set top box questions

[spider12]

Do satellite set top boxes work like cable boxes in that I could plug in the cable to tv's directly for say a tv in the bedroom and just get some basic channels?

Also, I believe dish charged $5 per box for each tv. I didn't see anything listed for directtv. Is it the same deal?

Thanks.

[Mike123abc]

Yes, you need a box for each TV. Now dish is supposed to be releasing a 522 box that will drive 2 different TVs at the same time (each can watch something different with their own wireless remote).

[spider12]

Yes, but that would mean you have to send composite cable from one room to another to do that, right?

Also, any idea how much direct tv charges per box?

[Karl Foster]

Orbitsat has a RCA DRD 430 (a pretty fair receiver) for $49.99. http://dtv.orbitsat.com/product.asp?PID=DRD-430RG

Also, don't forget that Directv and Dish charge $4.99 per month for each additional receiver, and you are supposed to have each additional receiver connected to a phone line.

[HTguy]

Originally posted by Mike123abc
Yes, you need a box for each TV. Now dish is supposed to be releasing a 522 box that will drive 2 different TVs at the same time (each can watch something different with their own wireless remote). Yes, but that would mean you have to send composite cable from one room to another to do that, right?
The 522 will have an IR remote for the main room & a UHF remote for the other TV(s).

You feed additional TVs from the rcvr with coax antenna cable.

You can backfeed single-tuner rcvrs the same way as long as it's OK to share the program. For example, I have one PVR501 in my living room hooked up to my TV & HT system with S-Video & audio cables but it feeds the TV in my bedroom & even the TV tuner on the video card in my computer in my office by way of coax cable. I don't need different programs on at the same time for the most part but since I use an OTA antenna for locals either TV can watch either local stations or satellite.

Both DISH NW & DirecTV charge $4.99 per "additional outlet" rcvr.

The advantage to the upcoming 322 & 522 rcvrs is that you can have seperate E* programming w/o the $4.99 a/o fee.