Couple questions about Dish Network DVR

[Shel]

I have pretty much made up my mind to get this. Unless somebody can talk me out of it.

A. I want a single room system w/dvr that's a 12 month contract right?

B. I do understand that I can only record what is on the TV (no watching one thing recording something else)

C. W/the pkg I want I will have to pay about $5 a month

My spouse wants stuff taped while at work... and I am at home...I am sick of running to walmart buying video tapes for stuff that never gets watched because we tape stuff, forget to label etc...so I am thinking DVR is the way to go. Myself, I only have a few shows I watch, and my viewing expierence could be enhanced by this... So I can watch 3's company etc.. and not have to be up late at night to do it.

Does this DVR have some kinda menu that shows you what you have recorded?

Is the equipment easy to use? yes I have a college education, but I am not at all mechanical.

Is the equipment relable?

and the big one

Is there any reason I should not get this?

[Pete K.]

Answers:
(A) Probably. Talk to a dealer.
(B) You cannot watch a live program while recording another but you can watch a recorded program while recording another.
(C) Assuming you want AT 100 or AT150...you will pay $4.99 per month per receiver, if you acquire a DVR 510 or above. DVR 501 or 508, if you can still find one, carries no monthly fee.
(D) This will change the way you watch tv forever.
(E) Yes it has a menu showing all the programs recorded and stored on the HD.
(F) The equipment is so easy to use my 4 year old granddaughter can operate it.
(G) Sometimes quirky, sometimes buggy but usually OK. My current 501 has operated flawlessly for more than a year. Previous versions were less reliable.
(H) If you want to keep running to Wal-Mart to buy tapes...don't get this.

[Mark Lamutt]

I agree 100% with Pete K's responses. Exactly my experience as well, except I'm now using 2 508s.

[boba]

The only suggestion I would make is go with the Digital Home Plan rather than the Free Dish promotion. DHP is $5.00 per month higher but you will get a DVR 501/508 without the DVR fee and you will get a service contract that covers maintanence on your system. With a hard drive sitting there spinning at 5000-7000 RPM 24 hrs. a day you are going to have a failure.

[Karl Foster]

The 510 package incurs a 2-year commitment, rather than a 1-year.

[Chris Freeland]

The 510 package incurs a 2-year commitment, rather than a 1-year.

No, that is not correct, if all he wants is a single DVR510 and not a 2nd receiver, then it is only a one year commitment. It is a two year commitment only if he gets a 301 in addition to the DVR510.

[irishlad]

With a hard drive sitting there spinning at 5000-7000 RPM 24 hrs. a day you are going to have a failure.[/QUOTE]

Partly true, eventually all hard drives will fail, but if you power it off () the hard drive will not been spinning 24/7. It has a power down mode.

Mr Walmart - it will turn it self on to record programs you have selected for recording.

This thread should probably be under the PVR forum.