DVR reciever question

[Buzzo]

I have really wanted to get one of these units for quite awhile to replace my aging model# 2800. If I were to get one would I also have to fork out some odd dollars a month like with Tivo along with the high cost of buying the unit, or is there a lifetime activation option also? Ive also heard that there is no fees at all so I am confused on that one. And my second question is could I install any standard IDE hard drive into it or upgrade the hard drive to a larger size without having to buy some special drive? And last where is the cheapest place to get one?

[beejaycee]

If I were to get one would I also have to fork out some odd dollars a month like with Tivo along with the high cost of buying the unit, or is there a lifetime activation option also?
No lifetime option but if you have the AEP, there is no monthly fee assessed.

And my second question is could I install any standard IDE hard drive into it or upgrade the hard drive to a larger size without having to buy some special drive?
It is "possible" to do this but not likely that you ever will. E* has made it extremely difficult to upgrade the harddrive. I believe the group that discusses this is groups.yahoo.com/group/dishrip. I no longer have the link in my favorites so someone please correct me, if need be.

And last where is the cheapest place to get one?
E* themselves are making the 510s available with discounts for 1 & 2 year service commitments.

[EchoDork]

There are several DVR models available for Dish systems right now. Here's a breakdown:

501:
40 gig hard drive
~35 hours of recordable time
No additional fee

508:
80 gig hard drive
~70 hours of recordable time
No additional fee

The 501 and 508 are identical in every way, except that E* didn't produce as many 508s, so finding one is a real pain in the ass. If you call Dish, they will tell you that they cannot guarantee you'll get a 508... and they'll send you a 501. E* doesn't stock the 508, and they never did. The only way to get one reliably is to go through a retailer.

510:
120 gig hard drive
~100 hours of recordable time
$4.99/mo "Dish Video on Demand Fee"

The fee (DVoD) is a fee you pay for using the DVR features on the 510. The 510 is virtually identical to the 501/508, except it has a bigger hard drive. AND you're charged the fee for the same services you get for free on the 501/508. The DVoD fee is waived if you have the America's Everything Pack.

The amount of recordable time is a little variable. I've heard as low as 90 hours, as high as 120. I'll just say about 100 in an attempt for accuracy.

522:
120 gig hard drive
~100 hours of recordable time
Dual tuner - connects to 2 TVs, has 2 remotes, each TV functions independently of the other
$4.99 DVoD fee
$4.99 "Programming Access Fee" if you don't keep a phone line connected

I have no idea why this PA fee is charged on the 522, but it is. You have to keep a working phone line connected at all times... the receiver will randomly attempt to dial out to verify the connection. If the E* server doesn't record a "ping" from your receiver when it expects one, you get charged.

721:
120 gig hard drive
~100 hours of recordable time
Dual tuner - connects two tuners to one TV, allowing picture in picture, and the ability to record one channel while you watch another
No DVoD or PA fees.

Dish does not sell (and barely services) the 721 directly. Go to your retailer.

921:
High-Definition Receiver
120 gig hard drive
~100 hours standard recordable time
~35 hours of HD recordable time
Dual tuner - same as the 721
I'm unsure on the DVoD fee... the 921 wasn't close enough to release when I worked for E*, they weren't sure what they were going to do.

If it were me, I would seek out a 508. They're tough to find, but they have all the usual features and none of the stupid fees that E* is charging on their newer DVR receivers. If you like the picture in picture feature, maybe try for a 721. I have absolutely no experience with the 721 (never seen it, no training on it, it just doesn't exist in my universe) so I can't really answer questions about it. But I hear there are some people on this forum who know a little bit about receivers ;) More than I do, anyway :)

[Buzzo]

Thanks beejaycee and Echodork!

[wdowns]

I'm in the same situation because I would like to get a PVR. I'm going to opt for the 510 upgrade from Dish at 99.00 and pay the fee's. That comes out to at total cost of 160.00 for the year (hardware/fees) vice paying $260 for a re-manufactured 508 without fees. The break even point is 2 1/2yrs and there should be a new line of PVRs out by then. It is all a matter of how much disposable income you have to shell out. I do not mind Charlie subsidizing the cost plus paying a monthly fee.

This was the recommendation of several other users.

[Mark Lamutt]

Echodork - just a correction to your 921 section: The 921 has a 250GB drive resulting in about 180 hours of SD recording or 23 hours of HD recording.

[P Smith]

And 921 have new two sat tuners with 8PSK and turbocodes support plus OTA tuner.

[EchoDork]

Echodork - just a correction to your 921 section: The 921 has a 250GB drive resulting in about 180 hours of SD recording or 23 hours of HD recording.

Cool. I have no information at all on the 921 beyond what was press released a billion years ago, when dinosaurs still walked the earth and satellite dishes were made of wood.