But I've been hanging around here and AVS for quite a while. I have an installer coming on Friday and I'm trying to be as prepared as possible since this is an out-of-town trip for me.
Here is what I've gathered thus far:
- If your dish points to satellite 129..make sure its 'peaked' properly because the satellite is ailing (falling out of orbit maybe?) and could result in break-ups of the signal. I noticed there's a page in the manual that shows you how to see the current 'signal strength' of your dish so it sounds like you should hang out with the installer & make sure that signal strength indicator is as strong as possible.
- If you buy a DVR plan now, you'll get a 622 which is decent, but on Aug 15 2007 in addition to the plans/specials changing, the 722 will come out which has at least 3 new features over 622: 1. 55 HD recording hours vs. 30, 2. ethernet/broadband connector instead of phone line, 3. HD VOD..622 only does VOD but not HD.
- The 622 dual-tuner scares me to death..I hope my parents are not totally confused by the UI of operating 2 TVs..if so we might just kill the second TV and forgo all the 'tv1/tv2' features for the sake of their sanity.
- Monroe gets SD locals via DISH $5/mo plan..but if we can tune OTA HD via antenna..I can drop that option perhaps and still record the HD via DVR?
- DISH is moving everything to MPG4 on Aug 15..thus freeing up the ability to store more HD (the shows will take up less room) and also to transmit another 15 HD channels using the freed up space requjired currently for MPG2. This is true at least of teh VOOM HD channels. Older DVR/recievers from DISH might not support MPG4 however so you might have to upgrade.
- I can't wait until Aug 15 to get the 722 b/c 1. I've arranged vacatino to Monroe for this weekend already and 2. The rates/plans/dvr rental cost may change on this date and I risk not getting the same deal as I am now..which basically FREE INSTALL, $49/mo for 20 months for 200 channels, locals & HD DVR....after 20 months, the price will increase by $20/mo but I'm guaranteed the rates are 'locked in' until Jan 2009 although we had to get an 18-month commitment to get that.
Here is what I've gathered thus far:
- If your dish points to satellite 129..make sure its 'peaked' properly because the satellite is ailing (falling out of orbit maybe?) and could result in break-ups of the signal. I noticed there's a page in the manual that shows you how to see the current 'signal strength' of your dish so it sounds like you should hang out with the installer & make sure that signal strength indicator is as strong as possible.
- If you buy a DVR plan now, you'll get a 622 which is decent, but on Aug 15 2007 in addition to the plans/specials changing, the 722 will come out which has at least 3 new features over 622: 1. 55 HD recording hours vs. 30, 2. ethernet/broadband connector instead of phone line, 3. HD VOD..622 only does VOD but not HD.
- The 622 dual-tuner scares me to death..I hope my parents are not totally confused by the UI of operating 2 TVs..if so we might just kill the second TV and forgo all the 'tv1/tv2' features for the sake of their sanity.
- Monroe gets SD locals via DISH $5/mo plan..but if we can tune OTA HD via antenna..I can drop that option perhaps and still record the HD via DVR?
- DISH is moving everything to MPG4 on Aug 15..thus freeing up the ability to store more HD (the shows will take up less room) and also to transmit another 15 HD channels using the freed up space requjired currently for MPG2. This is true at least of teh VOOM HD channels. Older DVR/recievers from DISH might not support MPG4 however so you might have to upgrade.
- I can't wait until Aug 15 to get the 722 b/c 1. I've arranged vacatino to Monroe for this weekend already and 2. The rates/plans/dvr rental cost may change on this date and I risk not getting the same deal as I am now..which basically FREE INSTALL, $49/mo for 20 months for 200 channels, locals & HD DVR....after 20 months, the price will increase by $20/mo but I'm guaranteed the rates are 'locked in' until Jan 2009 although we had to get an 18-month commitment to get that.