Supporting DBSTalk.com and SatelliteGuys.US
Supporting DBSTalk.com and SatelliteGuys.US
Hosts for the August 2009 Tech Forum are Mark Jackson, President of EchoStar Technologies and Dan Minnick, VP of Engineering.
1-888-621-2078 or e-mail techforum@dishnetwork.com
Software engineers have been busy packing the 922 with features and they hope to have it ready soon. It has a tile-based menu and a new remote with a touch-pad. With integrated Sling you can send content from your receiver anywhere. It has a full internet browser that looks great on a high-def TV, be able to cruise the internet while you watch TV. Has a 1TB hard drive to record lots of HD and store pre-positioned HD movies. Dish will also have a wireless monitor that will work with the 922.
Dan takes us through several of the menus and demonstrates some basic operations. The “quick click” screen has a virtual number keypad and room for 15 favorite channels with logos. All timer options including number of episodes to keep, start early, and priority are on the same screen. The guide has different icons to indicate one-time and series timers.
Scott Higgins introduces a new ITV “Hunting Trails” game for $1.99/mo.
Richard: Please describe folders and playlists on the DVR screen.
Dan: Two options, group by title and create custom groups. Playlist will let you select several recordings then loop through them.
Scott: Help with controlling receiver from bedroom?
Paul: May want to relocate the antenna by adding a length of coax behind the receiver, another option is the new TV2 IR converter.
Robert: Do I need a 1080p TV to watch Dish Online HD? The shows display as 4:3.
Tony: May need to change the aspect ratio for that channel by pressing the * key on the remote. Mark adds they will double-check to make sure the content is flagged correctly.
Bruce: How to program the 722k remote's unused color keys in Sat mode?
Dan: Learning is only possible in non-Sat modes.
Bruce Tripido, VP of Marketing for Sharp, to give HDTV buying tips. Will want 1080p for anything over 40", 720p for 32" or below. Contrast ratio refers to the ability to display detail in dark scenes. LED backlighting is a new type of illumination that allows better contrast, more accurate colors, and lower power. Some sets have ethernet for streaming content. LED sets may be edge-lit, full array, or RGB full array. In comparison to plasma, LCD has been known for good performance over the life of the product and lower power consumption. Plasma has great contrast performance and black reproduction, minuses are glare and power. Most LCD sets have 4ms response time, lower is better. Higher refresh rates of 120Hz and 240Hz can help smooth out motion. Sets marketed as 240 rather than 240Hz only give a simulated effect. Highly reflective panels can give a set “pop” in the showroom but may not give a satisfying long-term viewing experience.
Prize: Sharp Aquos 32" LCD HDTV, MSRP $550
Question: In 1999 Sharp released the largest LCD TV in the industry. What size was it?
Employees of Dish, those who have won in the past year, and family members of recent winners are not eligible.
In the guide, press a 1- or 2-digit number then right-arrow to move ahead that number of hours. DVR users can use the Skip buttons to move a whole day.
To get to the DVR list, press DVR twice (don't have to select the menu option). To navigate in the DVR list, put it in Alpha sort, then use the remote keypad to jump to shows starting with that letter. You can start playback directly from the list by highlighting the show then pressing Play.
David: Will the 922 TV2 SD set get all the features?
Dan: No internet browsing because it wouldn't be a good experience.
Carl: Why can't I change channels when my tree causes the signal loss to come up?
Dan: Do something about the tree, it'll only get worse. It has to scan to see what it can still see.
Robert: What is the minimum voltage for a 501 or 510 to operate properly?
Mark: Strange question, but the answer is at least 85 volts.
HDTV winner: Ken Switzer from Rio Rancho, NM. Answer: 20"
New remote for the 722k and 222k receivers. The 20.0 and 21.0 have a System Wizard accessed by holding the “0” key. This allows you to back up remote settings to the receiver and receiver settings (timers, parental controls, preferences, closed captioning, more) to the remote, then later be able to restore to a replacement remote or receiver.
Available with the 20.0, 21.0, 5.3, 6.3, and 6.4 remotes (except 142301, 143037 and 143129). Press the Sat button to return the TV to the channel satellite is sent on. Best for TV2 or a TV viewed on a TV channel and not an input port. The remote needs to be already be programmed to control the TV. Press and hold Sat until the mode buttons light up, press * then Volume Up, finish by pressing #, the Sat button should flash 3 times. Press the TV button until the mode buttons light up, press *, then the 2- or 3-digit channel number, then #. The TV button should flash 3 times.
The show will be rebroadcast throughout August.
Next Tech Forum: November 9
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