[traderfjp]

I'd like to signup for Dishtv and would be using the 622 to record all my shows (SD & HD). I read a few posts about timers and that sometimes the 622 run out of them and then generates a 401 message. I was wondering how prevalent this issues is? I currently have D* and have about 24 season passes that tape once a week and maybe two reruns for each show per week. I would hate to get the service and then not be able to record all my shows. I'm also planning on dedicating the 622 to one tv with two cables for dual recrodings.

With my directv Tivo and HR20 HD DVR unit I have never run out of timers. The machine just deltes shows as needed to make more space. The work around for the 622 seems to be taping shows from the guide but that is a huge hassle and would be a deal breaker for me.

I sure would like to get more HD channels. My other concern is that I would need to lock into an 18 month contract and D* is planning a huge rollout of HD channels. Can Dishtv keep up with D* for HD programming once D* gets there 2 sats operational? Any advice appreciated.

 

[ChuckA]

I have been using a 622 for almost a year now. I records lots of shows every night and sometimes have three shows recording at the same time. I have never run out of timers or events.

The people that have the problem are setting up lots of Dish Pass timers looking for future programs or they are attempting to record shows that repeat often and don't have good Guide data for the 622 to analyze.

It's not impossible for you to hit the problem, depending on how you use the 622, but most users never hit it.

 

[traderfjp]

Thanks Chuch. Do you have any issues with the 622?

 

[sthor]

Thanks Chuch. Do you have any issues with the 622?

I just recently switced to a Dish 622 from a DirecTIVO. 2 Issues:

1) The "dual" buffers on the 622 are nearly useless. Everytime I pause a show I wind up having to rewind from the end. They claim it has dual buffers but I have not been able to use them as I did with my DirecTivo. Supposedly there is a software change in the works for this. I hope so.

2) I am not getting guide data for one of my OTA local network affilates (WOFL 35 Fox Orlando)

Other than those 2 problems I love the 622. Much faster than the old DirecTIVO and very reliable.

 

[ChuckA]

I can't say it has been problem free through all the different software releases, but generally the problems are minor and most have work arounds. I certainly feel the benefits of this box is worh putting up with a few problems.

 

[mdewitt]

I'd like to signup for Dishtv and would be using the 622 to record all my shows (SD & HD). I read a few posts about timers and that sometimes the 622 run out of them and then generates a 401 message. I was wondering how prevalent this issues is? I currently have D* and have about 24 season passes that tape once a week and maybe two reruns for each show per week. I would hate to get the service and then not be able to record all my shows. I'm also planning on dedicating the 622 to one tv with two cables for dual recrodings.

With my directv Tivo and HR20 HD DVR unit I have never run out of timers. The machine just deltes shows as needed to make more space. The work around for the 622 seems to be taping shows from the guide but that is a huge hassle and would be a deal breaker for me.

I sure would like to get more HD channels. My other concern is that I would need to lock into an 18 month contract and D* is planning a huge rollout of HD channels. Can Dishtv keep up with D* for HD programming once D* gets there 2 sats operational? Any advice appreciated.

First, I have had Dish for 2 years now and have never run out of timers.

Second, based on your statement "The machine just deletes shows as needed to make more space", you may not be understanding this properly. The 622 will delete recorded programs on its own if you run out of hard drive space. The timer issue is different. If you have asked a program to record say only new episodes and the progam is on 10 times a week, it will only record the new episode but your timer scedule list will still show the other 9 as being skipped because they are "not a new episode". All 10 of them count as a timer towards the limit of timers. Honestly, there are far too many scenarios possible to be able to tell you if you will run out.

Third, there really is no way to know who will end up with better programming by the end of your lease. I think I read that D* has said they will have tons of capacity for more channels but who knows what they will actualy put up. I'd say if you are unhappy with what you have and it looks better right now on the other side then switch. If you aren't really unhappy then stay, you'll be switching back and forth forever if you are just after the promise of more channels. They'll be promising to out-do each other as long as they are in business..

 

[Ron Barry]

To further clarify. You have timers and timer events and both have limits. Timers can be thought of as the actually timer configuration and timer events are the result of that configuration at a given point in time.

Here is a link to the discussion that might provide some more info and details on this particular issue.
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=64346

As others have indicated, it is hard to say if you will run into the limitation. Most users do not, but there are users who have. Usually what it takes is either setting up a lot of Dish Passes or having a lot of timer events for a particular timer (Show that shows a lot on a particular channel).

As for the dual buffer comment... I personally don't consider it nearly useless as the sthor finds it, I use it a lot, but it could use the ability to have pause stick as you switch between buffers as he indicated. There is a work around but it does require having the PIP window open and some would not consider that a legit work around.

 

[traderfjp]

I just found out that the 622 can only tape one HD show at a time. My HR20 can tape two HD channels at the same time so I guess I'm sticking with D* and waiting for their new sats to bring me additional HD programming.

 

[ChuckA]

The 622 can record three programs at once if you have an OTA antenna. There are two sat tuners and 1 OTA tuner. Each can record HD or SD.

 

[traderfjp]

Chuck: I was just told my a rep that works in the executive dept. that the 622 can only tape one HD channel at a time. I would think he would know the equipment but.... I also went to a review site
http://thomashawk.com/2006/01/ces-day-three-dish-network-reigning.html
"Also the unit only has two tuners, 1 HD tuner and 1 SD tuner. So while you can watch and record two different shows at the same time, they have to be in SD and HD -- you can't record and watch two different shows at the same time in high def. "

 

[traderfjp]

Then I got this off another website sayine you can do it: "DVRs for satellite TV
Dish Network and DirecTV now have some impressive DVR/receivers of their own that can record multiple high-definition channels at once. As with cable, you can get the DVR from your satellite company. Lower-end DVRs are sometimes free, and the nicer models often cost extra."

