(Hope this is the right forum...)

This may be common knowledge to most but it appears after reading the specs on various Dishnet receivers that they do not support HD for TV2 output on their 2 tuner receivers? (Didn't see any reference to this on the DirectTV site either) I presume their current solution is to have you put a 2nd stand along HD receiver in other room(s).

In reading the downloadable brochure on the DishNet 722 receiver a few questions:

Q1: The CH 21-69(?) RF OUT on the back intended for 'TV2' - This is a UHF Analog modulated output? User can set which channel it uses? It is fairly high power (for distributing over coax runs)? What is "Agile Modulated Coaxial Output"?

Q2: One can record in HD via either tuner?

Q3: What is the OTA ANTENNA IN connector used for? If it has an ATSC tuner - can OTA DTV be 'recorded' to the DVR and otherwise be 'integrated' into the program guide... Do they charge $5/mo to 'use' the built-in/installed ATSC tuner?

Q4: The USB port can be hooked to an external HD for expanded storage space/time with an 'activation fee'?

Q5: The Ethernet port can be used instead of a phone? But at least 1 must be connected?

Q6: FUTURE: Any prospect in the future of a FIREWIRE equipped HD receiver? (interface with an HTPC...)

Q7: FUTURE: Any prospect in the future of a 2 tuner satellite receiver/DVR that can distribute HD to TV2? (e.g. digital (ATSC) RF output on coax, 2nd HDMI output...)

BACKGROUND: Currently have a std def Dish 2-tuner receiver/DVR from several yrs ago and use coax in the house to distribute TV2 (combined with OTA signals) to all the rooms in the house from the main viewing room (TV1 is of course for the main TV). This works fine for the other rooms along with some UHF remotes. I was looking at replacing the old TV in the master bedroom with a 37" HDTV but noticed that other than local OTA channels I would only only get SDTV in there off the satellite using this arrangement. I prefer having a single receiver in the house and distributing TV2 to the bedrooms. I'm not in any particular hurry - I can live w/ my current SD satellite especially if there are better options coming in the forseeable future. Cable is not an option.

0: If you don't need to watch two HD programs at the same time, you can connect one TV to HDMI and another to component. Or split the component outputs. Or use an HDMI switch.
1: Yes
2: Yes. (It will also carry the TV1 output if you want, at least on the 622.) Yes. I don't know the power output.
3: ATSC only. You can record without paying them, but you have to pay them for locals if you want the program guide -- it won't use the broadcast data.
4: Yes. And no, you can't extract anything from it.
5: Yes. Supposedly this bogus requirement will be removed in February.
6: Never heard of it, not very likely to happen due to the copyright freaks. There is, however, a Slingbox-integrated receiver in the works.
7: Not likely to happen on coax due to cost (and the copyright freaks.) Other outputs, I'm not sure.

Thanks for the detailed reply.

That's a shame about the RF Out (to TV2) likely will not support a higher quality output than Standard Def analog RF. Having say 720P distributed to the rest of the TVs in the house via ATSC would be too slick I suppose.

I'm liking the idea of an HDMI splitter and running a 2nd HDMI cable through the walls and into the 2nd room. The 2nd TV could then be hooked to both the coax and the HDMI and I could switch source on the 2nd TV itself. Not quite sure how the TV2 RF Remote from Dish would work with this setup... I'll need to think this thru...

On the ATSC Input - do I need to buy any sort of OTA tuner 'module'? or does the satellite receiver come ready to receive local OTA and allow me to record them to the DVR? I don't mind the lack of guide integration though that would have been slick.

Also for recording OTA to the DVR - do I basically program it like a traditional VCR. E.g. give it a channel, date, and start/stop time?

Thanks!

If I remember rightly, the 722 comes with the ATSC tuner built in. I think the next generation after that is going to make it a plug-in module for some reason.

To record OTA if you don't pay Dish for the guide data, you have to dig down through the DVR menus and set the channel and time manually much like a VCR.

Thanks!

For as long as I can remember various devices such as VCRs, SATs, etc. have provided analog RF ch 3/4 modulated output. Given the pending switchover to DTV - I wonder how much longer device makers will will continue to offer analog RF ch 3/4 (or other freq) 'legacy' output rather than or exclusive of an ATSC RF output 'replacement'?

But now that I think about my question further - ARE there ANY devices out there that output a digital RF signal for a TV to view?