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Posted By: thanwu problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/05/06 06:26 AM
Hi, Guys:

I need some help for my home theater setup with HD reciever from Dishnetwork. I have a Yamaha RXV-2600 reciever, Philips 42' plasma HDTV. I always get great HD receptions from comcast digital cable, but just switched to Dishnetwork on Monday because of the cost.

Here are the connections i tried:

setup 1: video: HD reciever---DVI/HDMI---Yamaha 2600---HDMI----Philips HDTV
Audio: HD reciever---Optical----Yamaha 2600
setup 2: Video: HD reciever---DVI/HDMI---Philips HDTV
Audio: HD reciever---Yamaha 2600
I could not get real good HD quality video with both setups except ESPNHD, but i always can get excellent HDs with comcast HD reviever (setup 1). Another problem i have is : I could not get Dolby Digital sound(It always shows the Stereo in the info screen). I am wondering if the Dishnetwork HD channels were broadcasted that way or not?

I appreciate your suggestions.

Happy new year to all the Axiom fans!

Han
Posted By: curtis Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/05/06 02:49 PM
I have Dish Network now and have no issues like that at all. I have had cable and DirecTV in the past as well.

Which Dish HD receiver do you have? Which HD channels are you having issues with specifically?
Posted By: thanwu Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/05/06 03:50 PM
I have the 811 HD reciever from Dishnetwork. I have the TNTHD, ESPNHD,HDnet, HDnetMovie,DiscoveryHD,HBOHD and ShowtimeHD. Only ESPNHD are up to High definition quality. All the others look like DVD quality. It was razer sharp when i watched DiscoveryHD with comcast HD reviever (My wife and little boy really enjoy it), but not the dishnetwork HD receiver. In terms of sound quality, it is just plain stereo sound. I watched the "The day after tomorrow", "I Robot". The sound was awesome.

Thanks,

Han
Posted By: curtis Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/05/06 05:08 PM
I have the 942 receiver.

For sound, make sure the receiver is set to do Dolby Digital.

For video, you might be finding that Dish is compressing the signal more than the local cable company.

A good resource forum for help is http://www.dbstalk.com/
Posted By: thanwu Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/05/06 05:48 PM
Thanks, Curtis. I have set the audio for HD reciever for Dlby Digital/PCM. I just feel it has more compression than comcast. I will check the dbstalk.com site.

thanks again.

Han
Posted By: thanwu Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/09/06 02:50 AM
Hi, Curtis:

Do you get Dobly Digital sound from the dishnetwork HD channels? It shows Stereo sound most of the time when i push the info button on the HD reciever remote. It always DD sound from comcast HD digital cable. I have talked to Tech support from Dishnetwork many times and they sent a techician to my house to check the connetions. I called them to cancel it, but they insist to send a senior field manager to check for me again. I just want everyboday who wants HD channels to be cautious before you sign up. My experience is cable provides the best HDs for now.
Posted By: curtis Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/09/06 07:03 AM
If it is broadcast in DD5.1, I get it just fine.
Posted By: hashts Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/09/06 07:40 AM
I've has DISH HD for about 6 months now and all those channels you mentioned are crystal clear for me. I have viewed some of those channels on Comcast from a friend's house and I feel Comcast compresses more. Also, MOST of the Discovery feeds are usually in Dolby Digital, and also HDNet movies are ALWAYS broadcast in Dolby as well. When I flip channels my Denon lets me know what type of signal its receiving from the Dish 811 box. If its in stereo, then I use DTS:Neo and obviously leave it alone if its in Dolby.

