508 question

[Kenster]

I understand there are some deals out there for the 508s that are, or soon will be out of production. Is the only difference between the 508 and 510 a larger hard drive? If so, why the monthly fee?
My dad-in-law has Dish with a basic receiver. He really needs a recording receiver. He really ought to switch to D* and get a Direct Tivo but that's another story. Anyway... All Dish PVRs have only one receiver, except the 721, I understand. Do these allow you to watch a recorded show while another one is being recorded? Can he get a good deal on the 508 as a current subscriber? I think he takes the AT-100.
One more question. Does the 508 require two lines in? I wouldn't think so due to having only one tuner. Is it basically plug and play. If he gets one, can I just unplug the 301 receiver and plug in the 508?
Thanks.

[AppliedAggression]

I understand there are some deals out there for the 508s that are, or soon will be out of production. Is the only difference between the 508 and 510 a larger hard drive? If so, why the monthly fee?


No, but they're basically the same. The 510 does have a bigger hard drive but it also supports Video on Demand (VOD). Basically it partitions a section of your hard drive and it'll download pay per view movies and possibly other shows in which the viewer will be able to watch for an additional fee at any time. Although I don't think it's worth the "waste" in hard drive space, it is handy to watch the PPV movie you want, exactly when you want.

My dad-in-law has Dish with a basic receiver. He really needs a recording receiver. He really ought to switch to D* and get a Direct Tivo but that's another story. Anyway... All Dish PVRs have only one receiver, except the 721, I understand.

The 501/508 does have only one tuner, currently the only two tuner receiver like you said is the 721. Dish has plans to release the 522, which should be the same as the 510 but with two tuners. It will also allow two different outputs at the same time. So for example, you have it hooked up to 2 TVs, and when you aren't using your second tuner on the first TV, a person at the 2nd TV set would be able to watch something different. Price has not be revealed and personally I wouldn't hold my breath for it.

Do these allow you to watch a recorded show while another one is being recorded?

Since a 508 has only 1 tuner, you can not watch a different live channel when recording another. I say live channel because it is possible to be recording and watch something else. You're allowed to watch an already recorded show when recording. This is what I do all the time and if you record enough channels you like, I don't think it'll be a problem.


Can he get a good deal on the 508 as a current subscriber? I think he takes the AT-100.

Yes, I've been telling everyone to just call Dish and possibly mention a Directv promotion. They will probably give it to you for $150, although they do take into consideration if you have auto pay, how long you've been a subscriber amongst other things. Worth a shot, mention the Directv $99 Tivo upgrade.


One more question. Does the 508 require two lines in? I wouldn't think so due to having only one tuner. Is it basically plug and play.

You're right, one tuner, one line. And yes, just plug the 508 in and let it download the software and guide.



If he gets one, can I just unplug the 301 receiver and plug in the 508?

Just make sure you activate the new 508 and turn off the fee for the 301. You'll be all set.

[Pete K.]

Kenster, there is no difference between the 508 and 510 except the size of the hard drive. Why the monthly fee? Because they can. Shop around, you may get a good deal on a 508, if you can find one. If you buy it through E*, you might have to play CSR roulette to get an acceptable deal. You can watch one recorded program while recording another with a 508 or any other Dish DVR. The 508 is basically plug and play.

[Kenster]

Thanks, Pete and Agression for your informative replies.
Ken

[AllieVi]

Kenster,

You should be aware that installing the 508 is a bit more involved than just "unplugging the 301 receiver and plugging in the 508." It's not a big issue, but there are a couple steps involved. My experience is based on a traditional DISH 500 "legacy" style antenna.

The 508 software is not shipped as an integral part of the unit. Instead, the receiver obtains the software during the installation process. If you have a DISH 500 system, you undoubtedly have some "switches" between the receiver and the antenna. A 508 fresh out of the box needs to be connected directly to an LNB that's aimed at the 119 satellite since it can't deal with those switches.

You will have to bypass any switches in the system and ensure that the 508 is dealing only with the 119 LNB. Depending on your particular installation, bypassing the switch(es) may be easy or not.

