January 25th, 2013
Regional sports networks are the cable television stations that broadcast local sports, including college and professional sports leagues, and also distribute them to the rest of the country. Commonly known as RSNets, they can be very confusing and frustrating for those who just want to watch their team or catch a game. DISH provides several maps which show the RSNet maps, this can be invaluable in helping you figure out what RSNet you may need to be subscribed to or have access to with your other programming in order to watch a game in a certain area.
Categories: DISH & TV news
October 15th, 2012
You can use your remote to backup your remote and Hopper or Joey settings in case you ever need to replace your equipment. It takes only 5 steps to backup your information, and just a few more to restore it. Much quicker and easier than reprogramming everything on your receiver or remote!
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1. Press “Menu”Press the menu button on the top left corner of the remote. |
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2. Select SettingsOn the Main Menu select the Settings tile in the bottom left corner. |
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3. Select DiagnosticsIn the Settings Menu select the Diagnostics tile in the middle of the bottom row. |
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4. Select System WizardIn the Diagnostics Menu select the Systam Wizard tile, which is the second to last from the right. |
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5. Select RestoreOn the System Wizard screen there are three blue buttons on the right of the screen, select the bottom button that says Restore. |
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6. Select Device to RestoreOn the Restore screen press the left arrow button to navigate to the options in the middle of the screen. Select which device you would like to restore, remote or receiver. Press the right arrow button to navigate back to the blue buttons on the right of the screen. |
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6. Select RestoreOn the Restore screen select the bottom blue button labeled Restore to restore the settings of the device you selected in step 5. |
Categories: Equipment & Remotes
October 8th, 2012
Receivers and remotes can fail, and DISH’s backup feature can help reduce the headache of replacing your equipment by allowing you to reconfigure your new receiver or remote easily and quickly.
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1. Press “Menu”Press the menu button on the top left corner of the remote. |
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2. Select SettingsOn the Main Menu select the Settings tile in the bottom left corner. |
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3. Select DiagnosticsIn the Settings Menu select the Diagnostics tile in the middle of the bottom row. |
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4. Select System WizardIn the Diagnostics Menu select the Systam Wizard tile, which is the second to last from the right. |
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5. Select BackupOn the System Wizard screen there are three blue buttons on the right of the screen, select the middle button that says Backup. |
In just 5 steps you can backup all of your receiver and remote settings. In the event that you need to replace your equipment, you’ll be able to restore your settings and get everything up and running right away! No need to worry about setting everything up again. Your home entertainment set up will be exactly how you want it in minutes! This procedure backs up your settings as of the time of backup, if you change any of your settings and would like to maintain those changes if the equipment is replaced you will need to back up again.
Categories: Equipment & Remotes
September 17th, 2012
Now available to DISH Network customers: The Blaze. Glenn Beck’s 24-hour news and opinion network ise available exclusively on DISH on channel 212. The Blaze will be joining DISH’s extensive news and information lineup – including: MSNBC, BBC America, CNN, Current, Comedy Central and FOX News.
Categories: Channels & Shows
August 10th, 2012
A black, blue or snowy screen on your TV2 for your DISH Network duo receiver can be very frustrating, and with your DISH remote it’s entirely preventable. Here are easy step-by-step instructions on how to program your DISH remote to automatically change to the correct channel for DISH service when you press the SAT mode button.
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| 1) At the top of your DISH Network remote are four mode buttons. Locate the TV mode button – second from the left – and press and hold it. | 2) Hold the TV mode button until all of the other mode buttons light up, like in the image above. |
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| 3) Press the star (*) button, located on the bottom left of the number pad. | 4) The TV mode button will light up. |
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| 5) Enter in the channel number your TV2 is supposed to be on for DISH Network service. | 6) The TV mode button will light up. |
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| 7) Press the pound button to program the channel to your remote. | 8) The TV mode button will flash three times. |
Now when you press the SAT mode button at the top of your remote, it will not only put your remote in SAT mode so it’s ready to use with your DISH service, but also make sure your TV is on the correct channel.
Categories: Equipment & Remotes
June 1st, 2012
Ever wondered how you get your favorite shows and movies from DISH satellite service?
First programmers send their content to DISH. Content is often transmitted via the programmer’s satellite to a DISH uplink center. Content can also be sent via over-the-air (OTA) signals to the local DISH receive facility, which then transfers it to the uplink center. All programming, except your local OTA stations, are processed through the an uplink center. There are uplink centers in Orange, NJ; Spokane, WA; Mt. Jackson, VA; Monee, IL; Gilbert, AZ; and Cheyenne, WY. The uplink center in Cheyenne, Wyoming is one of the more popular centers and even offers tours for those curious about the workings of satellite receptions and transmissions.
