Post by dkennedy on Jul 4, 2005 15:46:21 GMT -5
A look at Dish Network's 942 HD receiver/recorder
July 4, 2005
By Jonathan Takiff, Knight Ridder Newspapers
(KRT) - THE GIZMOS: Dish Network Dish Player DVR-942; tunerless TVs from Toshiba.
TOPS IN TOWN: What's the richest source for programming to show off your super-grade, high-definition TV? At present, that honor goes to satellite TV provider Dish Network and its second-generation HD receiver/recorder, the Dish Player-DVR 942.
While broadcast networks reserve most high-def shows for prime time or weekend afternoons, there's always something super-sharp and sparkly playing on this box - live on Dish's (unrivaled-in-quantity) 19 satellite-fed HD channels or waiting in reserve on its hard-disk-drive video recorder.
Dish Network is the "we try harder" brand in pay TV, and the DVR 942 is quite the technological statement. It features two high-definition and two standard-definition satellite TV tuners, plus high-def and standard-def broadcast tuners.
Working this box to the max, you can record from any two sources simultaneously while watching something previously captured on the hard drive. (The 250 GB drive holds about 25 hours of HD content, 120 hours in standard def, or combinations thereof.)
In typical tech guy fashion, I pretty much figured out how to run the show just from fiddling around with the logically laid-out remote control and on-screen menu/program guide, without reading that pesky owner's manual.
TV FOR TWO: HD PVRs from satellite and cable rivals can perform some/most of the same tricks. But unique to Dish's new box, you can also hook up a second, conventional TV set in another room with a standard coaxial cable connection.
Then, in that other location, use a second, radio-frequency remote control to tune in the same or different programming than what's playing on your primary, high-def TV.
All video is sent to the second set in standard-definition form with stereo sound. If you have a widescreen display at that location, activate the "cinema" picture mode and the high-def channels will fill the screen in correct proportions.
LOADS TO SHOW: By no small coincidence, Dish has introduced the DVR 942 just as it's gained high-def satellite capacity and lots of unique content (10 channels to start, 11 more coming in 2006) from the ill-fated high-def satellite service VOOM.
Early adopters loved VOOM, even though the service lacked many conventional channels. Now I see why. VOOM high-def programming is largely shot on video (not film) and looks absolutely spectacular on a really good display. (I've been scoping it out on a stellar, 43-inch Pioneer plasma screen, the PDP-4350HD.)
My favorite ZOOM channel, the concert outlet RAVE HD, hosts the gloriously lensed and (5.1-channel) miked "Soundstage" show, Britain's wonderfully eclectic "Later with Jools Holland" series, the Montreux Jazz Festival and more.
Another great destination, the Equator HD travelogue channel, whisks you to exotic spots like Athens, Greece, and Marrakesh, Morocco, without the need to pack a passport.
Ultra HD is now deep into 2005 fall fashion preview mode, with runway shows featuring beautiful girls in drop-dead gorgeous couture.
Voom's movie channels (Guy TV, Majestic HD, Monsters HD) are likewise tweaked to look fantastic in HD - maybe too sharp when a planet-of-the-cheap-effects Godzilla flick is on.
Also in the ZOOM bundle, which costs a mere $5 a month from Dish, are the arty Gallery HD, cartoon-filled Animania HD, extreme sports RUSH HD and an HD News channel with great-looking weather maps.
Another $10 a month buys the core Dish high-definition bundle of ESPN HD, Discovery HD Theater, TNT in HD, HDNet and HDNet Movies. Separately available are HBO, Showtime and (in some markets) CBS in high-def. And fish are always swimming across the screen on Dish's HD demo channel.
The DVR 942 box itself requires a $250 "equipment upgrade" lease investment (or $699 purchase) plus a $5 monthly fee for the video recorder service.
Another reason to buy into Dish and the DVR 942: Coming soon is the Pocket Dish portable media player (with color LCD screen and hard drive), which customers can connect and rapidly fill with shows transferred from the 942's hard drive.
