Dish ViP922 - Page 4

The streaming functionality will only be a "plus" for me. I'm a recent Dish subscriber and come from the world of Tivo/Cable. Compared to Tivo, the UI of the Dish 722 is beyond bad. I'm looking for some serious improvements in that area.

Is there somewhere I can go to see screen shots of how this thing operates? Can I download a manual? I don't want to pay $400 for a 1TB device that can stream media, but still has a terrible UI.

It is odd how things happen sometimes. I decided a couple days ago to look into switching from cable to a satellite provider, since my cable bill just keeps going up, and keeps having "technical" issues. I put it off until today, and now I can get this cool new DVR/Slingbox going with dish. DirecTV only has a cool iPhone app.

I ordered Dish service new today, with the 922 and an additional DVR. Everything is getting installed next Friday (next available day in my schedule).

I paid $200 up front for the 922, the first regular HD-DVR was free. I added the OTA option for $30. (I like all-in-one solutions) And I added a $50 promo code from ClubDISH. Installation, activation, etc. are all free. Net cost is $180.

Hopefully I will have it installed this Saturday and I will post a detailed review. If you have specific questions, let me know and I'll do my best to answer them.

See my blog which details my experience with the ViP922. I'm free to answer any questions, so please subscribe.


Thanks!

awesome, can you play stored dvr recordings with the sling app?

Well I am happy about its release as i have been waiting for a year plus for it but...

$200 cost (expected not disappointed actually)
$15 install cost
$20 a month to keep both the VIP922 and 622 since the 922 only does 1 TV!!!!

Basically its going to cost and extra $20 a month if you ran two tv's off your VIP622 or 722 or any other duo receiver.

Ill have to pass for now. Im sure ill think about it all night though and then just say f&&k it after a few drinks

It appears that the 922 has no SVideo output, leaving those of us with DVD recorders SOL.

Well I did what I thought and said screw it and ordered it. Been waiting way to long for this just to wait longer. Something just came to mind though..

I will have to keep my 622 ,for the tv downstairs. Is there anyway to watch the DVR program recorded on the 622 on the 922

Can you network them together so you can watch the recordings from each one???

I just got mine, works great so far. You should be able to convert component video to S-video easily with an adapter.

I am able to watch live TV on my pc, works great! I am using the browser now to watch it. Anybody know if it should be possible to use the Desktop app?

You can transfer programs from an external hard drive that have been recorded on a 622/722. Use caution I transfereed 52 programs and only 5 went through. The other 47 got corrupted. Supposedly they're working on a fix. Too late for me though.

From what I've heard, an older version of the desktop software works. Newer versions do not.

Anyone know how to activate the guide icons? I can't seem to find it


Edit..actually . Weather and on demand are not working either, all I am getting is a white screen when going to weather and on demand shows nothing at all

Everyone has experienced this, including myself. You'll have to leave in standby for a few hours.

The 922 works best after you let it sit overnight after getting it installed. Almost like its downloading and building a database in its first 12 hours of being activated.

BTW here is my review of the 922. Its going to surprise some people as the 922 is not for everyone.

CLICK HERE for the review

thanks, i figured it was something like that, but i also figured since it was connected via my cable connection it was be able to update itself immediately. The tech had no clue, he basically just said in the end it will update itself. He said there was a option to manually update it in the beta versions but could not find it the release version. Of course this was his first install of it he said.

Hopefully the updates bring it to life. Honestly, right now it seems just like my 622 but with pretty new colors! I do like it, but probably half the features are missing right now.


Also whats the story with the duo of this receiver? It has duo written all over it, there are numerous amounts of settings that would make you suspect it is a duo receiver and can run two tvs at once like the 622 or 722. I guess originally it was one but why did dish disable this functionality???

yes!!!

By the way, my review is up and running here.

Just ordered mine today, installer is coming out tomorrow between 8-12. The details:
- $200 Lease - 2-year contract for the upgrade
- Additional $6.00/month for the Dish Service Plan (they added it on the spot) - keeps the install fee to $15.00 (I can then cancel it and pay a $25.00 penalty)
- Additional $10.00/month for the 922 DVR (already have a VIP622 DVR)
- Total came out to $220ish

Will report back on it. Been waiting on this thing for over a year. It will be the final piece to my home-theater.

Ya i got mine in today, so far im not as impressed as i thought i would be. I even had thoughts of trying to get out of it already but after reading around its pretty much impossible. They had me sign that agreement right there on the spot and i see nothing about a grace period to decide whether or not to keep the service for 2yrs.

I guess it just needs to grow on me...

Think the UI, the 1TB DVR, and the Sling ifeatures are the reason to get this device. Plus, it will be Dish's flagship for next few years; where they'll seek to upgrade it/add options (hopefully every 1-3 times/year).

I've seen DirecTV's DVRs and really don't like their speed/performance - found them to be very slow.

The other option I had was ATT Uverse, but my bill was going to go up an additional $30-$40/month and the HD is not as good as Dish (go figure).

Comcast, well hell no on them... I'm a bigot against cable!

I needed the box; figured I'd splurge - let's hope the UI, Sling, and expanded DVR are worth the 2-years and the ~$220.

Right now, the Duo part is really just the Sling. Based on my findings by playing around with it the tv2 output will mirror whats slinging, but I couldn't control anything with the remote. They have the tv2 capabilities disabled at the moment (other than sling) and not sure when or if it will be enabled.