 

[sthor]

Chuck: I was just told my a rep that works in the executive dept. that the 622 can only tape one HD channel at a time. I would think he would know the equipment but.... I also went to a review site
http://thomashawk.com/2006/01/ces-day-three-dish-network-reigning.html
"Also the unit only has two tuners, 1 HD tuner and 1 SD tuner. So while you can watch and record two different shows at the same time, they have to be in SD and HD -- you can't record and watch two different shows at the same time in high def. "

That is just wrong. The 622 has 2 SAT tuners and 1 OTA (over the air tuner). All 3 can record HD simultaneously.

 

[ChuckA]

Been doing it for 11 months now. Please don't tell me it does not work!

 

[ssmith10pn]

Been doing it for 11 months now. Please don't tell me it does not work!

Exactly!

 

[TBoneit]

Two sat tuners and one HD only OTA tuner. So you can record three HD events at one time, playback a recorded HD or SD event to a HDTV and a HD or Sd event to a SDTV also so you can end up with 5 things going at once.

You can feed one HDTV and one SDTV different programming in dual mode which is something D* doesn't have or just feed on TV set in single mode and have all three tuners available at the same time.

Anyway you seem to have found lots of misinformation. I've had one for a while now and recorded three HD channels at the same time so I know it can be done. Been there done that.

Almost forgot it has S-Video, Component and HDMI active and able to feed three devices at once from tuner 1 and coax. They all have the same content. It also has Coax for TV2 out which can have different content on two channels being sent out controlled by two remotes in dual mode.

So 1 scenario would be set it to dual mode and hook up a dvd recorder to the antenna out and use remote 2 to send whatever to the recorder while watching something different on the HDTV. Or feed TV2 to another room(s) and start watching a recorded show, get tired go to bedroom and finish watching on that TV set. Or feed another Tv for the kids so they can watch MTV (Yuck!) without disturbing your watching and without needing a second satellite box.

Actually a very neat unit it can be a 2 Sat + 1 OTA Tuner to one TV or push a switch and you have a 2 Sat + 1 OTA tuner box feeding 2 tv sets with different programming.

 

[Mojito05]

Chuck: I was just told my a rep that works in the executive dept. that the 622 can only tape one HD channel at a time. I would think he would know the equipment but.... I also went to a review site
http://thomashawk.com/2006/01/ces-day-three-dish-network-reigning.html
"Also the unit only has two tuners, 1 HD tuner and 1 SD tuner. So while you can watch and record two different shows at the same time, they have to be in SD and HD -- you can't record and watch two different shows at the same time in high def. "

Yeah, as sthor and ChuckA have stated already, the rep is wrong. When I was in the process of getting Dish hooked-up a few weeks ago, the rep I initially spoke to told me the same BS. But because of my previous experience with DVRs and the info I had found here, I questioned him (which he used as a seque to talk about something else). So, as with any customer service person, the info you get varies. After that, I decided to go to a local retailer to get more information - and I would definitely recommend doing that. In my case, I saw the DVR I'd be getting all hooked-up, was able to play with it, and I asked all the questions I could think of. They also went through all of the possible configurations. So because of all of that, I was able to pick the best package for me. And I know if I had tried to set it up over the phone, I would still be wondering if I had gotten the best deal.

Also, as sthor mentioned, you can record 3 HD channels simultaneously. And in addition to that, you can watch a recorded program (HD or not) at the same time.

 

[Mojito05]

Two sat tuners and one HD only OTA tuner. So you can record three HD events at one time, playback a recorded HD or SD event to a HDTV and a HD or Sd event to a SDTV also so you can end up with 5 things going at once.

You can feed one HDTV and one SDTV different programming in dual mode which is something D* doesn't have or just feed on TV set in single mode and have all three tuners available at the same time.

Anyway you seem to have found lots of misinformation. I've had one for a while now and recorded three HD channels at the same time so I know it can be done. een there done that.

Ya beat me to it!

 

[traderfjp]

Thanks for confirming that the VIP 622 can record three HD programs at once. This is great news. It makes you wonder how a guy can work for Diah and not have a clue on how his equipment works. Sorry if I insulted anyone here that was not my intention but I wanted to make sure since I started to read conflicting reports as well. Anyway, this is great news. My only concern is that I had trees in the way when I was looking into Voom so if Dish is using the same sat location for these HD channels I may have to use a mast or not be able to get the service at all. Thanks again.

 

[Mojito05]

Thanks for confirming that the VIP 622 can record three HD programs at once. This is great news. It makes you wonder how a guy can work for Diah and not have a clue on how his equipment works. Sorry if I insulted anyone here that was not my intention but I wanted to make sure since I started to read conflicting reports as well. Anyway, this is great news. My only concern is that I had trees in the way when I was looking into Voom so if Dish is using the same sat location for these HD channels I may have to use a mast or not be able to get the service at all. Thanks again.

No problem and I don't think you insulted anyone. I think people are just equally frustrated with all of the incorrect information out there. But I agree that it's friggin' crazy when any customer-facing employee doesn't know their product. It's not like we're talking about what the carrying charge is for brake pads! And to top it off, they're usually not willing to admit their lack of knowledge, so they don't bother verifying info, or their "manager" knows less than they do - so that just perpetuates crap info. But anyway, I have absolutely no regrets with making the switch to Dish, so hopefully everything works out for you, too.