[shadough]

Just got off the phone w/ a CSR telling me my 721 will not function after Sept 1st and that I must swap it out for a new (leased) vip622 in order to continue to receive programming. OR purchase one for somewhere around $400 to continue having "owned" equipment. Does anyone know the validity of this statement??

 

[finniganps]

I have a 721 and haven't received any notice or statement to that affect. I just logged in online and there are no messages on my account saying anything is going to change in 11 days. I'd call them back and see if the other CSR tells you the same thing.

 

[James Long]

There will be no more MPEG2 HD for the 721 to view (other than OTA) but there isn't any plan that I know of to make the 721 not function.

 

[BattleZone]

Dish is actively trying to remove MPEG2-only HD equipment from the field, by offering free (leased) upgrades to an equivalent MPEG4 HD receiver.

Also, 721, 921, and 942 receivers are in violation of the TiVo patent, and cannot/will not be brought into compliance, so at some point soon, they may be forced to turn off the DVR functions on those. These listed receivers cannot be activated on new accounts, and any that are sent in for RA replacement are replaced with modern equipment.

We've mostly been replacing all of the 811s in the field, as most of the 7xx and 9xx folks seem to have upgraded already.

 

[shadough]

Didn't know the 721 could do HD. I don't have HD an dont even have an HD TV so if they're taking away channels I havent been watching then I wont miss anything.

I guess if the DVR functionality goes away I'll defintly want to get rid of it. Is it possible thats whats going to happen on Sept 1st? We probably would of heard something no?

 

[James Long]

The 721s are being counted by DISH as part of the 192k receivers that they are allowed to leave running under the injunction. The Tivo lawsuit has nothing to do with the end of life for the 721.

There was a dispute between Tivo and DISH over repair replacements, but DISH decided to replace broken 721, 921 and 942s with new MPEG4 receivers rendering that dispute moot. As far as the rest of DISH Networks DVRs, there is a hearing on September 4th (not September 1st) to discuss a motion that Tivo has filed requesting that DISH be held in contempt for not disabling the infringing models. More information about that lawsuit and rampant speculation is available in another thread.

Suffice it to say that the eventual replacement of 721s is related to end of life ... the only thing dying on or about September 1st is MPEG2 HD.

 

[Doug E]

Didn't know the 721 could do HD. I don't have HD an dont even have an HD TV so if they're taking away channels I havent been watching then I wont miss anything.

I guess if the DVR functionality goes away I'll defintly want to get rid of it. Is it possible thats whats going to happen on Sept 1st? We probably would of heard something no?

What he meant is that the channels in HD that are currently transmitted in MPG2 will revert to MPG4 and not receivable any longer on the 721. You are now viewing these HD channels in standard def only.

 

[Lyle_JP]

The 721 never received HD and never will. It is an standard def 2 tuner DVR.

 

[shadough]

which channels are they?

 

[James Long]

Confused by an old model again. :sure: oops!

Forget the HD ... a red herring as far as the 721 is concerned ... it still stands that there is no specific reason why the 721 would simply cease to function on the 721 - although it is a long discontinued model.

 

[shadough]

I paid like $500 for this long discontinued model when it hit the market in 2003. I got it @Sears and only ONE store had 1 of them an even that was a display model. Didn't want that so they DID order one (allthough they had trouble even accomplishing that) and it arrived I want to say close to a month later.

Now the CSR also told me that I would need to upgrade my dish, as they were offering me a vip622 I believe, leased. He said my system wouldn't work w/ the new VIP. I have a legacy quad LNB, I would imagine the vip would still be able to use legacy lnbs right? Maybe not for mpeg4 though but isnt that a mute point on a SD rcvr?

 

[retiredTech]

tell us the full story, why are you talking to the csr in the first place.

if your 721 is working ok and you didn't request a repair,
then the csr is wrong.
the only reason to you would--- "HAVE TO"---- replace your 721 is if it is not working.
unless some programing you want is only available in mpeg4.
(ie your locals are being removed from mpeg2)

The only reason you dish would be needed be updated is to point to "mpeg4 only satellite".

 

[shadough]

It wasn't me that called him, it was my wife who wanted to add some spanish channels. I got involved trying to determine if the said programming was actually added on all receviers. Took a few extra mins for it to show up on the 721 an once he heard we had a 721 he started into this whole shpeal(sp?) about it being disontinued, "Did you know that receiver is not going to work after Sept 1st?" I told him I hadnt heard anything, wasnt told anything, and perhaps he was confused about the Tivo injunction or somethin. Thats when he offered me the free upgrade to the 622 (I had to ask him though what receiver they would actually send me, he had to put me on hold to check) and how a tech would need to install it cuz my hardware was not up-to-par. I figured he was mis-informed but wanted to ask here anyway.

 

[UGAChance]

The 721 will no longer work after they turn the new smart cards on across the board. I heard it was at the end of the year, but maybe it has changed. The 721 was not updated to accept the new smart cards due to it being discontinued due to Tivo Lawsuit.

They may offer a better upgrade option when they finally kill the 721, but I can't say for sure.

 

[finniganps]

I wouldn't have a problem with the upgrade to new equipment if it didn't cost me more money. Currently I own the 721 and do NOT pay a DVR fee. I know when MPEG2 goes away, I will be forced to upgrade, but right now I don't have to. Anything they upgrade me to will either have a lease or DVR fee (correct me if I'm wrong).

 

[DishSatUser]

I wouldn't have a problem with the upgrade to new equipment if it didn't cost me more money. Currently I own the 721 and do NOT pay a DVR fee. I know when MPEG2 goes away, I will be forced to upgrade, but right now I don't have to. Anything they upgrade me to will either have a lease or DVR fee (correct me if I'm wrong).

Likely you'll have a DVR advantage fee, but for the new features that doesn't seem too out of line. Myself and all other 622 or 722 users pay that, or at least I've yet to see an exception, even if a 622 or 722 is "purchased" outright.

As for when it quits working, it has nothing to do with MPEG 2 or 4 programming. It does have to do that all development on the 721 stopped after the Tivo injunction a while back and that the new G3 security cards will not work in the device. Once the new security features are turned on across the board, the 721 won't get "ANY" programming even SD MPEG 2 content.

With the 721 becomming non-functional in the future and the extra features of the 622 (such as the ability to support HD programming if you ever want it and the huge amount of SD storage space available) make the upgrade pretty compelling if it's "free". Heck, I've still a super old DishPlayer 7100 collecting dust in my garage. If someone does a Computer Barn museum like deal for E* equipment, I can donate that one.

 

[retiredTech]

Where did you get your info that the new smart cards are not compatible?

If they are doing away with the 721, (smart card or other),

E* had damn well better notify 721 owners, soon !

And make sure they give us a good deal!

 

[jerry downing]

The 721 is SD only. The change to MPEG4 will not affect it. The 622 is not a suitable replacement unless you plan to upgrade to HD. A suitable replacement for the 721 is the 625 which is SD. If the 622 is free or part of some offer , it will work in SD just fine but if you have to pay extra for it, it may be considered overkill.

 

[James Long]

The 622 would be a better replacement as it has the OTA tuner and you're going to want HD eventually.

 

[neljtorres]

I have a 721 and I haven't recieved any message from Dish Yet!

But I will be mad if they turn it off! But if they give me a vip622 free I could live with it!