Date: Fri, 16 Sep 1994 14:50:35 GMT (Updated Dec 12th 1994) From: Terry Maton Organization: University of Saskatchewan Subject: SuperGuide - A Review I have had my Superguide unit for nine months and just could not see using my satellite dish without it. Sure, I use my IRD remote for DXing and quick channel hopping, but I always set the dish back to the sat it was last on with Superguide and let it continue it's control. The printed mags (even the weekly ones) are so out of date when you get them. The printed mags have all the listings of all the channels you don't subscribe to or don't want to watch - they are a pain! Superguide can be programmed not to show anything you don't want to see, can be programmed to show things in the order you want - ie. you can tell it to display listings Bravo, A&E, FX-East, Comedy Central, Cartoon etc, etc. then any time slot that has these channels with a program starting will be there in that order. Probably the best feature of all is that Superguide has twelve program memories (each of which can be a single program or a program at the same time on several days of the week) and at each of these program times it will move the dish, change the channel and start the VCR recording (if you want it to) and at the end of the show stop the VCR. It not only lists subscription channels, ITC channels (including Canadian), but also lists specials feeds (or wild feeds) in the correct time slots. When you first set up SG, you program in your time zone and so everything is shown correct time for you. SG will load listings ahead as far as it's memory can hold, so it depends on how many channels you want it to show. However, you can also program it individually for each channel as to how many days you want it to load. So if you want, you can only look say 3 days ahead on news type channels and two weeks ahead for movies. Another great thing about SG is that you can look at 'types' of shows. If for instance you want to watch some boxing, you press the TYPE button, pick sports and then scroll down to 'boxing' and pick that - now all it shows are listings for boxing, or you could have picked 'all' for all sports listings. The types include movies, music, childrens, specials, wild feeds, news, sports etc. The sports are subdivided into pretty well any sport you might want, with a misc. category to cover the really strange things. When you are looking at the listings, at any time you are pointing at a show, you can select 'single channel' and it now shows only the listings for that channel. So, if for instance you want to check out the day (or several days) on Comedy Central or HBO you can do just that! A few presses of the RETURN button and you are back at the full listings where you started. If you press SELECT when you are pointing at a show SG will give you more info about the show. Rating, warnings, stars out of four, a brief description, length etc for movies; info similar to what you would get in the TV Guide for other shows. If you press SELECT again SG now shows a 'calendar chart' with a dot representing each time slot that show can be seen, move the cursor to any day with dots, press SELECT again and you now see which channel the show is on at what time. Superguide is as up-to-date as we on this group are. The NEWS section in SG is updated at least once a week and at times of major changes such as there have been recently, it is sometimes updated daily. The news of channel changes, satellite moves are there just as soon as they happen. A couple of things that don't even show up in the User Guide! ... 1) With SG 'OFF' press 00 on remote is the same as 'LAST' on your IRD remote. (moves to previous sat/channel) 2) When looking at program description (by pressing SELECT when cursor is on a show listing) if you press > you will move to description for next show on listing. This works on regular listing page and also single channel display page (only one page at a time). One 'quirk' I found recently is that for your automatic download, if you have it set at a time when you also have a show already being taped, it will wait until taping is finished and then download. However, if you have a show to start at a time when downloading is in progress, you will not get the download - it will cancel and tape the show (maybe!). So make sure you alter your download time to be after taping has started if this is something that happens for you. I started out Dish Life using the printed mags, and they drove me *crazy*! I just cannot say enough in praise of Superguide - it makes TVRO so easy and enjoyable. Anyone who has specific questions, please feel free to email me. I DO NOT WORK FOR, OR HAVE ANY CONNECTION WITH, SUPERGUIDE - I'M JUST AN EXTREMELY SATISFIED OWNER! Best wishes, Terry -- Terry Maton - University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada