[apco25]

All,

a quick question. I am trying to convince my in-laws to go to dish from cable. However, they do not have HD. So, I was wondering if anyone is familar with the 625 vs. the 622. Are they similar and such?

Any comments are appreciated.

I am asking here because I am familar with the 622, but have not used any other DVRs from Dish.

Thanks,
Apco25

 

[JohnL]

All,

a quick question. I am trying to convince my in-laws to go to dish from cable. However, they do not have HD. So, I was wondering if anyone is familar with the 625 vs. the 622. Are they similar and such?

Any comments are appreciated.

I am asking here because I am familar with the 622, but have not used any other DVRs from Dish.

Thanks,
Apco25

Apco25,

If your in-laws plan on upgrading to a HD display in the near future or Dish doesn't carry your locals and you can get your locals ATSC signal from an OTA antenna then the 622 is the way to go.

If an HD display isn't in the cards for at least one year then get the 625.

The obvious difference between the receivers is the 625 is SD only and the 622 is SD/HD. The 622 SD record time is also about 3 times that of the 625.

The user interface is very much the same between the 625 and the 622. The biggest difference is the 622 is capable of HD and has a much larger Hard Drive.

John

 

[apco25]

Thanks for the reply.

I was wondering if I can get the 622 and not sign up for HD? I doubt they will get HD anytime soon.

Thanks,
Apco25

 

[Jim5506]

Thanks for the reply.

I was wondering if I can get the 622 and not sign up for HD? I doubt they will get HD anytime soon.

Thanks,
Apco25

You can buy a 622 from a retailer (~$450), but activation without an HD Metallic programming package get's you a monthly HD enabling fee of, i believe it's $5, maybe $6.

 

[garys]

There are usually upgrade packages ongoing, if your parents are going to wait over one year for HD, get the 625 and exchange it when they are ready for HD (upgrades are allowed after one full year from date of previous activation if you are leasing, buying receivers can be done at any time).

 

[notme]

I have a 625 hooked up to Olevia LT37HVS and I love my picture. My picture blows away D* HD picture.
At first I was going to spend $400 on the 622 but with all the problems with the HDMI port and HD lite I didn't.
Down the road when they fix the problems I may get one, but for now I'm glad I didn't.
Look at Ebay where you can find a new 625 for less then $200 if you want to buy one, I did (seller "quality01"). Just don't forget to check the numbers with E* before you buy it.
Take a note at how much used IRD's are sell for. In most case people are getting close to what they paid for them when they sell them.
Good luck.

Also in a few years they may be free.

 

[apco25]

Thanks for all the info!

One more question is: Can the 625 be used the the Pocketdish as well?

Thanks,
apco25

 

[apco25]

I have a 625 hooked up to Olevia LT37HVS and I love my picture. My picture blows away D* HD picture.
At first I was going to spend $400 on the 622 but with all the problems with the HDMI port and HD lite I didn't.
Down the road when they fix the problems I may get one, but for now I'm glad I didn't.
Look at Ebay where you can find a new 625 for less then $200 if you want to buy one, I did (seller "quality01"). Just don't forget to check the numbers with E* before you buy it.
Take a note at how much used IRD's are sell for. In most case people are getting close to what they paid for them when they sell them.
Good luck.

Also in a few years they may be free.

I'm a little confused here. How can the 625 blow away D* HD when the 625 is not HD? Also, what do you mean the 622 has HD lite? I have seen D*'s HD lite, but where are you seeing that the 622 has HD lite?

So you are running SD to your HD TV?

 

[James Long]

One more question is: Can the 625 be used the the Pocketdish as well?

Yes.

 

[notme]

I'm a little confused here. How can the 625 blow away D* HD when the 625 is not HD? Also, what do you mean the 622 has HD lite? I have seen D*'s HD lite, but where are you seeing that the 622 has HD lite?

I haven't seen the 622 hooked hooked up but from what I've read. I've seen D*'s and I can tell you it sucks.

So you are running SD to your HD TV?

From the E* yes but I have OTA for localls in HD. I can see a difference between SD & HD but not enough for me to spend $400.
Maybe it just my TV but even with a 1000 (IRD) the picture looked great.
Good luck.

 

[JohnL]

I haven't seen the 622 hooked hooked up but from what I've read. I've seen D*'s and I can tell you it sucks.
From the E* yes but I have OTA for localls in HD. I can see a difference between SD & HD but not enough for me to spend $400.
Maybe it just my TV but even with a 1000 (IRD) the picture looked great.
Good luck.

Notme,

If you have a large screen HD display 37-50 inches and the you don't see much of a difference then something is wrong.

Dish's SD picture quality on a large TV for SD is marginal at best. Lots of Macroblocking, and artifacting. Now if you are looking at HD on an HD display from one of the many HD channels carried in Dish HD package then the difference between HD and SD is Stunning.

I will say that many people with HD displays don't even use the inputs designed for receving HD. So the HD channels will look alittle better than HD as they start with a much better picture before being downconverted to SD, but not the way that should look.

Dish's SD channels NEVER look great to me on my 50 inch display, some are better than others, but some just plain SUCK. In the past I used a 27 inch TV and even on that one you could see the macroblocking and artifacting.

While I complain about the PQ on some of the SD channels, Dish still delivers me more HD than any other provider as well at a very good price.

 

[notme]

Notme,

If you have a large screen HD display 37-50 inches and the you don't see much of a difference then something is wrong.

Dish's SD picture quality on a large TV for SD is marginal at best. Lots of Macroblocking, and artifacting. Now if you are looking at HD on an HD display from one of the many HD channels carried in Dish HD package then the difference between HD and SD is Stunning.

I will say that many people with HD displays don't even use the inputs designed for receving HD. So the HD channels will look alittle better than HD as they start with a much better picture before being downconverted to SD, but not the way that should look.

Dish's SD channels NEVER look great to me on my 50 inch display, some are better than others, but some just plain SUCK. In the past I used a 27 inch TV and even on that one you could see the macroblocking and artifacting.

While I complain about the PQ on some of the SD channels, Dish still delivers me more HD than any other provider as well at a very good price.

I didn't say I didn't see much of a difference, Just not enough for me to spend $400. If I watch sports in SD I can see Macroblocking and artifacting, but thats not what I mainly watch. When I go to Friends who have cable I find the Macroblocking so bad I tell them how much cable sucks!! For me when I compare OTA to a E* local the difference I see is just how much more detail I have with HD. For what I watch and for the most part I don't see or get any Macroblocking or artifacting. I look at it as I getting the best SD picture possible and no I'm not talking about RF connection.

I find Optimum for the most part has a good HD picture but the SD coming from the HD box is so bad I could never go back. People say they just got used to it.:eek2:

As far as cables go monoprice is my friend.

Friends call me when they have no clue on how to hook stuff up.

I'm amazed at when most people consider a great picture. For example someone I know got a Sony DLP (I think 60inch) with no HD tuner. Well he hooked it up just to Optimum (no HD box) and told me you couldn't get a better picture then that.:eek2: Well he now has HD cable box and said he didn't say that.

Or a friend who is a big sports nut who doesn't watch sports anymore on his 60incn unless he's on HD channel. Or how about his brother who has HD D* set up, but watches a lot of the sports with him.

So if you where saying SD on Optimum or D* I would agree with you, but for now on my 37inch I'm very happy with the SD picture quality from E*. Infact I still like the picture I get on my none HD sets.
Maybe one day I'll post some pictures.
And yes I have 20/20 vision.