Former ReplayTV user dissatisfied with interface, search

[s8ist]

All right.. maybe the title is a bit harsh, the 622 is definitely at least decent, but who else is a little disappointed with the GUI on the 622? The program guide is limited. The search feature brings up PPV and unsubscribed channels(can they be excluded from search?) The programming conflicts don't offer to find and display other showtimes like an "automatic resolve" feature (Instead we get this "priority" business).
I guess after having ReplayTV for so long I'm slightly spoiled when it comes to user-friendly interface, but the navigating 622's interface can be a somewhat unenjoyable experience in comparison and it would be nice if they offered the ability to make your own themed channels (aka. record anything with word "stand-up" or "insert word here"). And if they extended the program guide out a bit and made it more enjoyable to browse by interests, that would be nice too.

**anticipating flames from 622 worshippers**

[SonicBee777]

There is a Sticky Thread "Wish List Items (Take 2)" for suggestions to improve the 622.

[thraner]

it would be nice if they offered the ability to make your own themed channels (aka. record anything with word "stand-up" or "insert word here").


I believe this is what the "Dish Pass" is.

[tomcrown1]

All right.. maybe the title is a bit harsh, the 622 is definitely at least decent, but who else is a little disappointed with the GUI on the 622? The program guide is limited. The search feature brings up PPV and unsubscribed channels(can they be excluded from search?) The programming conflicts don't offer to find and display other showtimes like an "automatic resolve" feature (Instead we get this "priority" business).
I guess after having ReplayTV for so long I'm slightly spoiled when it comes to user-friendly interface, but the navigating 622's interface can be a somewhat unenjoyable experience in comparison and it would be nice if they offered the ability to make your own themed channels (aka. record anything with word "stand-up" or "insert word here"). And if they extended the program guide out a bit and made it more enjoyable to browse by interests, that would be nice too.

**anticipating flames from 622 worshippers**

you are right. The problem that Dish may have in following your ideas to be more Tivo like is a law suit from TIVO stating that they(hey Tivo did sue Dish and Won)

NEver Mind

[Mark Lamutt]

I edited the title to be more in line with the support forum rules. It was either that or move the thread out of the support forum.

[s8ist]

I edited the title to be more in line with the support forum rules. It was either that or move the thread out of the support forum.

no prob...

[Mando]

All right.. maybe the title is a bit harsh, the 622 is definitely at least decent, but who else is a little disappointed with the GUI on the 622? The program guide is limited. The search feature brings up PPV and unsubscribed channels(can they be excluded from search?) The programming conflicts don't offer to find and display other showtimes like an "automatic resolve" feature (Instead we get this "priority" business).
I guess after having ReplayTV for so long I'm slightly spoiled when it comes to user-friendly interface, but the navigating 622's interface can be a somewhat unenjoyable experience in comparison and it would be nice if they offered the ability to make your own themed channels (aka. record anything with word "stand-up" or "insert word here"). And if they extended the program guide out a bit and made it more enjoyable to browse by interests, that would be nice too.

**anticipating flames from 622 worshippers**

I, too, was a former multi ReplayTV 50xx owner. It's been about three months now since I sold my 5040 units, but in all fairness, the 622 is a great unit. But, I still miss my Replays (especially CA - [automatic] Commercial Advance for those non-ReplayTV owners and DVArchive).

Let's face it...ReplayTV current direction is so misguided and ill paced that I will be surprised if they are "alive" in the next three years. The ReplayTV PC DVR solution is one of the worst ideas to come out of DNNA!

For what the 622 can do, it blows ANY ReplayTV unit outta the water. I will admit that the GUI leaves a lot to be desired. But, I will live with the restrictive GUI while I enjoy all the benefits of the 622 (three HD recordings, while viewing TWO stored shows on two different monitors ALL in one box).

I actually placed some suggestions in the "wish list" that I think the 622 needs.

One ReplayTV KILLER aspect of the 622 is the "schedule" list. This similar to the TiVO "to do list" that ALL ReplayTV users wanted, but never got. I really LOVE the schedule list....I can look and see what is going to be recorded and make adjustments, if needed. It is quite nice.

PS: "Dish Pass" is the same thing as "theme based" recordings in the ReplayTV world. But, an enhancement to that in the 622 world, is that you can prioritize "dish pass" recordings (using the schedule and priority settings). Prioritizing "theme" based recordings in the ReplayTV world is extremely difficult and sometime impossible ("show" based recordings will ALWAYS superceed "theme" based recordings).

[christophersj]

Yes the interface on the 622 lacks the elegance of Tivo or Apple for sure. But they have the features, like long-term key-word searches, that I need in HD. So I still use Dish.

The Dish interface is.....kludgy

-Christopher

[Matt20V]

One ReplayTV KILLER aspect of the 622 is the "schedule" list. This similar to the TiVO "to do list" that ALL ReplayTV users wanted, but never got. I really LOVE the schedule list....I can look and see what is going to be recorded and make adjustments, if needed. It is quite nice.

