720P or 1080i, not 1080P. I think the only 1080P programming that Dish currently has is "I am Legend" and they charge extra for it.

Also, depending on the programming (like sports where there's a lot of motion) 1080i isn't automatically better than 720P.

720P and 1080 are both "true HDTV" formats. They call 1080P "full HDTV" to get people to make the jump now despite the fact that most programming is currently 720P / 1080i.

It will be great when 1080P is the standard for all distributed programming but that's a good ways away and for now I think the most important thing is to choose a provider that offers the programming you want and has hardware you like at the price you can afford.

[Spooner]

With regular shows I'd watch (like Mythbusters, say), I don't need to see all the blackheads and brown streaks in Adam's teeth, so I don't think I'll ever get geeked for *network/cable* programming in true HDTV (1080p). BUT, when the NFL, my provider, and my TV are all able to make it feel like I'm in the stadium but w/out the stench or drunks, *then* I'll make the move.

As it is now, my first goal is simple: Blu-Ray all the way. Deej, does a fully functioning 720p setup with proper cable'age allow for Blu-Ray to strut its stuff, or do you need one of them goddamn 1080p displays for that shit to truly shine? I'm liking the amount of product being churned out for Blu-Ray finally.

I'm a total dillhole when it comes to new A/V techmology, well at least as far as fighting through the sales pitches and getting down to the *real* facts.

[djb]

With regular shows I'd watch (like Mythbusters, say), I don't need to see all the blackheads and brown streaks in Adam's teeth, so I don't think I'll ever get geeked for *network/cable* programming in true HDTV (1080p). BUT, when the NFL, my provider, and my TV are all able to make it feel like I'm in the stadium but w/out the stench or drunks, *then* I'll make the move.

As it is now, my first goal is simple: Blu-Ray all the way. Deej, does a fully functioning 720p setup with proper cable'age allow for Blu-Ray to strut its stuff, or do you need one of them goddamn 1080p displays for that shit to truly shine? I'm liking the amount of product being churned out for Blu-Ray finally.

I'm a total dillhole when it comes to new A/V techmology, well at least as far as fighting through the sales pitches and getting down to the *real* facts.

If your display is 42" or less, Blu-Ray is going to look pretty damn good even though it's down-converted to 720P (if it's a good 720P panel) but to fully appreciate the 1080P and especially at larger sizes you'll need to get a good 1080P display.

To be honest, I've seen well mastered Blu-Ray look brilliant but I've also seen some poorly mastered Blu-Ray discs that looked like hell at full rez (hyper-digitized and not "film-like" at all,) and I have also seen well mastered DVD's look very nice and film-like up-sampled to 720P.

There are a lot of other factors not discussed here that weigh heavily into how this stuff ends up looking in your home but since most people don't even take the time to dial their basic set it, it hardly matters. I can't tell you how many times I've been at a friend's house and they say "check out our high def TV" and it's completely fucked up (some of them are even watching in the wrong aspect ratio) and I wonder how they even consider it an improvement over the last 34" direct view Trinitron they replaced. I say "gee your newscasters are much shorter and fatter than the ones that do our news. I'll spend a few minutes fiddling with it and dialing it in and they say "wow, we had no idea it could look like that.

[TheWagesofSin]

^:?:

I'm usually at least 3 years behind whatever the hell you guys are talking about in the tech/gadget world, so I'll be checking back with you in this thread in 2011. Good day. :tip:

[Booze]

I'm usually at least 3 years behind whatever the hell you guys are talking about in the tech/gadget world, so I'll be checking back with you in this thread in 2011. Good day. :tip:

http://i38.tinypic.com/20k9eeg.jpg

[Jdiggity Dee]

djb must be a warlock or summitt.

[Dr. P]

I bought my wide screen from Best Buy and had those fuckers deliver and set it up. I'd lived with it for a year before Deej walked me through the set-up steps, changed a few things, and it's been a whole new experience. And William, with Direct TV's Sunday Ticket in HD, it's just like you describe. Honestly, I'd rather watch it here than go to the game.

[melon]

All Lucasarts of Pixar DVD's have a calibrating tool you can use for you TV.

[TheWagesofSin]

http://i38.tinypic.com/20k9eeg.jpg

lmao lmao lmao lmao


Ricky Scrotum looks like Heytina.

[Spooner]

http://i38.tinypic.com/20k9eeg.jpg

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2577/chucklinpuppetsbm9.gif (http://imageshack.us)http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2577/chucklinpuppetsbm9.gif (http://imageshack.us)http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2577/chucklinpuppetsbm9.gif (http://imageshack.us)http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2577/chucklinpuppetsbm9.gif (http://imageshack.us)http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2577/chucklinpuppetsbm9.gif (http://imageshack.us)http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2577/chucklinpuppetsbm9.gif (http://imageshack.us)http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2577/chucklinpuppetsbm9.gif (http://imageshack.us)http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2577/chucklinpuppetsbm9.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[Spooner]

Funny you bring that up, Melon; every time I get a new toobus, I calibrate it with a Pixar flick (usually this one outdoor scene in Toy Story II what has every color in the spectrum in it). I just pause it and start knocking away at the Tint/Hue/Contrast/etc., etc. I'm like DJ in that I can't ever BELIEVE the settings some people leave their TV's at, especially BASIC color temperature, hue, & tint. Blows my mind.

