I've made the plunge

OK, the new HD channels did it. Mediacom has only 18 HD channels. When I read that DISH had just added 22 more, bringing the total to some 95 HD channels, I could stand it no longer. I went to the DISH website and ordered the EVERYTHING package with HD ULTIMATE. I am getting 2 HD receivers ( one with DVR ) and a standard receiver. My total bill is still lower than Mediacom was charging me. I am going to be in HD heaven........Hey, I'll have to take next week off just to surf all the HD channels.....
Anything in particuar I should know or relate to the installer when he gets here on Wednesday ??
Thanks, guys. :banana: :yippee: :banana:

Congrats!! Welcome to the glory that is HD Television. I'm pretty excited for this afternoon. Although I still don't have my locals in HD yet :(, but hopefully "soon".

OK, the new HD channels did it. Mediacom has only 18 HD channels. When I read that DISH had just added 22 more, bringing the total to some 95 HD channels, I could stand it no longer. I went to the DISH website and ordered the EVERYTHING package with HD ULTIMATE. I am getting 2 HD receivers ( one with DVR ) and a standard receiver. My total bill is still lower than Mediacom was charging me. I am going to be in HD heaven........Hey, I'll have to take next week off just to surf all the HD channels.....
Anything in particuar I should know or relate to the installer when he gets here on Wednesday ??
Thanks, guys. :banana: :yippee: :banana:

Use your vehicle to block him in and don't let him leave until the HD picture is perfect. I don't mean good. I mean perfect.

Oh, and if they drive across your lawn, take pictures of tire marks ;) - I wish I had done.

Anything in particuar I should know or relate to the installer when he gets here on Wednesday ??
Thanks, guys. :banana: :yippee: :banana:Are you using OTA for local HD? If so, he may give you a substandard antenna. My installer did not have a clue about OTA. I had problems, joined a forum, and was able to communicate my needs with the 2nd installer.

Yes, I already have my OTA antenna plugged in. There should be no problems there. I will take the good advice on having the picture PERFECT before I allow the installer to leave. :D

Anything in particuar I should know or relate to the installer when he gets here on Wednesday ??
Thanks, guys. :banana: :yippee: :banana:

I would recommend that you have the installer hook the HD boxes up with component cables rather than HDMI. HDMI has been excessively problematic on Dish boxes and you would be wise in using component to prevent problems both now and in the future. The PQ is the same so no worries there.

What problems do HDMI create?

I use HDMI cables. I didn't know they were causing me problems.

What problems do HDMI create?

I use HDMI cables. I didn't know they were causing me problems.

I have been doing HDMI for 2 1/2 years no problems here. At first directly connected from the receiver to the TV.

For almost 2 months now I have had my new 722 hooked to my new AV receiver. The TV is hooked to the AV receiver as well. All HDMI and the sound has been incredible as well.

Yes there have been some problems reported but most people are doing OK. Nothing is perfect. If you do have problems, Dish will fix it for you.

Also, I find a superior picture using HDMI cables. Component is analog HD. HDMI is pure uncompressed digital picture and sound. If you don't think HDMI is better than component video cables, you need a recalibrating job done to your TV. You are missing the real deal.

HiDefRev--

Also, before the installer leaves, be sure all the HD channels are coming in. After my installer left, about half the HD channels weren't there, and it took two more trips to start getting them all.

congrats, I have been a Dish customer for well over 8 years. I upgraded to HD last December. You picked to same package I have, the Everything Pack with HD Ultimate. I have been using HDMI cables since about 3 weeks after install and havent had any problems on my VIP622. I havit it hooked up via HDMI to my Mits 57 inch 1080P DLP, using optical to my surround...looks and sounds wonderful

Also, I find a superior picture using HDMI cables. Component is analog HD. HDMI is pure uncompressed digital picture and sound. If you don't think HDMI is better than component video cables, you need a recalibrating job done to your TV. You are missing the real deal.

