Thinking about getting a 501 or 721? THoughts on what route I should go?

[Ron Barry]

I am thinking about getting a 508 or 721 for the bedroom and was trying to figure out what one I should purchase. Does the 721 have any additional features over the 501 other than the dual tuner? The room will only have one cable running from the dish to it so I would not be using the dual cable feature. ANy good deals on the 508 or 721?

[dbronstein]

You can't use the 721 with only one input, so it sounds like a 508 is your only choice. I'm not familiar with the 501 or 508 so I don't know what the differences are besides the second tuner. As for deals, call around to some local installers - I got my 721 for $499 from a local guy.

Dennis

[treiher]

I have both the 501 and the 721. Since you only have one cable, that pretty much drives you to the 501/508. I am very happy with my 721, but really the big differences right now are surrounding the dual tuner feature, which allows you to have PIP and record a show while watching another among other things. Also, for what its worth, the 501/508 has Open TV features the 721 does not have as of yet, but are do be added in the future. One thing to consider . . . I actually have a 301 in the bedroom where we sleep. My long term plan has always been to swap that out for a PVR unit because the guide is not nearly as good (same guide, but not extended and has to download info. pretty much every time you access it) and you really get used to being able to pause programs with a PVR unit, and I have missed that on the 301. But, the 301 has no hard drive, and therefore has no hard drive and fan noise. Depending on how sensitive you are to noise while you sleep, that might matter to you. Even though you can turn the 501/508 off, it may still come on in the middle of the night for software upgrades or I believe also to update the programming guide. Also, if it gets hot, the fan will continue to run for some time after you turn it off. Something to consider, I guess.

[Jacob S]

I would wait until the 522 comes out. Tivo is a better product I hear. Do NOT get the 501 unless you want to replace it several times. If you do get a Dish PVR get the $1.99 extended warranty after your manufacturer's warranty of 12 months run up.

[Ron Barry]

How do you take advantage of the 1.99 exteneded warrenty. Is this something you get through dish? Is this a monthly cost per receiver or just a one time fee?

When is the 522 going to be released? There seems to be no buzz that I can see.

On the 721, I was under the impression that you could use it with a single feed, but you would not be able to utilize the dual feed features. So the unit does not work with just a single feed?

Cheers

[Jerry Abbanat]

I have used a single feed in my RV--it works but of course you can't record a program and watch another program. Also, since I only get the 119 Satellite in my RV I only have a 2 day guide and have to reboot every couple of days to keep it updated.

[Bob Haller]

Originally posted by WeeJavaDude
How do you take advantage of the 1.99 exteneded warrenty. Is this something you get through dish? Is this a monthly cost per receiver or just a one time fee?

When is the 522 going to be released? There seems to be no buzz that I can see.


Cheers

Sorry no news on the 522 release date, hopefully we will hear something soon.

The $1.99 warranty is a monthly fee that covers EVERYTHING on the account. All dish branded components. Have 6 72s? $2 covers it all:)

I have made great use of the warranty, including remote failures.

Thers still a shpping charge sign up for credit card autropay and they waive sipping charge too

[Bob Haller]

You could put the receiver in the basement or near the dish and feed the RF cable to the tv from there. This would allow support of dual inputs athough you would hve only rf to your tv.

[treiher]

Do NOT get the 501 unless you want to replace it several times.
I have a 501 for over a year and a half now, never been replaced. It works just fine.