1. Put NOTHING on top of it, around it, or under it. It should sit on a shelf, NOT a televsion or VCR or anything else generating heat. It generates enough heat of its own.
2. NEVER move it during operation. You wouldn't bounce a PC around while on, so don't do it to the 522.
3. We already went over grounding elsewhere. I have to RA more 522s damaged by not being grounded than any other receiver.
That's it. Turning the tuners on or off shouldn't really matter. The drives are going to operate no matter what you do as long as it is on and operational.
Re: the other question elsewhere about signal... I've noted that the 522s are beyond flaky and can show total lack of signal on the check switch screen and signal strength screen yet show all your programming as well as locals if you're subscribing. It usually is the precursor of total failure in my experience. Watch it carefully and if it stops behaving correctly, call Dish and demand a replacement and trouble call.