I currently have the regular Dish network programming. If I upgrade to Dish HD it won't make my non-HD Dish channels look any better, will it? The only way I see that it might improve them slightly is because the HDMI connection (which I assume the new receiver would have) might be a little better than the S VIdeo connection I have now. Has anyone upgraded and noticed a difference?

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

It might make the SD channels look a little better if somehow the new box is better at decoding SD channels. Kind of a long shot, if you ask me.

I still haven't upgraded mine either. Still considering Direct TV as there HD channels are $10/mo extra and Dish is $20.

It might depend if they put you on another satellite when you switch. Some channels might get better, some worse. I think the satellite they put you on depends on if you get your local channels on the dish.

It seems like the more HD channels they add, the more they compress (like a jpg) the non-HD channels. They only have a certain amount of bandwidth per satellite and something has to give when they make more channels HD.

I watch a lot of NBA basketball and on channels like TNT the fast action can get really blocky. The satellite I'm on, it seems like ESPN gets a better picture for basketball than TNT. My theory is they give ESPN more bandwidth because they have more fast moving shows.

Good Luck,

Fred Also

I have Dish HD and the regular channels do look a bit better, perhaps because of the HDMI connection. But the best reception is over the air. I use rabbit ears and those are connected to the Dish HD DVR and it downloads the channels into the channel guide. So, I watch SD channels through the DVR, HD channels through the DVR and also over the air. It all works pretty well, but not cheap.

Marty,
How do you like the Dish DVR? My daughter has been wanting us to get one of those if we upgrade, but I am not sure.

My OTA HD is great I have an antenna in the attic and it picks up our local channels like a charm. I just wish I could get things like the History Channel and Discovery OTA, too.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

We just switched to DishNetwork's HD package and I haven't noticed any change in the regular non HD channels that come over the satellite. We also have the HD DVR and it does a pretty good job, my husband likes being able to skip commercials.

Thanks for the info jesse. I am still debating on whether or not to get the DVR.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

I was pretty disappointed with Dish's SD channel picture quality on a HDTV. I recently switched to ATT U-Verse and must say the SD channels are WAY better

DirecTV's HD is the best. More channels (I think they just added 10 more within the last two weeks).

Minus over the air, I have read several reviews where it rated the best picture quality among cable/satellite providers (which have to compress the data, as stated above).

The SD channels could possibly look better due to the encoding and how images are framed within the new receiver.

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SD channels on a HD set will never look as good as SD channels on a SD set.

It may be brighter and sharper on the HD set, but that isn't necessarily better. You will see a lot of pixelation. Pretty much the same effect as taking a 72dpi image and bumping it up to 300dpi.

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The Dish DVR is fine. Works great and records very well. Dish just sent an advisory that you could now download movies by connecting your broadband internet to the DVR. There are all kinds of instructions about either etherneting the connection or using a power line relay. I haven't checked this out yet, but it sounds intriguing.

Thanks for the info Marty. I didn't know about the over the internet thing for movies. I'll have to check into that, too.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Dish told me that their HD DVR will not record Off the Air programs. It will record only local channels that come off the dish. Is that correct?

There seemed to be a lot of confusion when I ask. They said 1st that it would record OTA and I ask if she was sure. They put me on hold and finally came back and made the above statement.


Fred Also

No, Fred it is not so. I record Antiques Roadshow every week on my Dish DVR over the air in HD, btw.