Just today was watching Discovery and still enjoying the super clean images for the nature documentaries. Something sounds odd if you're not getting a Dolby signal from movies in HD (which is HDNet, HBO-HD and SHO-HD). Just let the tech come out and see if there are any problems.
Posted By: Abyss Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/09/06 04:52 PM
thanwu, it's not just you. It's because all the channels you mention that look good are 1920x1080. All Voom and some Dish as well as all DirecTV channels are 1280x1080. We like to call it HD-Lite. Just in the past month Dish started to down-rez and DirecTV has been doing for over a year. You check the facts at two places:

Dish Bitrates
DirecTV Bitrates
Satelliteguys.us

The last link has ALL the details you'll ever need on satellite. I’m not sure about other cable companies but in most areas Comcast transmits true HD. I noticed my HD go to crap Jan. of 2005 when DirecTV started their down-rezing. I’m still holding on to DirecTV until after March when Dish releases their new mpeg4 boxes and to see if they stop the down-rezing. With Dish's announcements at CES, the down-rezzed channels may not be back any time soon. BTW, I’m not here to argue what anyones eyes see, sure it may look good to some, mainly because you haven’t seen true HD or your set doesn’t support true HD rez.

Posted By: thanwu Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/09/06 09:53 PM
Thanks all. I have the same feeling as Abyss. It is downgraded HDTV signal from Dishnetwork. I compared the DVD movie with the HD movies(HBOHD and ShowtimeHD). They looked like the same quality as my DVD movie. It has distinct difference when i watched the same HD channels on comcast HD reciever. Another thing bothers me is the sound. I could not find the Dolby Digital sign in my HD programs(push the info button on the reciever). It always (or most of the time) shows in the decription: (HD) (CC) (Stereo), even with the HBO "Sopranos". The Tech support told me that is because it was broadcasted in Stereo. What a joke!
Anyway, thank you guys very much. I will try to cancel my Dishnetwork if it is possible. I just got it for one week before i returned my comcast HD box.
Posted By: Abyss Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/09/06 10:21 PM
Well the "tech" is a knob, lol. As for HBOHD, ShowHD, HDnet, etc, yes they should carry the DD signal. Not every show on Discovery, HBO, Show are in DD but a majority are. I'm not sure if this will help as all STBs are different. Did you try running a coaxial/tos link cable for the audio along with the HDMI for video just to test the audio signal? Or possibly you have a defective STB? Try getting a replacement box especially if it is the 811. Maybe you can get them to send you a 211/411 when they are available.

As for cancelling, you're pretty much stuck, Dish only allows 3 days and then your stuck in your contract. Don't throw in the towel yet as it may cost you a small fortune in penelty fees.
Posted By: thanwu Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/10/06 03:09 AM
I did have the optical connection between my 811 HD reciever and my Yamaha 2600 reciever. It worked perfectly for my comcast HD box. I asked to return the equipment after the first day, but they wanted to send the technician to check. One tech came last Saturday. I called to cancel it again, they insisted to send a senior tech. Are the 211 or 411 HD recievers?
Posted By: thanwu Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/17/06 05:38 PM
I tried to cancel my Dishnetwork, they insisted to charge me the penalty $200 some. I have decided to cancel it after i get my $100 cash back from Dishnetwork. No more dish for my life!!!
Posted By: pmbuko Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/17/06 06:58 PM
It really sucks, but most companies that provide some sort fo communications service (cell phone, cable, satellite) 'neglect' to tell you that by you're signing on for a mimimum one-year contract, subject to early cancellation penalties. It's in the small print, but theyh should be more up front with that info.
Posted By: player8 Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/17/06 07:13 PM
Which cell-phone companies don't disclose contracts upfront?
Posted By: pmbuko Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/17/06 07:27 PM
uh, that one
Posted By: player8 Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/17/06 08:08 PM
I don't mean to point out the obvious but you said "most" companies. If you could name me more than two cell phone companies that you have had direct experience with that haven't told you, that you were signing a contract at POS, then please enlighten me. I'm always open to gossip, industry news, and good advice.
Posted By: pmbuko Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/17/06 10:55 PM
just ignore me
Posted By: thanwu Re: problem of HD channels from Dishnetwork - 01/19/06 01:58 AM
Hi, Guys:

No need arguing for this. Another purpose i posted my problem here is to let everyone know: Be cautious if you want to sign up Dishnetwork for HD programs. At least i could not enjoy my Axiom speakers with the HD recievers from Dishnetwork. Let's enjoy your music with your axiom speakers!!!
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