jpezz said:
2) I think there is a way to record it on TV2 tuner from TV1 control but not sure.
This is a priority type setting, I believe the menu option to set this is labeled 'Record Plus'. What it does is set the preferred tuner to assign dvr events (recordings) to. There is currently not an option to specify that a timer / event be limited to using one specific tuner - read below for a better understanding.
jpezz said:
...I have an MS in EE and still can'y understand their manual as far as the different options are concerned. If anyone can provide a clear simple explanation, I'd appreciate it.
You've got to be kidding. I guess that's the difference between spending a fat chunk at a university vs. a two year jr. college.
Here's my best stab at a clear, simple explanation.
The 522 has two distinct sattelite tuners, two distinct video outputs, and two distinct user modes. Each sat tuner is capable of tuning one channel and only one channel, which can also be recorded to the hard drive using the DVR functions. As long as you remember these fundamental limitations you should be able to understand how the thing works.
When in single user mode, the two sat tuners can be switched between by pressing the 'swap' button on the remote, and picture in picture functions are available. In single mode, both video outputs (TV1 and TV2) display the same video. In this mode, the user can record a program while watching another live program, and the user can switch between the programs or monitor both using PIP. I believe the UHF remote controls the tuner in single mode the same way as the normal IR remote does, but I may be wrong on this point.
When in dual user mode, the two sat tuners are dedicated to their relevant video outputs, as are the remotes to controlling their dedicated tuners. That means that each output can watch and / or record the output of of it's dedicated sat tuner. TV1's remote controls TV1's output exclusively, and TV2 controls TV2 likewise. TV2's remote communicates with the receiver via UHF enabling it to be used at greater distances than a normal IR remote without having line of sight to the reciever. This makes TV2 the ideal choice for use in a room other than where the DVR is physically located. For the sake of simplicity let's call TV1's output 'user 1', and TV2 'user 2'. When in this mode, if recordings are scheduled by either user that conflict with another recording (i.e. recording two different shows at once), the DVR will attempt to record the program on the other tuner. In effect, this can cause user 1's recording habits to impact user 2, since user 2 will be forced to watch whatever user 1 scheduled for recording, or they can cancel the recording manually. The opposite applies as well (user 2 recordings could impact user 1). There is a mechanism to provide priorities for conflict resolution, but for the sake of simplicity there's little use going into this. To summarize, in dual user mode when both sat tuners are being used to record two different programs, you have the option of watching what is being recorded on your dedicated sat tuner or you can watch another pre-recorded program from the hard drive, but you cannot watch another distinct sat channel (that would require another [set of] sat tuner
). I also believe you can watch a recording that is in the proces of being recorded by the other tuner, but I'm not 100% sure on this point either. In a nutshell, with dual user mode you have two separate receivers that share the DVR functions. In certain social situations this could be the best of both worlds, and in other situations it could be a nightmare.
Now I doubt that cleared anything up for anyone, and I probably spread misinformation in the process, but I digress. Ultimately the best way to understand how the thing works is to use it for a couple weeks. If at the end of those two weeks you don't both love and hate it then you probably aren't utilizing all it's capabilities, and you should read the manual from cover to cover. 
