Recording Satellite TV with DVRs - Don’t Miss Your Favorite Shows
By admin | October 22, 2008
Recording your favorite television shows from your Dish Network or DirecTV Satellite TV or Cable service, then watching them when it is convenient for you, was the promise of VCRs. However, that promise was never truly fulfilled. Few of us, including myself, could ever set the clock on a typical VCR, or figure out the programming routine to have the VCR “wake up” and record the correct channel at the chosen hour. One time, I actually dug out the instruction manual and tried to set my VCR to record the last episode of Seinfeld while I was away. Inevitably, I forgot to put a blank tape in the machine and ended up with nothing to show for my efforts. I, for one, believe that most Video Cassette Recorders spent their entire existence only playing prerecorded tapes and flashing 12:00 from their front panel.
Thankfully, Digital technology has made it possible to realize the original promise of VCRs. Now, with the addition of a Digital Video Recorder, or DVR, and an Interactive Program Guide to your Dish Network or DirecTV Satellite TV Receiver or Cable Box, everyday recording of favorite programs is within the reach of even the most technologically challenged among us.
The DVR system is simple and intuitive. You find programs for recording by scrolling through an on-screen guide which displays channels and times in a familiar grid format. Then you select the show you want to record with a single button on your remote. That’s all! You never have to set a clock or timer. You never have to remember to put a blank tape in the machine. All your recorded shows are stored (up to the capacity of the hard disc) and viewed as a list at one touch of a button.
Digital Video Recorders make recording and playback so easy that there is little reason to watch shows when they broadcast. You can watch shows whenever it is convenient for you, and you escape the tyranny of the broadcast schedule. If you choose to sit down and watch a program when it is broadcast, which is most appropriate for news and weather, major sporting events and political debates, then great. But, if you are like most people who have a busy schedule and would rather watch TV when it is more convenient for them, then a DVR is perfect for you.
Even beyond the remarkable ease with which you can record and playback programs on a DVR, the coolest element of this technology is the ability to pause the live feed of a broadcast while the hard disc continues to record in the background. You can take a snack break, answer the phone, check your email, then get back to whatever you were watching without missing a second of the show. This feature in particular civilizes the TV viewing experience and eliminates the need to jump up and rush back during commercials. And speaking of commercials with a DVR it is deviously easy to skip through all the ads you’d really rather not watch. Just pause for a few minutes when an ad starts, and then use the convenient skip ahead button to jump to the other side of the commercial break. If you decide for some reason that you actually wanted to watch that advertisement, then you can skip back just as quickly as you jump ahead. In addition, you can rewind, watch the beginning of a show again for the benefit of those who just arrived. Or, rewind and watch that last play of the “Game” in slow motion, even frame by frame. No more guessing about those bad line calls or questionable fouls and penalties.
Cable companies use various brands of DVR hardware, quite often from Scientific Atlanta. Dish Network has developed a version they call the Dish Player DVR System. DirecTV uses TiVo (TiVo is the brand name for a proprietary DVR system). In future articles, I will examine the pros and cons of the competing DVR systems.
If all this DVR technology sounds confusing and difficult to use, believe me, it is not. Even though the technology is sophisticated, Digital Video Recorders are so easy to use that the original promise of VCRs is finally realized and you will never miss another favorite program again.
Chuck DeVries is the owner of SkyBlue Home Systems in Hanover, New Hampshire. He has been selling, installing and writing about Satellite TV and related subjects for over 12 years. You can find more of his thoughts and musings on the Sat Biz at http://www.KissMyDish.com
This article may be reused in whole or in part, provided the author’s name and all links are preserved. Copyright, KissMyDish 2006
Tags: digital video recorder, direct tv, directv, dish network, DishNetwork, DVR, satellite tv blog, tivoTopics: Satellite_TV | No Comments »
Who are Yhese Direct TV (DirecTV) Satellite TV Guys
By admin | October 16, 2008
Direct TV (Directv) is digital quality television. It functions when the programming is up-linked to a satellite & is then sent directly to our dish. The quality of the picture and sound received through Direct TV is much better than what is given by cable operators. Direct TV is nations first high power direct broadcast service which began in 1994.It is the fastest selling electronic product ever.
It has a huge & stable company which has more than 13 million subscribers. The equipment mainly consists of three items. One is a dish which is nearly 18 inches, second item is an integrated receiver decoder and third one is remote control. Direct TV uses 4 high powers satellites built by Hughes Ele and one by Loral. On Aug.10, 2000 the Direct TV announced it’s renaming. The satellites of Direct TV are in an orbit 22300 miles above the equator. These satellite are arranged in such a way that each one provide 8 or more transponders at 240watt each and the best convenience is that no adjustment of dish is required to change the programming. Thus Direct TV is one of the best choices which Americans go in for satellite TV.
