DirecTV finally gets some competition but cable may still be #1
Written: Jan 31 '05
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Pros: Nice picture, very helpful staff, skip commercials!
Cons: Can't watch one channel and record another, lack of Dolby Digital and 5.1 channels
The Bottom Line: Blurs the line between Dish Network and DirecTV. Choose which provider is best for you. Those owning a home theater system should read my review before switching from cable.
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| derek_g's Full Review: Dish Network DishPVR 501 System |
I used to consider DirecTV the preferred choice of satellite television providers. With the introduction of new personal video recorder models, also referred to as PVR's or DVR's, Dish Network has established themselves as a formidable competitor in the areas of price, selection, picture quality, and customer service. My gripe is with their lack of Dolby Digital and 5.1 surround sound channels. It's enough to be a dealbreaker for audiophiles.
This model was a free replacement for an older model satellite receiver being phased out in 2005. A phone call set up the shipment and the process was painless. The receiver contains standard cable jacks for input and output as well as two RCA audio and video outputs, an S video output, and a Dolby Digital connector. With the number of audio/visual devices out there (TV, VCR, DVD, Satellite as well as stereo components), I would have liked to have seen an RCA audio and video input.
Included with the DVR is a built-in infrared "blaster" that works like a remote to control VCR's supported by the device (all major brands.) With this function you can use the satellite receiver to record programs to your VCR instead of the DVR. That said, it can be a daunting task to ensure both the VCR and DVR are set to the correct channels and appropriate TV/video settings or you'll end up recording the wrong program. This is why A/V inputs would be helpful and you'll likely be better off recording the program to the DVR first to transfer to the VCR later.
The Dish Network's customer service staff are some of the finest I have talked to in any company. Not only are they friendly and helpful, but I've found them to be knowledgeable (reducing the need for transfers) and hold times are usually under a minute. After installing the receiver, activation took less than five minutes and we were up and running before I hung up the phone.
Compared to the older receiver, I find this new receiver delivers a sharper picture with improved contrast and clarity. Until now, I gave the nod to DirecTV, but I believe the two are now equal. Dish also fixed some annoyances while channel surfing. In the past, pulling up the Dish guide meant obscuring the entire channel. Now the channel is moved to the right corner of the screen, similar to DirecTV, so you can view the current channel while you scan other channels. Another channel surfing option is to flip through the names (only) of programs on different channels. Unfortunately, this method obscures the top third of the screen with the title of the current channel and the bottom third of the screen with the title of the channels you're flipping through. The size of this obscured screen space could be drastically reduced and still provide the same information.
Another new feature is the ability to display the name and phone number of incoming telephone calls for those subscribing to caller id service through their telephone company. Finally, the old receiver used to suffer severe lag in downloading program descriptions. This problem seems to have disappeared entirely.
On to Digital Video Recording. This is my first experience with DVR's and I must say they have made the process very intuitive. I haven't had to refer to the user manual yet. The most prominent difference between DVR users and those without is the ability to pause live television. This is easily done via a big yellow pause button on the remote. Once this happens, the DVR kicks in and begins recording from the point you pause. To the end user, it simply looks like you hit the pause on a DVD. As soon as you start up again, the DVR continues to record as you watch so you never miss anything. Because you're now watching recorded television, you now have the advantage of skipping past commercials until you reach the point where you're back to a live broadcast. The only drawback is you will lose what you have recorded if you switch to a different channel. The system does prompt you beforehand so you won't switch back to live mode by mistake. The process may sound complicated but it's very painless. If you can operate a VCR, you can operate this DVR.
Programming the DVR to record programs is even easier than a VCR in my opinion. Simply scroll through the guide until you find a program you wish to record, then hit the record button. A prompt comes up, select VCR or DVR, and you're ready to go. I did get a tech to admit that it is possible to record one channel while watching another but they are only offering this service to new subscribers. Apparently, replacing the receivers of existing customers to include this feature will tax the current capacity of their system. If you're limited to recording the same channel you're watching as I am, a timer icon will pop up five minutes prior to warn it's about to flip the channel on you. To access and playback recorded programs, simply hit the button marked "DVR" on your remote and a list of recorded programs will pop up. Scroll through the list until you find the program you want, hit the select button, and you're off and running.
Thanks to DVR, the remote control is now as intuitive as you can get. The standard up/down/left/right controls are used to flip through the channels, the channel guide, and menus, but now you have DVR controls similar to what you would find on a VCR remote. This provides the ability to replace your current VCR remote entirely as all the functions are supported. The Dish remote acts as a universal remote for three devices in addition to the satellite. I just wish there were four devices we could add instead of three. If I didn't have to choose between controlling the home theater system and the DVD player, I could have eliminated all of the remotes in the house.
Perhaps it's better marketing but DirecTV seems to be the provider of choice for sports fans thanks to their all-inclusive sports package. Dish is the winner for music fans thanks to their partnership with Sirius. I counted 140 music channels (although I'm tempted to exclude the 20 or so channels that are broadcast in mono.)
This brings me to my only major gripe with Dish Network - the sound quality. Dish Network broadcasts only HBO, Showtime, and a few Pay-per-View networks in 5.1 or 6.1 surround sound. That's it. All other stations are simply 2-channel stereo, including premium channels. The signal/noise ratio is high enough that you won't hear any hiss, but the channel separation seems to be rather low for regular stereo. I find myself frequently fiddling with the virtual (fake) surround effects to find a setting I like. Anyone used to the immersive effects of true five or six channel digital audio will find the Dish Network sorely lacking. Since most cable companies do not have this limitation, I have a hard time recommending the Dish as an alternative to anyone owning a home theater system.
Finally, a new feature entitled Dish@Home isn't a gripe as much as an example of a really bad business decision. I beta-tested a similar service through a cable company years ago and this isn't any better. The service attempts to provide information such as news, weather, sports scores through your television yet the process is so slow and cumbersome you'll never use it. The games on cellular phones are higher quality and at least a game on a phone is a one-time fee vs. the monthly subscription this service tries to extract from you. I expect Dish@Home to die a quick death.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
derek_g
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Member: Derek G
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Reviews written: 24
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
My butt itches
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