VIP722k Recording Problem

[dogfanatic]

Please forgive me if this has been posted here before--I have done a bit of research and haven't been able to find anything about it on this forum, but I could have missed something.

I had a DVR with Directv for 3 years. I switched to Dish about a week ago, and got a VIP722k DVR, which is a lot different from what I had with Directv. I am confused about an issue I am having with this receiver.

The other night, I was attempting to record a program in my living room, and wanted to watch another program while recording. I must not know how to set up the DVR to record correctly, because about a minute before it started, a little timer thing popped up on the screen, then the TV switched to the program I was recording. I had to stop the recording and change the channel back.

What am I doing wrong? I want the TV to record one program while I am watching another, but I can't seem to figure out how to accomplish this. I am pretty tech savvy, so I am pretty embarrassed to be coming here asking this question. I just cannot figure this out. I hope someone can help me.

Thanks!

 

[KAB]

Are you connected to a 2nd TV (TV2)? If so, dig into your manual and enable Record Plus to TV2. So if your watching something on your main TV, the other tuner will pick up the recording. Otherwise, the recording will start on the tuner (TV) you set the timer on.

If you do not have another TV, you can set the receiver to Single Mode. You can enable record plus to do the same thing. OR, if not, you can swap between the two tuners (the Swap button on the remote). Again, it's all in the manual.

 

[dogfanatic]

Yes, I am connected to another TV. I have read the manual and nothing in it seems to work, but I will try what you said. Thanks!

 

[Rob052067]

Personally, I recommend recording everything you want to watch and not relying on the buffers. Aside from the issue you just described (where you lost your buffered program because the tuner you were watching changed channels to start a new recording), it's also very easy to lose your buffered program just by accidentally hitting a wrong button or dropping the remote.

Also, while watching a recording on a Dish DVR, the current tuner has no buffer. However, the opposite tuner buffer does continue. So, you can watch a recorded program and buffer one other live program. After exiting the recorded program, you can swap tuners and watch the buffered program.

 

[Rob052067]

Note, also, the warning box that appears on-screen two-minutes prior to the start of a new recording indicates which tuner (1 or 2) the recording will occur on. You can see which tuner you are currently viewing by pressing the Select button.

Depending on whether the DVR is set up for one or two rooms, if you are watching a buffered program on tuner 1 and the recording is also scheduled for tuner 1, you may lose your buffered program when the recording starts. This is always the case if you have your DVR set up for two rooms and each room is assigned one of the two tuners. If you have the DVR set up for one room, and you can access both tuners, the DVR should automatically start the recording on tuner 2 so you can continue watching your buffered program on tuner 1.

I have a 722, not a 722k, but I think they have the same features on the front of the box. There's a Mode button behind the door on the right side to switch between one and two room function. There's lights on the front of the box to indicate which mode is selected (TV2 has a blue light on my box).

When TV2 mode is active, you will only have access to one tuner on each TV and you will have no program buffer while watching a recorded program. You will need to record the live program if you want to also watch a pre-recorded program at the same time the new program is airing.

When TV2 mode is not active, you have access to both tuners on both TV's (if you have two TV's attached, both TV's will see the same output from the box). I don't know your situation, but if you have two people wanting to watch different programming at the same time on two TV's, then this mode won't work for you. But, if no-one is using the other TV, or say you only watch the 2nd TV at times when no-one is watching the 1st TV, then you don't need to have the TV2 mode turned on. (Example: I live alone, but have two TV's connected to my DVR. The 2nd TV is in my workout room. I do not have TV2 mode turn on. I have access to both tuners on both TV's, and both TV's receive the same output from the box at the same time. If I'm in the middle of a program when I finish my workout, I can pause it and then resume it on the other TV.) This mode allows you to buffer a live program on one tuner, while watching a recording program. You just need to swap tuners away from the one you are buffering prior watching your recorded program.

 

[MikeD-C05]

I keep my 722k in single mode and just hit swap on the remote to see what is on so I can watch live tv. I barely watch live tv though. I record just about everything I watch now and watch it when I want. In single mode the tv 2 is used for recording shows , tv 1 is usually for live shows.

 

[dogfanatic]

Thanks, guys. Now that I understand single and double mode, it all makes a lot more sense. I've been reading the manual again too (I've read it a few times now!) and things are making more sense. It was the whole single and double mode thing that I didn't really understand, but reading these posts helps a lot! I really appreciate your help!