Returning my Dish 6000 HDTV receiver

[catware]

I purchased the Toshiba 40H80 6 weeks ago, along with the Dish 6000 HDTV receiver. I had the tv ISF calibrated after a couple weeks.

After about 4 weeks of having the Dish 6000, I've decided to return it for 3 main reasons:

1. There are only 2 channels, HBO & Showtime. This is simply not enough. Both channels have shown some good movies, but they are always at inopportune times. If there existed the Discovery channel and a 24hr Sports channel, that would be heaven, but only having the two movie channels just doesn't justify it.

2. There is no feasible way to record or timeshift the programming. I must say, I've become spoiled by having a TiVo with my normal DirecTv account. Only having two movie channels would be acceptable IF I could timeshift the shows. But there is currently no way to do this. The logic of the MPAA's push to disallow HD recording/timeshifting escapes me. How would they lose revenue from supposed pirating that they don't already from VHS bootlegging? I just don't think it is a big market, if any.

3. Some programming is much better than DVD quality, some is worse. The Demo channel has some clips of Discovery HD which is just incredible, and make my anamorphic DVD's look rather bad when I switch back. (I.e., HDTV's making my collection look bad!) One the other hand, I watched 'Payback' last week on HBO with the DVD synched up from my cheap Sony s360 player, and the DVD had noticably more resolution and contrast; the HBO broadcast was actually blurry. I did the same with 'Ghostbusters', and the HBO HD broadcast did admittedly have slightly better resolution, but only slightly, as in after 5 sec of watching from either source I couldn't tell the difference or remember which I was on.

Basically, until there is more programming and I can timeshift it, I am going to drop out of the HDTV market. People have equated the HDTV market to the Laserdisc market, as that it will remain just a niche market for enthusiasts, but this is not true, as the gov't has mandated that in a few years everything will be HDTV. So while the 'chicken and egg' axiom can be brought up, in this case the God (the gov't) has mandated that more chickens (programming) will be created, and then the eggs (subscribers) will follow.

[BEC]

Actually you can timeshift/record HDTV material:
There's a PC PVR solution:

http://www.digitalconnection.com/Products/Video/adtv.htm

The UI isn't as polished as TiVo, but you get the advantage(disadvantage?) of having a PC architecture/flexibility.

There's also DVHS. If you want to know more, there's a HDTV recorder forum over at avsforum.

Admittedly, these aren't the most consumer friendly of options, at least not yet.

As for as HDTV broadcasts, there are also network HDTV broadcasts (eg CBS primetime, Superbowl, NCAA basketball) and PPV movies.

But I agree, early adoption doesn't seem worth it to me either. It'll come along ...



[Edited by BEC on 04-25-01 at 03:48 PM]

[catware]

BEC, thanks for the input, but to my knowledge AccessDTV does not work with subscription services such as Dish or DirecTv. I can't receive any broadcast signals where I live in the mountains. I've done a lot of research into this, and can't find a solution for less than $1000 (for the Panny D-VHS recorder) or $1200 (for a Dish 5000 w/ HDTV modulator and the HiPix card). These are eBay prices.

I have spent a lot of time at the AVSforum HDTV forums, and there just doesn't seem to be a viable solution. Even the VCR for $1000 can't store more than a couple hours, which isn't enough for some movies.

[Edited by catware on 04-25-01 at 04:15 PM]

[BEC]

Bummer about OTA HDTV for you. Talk about limiting an already limited number of options.

Yeah, AccessDTV needs the same Dish 5000/HDTV modulator work around as the Hipix card if you want to record HDTV from a DBS provider. No disputing DVHS is pricey. But when doesn't the bleeding edge cost an arm and a leg?

You first post reads like it's not possible at all to timeshift HDTV. Perhaps this a matter of semantics, but I'd call these options feasible, though not affordable. :)

I'm glad you made the second posting. The extra could be alot of help to others thinking about HDTV recording options.

As I said, I agree w/you about holding off on early adoption. I was in the sameboat as you just a few weeks ago. Seems like spending way too much for a something that maybe a long time coming.

[1blwnsaleen]

I just wanted to say that I felt your post was very honest and informative. Posts like these can save people lots of time and hard earned money in making upgrade decisions down the road. In essence I guess I appreciate your integrity in posting your honest feelings.