More info at www.dishnetwork.com.
July 4, 2005
By Jonathan Takiff, Knight Ridder Newspapers
(KRT) - THE GIZMOS: Dish Network Dish Player DVR-942; tunerless TVs from Toshiba.
TOPS IN TOWN: What's the richest source for programming to show off your super-grade, high-definition TV? At present, that honor goes to satellite TV provider Dish Network and its second-generation HD receiver/recorder, the Dish Player-DVR 942.
While broadcast networks reserve most high-def shows for prime time or weekend afternoons, there's always something super-sharp and sparkly playing on this box - live on Dish's (unrivaled-in-quantity) 19 satellite-fed HD channels or waiting in reserve on its hard-disk-drive video recorder.
Dish Network is the "we try harder" brand in pay TV, and the DVR 942 is quite the technological statement. It features two high-definition and two standard-definition satellite TV tuners, plus high-def and standard-def broadcast tuners.
Working this box to the max, you can record from any two sources simultaneously while watching something previously captured on the hard drive. (The 250 GB drive holds about 25 hours of HD content, 120 hours in standard def, or combinations thereof.)
In typical tech guy fashion, I pretty much figured out how to run the show just from fiddling around with the logically laid-out remote control and on-screen menu/program guide, without reading that pesky owner's manual.
TV FOR TWO: HD PVRs from satellite and cable rivals can perform some/most of the same tricks. But unique to Dish's new box, you can also hook up a second, conventional TV set in another room with a standard coaxial cable connection.
Then, in that other location, use a second, radio-frequency remote control to tune in the same or different programming than what's playing on your primary, high-def TV.
All video is sent to the second set in standard-definition form with stereo sound. If you have a widescreen display at that location, activate the "cinema" picture mode and the high-def channels will fill the screen in correct proportions.
LOADS TO SHOW: By no small coincidence, Dish has introduced the DVR 942 just as it's gained high-def satellite capacity and lots of unique content (10 channels to start, 11 more coming in 2006) from the ill-fated high-def satellite service VOOM.
Early adopters loved VOOM, even though the service lacked many conventional channels. Now I see why. VOOM high-def programming is largely shot on video (not film) and looks absolutely spectacular on a really good display. (I've been scoping it out on a stellar, 43-inch Pioneer plasma screen, the PDP-4350HD.)
My favorite ZOOM channel, the concert outlet RAVE HD, hosts the gloriously lensed and (5.1-channel) miked "Soundstage" show, Britain's wonderfully eclectic "Later with Jools Holland" series, the Montreux Jazz Festival and more.
Another great destination, the Equator HD travelogue channel, whisks you to exotic spots like Athens, Greece, and Marrakesh, Morocco, without the need to pack a passport.
Ultra HD is now deep into 2005 fall fashion preview mode, with runway shows featuring beautiful girls in drop-dead gorgeous couture.
Voom's movie channels (Guy TV, Majestic HD, Monsters HD) are likewise tweaked to look fantastic in HD - maybe too sharp when a planet-of-the-cheap-effects Godzilla flick is on.
Also in the ZOOM bundle, which costs a mere $5 a month from Dish, are the arty Gallery HD, cartoon-filled Animania HD, extreme sports RUSH HD and an HD News channel with great-looking weather maps.
Another $10 a month buys the core Dish high-definition bundle of ESPN HD, Discovery HD Theater, TNT in HD, HDNet and HDNet Movies. Separately available are HBO, Showtime and (in some markets) CBS in high-def. And fish are always swimming across the screen on Dish's HD demo channel.
The DVR 942 box itself requires a $250 "equipment upgrade" lease investment (or $699 purchase) plus a $5 monthly fee for the video recorder service.
Another reason to buy into Dish and the DVR 942: Coming soon is the Pocket Dish portable media player (with color LCD screen and hard drive), which customers can connect and rapidly fill with shows transferred from the 942's hard drive.
More info at www.dishnetwork.com.