After the software download occurs, reconnect the switch(es) in the original configuration and then have the 508 do a "switch check."

[tampa8]

Kenster,

You should be aware that installing the 508 is a bit more involved than just "unplugging the 301 receiver and plugging in the 508." It's not a big issue, but there are a couple steps involved. My experience is based on a traditional DISH 500 "legacy" style antenna.

The 508 software is not shipped as an integral part of the unit. Instead, the receiver obtains the software during the installation process. If you have a DISH 500 system, you undoubtedly have some "switches" between the receiver and the antenna. A 508 fresh out of the box needs to be connected directly to an LNB that's aimed at the 119 satellite since it can't deal with those switches.

You will have to bypass any switches in the system and ensure that the 508 is dealing only with the 119 LNB. Depending on your particular installation, bypassing the switch(es) may be easy or not.

After the software download occurs, reconnect the switch(es) in the original configuration and then have the 508 do a "switch check."

This was not my experience. I had a 4900 receiver on a Dish 500 system with two receivers installed in the house.
I did indeed simply unplug the 4900, plug in the 508. It installed on it's own. Even if it didn't, the menu clearly has an install option that takes you through it. If it has to see only the 119 slot, it did that all on its own.

[jsheldon]

tampa8,

My experience mirrored yours. Last month I replaced both of my Dish 5000's with 508's. Like you I have a Dish 500 (legacy) system with two receivers. I did not have to bypass or otherwise mess with SW 21's or anything else. Unplugged 5000, plugged in 508, it did the rest including telling me to call Dish to drop 5000 and add 508. $ neutral event.

[Steve Mehs]

Allie, there had to be something else in your set up that caused problems for you. While you are correct that the receiver has to download the current software after it's hooked up, it makes no difference whatsoever if there's switches or other satellite locations involved.

I hooked up a 501 and 2 508s, with various configurations each time. SW21s, SW64, looking at 110 and 119, 110, 119 and 61.5, Twin LNB, duals all thrown in to the mix at the time of one hook up or another and no problems at all.

[AllieVi]

I'm sorry to have provided bogus information. The installer made a point of connecting my 508 directly to the 119 LNB during the installation process about 6 months ago. I later bought a second 508 and thought the instructions mentioned that procedure (I never even tried doing it with switches in place).

[Mike Richardson]

When the installer put in my 501 last month I don't think he did any junk with switches. I'm not sure of the setup though. We originally had 3 301s, Digital Home Plan, and we were adding a 501 and moving the 301 to another room. He didn't do any other changeouts AFAIK although he was on the roof probably confirming the type of LNB.

[Dealers nemesis]

Mike there is absolutely no reason why he would have to get on the roof to confirm what switches you had. That could have been done just by doing a switch test and then view. It would have stated Twin, Quad, sw21, sw64 etc.

[dishrich]

Actually, I just hooked up a 508 for an international only customer that has ONLY a 61.5 dish. The unit downloaded all the software sucessfully & is working fine. The only thing they DON'T get is the 9-day guide, which I knew was only on 110. BUT, it still stores the full 2-day guide on the hard drive, so at least they can quickly page through the guide f/2 days anyway.

[Mike Richardson]

Mike there is absolutely no reason why he would have to get on the roof to confirm what switches you had. That could have been done just by doing a switch test and then view. It would have stated Twin, Quad, sw21, sw64 etc.

I dunno but he was on the roof. He MIGHT have done an LNB changeout but I'm not sure. I did notice a ton of chopped up wire ties on the floor and some wires had moved near the dish.

What sucks is that we're going to have the 301 taken out pretty soon. Hopefully they'll do that, won't they? I originally had the 301s, then called to swap a 301 with a "PVR" (which was a 501, grr), the guy got here but we had changed our minds, we wanted to keep the 301 for another room, so he called in about it, said it was no extra charge (except $5 extra rcv'r fee), did some stuff in the attic and on the roof, and it was all set up. But we want the extra 301 taken out now.