If you find HDMI to deliver a superior picture than your calibration is not set correctly. Component will deliver the exact same quality HD picture as HDMI. It can deliver 1080p and is a tried and true connector whereas HDMI connections can break (usually at the source) as it is a poorly designed connection point and the slightest movement can break the connector inside the equipment.

Component is in fact Analog which makes no difference and it is not compressed as you imply. If in fact component was an inferior connection then professional studio equipment would have abandoned it long ago which is has not. A superior connection with shielded coaxial cable is what component cables offer. The only advantage to HDMI is the convienence of carrying audio along with the video signal in one cable.

Thanks for the comments, everyone. I really appreciate them. I currently am running BOTH HDMI and component cables from my Mediacom HD STB, and will do the same with the 722 STB. This way I can see which hookup is the better of the two. BTW - I made a mistake on the number of boxes - I will actually only have 2. The 722will be in the living room for my Panny AND will also feed my SD tv in the bedroom. Then I will have a single output HD box for the den, the211, I believe it is, to feed a new HD LCD set I'm getting this weekend. Thanks again for the suggestions. You guys are really great. :thumbsup:

If you find HDMI to deliver a superior picture than your calibration is not set correctly. Component will deliver the exact same quality HD picture as HDMI. It can deliver 1080p and is a tried and true connector whereas HDMI connections can break (usually at the source) as it is a poorly designed connection point and the slightest movement can break the connector inside the equipment.

Component is in fact Analog which makes no difference and it is not compressed as you imply. If in fact component was an inferior connection then professional studio equipment would have abandoned it long ago which is has not. A superior connection with shielded coaxial cable is what component cables offer. The only advantage to HDMI is the convienence of carrying audio along with the video signal in one cable.

I don't know buddy. I gave component cables a 2 week try going back and forth and I did have my TV calibrated during this time. All cables are well hidden behind the TV so that wasn't an issue. I did like the HDMI picture and sound better.

I will conceide that I used RCA L+R cables for sound before.

Let the HiDefRev tell us what he thinks when he is hooked up. I also want to know if HDTV in heaven. Then I really have nothing to worry about. :angel

I'll keep everyone posted on the results. :D

congrats, I have been a Dish customer for well over 8 years. I upgraded to HD last December. You picked to same package I have, the Everything Pack with HD Ultimate. I have been using HDMI cables since about 3 weeks after install and havent had any problems on my VIP622. I havit it hooked up via HDMI to my Mits 57 inch 1080P DLP, using optical to my surround...looks and sounds wonderful
Adam: I have the same Mits & Bose 321 with optical cable and the 622. When I am playing back from DVR & FF & FR, searching for a spot or replaying a shot, sometimes I lose the sound. The Bose shows Digital1+1 which is silence. I rewind about 30 seconds again & play. It usually comes back on. Have you had this problem? Dish CSR could not give me an answer.

Adam: I have the same Mits & Bose 321 with optical cable and the 622. When I am playing back from DVR & FF & FR, searching for a spot or replaying a shot, sometimes I lose the sound. The Bose shows Digital1+1 which is silence. I rewind about 30 seconds again & play. It usually comes back on. Have you had this problem? Dish CSR could not give me an answer.

I had a problem like that when I was watching the NASCAR race a couple weeks ago, what happened to me was this: I will usually let the race go on for about 45 minutes then start the recording over from the beginning to skip commercials, When I went to start it over I didnt have any sound, so I had to stop the recording and restart recording from where the first one stopped....after that it was fine....my KOSS system shows digital when this happened...I dont know what made the reciever do it

OK, the installer is here. I had hoped to mount the dish under the south facing eve of my house, but 2 trees and the community water tower has prevented that. The only location where all satellites are visable is in my front yard. So there it is going. The installer is super nice, and very knowledeable. I'm impressed. I'll report back once everything is installed, up and running. :yippee:

OK, everything is up and running now. The tech did an excellent job in installing everything. All 3 TVs are hooked up and functioning properly. Kudos to the poster who suggested that I check all of my HD channels before the tech leaves. It seems that someone had forgotten to add my premium channels. The tech called in and had them on within a minute. I am quite satisfied with everything so far. Now....to program my favorites. :banana: