Trying to watch live TV while recording

[AllyBaba]

I just got my 522 yesterday. I was watching a channel for a 9:30 show. I had a scheduled recording for 10 on that same channel. When the 9:30 ended, I tried to change the channel and I got an error saying that I had to stop recording in order to watch live TV on another channel. Why would that happen? I thought I could record one show while watching another?

 

[haertig]

It depends on which tuner you scheduled your recording on. It it was setup to record on TV1, then that's where it's going to want to record, even if you happen to be watching TV1 at the time. You will get the warning you mentioned if you try to interfere. You could use the TV2 tuner while TV1 is recording something however. You may have to move to another room where TV2 is hooked up. There is a setting in the 522, I can't remember exactly where ... probably Setup->Preferences->RecordPlus or something like that ... where you can specify your default tuner to record to. You might want to set that to TV2 assuming TV2 is in a bedroom or something and TV1 is your main viewing set. That way recordings won't interfere with your TV1 watching, unless of course you schedule two things to be recorded at the same time. Then you're out of luck. Both your tuners would be used up leaving nothing left to view a third live broadcast. You could watch a previously recorded broadcast simultaneously with the two recordings however.

This limitation of having to move to a different room to view TV2 output will go away once Dish Network comes out with the "single mode" firmware upgrade for the 522. I've heard June timeframe mentioned for this. You can use a second input on your main TV to access TV2's output in the meantime. You will have to have the TV2 remote control with you at TV1 however - the TV1 remote will not control the TV2 receiver.

 

[AllyBaba]

When I hit the DVR button at either TV, I get everything listed that I recorded whether it was on TV1 or TV2. I haven't tried to watch yet but I thought it didn't matter what TV I was watching it from. If it was recorded, it was recorded and I could watch it from either TV?

Also, will it still record shows if I power off the unit? Meaning I hit the red power button on the remote?

 

[ignition]

When I hit the DVR button at either TV, I get everything listed that I recorded whether it was on TV1 or TV2. I haven't tried to watch yet but I thought it didn't matter what TV I was watching it from. If it was recorded, it was recorded and I could watch it from either TV?

Also, will it still record shows if I power off the unit? Meaning I hit the red power button on the remote?

Yes, once recorded on TV1 or TV2, you can watch both from either TV.

And yes, as long as the unit has power, the 522 will record any program you set on the timer if you turn the receiver off from the remote, i.e. neither the yellow TV1 or blue TV2 light is on.