How many receivers to do I need?

[cjkeeme]

I have one TV in the family room, one in the master bedroom, and one in the kitchen. The TV in the kitchen does not have a cable run to it yet, but I plan on brining one in there.

My initial thought is I need 3 receivers. 3 TVs = 3 receivers, right? But my family room is right next to the kitchen and I could easily jump off the family room receiver to the kitchen. Is this a possible way of saving $7 per month?

 

[garys]

You may want a dual tuner receiver, and have both additional tv's connected. There by needing only one receiver (as long as you don't mind same programing on two of the three tv's and one being independent.

 

[Bobby]

The second TV off of a dual tuner will be SD only unless it is fed by HDMI or component cabling...

 

[lparsons21]

Here's my simplified way to look at it :
If you need each of the 3 tvs to have independent channel selection :
(1) Dual DVR - Gives one HD and one SD output that is independent
(1) Single (DVR or not) - gives one HD/SD depending on model

IF the kitchen TV can be that same channel as the family room :
(1) of the following:
Vip612 (@$10/month) = this is a HDDVR

(1) Single (DVR or not)

Hope that makes it clear.

 

[JohnEL]

Here is what I did since all of the outputs on these DISH receivers are hot.

I use the HDMI output for my main HD tv in the living room.
I ran component cables to my bedroom-HD TV-40 ft away.
I ran the composite cable to the basement-SD tv-25 ft away.
Result-1 receiver, 3 TV's.
Yes I know that I can only watch one channel at a time, but I can only be in one room at a time anyway. Hope this helps with your decision and good luck.