Once the content reaches the uplink center it is then transmitted to one of DISH’s 15 satellites that stretch from 61.5° to 129° and cover all of the continental United States, as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
From the satellite the content is sent to the dish that is installed on or near your home, and travels via coaxial cable (and a complex and impressive set of switches, splitters and other devices depending on the number of televisions and set up in your home) to your receiver. Your receiver is connected to your television with cabling that varies based on your television. For standard definition coaxial cable is sufficient, but composite (red, white and yellow cables) are often used as well. For high definition there’s the option of component (red, blue and green, or YPbPR), but since this requires additional cabling for sound, the all-in-one HDMI option is often preferrable.
You can learn more about how your satellite signal travels through the cabling in your home and into your receivers and television on DISH’s site about satellite to home transmission.
Categories: Equipment & Remotes
April 20th, 2012
What could be better than watching TV with your favorite Dish Network programming? Combining it with Google TV for the ultimate experience.
You can enjoy the latest technology on your current television. All you need is the Logitech Revue, a box designed to connect to your receiver. There is no need to buy additional equipment to get the Google TV experience. It allows you to surf the web, download apps, and make a video call. Imagine seeing your loved ones on a big screen while you visit.
Other options include the Sony Internet TV 3D Blu-Ray Disc Player and Sony internet TVs. You choose the one that works best for you and how much money you want to spend. With these two options, you will not need an additional box.
With Google TV, you can browse the internet while watching programs on your TV. If you’re watching a cooking show, you can look up the recipe at the same time. The picture in picture feature allows you to view two screens at the same time. Keep up on all of the scores while watching your favorite game. Even check your email or Facebook status and play games while watching a movie or reality show.
You can read articles or book a hotel online through your television. Watch videos on a bigger screen or check out Facebook photos of your friends.
Improve your TV experience even more by downloading apps like Pandora to play radio music on your surround sound. Classy Fireplace app lets you turn your screen into a fireplace when you’re not watching. Add some ambience to the room instead of watching a black screen.
You can schedule recordings easily and quickly so you don’t miss a single episode of your favorite show. With the BuddyTV app, you can find a show in less than a minute. Don’t waste time browsing over countless channels and not finding anything to watch. With this app, you’ll be watching in no time.
Google TV with Dish Network provides a unique television viewing experience. You’ll never go back to the old way of watching again. Internet and television: the perfect combination.
Categories: Equipment & Remotes
April 16th, 2012
You may be wondering what is the difference between Dish Network and other satellite companies or even cable TV. Aren’t they all the same?
There are several things that set Dish Network apart from their competitors. First, they offer innovative products at a reasonable price. They have a whole home DVR system in the Hopper, TV Everywhere that allows you to watch your favorite programs regardless of where you are, and Google TV that lets you enjoy the internet on your television. While each of these products may cost more than basic satellite programming, Dish Network remains competitive with other companies that are offering similar services.
Another thing that Dish Network offers is more movies. They have Blockbuster @Home that lets you choose between getting movies in the mail, online, On Demand, and 20 movie channels that include Starz Cinema. You will never run out of movies to watch and you can watch them first.
Superior customer service is another reason Dish Network is so popular. They are one of the only entertainment providers that has 24 hour customer service 7 days a week. You can talk to someone over the phone or online even in the middle of the night.
Prices are another reason Dish Network stays on top. They offer the lowest cost for their packages and didn’t raise their prices last year when other companies did.
Dish Network offers advanced technology that is easy to use. While they seek to keep up with the trends in today’s technology, they also strive to create products that the average person can program without problem. What good is fancy gadgets if you can’t use them? Dish Network’s award winning DVRs are simple to set up and user friendly.
It’s easy to trust a family-owned business and that’s what Dish Network is. They were founded by the Ergens and a friend back in 1980 and they have kept the same values ever since. In a world of big corporations and conglomerates, it’s nice to have a company that is all about family.
You can choose any or all of the reasons above to believe in Dish Network. Great value, great entertainment, and great values make it the right choice for anyone.
Categories: DISH & TV news
August 26th, 2011
We’ve discussed How To Buy an HDTV previously, going over the differences between LED, LCD and Plasma, today we’ll talk about the many different features available with HDTVs today and which ones you should pay attention to.
HDTVs are the hub of your home entertainment center, bringing together receivers, DVD/Blu-Ray players, gaming consoles, stereos and even computers. When buying a new TV you want to make sure you can actually bring all of those things together. Make you sure know how many HDMI, Component, Composite, Cable, USB or VGA ports you will need, and if you’re looking to add more in the future be sure to take that into account.