I too am a (soon to be) former Replay bigot and new 622 user. I've owned and hacked 5 different RTV's since they first came out and had been running 3 until the 622 went in. Now we only have one running in the bedroom on a second basic receiver. I've lurked on DBS Forum for years but with the 622 now I can justify subscribing. So here is my take on the relative pro's and con's.

I like these 622 features better. A lot better.
- HD
- DD5.1
- Dual Tuner
- doesn't hang as often (once in 3 weeks of operation)
- video window in menus
- Schedule list
- HD

Replay things I miss:
- overall GUI formatting, and in particular the Replay Guide (aka DVR menu). I guess it is more of a familiarity thing.
- Confidence in what will or won't record. I'm missing recordings with the 622, but suspect that is due more to my familiarity with the timer system than any fault of the box.
- Networking/ in-house video sharing. With ReplayTV it is so cool watching shows in the bedroom that were recorded in the living room. It is like doubling the HDD size. If Dish supported that I could ditch the bedroom RTV and add a second 622...and pay dish another DVR fee :D
- While the RTV Commercial Advance is too flakey to be useful (and will get anyone else who tries to implement it sued in a heartbeat), I do like the way the 5xxx box stops after the last commercial when doing a manual skip that would otherwise land you 10 or 20 seconds into the show.
- manual conflict resolution. This came late to RTV sofware but is really nice.
- When you are watching a recorded program and a timer starts, it doesn't switch viewing to the newly recording show. Just gives a "xxx will begin recording in 5...4...3...2..1, xxx has begun recording" message that fades away or can be killed with the Exit key.

I think all of these but the last one have been addressed in the Wish list so I will add that item to that thread. And all of these are nits compared to the things the 622 does offer.

While in an ideal world Dish would buy RTV and I'd get to enjoy my favorite DVR with HD, DD5.1, and dual tuners, I'm learning to like the 622. It really is a pretty cool box and I'm willing to change my allegiance. I've lost all hope in RTV, the Replay PC thing to me seems dumb.

Looking forward to more discussion with the group as I learn more about our new toy!

-Matt

[s8ist]

I too am a (soon to be) former Replay bigot and new 622 user. I've owned and hacked 5 different RTV's since they first came out and had been running 3 until the 622 went in. Now we only have one running in the bedroom on a second basic receiver. I've lurked on DBS Forum for years but with the 622 now I can justify subscribing. So here is my take on the relative pro's and con's.

I like these 622 features better. A lot better.
- HD
- DD5.1
- Dual Tuner
- doesn't hang as often (once in 3 weeks of operation)
- video window in menus
- Schedule list
- HD

Replay things I miss:
- overall GUI formatting, and in particular the Replay Guide (aka DVR menu). I guess it is more of a familiarity thing.
- Confidence in what will or won't record. I'm missing recordings with the 622, but suspect that is due more to my familiarity with the timer system than any fault of the box.
- Networking/ in-house video sharing. With ReplayTV it is so cool watching shows in the bedroom that were recorded in the living room. It is like doubling the HDD size. If Dish supported that I could ditch the bedroom RTV and add a second 622...and pay dish another DVR fee :D
- While the RTV Commercial Advance is too flakey to be useful (and will get anyone else who tries to implement it sued in a heartbeat), I do like the way the 5xxx box stops after the last commercial when doing a manual skip that would otherwise land you 10 or 20 seconds into the show.
- manual conflict resolution. This came late to RTV sofware but is really nice.
- When you are watching a recorded program and a timer starts, it doesn't switch viewing to the newly recording show. Just gives a "xxx will begin recording in 5...4...3...2..1, xxx has begun recording" message that fades away or can be killed with the Exit key.

I think all of these but the last one have been addressed in the Wish list so I will add that item to that thread. And all of these are nits compared to the things the 622 does offer.

While in an ideal world Dish would buy RTV and I'd get to enjoy my favorite DVR with HD, DD5.1, and dual tuners, I'm learning to like the 622. It really is a pretty cool box and I'm willing to change my allegiance. I've lost all hope in RTV, the Replay PC thing to me seems dumb.

Looking forward to more discussion with the group as I learn more about our new toy!

-Matt

What the heck IS DNNA doing with the whole ReplayPC? I was hoping you could network it with your other boxes... also, I was hoping I could just use my old replays as a plain-jane VCR-type unit now that I really don't have a need for them... That won't ever happen, I'm sure.

They really botched things up with their business model, and unfortunately I think the popular branding of DVR technology as "Tivo" sort of did that to them. A lot of people I know have DVR and still call it Tivo even though it isn't. Ask them what DVR or ReplayTV is, and you get a blank look.. which is odd because I heard Tivo wasn't doing all that well either.

What would really be awesome is if DNNA sold their software to DishNetwork... but then again I'm just dreaming.