[Pull Out Method]

booze! lmao the hedwig poster makes it. lmao

[Taco Teo]

I ordered Dish Network today through the AT&T people who are setting up my phone and DSL. This will be the first time I have had satellite instead of cable. Are there really a ton of problems when the weather gets bad or is that just a myth?

[The Sav]

It's part myth, part truth. It really all depends and how brutal the weather is and how well your dish was installed and where it's located on your house. If it's mounted on your porch and there's tree's blowing around in the wind, then yes... it will be a problem on stormy days. However, if it's mouted higher up on say your roof, then there's less of a problem. But... if it rains really hardand the direction fo the rain is smacking straight into your dish, then that could lead to temporary problems as well.

Like I said... it really depends on several factors.

[Heap]

I had a dish for 6 months before they became as popular as they are now because the apartment I had didn't get cable. I was within a mile from a mountain (and the dish was pointed in that direction) and surrounded by several tall trees. Through snow and all kinds of weather, I don't remember NOT having service with dish.

[Dr. P]

Through snow and all kinds of weather, I don't remember NOT having service with dish.

Sounds like TT's V! :score:

[The BYP]

I put a black garbage bag over my dish when I painted my house. I watched tv for 3 days before I remembered it was on there.

[Spooner]

Today we FINALLY switched back from DirecTV to Dish Network. I don't know how many of you have Direct, but these fucking antiquated RCA DVR's they sloughed off onto everyone (but with their "logo" on 'em) were the biggest pieces of shit I've EVER dealt with. The hard drives were those of an old IBM XT machine, and the latency between the remote control and the receiver was beyond pathetic; you'd type in three digits and by the time it all registered with the receiver, only two of those digits registered.

Not only that, the receivers don't even digitally connect with TiVos--you had to nigger-rig (virtually) two rubber sticks that had mirrors on them over the infra-red (and THIS is how they expected the TiVo to change the DVR's channels). Needless to say, we'd come home and only HALF of our shit would actually record. I debated for ages on the NFL Sunday Ticket, but Denver games are broadcast in my region almost every week as it is, so it just wasn't worth it.

At any rate, we got a WAY better deal and finally have that schweet 1080p HDTV signal comin' in (for once). The worst part of it all was that DirecTV made ZERO effort to retain our business; they offered no equipment upgrade, no nuthin'. FUCK that company. Lookin' forward to seein' the rest of the :bowl:ympics in HDTV. FUCK YEAH!

[Taco Teo]

There is a short, black man out on my balcony installing my Dish Network satellite. I'm very excited about this, since watching TV with rabbit ears last night just didn't do it for me.

[The BYP]

Just upgraded yesterday to the new Dish turbo HD system along with new 37" hd flatscreen in me bedroom. Yay capitalism!!!! (that was for Mr. Burr)

[The Sav]

There is a short, black man out on my balcony installing my Dish Network satellite. I'm very excited about this, since watching TV with rabbit ears last night just didn't do it for me.

So the short black man hooking you up with some sweet HD*, is doing it for you? And don't say that you're not getting the HD package.... because you are.






































*HD now means: Huge Dick. lol

[Taco Teo]

Well, I will admit, he was sporting quite the large drill bit!

[Spooner]

^^<ack!>

Okay, carry on... :tip:

[Taco Teo]

Sorry, after Savvy's lead in it just had to be done.

So far I am impressed with the clarity of the picture I'm getting - and I don't even have a "fancy" TV. It probably helps that my balcony faces directly south. Now, if only the phone and DSL guy would show up I could get on with my day.

[Spooner]

Just upgraded yesterday to the new Dish turbo HD system along with new 37" hd flatscreen in me bedroom. Yay capitalism!!!! (that was for Mr. Burr)

I take it your TV is newer, B.Y.? You gettin' the full 1080p?!! Hell, I only jumped from NTSC to 1080i/720p and though I know it gets better, this upgrade is like going from 2D to 3D for me. I'm trying hard to convince Mrs. Spooner that we *NEED* a 52" Bravia. It's gonna take a little more convincing. I give it till around Christmas, then comes the Blu-Ray player along with it.

Seriously, there's no turning back once you get that HD feed (oh, and Dish Network blows Direct out of the water--no question 'bout it). Glad I switched. :tip:

[The BYP]

I love it, I'm dragging arse today cause I dint want to turn the fucker off last night. I bought the 37" version of this.


http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/-/318/404/-/3342809/Samsung-37-LE37R87BDX-XEU-HD-Ready-Freeview-Widescreen-LCD-TV/Product.html?searchtype=genre

(but i paid more than 499 bucks for it ~ ed)

[Spooner]

^^Ah... "HD-Ready"... so you're getting 1080i/720p like me. Still looks pretty fuckin' good, huh. Compared to what I had before, 1080i is light years beyond that shitty cable signal. :tip:

[St. Jimmy]

Dish sucks! We had them a few years ago and we would loose signal on a clear day.

[The Sav]

lmao lmao lmao lmao lmao

[melon]

Dish sucks! We had them a few years ago and we would loose signal on a clear day.

2. Never loose your signal.

[Dr. P]

lmao!

[Pull Out Method]

2. Never loose your signal.

lmao lmao lmao

[Spooner]

St. Yimmy, satellite dishes don't normally get great reception when you throw dirty diapers on 'em. It's on page 136 of the Dish Guide: Troubleshooting.