Community Newsletter: Q&A: What does the 2009 digital-TV switch actually mean?
- 11/30/07 9:08 AM
Digital Cable convertor w/ DVR
by cecilt22 - 11/20/07 11:08 AM In reply to: All you will need is a digital cable converter by ProToolsGeekYour statement that the DVR's last a year and then die is just not true. I have Toshiba's RX-TX60 DVR/TIVO. I have not had a problem with the DVR for the 4 years I have owned it. The DVR is used daily without a problem. Don't forget to mention a DVR is nothing ore than a hard drive on which your programs are recorded.
Hard to believe but what you say "is" true.
by MissLynda - 11/20/07 6:22 PM In reply to: All you will need is a digital cable converter by ProToolsGeekI thought that I was the only person to have this problem but I should have known better. I have had Dish TV for four years and I have had to have my DVR replaced every year except this year. It is not because I did not have problems with the DVR, in fact I am constantly calling regarding problems with the DVR, but their stance now is that they have had so many complaints, is that they can’t keep replacing the units. The problem you see is my fault because I keep the box on all the time. Supposedly the box heats up and malfunctions when it is left on all the time, so I have to turn it off when I am not using it. Oh, by the way, I am supposed to keep track of when I want to record a program before hand and make arrangements to have the unit on when I need to record. I told the rep that I thought that was the purpose of the device, to automatically record my shows without me having to think about it or plan for it, without that function what makes it superior to a VCR? I knew that this was not at all right and that this rep obviously did not know what she was talking about, and since I was seething at this point and extremely tired, I left it and decided to call the next day. I called the first thing the next morning, was switched to the service department and the first question they asked me was did I leave the box on all the time or did I turn it off when I was not using it? I was told to enable the inactivity power off function so that the box would turn itself off automatically after a certain amount of time of no interaction with the system. I made it very clear to these people that this was just plain unacceptable and that they had to replace my malfunctioning box. The sweet young man kindly and very politely told me that it would do me no good to switch out my box because the replacement unit would do exactly the same thing if I left the system on. Of course I am in the market for a new service. I have downgraded to the basic service to pay the least amount of money until I can research and find an acceptable and superior product. No sense switching from Dish to another service to find that they are as bad or worse. I did in the heat of the moment respond to one of Direct TV’s spectacular offers only to find out when the gentleman came to install my system that they did not make it clear in their offer that their inexpensive broadband service did not include the massive broadband charges that would be paid to the phone company and that even if their system was installed it was completely worthless until I had the phone company come out and install theirs. Oh, what a wonderful world we live in. I found that out because I have turned off the TV and have taken up painting and teaching myself to play the flute.
Linda B
dish or directv
by wally6151 - 11/22/07 9:46 AM In reply to: Hard to believe but what you say "is" true. by MissLyndaNot that there's anything wrong with painting or playing the flute, but if you decide to watch tv again, the low cost dvr's are bad about this with Direct TV too. We've had 3 or 4 of the DVR R-10 boxes from Direct TV--the hard drive went out on the last one. Luckily we had a service agreement with them that covers the box, wiring, and antenna. If you own one of boxes, get the service agreement, it's worth it. It may also be suseptable to the always-on problem, as ours was hevily used. They finally switched us to a R-15 DVR, and the picture is clearer on this one. Dad Has had his pre-DVR Dish tuner for 5 or 6 years without trouble. The Dsl requirement may not be the same with Direct TV, but dial-up may be required. If internet is all you need, there is SKY Blue direct satalite internet, but it has it's own dish that they come out and set up for about the cost of basic cable service.
Problem solved but why does DIsh/Direct want my TV "off"?
by MissLynda - 11/22/07 11:01 AM In reply to: dish or directv by wally6151Wally,
Thank you for that information. I guess I have already corrected the situation, since I watch so little TV now it is off more than it is on. I am not even angry with Dish Network any more, in fact I think that they did me one great favor. I don’t know what the benefit is for Dish and Direct TV to have people turning off their TV’s instead of perfecting their product but it sure has been a great benefit to me. Turning on the TV was my first action when I entered my home, now my first stop is my office where I can quickly sketch out any remarkable images that I spotted on the way home or any idea that came to mind. It is not only cathartic; it is extremely relaxing and you get a tangible benefit that you can keep, throw away, gift or expand on. By the way, I am an old broad and I just got started with the process only three months ago. I know everyone says it but in this case it is true. If I can do it anyone can. I must admit that I did have a little help, okay... a lot of help from Frank Fradella’s book “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Drawing Basic. I am not trying to start a turn off your TV campaign and I have not stopped watching TV, it has just been placed in the back seat.
Disclaimer:
I get no compensation in any form regarding the suggestion of this book. I do personally know the author, but only through the pages of his book which teaches the basics of drawing in a manner, style and voice that worked for me. It may not work for you but nothing works for everybody.
ON most of the time or OFF
by russ666 - 11/23/07 8:34 AM In reply to: Hard to believe but what you say "is" true. by MissLyndaComcast cable in our Seattle-Tacoma area recently converted their own version of DVR and menu programming to fix it so that their unit will now turn itself on for length of time needed to record a pre-programed TV show and then turn itself back off automatically. There are a couple of definite downsides to using the Comcast service however, They only support their own version of Motorola DVR box. You can't even BUY a cable card to use in any competing DVR unit. At least not from them. And of course their prices are uniformly way too high after the trial periods expire. Your anger and pique at the attitudes of cable service personel is so much wasted energy unless you convey it adequately to your Senators and Congress folk. The business model bottom line attitudes of managerial types are what got them to their overly inflated wages and positions of power, so they are unlikely to work for change or improvement without some perceived bottom-line cost-benefit ratio they can show to their own superiors. A hint: you can try writing to the president of your company. Oft times they don't know what their lackeys are doing unless a customer lets them hear about it.