INTERNET: Terry.Maton@usask.ca WWW: http://www.usask.ca/~maton/ -=-=-= From: Terry Maton Organization: University of Saskatchewan Subject: Re: SuperGuide - Updated Review I have had many requests with further questions, so I will post a selection here with my replies in order that the whole group can see them.... ============================= >Subject: Superguide >To: maton@pplant.usask.ca >I read your newsgroup post. How does it hook up? Before the receiver or on >the coax side? Also, do I need to move the dish or select channels using it >or can I use it strictly as a guide and move my dish and select channels as I >do now with my satellite remote? >Thanks, >Ed ============================= Superguide is a piece of hardware - a black box quite a bit smaller than most IRDs. It hooks up between your IRD and your TV/Monitor. It has RCA inputs and outputs. It requires 'Baseband' or 'un-clamped' signal from your IRD (ie. a clean signal not going through the VCII decoder). You can move your dish using your IRD remote, BUT, if you do not return it to the last satellite/channel you were on with SuperGuide, the SuperGuide can 'get lost'. It is fairly obvious really - If you are on S2/09 with SG and then move to F3/07 with your IRD remote, SG has no way of knowing this. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >From: /S=F.JAMES/OU1=R06F09D03A@mhs-fswa.attmail.com >Subject: Reply to: SuperGuide - Updated Review >From: Fred James: >Date: ## 12/12/94 14:44 ## >Where does one "buy" it? ...and what is it? a piece of hardware? >Thanks. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ You should ask your local dealer or contact Satellite Service Company in St Loius (314)421-0102 or FAX(314)421-5214. ============================= >From: rrb@deja-vu.aiss.uiuc.edu (Bill P) >Subject: Re: SuperGuide - Updated Review > >Questions (you asked for them)... >1) Dumb question. Is superguide a program or a piece of hardware? >2) What does it cost? >I apprecaite the reply,. >Bill ============================= It is also a program - in that the hardware obviously runs software program to run the shedules, downloading etc., it is also software from the point of view that a program is being run by the SuperGuide people who enter the programming info you download from satellite. The hardware cost could be as high as $500CAN, but shop around, also you could get an IRD with SuperGuide built-in if you are in the market for an IRD too. The guide subscription is $59US per year (you get a period free when you purchase the unit). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >From: skeeter1@ix.netcom.com (Alessandro Isolani) >Subject: Re: SuperGuide - Updated Review >Hi. I read your review, and found it quite tempting. My only questions >relate to the costs. How much does the unit itself cost, and what are >the monthly charges? I don't have a VCII+, so I'm limited to watching >stuff that is ITC. Do you still think a superguide would be worthwhile? >I do intent to get a descrambler board, but I figure I'll wait 'till the >prices drop to below $350.... might be a long wait... >Thanks! >Alessandro +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The descision really is an individual one - if the paper guides are causing you to go blind, or pull your hair out, then, YES. ============================= >From: jdonovan@map.com (Jim Donovan) >Subject: superguide > After reading your post I am very interested in superguide. I have a >few questions. >what special equipment do I have to buy? >will it work with any ird? I have a Uniden 4400 super. >what does the equipment cost? >what are the monthly charges? > Thank you! > Jim Donovan ============================= SuperGuide will work (as far as I know) with pretty well any IRD (other than some very old, obscure ones I'm sure) BUT, it does not work with all VCRs for automatic recording. If it doesn't work with your VCR, you are faced with programming your VCR instead of hitting one button 'TAPE' on the SG remote. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >From: jim@mtl.mit.edu (Jim Bishop) >Subject: superguide >Does your dish have to pointed at a certain satellite. and if so >which one. I'm thinking about getting a udiden 4800 w/superguide >for 425.00 >thanx >jim@mtl.mit.edu ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ That is an excellant price for IRD and SG! I believe some people may have experienced a few problems with that IRD, but I am not familiar with it. The SG, set to auto-download, will move the dish to the correct satellite and channel itself. (Also, move it back to last location on completion of download.) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hope this helps, Terry -- Terry Maton - University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada INTERNET: Terry.Maton@usask.ca WWW: http://www.usask.ca/~maton/