My buddy who was an engineer on this said his unit (he has had for testing at home) allows TV2 output. He didn't know why it had been disabled.

For all of those that expected the VIP922 to be an improvement to the 622 or the 722, you WILL be disappointed. When it was announced, the VIP922 was going to be just like a 622 with two DVR's and the ability to watch different programs from the two DVRs on two separate TVs (TV1 an TV2) with two separate remotes. The upgrade to the 922 was going to offer the additional ability to Sling your programming over the internet from TV1, and a 1TB HD.

However, the VIP922 does NOT have the ability to watch separate programming on a second TV. It uses the so called TV2 to only Sling your programming to the internet. Otherwise , you can only watch a mirrored image of TV1 on any TV connected to the TV2 home distribution connection.

So, if you only watch TV on one television, or only one show at a time on all of your TVs, you will be fine with this. However, if you are like us, where my wife watches one program in one room, and I watch something else in another, the VIP922 will not work for you as it only can play one show and has only the one remote control (which is not a touch screen like some had suggested.) . I have also found that trying to watch the programming online, is buggy at best. I never did get it to work on our iPod.

So, be forewarned.

Alright, a few hours with it now it's growing on me more. The guide finally updated, set up my harmony one for it. Search feature seems great, dish online is Is nice but no reason to use that If you have netflix or blockbuster. I'm sure an app will be released for either one on this.

The pip feature is nice, still trying to figure out Ifpossible to Change the channel in the small window with my harmony.

Got mine hooked up this AM after ordering it late yesterday. Installer came in and put the unit in place. Biggest issue he had was trying to get the box to recognize the remote. He had to get on the phone to see what was going on.

My initial impressions (will post more when I spend more time watching it):
- The UI is snappy; very responsive - faster than my 622
- Configuration/setup was a snap
- Sling setup is bit "cumbersome" on Dish's Remote Access (dish.sling.com). I really don't like the web-based UI so much. Am wondering if there's a way to get the older software, install it on my PC (am hearing the newer software won't work)
- However, I'm impressed with the picture and sound quality of the Sling access - working flawlessly here in my local home network (HD included)

Thanks.

noticed that it accessed my PC music and picture folders automatically, did not have do do anything. It recognizes each seperate users accounts also.

Nice i dont have to switch to my 360 or ps3 to play music off my pc now!

I think the biggest flaw with it is that you have to watch the Sling via the DISH Network website.

You CAN NOT watch it through the current version of the Slingplayer software. (Although older versions can watch it fine.) This is something that DISH blocked in later versions of the standalone Windows Slingplayer.

At the moment a 722 and a stand alone Slingbox might be a better purchase for many people,, but for others the 922 is the way to go.

When you first get your 922 its first 8 hours or so are sluggish as its building its cache, with things like logos, guides and VOD content. Once it take this inital download it runs much better.

Absolutely astonishing what Dish is willing to give up... existing customers! 4 phone calls later and I can't find a single person who cares, let alone is capable of explaining why an existing out of contract customer is charged $400 to upgrade to a 922 while a new customer is charged $200 for the same device.

I was told various excuses that don't make sense ("because one is leased", both would be!) and when calling them out, they stutter and move on the next BS excuse. They practically want me to call Comcast or DirectTV... why would I stay with them? Have had Dish for YEARS, always raved greatly about them and was proud they were a local company... now I'm shopping with the competition. Sad.

Also, I'm responsible for vendors for my office, we had Dish Network and canceled yesterday because they wanted to charge us $420 to move across the street. We were also out of contract, so now I have DirectTV coming this Friday to install our new service for $60 and the monthly bill is $10 cheaper. I'm beyond disappointed. I would have gladly locked myself into a new contract (my house and my business), but oh well... I guess Dish can afford to lose customers. Can't wait to tell all my friends and family.

To add to my above comments, wanted to provide some additional feedback:
- I don't have experience with the 722 series, so therefore, take this with grain of 'salt. The more I use this, the more I truly enjoy it. Am just now discovering the Sling support, and think it's fairly cool.
- On Sling, here's what I like:
1) The iPhone App worked really well over 3G. Found myself using it for first time yesterday while waiting to pick someone up. Enjoyed having this feature on my phone. No lag, pcture quality was decent enough to not complain.

2) Someone posted a link in a another forum for an older version of Sling Software V2.0.3.508. I downloaded this, and find it superior to the web-based version of Dish Remote for Sling. Here's the link.

The software installed (don't let it update!) and instantly found the VIP922 over my home network (not sure how it will find the VIP922 remotely - any experiences out there?).

The good thing about using it this way is that the browser memory isn't chewed up on one's PC (using firefox). I find that my PC runs quieter, better when not using the browser software.

Besides that, the UI continues to be solid, fast when navigating/using the box.

Few issues that need bit more examination:
- In my HT cabinet, notice there's more 'heat - definitely the VIP922; not sure if it runs cooler than my VIP622.
- I need to look at this again, but swear that the recordings weren't of the same quality as when watching live. Anyone have this observation? I'm watching on a 100in screen, 12 feet away. Again, this needs more 'digging on my part (could just be me).

So as far as using a 922 in Dual mode, is it possible at the moment when not using TV2 for Slingbox purposes? Or is it not possible at all, and the only time Dual is used is when using the Slingbox features?

New customer who recently got a 722. Use it for two TV's although the second TV isn't used much if at all since we moved to our new house (lack of furniture in basement and too cold there at the moment). Considering the upgrade, just wondered about the Dual mode capabilities.