PVR 721 Installation Woes

[msalvail]

We purchased the Dish PVR 721 and the installers were here for about 4 hours. They called Dish Network about 5 times during the course of the install and it seems that each tech support person gave them a different answer. The installers admitted this is only their second 721 as that receiver isn't very popular in my area yet.

We are getting very few of the channels on Satellite 110. The installer ran
the software download, kept running the install, etc but still couldn't get
those channels. The last Dish Network person he called told them it must be
a bad receiver so they packed up and left and said they will get another one
and install it on Monday afternoon. :mad: We are not convinced that it is a bad
receiver and are wondering if there is something they could have missed or
didn't check.

The other techs the installer called said:
1. Wait 45 minutes and it will all work fine
2. Redo the software download and it will all be ok
etc :nono2:

The installer was wanting to change out the Dish Pro Quad LNB with the Legacy as he said the Legacy works with everything. Dish told him that no, the 721 is set up to work with the Dish Pro. I don't think the installer was convinced, however.

We have been DISH customers for about 6 years and are aggravated to begin with that DISH doesn't offer the good deals to existing customers that they do to new customers. Now, we spend $549 for the 721 plus the cost of the LNB and the installation and it isn't working. Of course, if they don't get it working right we will give it back to them and have our bill credited but we WANT it to work as we like Dish and can use the 2 tuner feature.


Could it be one of the cables is bad from the Dish to the receiver?
Could the Dish not be grounded properly?
Do you think it is just a bad receiver?

The PIP does not work so that makes us think that both tuners aren't working
either.

Also, how do you enable the Caller ID? We put a check in the box but it is
not showing our calls. Our old Dish 5000 showed the calls perfectly. Is
there something else that needs to be enabled?

Also, what about the volume? On the other one, we were able to use our
satellite remote to adjust the TV volume. This one won't do that.

I would appreciate any and all responses as this thing has us very, very
frustrated. Both my significant other and I are fairly electronic/tech savvy so if you have any suggestions or things we should check, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Thanks so much!!

Mary

[SteveS]

A Dish 721 out of the box (with the base software) WILL NOT DOWNLOAD the software update through a DishPRO QUAD LNBF. The 721 will just sit there and never get the newer software. This is a known problem and the installers AND the Dish tech rep should know about it.

If this is what's stopping you then have the installers temporarily substitute a DishPro TWIN or Legacy TWIN for the software download and THEN after everything else is done install the DishPRO QUAD and do a "check switch".

I hope this fixes you up as it's EZ to do.

[MAllen]

I have installed two 721's at my house. I use the DishPro Quad. One trick that I found was that if you have a legacy receiver as your 2nd or 3rd receiver, YOU MUST UNHOOK that first, THEN do the check switch. I did the installs myself and it does take a while for the software to download and install (about 25-45 minutes). Then you need to reboot and wait for all the channels to download. Its worth it, I love my two 721's.

[SteveS]

I have installed two 721's at my house. I use the DishPro Quad. One trick that I found was that if you have a legacy receiver as your 2nd or 3rd receiver, YOU MUST UNHOOK that first, THEN do the check switch. I did the installs myself and it does take a while for the software to download and install (about 25-45 minutes). Then you need to reboot and wait for all the channels to download. Its worth it, I love my two 721's.

I forgot to include ...

There are apparently four different revs of the base (factory) installed firmware (software) in a 721 when it goes into the box. I was told that two of the revs will work with a DishPRO QUAD and two of the revs won't work with a DishPRO QUAD. I don't remember now how to tell the difference between the revs.

You are fortunate to have gotten the revs in your 721 that work but I was unfortunate and got one of the revs in my 721 that didn't.

Either way, if msalvail punches up the "system info" on his 721 and looks for software version it should read "L112". If it doesn't then he is stuck at the factory load and a different LNB should resolve the software download.

[MAllen]

No, I have had my 1st 721 for 14 months and the 2nd for 5 months.
The first one had a VERY early version of software (PRE L106) and the 2nd one had
about the same early version. BOTH receivers were set up with the DishPro Quad.
The 721 IS A DISHPRO system and SHOULD work with the DishPro Quad. I had issues setting up my 1st 721 UNTIL I unhooked the 2nd Legacy receiver and restarted the 721. THEN I did a check switch and everything worked fine, and once the 721 was working, I reattached the 2nd receiver. When I hooked the 2nd 721 several months later, NO problems (I only had to run one new cable from the original Switch location to the new 721. BTW, you MUST have correct runs from DishPro to 721 (i believe 1, 2 to first and 3,4 to 2nd dual tuner or to two additional receivers).

[msalvail]

Would ya'll please look over the following and let me know if it all appears to be correct? Thanks SOOOO much! Mary

My system information reads:

Model ID: DishPVR 721
Card Revision DNASP010 RevA1B
Boot Version: 10 GB
Flash Version 10 GL
SW Version: L112HABD-N
Receiver Temperature: 105 F

System Setup: Point Dish

Dish 300 checked
Sat Input 1 checked
Spotbeam: 6
119 West: Checked
Signal Strength: 92

Switch Matrix:

Satellite in 1-Status: Satllite reception verified
Switch Type: DishPro-No Switch

Port 1 2
Satellite 119 110
Transponders ALL ALL
Device Type quad quad

Satellite in 2-Statues: Satellite Reception Verified
Switch Type: Dish Pro-No Switch

Port 1 2
Satellite 119 110
Transponders ALL ALL
Device Type quad quad

(DOES ALL THAT LOOK CORRECT TO Y'ALL?)

I think clicked on the "CHECK SWITCH" button and here are the results, under details:

Satellite Input 1
LNB Status: Direct connect to DP-Quad
DP-Quad 119 119

Satellite Input 2LNB Status: Direct connect to DP-Quad
DP-Quad 119 110

CALLER ID ISSUE
The Caller ID still is showing nothing when we have an incoming phone call but I ran the phone line test and it shows connected. What's up with this?

Like I said, they are coming to switch out the PVR 721 on Tuesday but I am not convinced that the new one will work any better which is why I am wondering what anyone thinks of the stuff that I posted here.

Thanks again!

Mary

[msalvail]

We have a Dish 501 receiver in the bedroom. Are you saying that needs to be unplugged from the wall and then redo the system setup on the 721 and then plug the 721 back in? If so, how do I restart all the setup on the 721? Thanks!

Mary

[SteveS]

Hi Mary,

According to that info your 721 is running L112HABD and that is the current software. So, that means your 721 initialized itself upon installation and downloaded the current firmware (software) as it was supposed to.
So far so good.

The switch matrix looks right and my only question is ... are you running a Dish 300 (18" single LNB dish) or a Dish 500 oval dish with your DishPRO Quad? If you're running the 500 you may want to "check" the Dish 500 box and make sure the signal strengths are up to par on both satellites and odd and even transponders. You can lose one side of an LNB and it will drive you crazy.

You are getting close ... good luck and let us know how it works out.

[Filip1]

For what it's worth, last yr at this time, I tried to go from 4 dvrs to 5, with the fifth being a 721. I had a pro installation, and decided to have him install a dishpro quad. The 721 would not work. Finally they ended up installing a dishpro twin lnb and 2 dishpro 34's. Everything has worked well since.