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*Crabbyappleton* · 07-10-2006

My initial quick feelings on Dish network, have not had a lot of time to fool with it yet. First off, I was afraid I got an older receiver as I got the VIP622. But, I did a little searching and I think this is the good one to get as it can handle MPEG4. The guy that came to the house works at a local business that is family owned and operated, of course this is where I ordered the service from. He was great and took a long time maximizing the signal. As stated, it is necessary to turn the dish at an odd angle to capture all 3 satellites as they are on different elevations. It's a bit tricky. He did it though and the picture is great. The other thing that's cool, you can use the 622 to provide a picture to another set in the house using a provided second UHF remote. Pretty cool, as now all I need is a TV in the bedroom with no box and no extra charge therefore. Of course, you could get a conflict if someone is using both tuners but, in our house, this is not going to happen often. The 622 has a little antenna on it's back side and this is how the remote can communicate with the receiver through walls.

The other thing I like is now I FINALLY have a DVR with an HDMI output, so I plugged the puppy into my automatic Octava 5x1 HDMI switcher, which then relays to the DVI input on the plasma. No more need to have my TV change video input. So I can switch between HTPC to HD DVR by pushing one button on the Harmony 688 remote! and vice versa.

Also, No more separate HD receiver since the DVR does both. Which cleaned up a lot of wires and space on my shelf too! Also, the Dish network system can take a single cable in to the house, to accomplish these tasks, whereas with Direct TV I need 3! One for the HD receiver, then one for each tuner on the DirecTiVo. Dish just use a splitter that can carry power plus the signal to the DVR.

I'm trying to get accustomed to the new remote and interface which is quite a bit more complicated than DirecTiVo as it has more options. I just figured out how to control my receiver volume while in satellite mode on the remote which is cool. Instead of toggling back and forth between AUX and SAT. Now, I am going to see how to go about recording to DVD with this thing, I hope I can archive what is on the hard disc, like I could with my DirecTiVo.

It sure is nice to get network HD stations, such as ABC CBS and NBC via the dish in HD as well. Watching the news is more fun and I am surprised how much HD programming is available from the three networks. Unfortunately, in my area I cannot get public TV in HD with satellite.

07-10-2006	#10 (permalink)
Crabbyappleton CDFreaks Resident Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The helm of the Black Pearl Posts: 1,795	Re: I'm switching to Dish! My initial quick feelings on Dish network, have not had a lot of time to fool with it yet. First off, I was afraid I got an older receiver as I got the VIP622. But, I did a little searching and I think this is the good one to get as it can handle MPEG4. The guy that came to the house works at a local business that is family owned and operated, of course this is where I ordered the service from. He was great and took a long time maximizing the signal. As stated, it is necessary to turn the dish at an odd angle to capture all 3 satellites as they are on different elevations. It's a bit tricky. He did it though and the picture is great. The other thing that's cool, you can use the 622 to provide a picture to another set in the house using a provided second UHF remote. Pretty cool, as now all I need is a TV in the bedroom with no box and no extra charge therefore. Of course, you could get a conflict if someone is using both tuners but, in our house, this is not going to happen often. The 622 has a little antenna on it's back side and this is how the remote can communicate with the receiver through walls. The other thing I like is now I FINALLY have a DVR with an HDMI output, so I plugged the puppy into my automatic Octava 5x1 HDMI switcher, which then relays to the DVI input on the plasma. No more need to have my TV change video input. So I can switch between HTPC to HD DVR by pushing one button on the Harmony 688 remote! and vice versa. Also, No more separate HD receiver since the DVR does both. Which cleaned up a lot of wires and space on my shelf too! Also, the Dish network system can take a single cable in to the house, to accomplish these tasks, whereas with Direct TV I need 3! One for the HD receiver, then one for each tuner on the DirecTiVo. Dish just use a splitter that can carry power plus the signal to the DVR. I'm trying to get accustomed to the new remote and interface which is quite a bit more complicated than DirecTiVo as it has more options. I just figured out how to control my receiver volume while in satellite mode on the remote which is cool. Instead of toggling back and forth between AUX and SAT. Now, I am going to see how to go about recording to DVD with this thing, I hope I can archive what is on the hard disc, like I could with my DirecTiVo. It sure is nice to get network HD stations, such as ABC CBS and NBC via the dish in HD as well. Watching the news is more fun and I am surprised how much HD programming is available from the three networks. Unfortunately, in my area I cannot get public TV in HD with satellite. __________________ Vista frikkin' SUCKS!!