Wow, just now?
by Spockva - 11/24/07 4:42 AM In reply to: ON most of the time or OFF by russ666I have an almost 8 year old TiVo from Phillips that I won on a giveaway from the Sci-Fi channel. I can put it in standby and it still records shows, or I can leave it on all the time (almost 8 YEARS now)! I am wondering why so many people are having trouble with their DVRs? Anyway, your cable DVR is just now being made to turn off by itself? Wow, that is kind of funny seeing as vcrs were turning themselves on and off shortly after they were invented.
hard to belive its true, its true
by ronn deas - 12/1/07 8:03 AM In reply to: Hard to believe but what you say "is" true. by MissLyndaLinda B- Amen to your choice not to play the dish game .I had similar problems. Alas i went back to comcast. and took up playing percussion again.
Liberation never sounded so sweet.
by MissLynda - 12/1/07 4:22 PM In reply to: hard to belive its true, its true by ronn deasRonn,
We can call our band “Detoxified Revolution.” It will not be televised.
Misslynda..I have had dish for almost 10yrs....
by slimsss2 - 12/1/07 8:49 AM In reply to: Hard to believe but what you say "is" true. by MissLyndaI had one recorder box go bad almost immediately when i went with the recorder service,,callled and no probs,,Hooked up the replacement and that was three years ago. On two occassions i have had a warning screen come up that says the box is over heating and needs to cool down,I have now elevated the 'box' about 2" above the TV to allow for some air to circulate and no more probs. I have only turned the 'box' off when we will be away from home and that is only every 3 months or so. Also have 3 friends on dish and they have not had any bad recievers either.
I am thinking you have encounterd some dummmies in customer service,,i would try for another replacement. My dealings with Dish have been excellent..Maybe try a supervisor for some answeres.
My only "BEEF" is haveing to purchase 250 channels to get the 10 or 12 we use on occasion...Hope customers can pick and choose a package one day...Hope this may help you.
All boxes are not created equal
by MissLynda - 12/1/07 4:09 PM In reply to: Misslynda..I have had dish for almost 10yrs.... by slimsss2Slimsss2,
I think that maybe the boxes your provider uses are different than the one mine uses. My boxes have never given me any warnings before shutting down, breaking down or even just cutting off. My boxes have no airflow blockage and are elevated as yours, so if it is an overheating problem then the problem has to be in the box itself. I have spoken with two technicians and you are right, that was a complete waste of time. I also spoke with two supervisors before one finally was honest enough to tell me that this was a common complaint and they stopped swapping out the boxes because it did not solve the problem. He stated that the newly shipped boxes had the same problem as the ones that were taken out. He said that the tech department is looking at the boxes to see if they can find out why this continues to happen but they have not at this time been able to pinpoint the problem. So for now they are just telling the customers to turn off the boxes when they are not watching their TV and to set the auto turn off option to on. Real good solution for Dish; it saves them a lot of money and the customer? Who cares about them any way, unless they are late paying that ridiculous monthly fee for ……. for … service?
I only wish that Dish was the only company that has this attitude. Unfortunately it is the rule rather than the exception that businesses today shout loud and clear, “Either take it or leave it.” The global customer base has made customer service the last item on the totem pole. Their new motto is, “Show me the money, take your complaints somewhere else and come back real soon now, you hear?”
Miss Lynda
by alldayjjay - 12/22/07 6:04 AM In reply to: Hard to believe but what you say "is" true. by MissLyndaDon't Know much about cablebox or dish tv but I do no abit about thermodynamics and the solution to your dilemma put a fan on your unit and makesure that you leave space under for air to flow.
that might help you later alldayjjay
Converter boxes
by bluzjamer - 12/22/07 7:22 AM In reply to: Miss Lynda by alldayjjayLook new TVs can receive HD without a box but cable will not let you receive these channels unless you have their converter for an additional charge. Way it is with Cox Rhode Island. They offer free digital for a year but you have to get their digital receiver which is an additional charge. To continue to use my HDMI cable I would need their DVR box ($10 more a month) which is the only one with a HDMI hookup.
This whole thing just sours my stomach, it has taken all the joy of having a new set. I just stare at my rabbit ears in disgust.
Bob M
ihatecoxcabletv@cox.net
Charter cable tv?
by afterbase - 12/3/07 9:44 PM In reply to: All you will need is a digital cable converter by ProToolsGeekIf you have Charter cable tv and have upgraded to the digital programming, if you buy a new digital tv as you say with the right specs, you then can receive the digital programming the same as if you have a converter box for the analog tv? And you can watch different channels on several tvs, not locked into the same channel?
Thanks
tv
by nothankscnet - 4/23/08 6:40 AM In reply to: All you will need is a digital cable converter by ProToolsGeekjust buy a new TV, they are so cheap now on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00171CW16/?tag=amazon-products-20
Digital Signal or Analog going away
by PhilGlantz - 11/9/07 4:52 PM In reply to: What does the 2009 digital-TV switch actually mean? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you're currently bringing the cable straight into your tv you'll still be able to receive the non digital channels. Also, my understanding is that any TV manufactured after March 2007 has a digital tuner so even digital channels should show up, though not necessarily in the spot you expect them. If you're using Comcast this is already true.
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
