I'm looking to sign up to dishnetwork and was wondering if anyone had any experience with the new 722 dvr? Also, I'm looking for a clubdish certificate, so if any dish customers out there want to save $50, pm me a code.

Thanks

Hi there!

I've had the VIP 622 since it's release with a Superdish 1000 and IMHO the 722 is identical to the 622 except the DVR capacity is 2x (500Gig vs. 250 Gig) and the 722 has VC-1 encoding which helps in the interlace to progressive transform.

The major weakness with both is you can only run 1 HDTV off both. Your TV 2's will receive SD (480p) and IMHO that's crazy since it forces any HDTV's on the TV 2 to "upconvert" the 480 to 720 or 1080; which is very dicey depending on your set's upconversion quality. Both also have the flaw that to run the USB external hard drive; you must kick out "dual mode" into "single mode" to access your external hard drive from TV 2. That's a huge PITA cause you must physically go to the receiver(Downstairs) and push the mode button to flip from Dual to Single. This should have been incorporated into the remote so that you don't have to walk 150 feet downstairs to change to single mode so you can watch archived movies on your external HD.

I'm solving this by simply placing a VIP 211 in every room I have a HDTV 2-the 211 does not have a DVR but has the USB 2.0 where you can plug in a decent External HD (~25 cents per gig appx) and kick all your receivers (I've 3 HDTV's) into single mode and PIP away!

I'm staring at an expired 50$ Gift card that'll probably work if you tell them you'll go to DirectTV if they do not honor it.

LMK.....and BTW....check your topography around your house, etc.....the 129 Satellite orbits at such a low elevation (Idiots!) that you need to clear any all obstructions as I think it's elevation is around 25 degrees ; which is pathetic.

Till you get Dish.....get a decent OTA antenna (some like Terk; I like my Phillips)and start pulling HD from local stations for free until you make the decision.

Bottom line....Get the 722 and forever be stuck with one HD (TV 1) and one SD (TV 2) or grab multi 211's or 222(dual tuner version of 211) and slap a 750GB HD on with a large buffer.

Dish will have to face this 1 HD/1 SD F'up in whatever they have in the R&D pipeline. As we migrate from a one HDTV home to multi HDTV's-Echostar will be deluged with complaints on why their 3k LCD lloks like crap on TV 2 when they advertise the 622/722 as a HDTV triple tuner (2 sat; 1 OTA); dual DVR that only provides HD to one set; not two.

Oh...BTW...when calling tech support always ask for a Tier II tech....otherwise you'll be speaking to a "script monkey"...LOL

Good luck and LMK if I can be of any service to you or if you want to try this promo card I have.


Good luck.....

Greg
T4T8Dr@Bellsouth.net

A-10 Pilot,

Thanks for the info. I didn't know that you could use an external HD with a VP211. Since I'm switching to Dish HD soon I have a coupla' questions:

1. Does DN charge the same $39.99 one time activation fee to use an external HD on a 211/222 like they do for the DVR receivers?

2. If you use an external HD with a 211 or 222, does Dish hit you with a monthly DVR recording fee?

Thanks,

habe

I had Dish installed last Tuesday. Nothing but a nightmare since. Have a 722 and a 222. Had to have a second person sent out Sunday because the 129 sat. signal disapppeared. He was an independent contractor so would not mess with the original "Dish" install because he said Dish would not pay him to fix an original f'up. He did do me the favor of getting on the roof and pointing the Dish until I got a 51 signal on the 129. That 51 has since dropped back to a 35 and when a bird flies over the house I loose the signal.
AFter he got the 129 to work on the 722 the 222 now cannot get a signal from the 110, 119 or the 129. Absolutely nothing.
Talked to Dish last night and the original Dish install company is supposed to call me to set an appointment. No call yet.
I may be going back to my Comcast, which is still live because I was afraid something like this would happen.
Point is, do not let the installer leave without everything working properly and good signal from all three sats. Once they leave, you are thrown into reschedule hell. I am now an "existing" customer and apparently, existing customers do not get the attention a new one does.
I did not sign an 18 month contract either, just because I was afraid something like this would happen.

pgh, I tried to PM you, but you have your PM disabled.

A-10. The external Hard Drive is not yet supported on the 211. But you can be sure that you would have to pay the same amounts as the 622 owners pay. Otherwise there would be an outcry.

Hey Habe!

I would surmise , that as greedy as D is they'd hit you w/the $40 per External HD on every receiver. I've been told that the 211 and 222 have USB 2.0 ports , which were installed for their POS "Pocket Dish" products. Due to the absolute failure of that product, IMHO, they scrambled with a way to utilize that USB 2.0 port and came up with the concept of attaching what they refer to as an ERD (External Recording Device). Then to compound matters...If you go into "Main Menus"; select "Preferences" and then "Record Plus"-there is an option to default recordings directly to the ERD by "enabling" that function.

Well, I figured wow, now I've got 3 DVR's but I was unable to direct a live feed directly to the ERD. I called the supervisor at advanced tech support and they were absolutely clueless. And to answer your second question; yes they will hit you with the DVR record fee (insane isn't it) on each receiver. What's next....a Sat dish fee?

I unfortunately reupped in July and want to break my contract when Hughes comes out with their HD DVR, quasi "slingbox" receiver, but as you know they'll tag you 13.33 for each remaining month for breaking the contract.

As for the 129 sat...man I could rant on about the know nothings that launched that bird w/such a low elevation (I believe ~29 degrees). If they had any sense they'd have built more capacity into the 119 sat to handle the HD channels but what's done is done.

Are you running the larger Dish 1000 or the Dish 500? The 30" 1000 scoops alot more signal and we've people running multiple dishes (usually for the 61.5) when they are topographical challenged.

My Triple LNB 1000 is on a 6' pole and I able to get a great lock on the 129, that is, until my neighbors pine tree's grow too tall. Then it's time to break out the chainsaw when they're out of town....LOL:eek:

Good luck and LMK how it works out for you....

With Regards....Greg

Will any USB external Hard Drive work for the extra storage? I'm looking at a Western Digital 500GB.

Thanks

I went with E* after D* would not give me a decent deal to sign up for HD. I was also concerned about the getting the H21 and not being able to record OTA.

I got the 722 and other than getting used to it since I have been with D* for 10 years, it has been positive. I was thrilled the first time I recorded 3 shows in HD at once!

I have two issues that I am still researching (drop me a thread if you have the answer). The first is a very slight audio sync issue. The second is I have not been able to edit a DishPass/SeasonPass after it has been scheduled.

The HD signal looks great. Hopefully they will add additional HD channels down the road.

Will any USB external Hard Drive work for the extra storage? I'm looking at a Western Digital 500GB.

Thanks

The Western Digital 500GB should work without any problems.