Like all the equipment of DISH Network, their universal remotes for their receivers are of exceptional quality. DISH has ensured that their remote will provide utmost convenience for their subscribers. With their universal remotes, DISH subscribers can customize their satellite TV with the simple push of the remote’s buttons.

When you subscribe to DISH satellite TV, what you’ll get is the standard satellite dish, a satellite receiver, remote, cables and favorite list. It is quite important that you know the basic characteristics of each part of a satellite TV system in order to guide you properly on which type of equipment to choose and purchase.

For receiver remote controls, DISH offers both the standard infrared (IR) and UHF remotes. The standard IR remotes are the same ones that you use for your television sets and VCRS. The main difference between the two is that a UHF or radio remote doesn’t need a clear line of sight to operate the system unlike with IR remotes. UHF works using frequencies which allows the user to operate the receiver from another room.

And since they work using signals, with UHF remotes the satellite TV receiver needs to be equipped with a signal receiver that coincides with the frequency of the remote control. Some DISH receivers are already equipped with this device. However, other DISH satellite TV receivers might have an external box which receives the signal from the remote and pass them through the TV receiver via a small cable that is connected usually at the back.

For standard packages that only have the IR remote, subscribers can choose to upgrade to a UHF model or can choose to buy DISH’s UHF upgrade remote kit which allows the subscriber to take full advantage of a UHF remote.

And since we’re talking about signals and frequencies, the most reasonable thing to discuss next is effective range. This is one of the things that you need to consider before buying a UHF remote. Even though a UHF remote works by utilizing signals, it doesn’t mean that it would work practically anywhere.

The antenna embedded into the remote is not usually strong enough to cover great distances and broadcast through large obstacles. Effective range of UHF remotes will depend on the machine as well as the materials used to construct the home. A wood framed home will provide little obstacles to the transmission of the UHF remote. With a wooden home, a UHF remote can operate normally up to one floor and a couple of walls away from the receiver.

However, it the home was made by concrete with lots of heavy masonry, then a UHF remote will have a hard time reaching the receiver even if its just a floor or a few rooms away. Other materials that may cause interference of signals include steel framing and thermo-radiate heat. This is why DISH recommends consulting a technician before purchasing UHF remotes.

The DISH 311 is a single-tuner satellite receiver which offers a 2-day electronic program guide and advanced DISH Home Interactive TV features. The remote included in the package is an IR type. The remote has four components system which means it can be programmed to operate the satellite TV receiver as well as TV sets, VCRs and DVD players.

DishPVR 508 on the other hand utilizes a new “Platinum” UHF/Infrared 4-Component universal remote. The remote is able to control the receiver from a distance of 100 feet through walls and other obstructions. Similar to the other four component remotes, this model can operate via IR other electric components like TV sets and VCRs.

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