As mentioned above, your home entertainment system is probably home to many electronic components. Buying an energy efficient HDTV can ehlp lower your electric bill and ease the burden on the circuits in your living room. In May, 2010, Energy Star released Energy Star 4.0, which cracked down on Energy Star ratings for HDTVs. The Energy Star logo can help you to narrow down your choices, but be sure to keep in mind that larger screens are obviously going to require larger amounts of energy, plasma requires more energy than LCDs but LCDs require more energy than LEDs, and brighter pictures require more energy.
Menus and remotes can be frustratingly complicated, but also infuriatingly oversimplified. Make sure to browse through the menus on the TV and ask to look at the remote. Do you see the kind of options you like to have? Some people like to be able to just plug and go, the only options needed being volume changing and input switching. Others love to have more options to tweak, perfecting colors and adjusting picture. Make sure to find a TV that is closest to your preferences, one that doesn’t have so many option as to overwhelm you, but also doesn’t limit your choices.
The finish on your TV screen may not be something you pay much attention to, until you realize you can’t watch TV in the morning because of the early sun streaming through or that the dining room light has to be off to avoid a glare. Make sure to look closely at the TV screen on the showroom floor and take note of the glares and reflections, especially during scenes with a lot of darks. Also think about the lighting placement in your living room, as most higher end TVs come with a glossy screen it may be easier to rearrange lighting fixtures to avoid glares.
Internet ready TVs are very popular for obvious reasons, but a new internet ready television could cost you hundreds, even thousands of dollars more. You can save money by adding internet to your existing TV with the Logitech Review with Google TV from DISH Network for only $99! DISH Network customers with a Logitech Revueâ„¢ have the most advanced Google TV experience available. The integration includes robust search capabilities spanning Web and DVR content as well as DISH Network Video On Demand programming, something no other provider can offer!
With Google TV you can:
Enjoy Youtube™ and other web videos – all on your TV.
Search for a movie and find it, whether it’s on TV, the Web, your DVR or On Demand.
Watch a cooking show and look up recipes on your big screen.
Categories: DISH & TV news
July 15th, 2011
LCD TVs are known for having poor black levels but recent developments have helped to fix some of the issues. LCD TVs are back-lit by cold-cathode fluorescent lights (CCFLs), so there will always be some light leaking through and you won’t get that deep black you see on a Plasma TV.
LCD also falls short of plasma when it comes to viewing angles as well, there is some color changes and wash out when watching an LCD from an angle. LCD TVs are best placed in rooms where there is plenty of seating directly in front of it. LCD image and color quality may also suffer when in a darkened room.
LCDs are available in a variety of sizes from 19″ to 65″, and in the popular 40 to 55″ size range, LCD and plasma are priced similarly.
LED TVs are not necessarily new technology. They’re just an LCD TV that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for back lighting instead of the standard cold-cathode fluorescent lights (CCFLs). There are two kinds of LED TVs: full array and edge-lit.
Full array means LEDs are placed across the back panel, just like in LCD TVs with a CCFL backlight.
Edge-lit came about as a way to make TVs even thinner. The lights are placed on all four sides and is projected to the center. Edge-lit LED TVs are the most common.
LED TVs are available in 32″ or larger, are often thinner and use a little bit less energy. Some models may offer slightly better picture quality, but are expensive.
Plasma is the original flat-screen TV technology, and though newer LCD technology has begun to edge it out you still tend to get a better picture quality from plasma. Plasma has wider viewing angles, allowing for more people to watch from a wider space.
Plasmas main issues are that they’re larger, heavier and less energy efficient than their LCD counterparts. They also have issues with reflecting light off their glass screens, which can make viewing in a bright room difficult. Plasma screen do have superior color richness, but are best viewed in darker rooms.
Plasma TVs are available in 42″ or larger and often beat out the LCD competition in price, especially 50″ and above. 50″ is considered by most to be the perfect size for a plasma TV.
| LCD | LED | Plasma | |
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| Size | 19 to 65″ | 32″+ thinner |
42″+ bulkier |
| Viewing Area | Best directly in front of TV | Wider angles and better color uniformity when not in front | |
| Colors | Bright and vibrant, poor black levels | Rich with excellent deep blacks | |
| Best Viewed In | Lighter rooms where flaws are less visible | Dark rooms where there is not a lot of potential glare | |
| Energy Efficiency | Much better than plasma | Some models may be slightly better than LCD | Worst |
Categories: DISH & TV news