Wanting another receiver... requesting advice!

[MisterLas]

Hey all,

Just added an HDTV in the bedroom and looking to add a 2nd HD-DVR Box. I have a few options here....

1. Buy a vip622 used.
2. Lease a vip722 new.
3. Lease a vip612 new.

I understand that if I purchase, I won't have sign another contract, but I will still have to pay the HD receiver fee and the DVR fee (roughly $13 a month). Does purchasing save me anything other than a 2 year commitment?

If I lease, should I go for the 612 or the 722? I don't really need that TV2 output yet, but if it doesn't cost me anything extra, why not have it, right?

We live in a 2 bedroom house. 1 vip722 in the living room currently controlling the bigscreen in there, and the new lcd in the bedroom. Our 2nd bedroom needs remodeled and I haven't had a chance to do it. I even thought about having a cable drop in the office (to have it on my PC via tv tuner). Should I keep my 722 and get another 722 for the bedroom that way I will have access to 2 HD sets (LR and MBR) and have 2 SDs (office and 2nd BR)?

Is there any benefit to having the 612 over the 722? Or does it just have to do with the fact that I will have 4 tuners on the account and if I go to add an LCD in the spare bedroom, it may cause problems adding another HD tuner? Advice anyone? Comments/input?


Thanks!

 

[stardust3]

I would go the lease route. It will still cost out of pocket, but not near as much if you purchased. A leased receiver can be replaced if it goes bad, so can a purchased one if you have dhpp. The 612 does not have any extra fees if a phone or broadband connection is not connected. I think, not 100% sure but the 612 has a slightly smaller hard drive.

 

[MisterLas]

Thanks for the input, startdust. I was thinking that the 722 was $150 installed ($100 shipped), but it turns out the 622 is $150 installed and the 722 is $200 installed, while the 612 is only $100 installed.

I might go with the 612 and deal with the spare bedroom when that time comes. Also, I just figured that I could split the office (computer tv tuner) and the spare bedroom off the same line and just get a 2nd remote (both would be TV2 from the living room box). That might work.

As for it not being connected, I am 20 feet away from my networking closet. So no big deal there.

According to the PDFs of Dish's site, the 622 and 612 have the same recording capacity. So I believe you are correct on that matter, but I will probably end up getting a 2nd externalHD so I can move recordings from 1 box to the other... Man, I wish that whole house solution was completed!

 

[stardust3]

That is a thought. Mirror tv2 from 722 to spare bedroom and office. With the uhf remote it will change channels at either location. The 612 is a good choice, it can still watch one thing and record another at the same time. This will leave option open for 4th tuner down the road.

 

[MisterLas]

I think that will be my route then... Thank you for the input, stardust. I really appreciate it.

 

[MisterLas]

Maybe someone can answer this for me too... The 612 can record 2 HD programs at once... Does that mean it has 2 tuners? Or does it only count for 1?

Or when it says it can record 2 hd programs at once, does that refer to 1 sat and 1 ota? Or any combination of the 2? I dont have OTA, I don't care for that. I just want to be able to record 2 hd programs over sat. Thanks!

 

[webbydude]

It can record 2 satellite programs simultaneously, regardless of SD or HD

 

[browerjs]

Maybe someone can answer this for me too... The 612 can record 2 HD programs at once... Does that mean it has 2 tuners? Or does it only count for 1?

Or when it says it can record 2 hd programs at once, does that refer to 1 sat and 1 ota? Or any combination of the 2? I dont have OTA, I don't care for that. I just want to be able to record 2 hd programs over sat. Thanks!

It has 2 tuners (3 if you count the OTA), but because it doesn't support 2 TVs, E* only counts it as a single tuner when you lease it. The only thing you get with a 722 over a 612 is the TV2 capability and PIP.

I just leased a 612 and use it on the TV I never PIP. My 722 went where I will use PIP.

 

[Cold Irons]

I just added a 722 for bedroom - leased. So now have 622 for Liv Room, 722 in Bed room. I always use single mode (would/will never use dual mode for any of my main TVs) because I want 2 tuner capability on each TV. Also, want PIP (can't for the life of me figure out why the 612 has no PIP), so the 612 is not acceptable.

 

[MisterLas]

Thanks for the info, everyone. I will only do PIP in the living room (722), so the 612 should suffice in the bedroom.

Now the only question is... I have to "move" back home. How long should I wait before placing the order?