721 Keyboard

[ddd831]

I own a PVR501 and am considering upgrading to a 721. When researching various web sites to find the best price on a 721, on a couple sites, they've showed a keyboard for the 721 that also includes a remote control on the right side that is essentially, a duplication of the remote that ships with the 721.

My question is, has Dish never actually made this keyboard available since no one seems to have it? And secondly, are they ever going to make it available? I will probably still purchase the 721 even if they never do make the keyboard available but having previously owned a Dishplayer with a keyboard, I really loved having the keyboard, especially for doing searches on the program guide.

It's rather tedious to punch out search words with the remote as I do now on my 501. Having a keyboard again for searches would be great!

Thanks for any input you may have on this! :)

[RocketNJ]

Just got my 721 last week and ahve been using a wireless USB keyboard with it (Logitech RF wireless).

Works fine.

[marshalk]

What do you mean using a wireless keyboard? Is the receiver plugged in to the usb port? Can you use the keyboard to type in search criteria? Does it have navigation keys and can be used like the remote? Please explain. Thanks...marshal

[Jacob S]

I think Dish is waiting to release their own keyboard when they get the internet available on the 721. The keyboard looked pretty nifty. Charlie Ergen and Co. are probably the only ones that own one.

[RocketNJ]

yes, the receiver of the wireless keyboard setup plugs into the USB port on the 721 front panel. Many keys are mapped.

here's a link to the thread with the info I've found
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=10373



I think Dish is waiting to release their own keyboard when they get the internet available on the 721. The keyboard looked pretty nifty. Charlie Ergen and Co. are probably the only ones that own one.

[TomCat]

FYI, wireless is nice, but not necessary. Any garden-variety USB keyboard should work. I use this feature all the time, and it greatly off-sets the 721's lack of superior search capabilities that Tivo has.

[Bill R]

Any garden-variety USB keyboard should work. I picked up a nice Gateway USB keyboard from e-Bay for $7.50 ($12.50 with shipping). Works fine on the 721.