J.D. Power & Associates say that Direct TV is superb. The consumers have also rated satellite TV better than cable companies in America. The transmission through Direct TV is incomparable to the one given by the cable TV. There is a vast difference in costing also. As there is limited transmission of channels due to limited line set up, Direct TV has a vast selling of transmission due to being a part of satellite TV. Direct TV is one of the best sources we can rely for our entertainment. Direct TV offers us available local channels in all the packages provided to viewers. We can select a choice of packages according to need of our family. The Direct TV offers great HDTV line ups.
One more very important thing which Direct TV provides us is digital video recording. It is going to change our way of watching TV. We can watch television in our own schedule without any commercials. We got nearly 225 channels of quality and even access to twenty five sports channel and 30 premium channels. We have a choice of 50 pay-per-views for everyday. If we compare to cable TV, Direct TV has gone beyond and above any service.
Direct TV has very easy installing equipments. The satellite dish can be mounted outside any house, office, apartments, hospital etc. The dish net work is a major and direct competitor of Direct TV. Dish network was launched in US in 1996.It is also a direct broadcast satellite service that broadcasts digital satellite TV and audio to viewers.
Direct TV and DNTV are providing a quality service of transmission to US viewers. To take the advantage of services we have to just take the choice of package. If we move from the place we can carry the dish with us anywhere in US. We even have a facility to resell the dish if we wish to. Ultimately all the parents are also happy because now their children would watch only those channels which parents wish for.
James Croydon, Satellite Installation Engineer and Dish Network Special advisor - focusing on DirecTV DVR and DirecTV DSL
Tags: direct tv, Direct TV HDTV, directv, DirecTV DSL, DirecTV DVR, DirecTV HD, DirecTV HDTV, DirecTV SearchTopics: Satellite_TV | No Comments »
TV Satellite Dish - Where to Get The Best
By admin | October 13, 2008
TV Satellite Dish
A TV satellite Dish is used to capture the signal broadcast from a TV satellite. The dish redirects the signal to an LNB (low-noise block) converter where it’s amplified and sent to a TV receiver.
DISH Network Satellite Dish
When you order DISH Network satellite TV service you get a 20″ multi-TV satellite dish with advanced LNB for free.
DIRECTV Satellite Dish
DIRECTV will give you an 18″ DIRECTV Dual LNB dish for free when you order satellite TV service from them.
Satellite Receiver
A satellite receiver amplifies and decodes the signal from the LNB converter and sends it to your TV.
DISH Network Receivers
With DISH Network you have a variety of free receivers to choose from when you order their satellite service:
* A standard receiver for watching satellite TV on one television.
* A dual-tuner receiver for watching different shows on two TVs.
* A DVR receiver so you can digitally record, pause, and replay live TV.
* An HD receiver so you can view high definition programming.
DIRECTV Receivers
When you order DIRECTV SERVICE you can choose from the following free receivers:
* A DIRECTV D11 standard receiver for single-TV viewing.
* A DVR receiver so you can digitally record your favorite shows (free after a $99 rebate).
* An HD receiver so you can watch high definition programming (free after a $99 rebate).
Note: Both DISH Network and DIRECTV will install the dish and receivers at no charge. DISH Network does not charge to ship the dish and receivers, while DIRECTV charges $19.99.
Satellite TV Service
DISH Network and DIRECTV offer a number of programming packages varying in price from $19.99 per month to $99.99 per month.
DISH Network Service
Dish Network programming starts at $19.99 for their Family package, which includes 40 family-oriented satellite TV channels, and goes up to $74.99 for 350 channels, including all the major movie channels, 52 music channels, and 60 Sirius satellite radio stations.
They also offer local channels, pay-per-view movies and events, sports packages, 20 international channels, HD channels, and even a channel devoted exclusively to babies.
DIRECTV Service
DIRECTV programming starts at $41.99 for 155 channels which includes a variety of shows, news, sports, and music channels, and goes up to $96.99 for 250 channels, including the major movie channels and 67 XM satellite radio channels.
You can also get your local channels, pay-per-view movies and events, sports packages, 6 international channels, HD channels, and their exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket.
Bottom Line
When it comes to systems, both DISH Network and DIRECTV offer state-of-the-art dishes and receivers that are similar in quality and function. However DIRECTV charges $19.99 to ship their system, and you can only get their DVR and HD receivers after a $99 mail-in rebate.
As far as programming is concerned, if you’re looking for the biggest variety of shows, movies, music, and international channels, then I’d recommend checking out DISH Network by clicking on the link below.
If sports is your thing, I’d recommend checking out DIRECTV.
Visit http://www.thesatellitetvguide.com for more TV satellite dish information, plus ordering information and the latest special offers from DISH Network satellite TV and DIRECTV satellite TV.
The author, Brian Stevens, is the senior editor for TheSatelliteTVGuide.com and has written extensively on TV satellite dishes.
Tags: directv, dish network, satellite tv, tv satellite dishTopics: Satellite_TV | No Comments »