DNS tech here - I just completed my first official installation of the Hopper and Joey system after a few weeks of research. Here are your tips / bits of advice / observations:
1. Much like the software that we're seeing on the ViP722k receivers, the setup process spoon-feeds you. If you are a customer and received yours in the mail, you'll love it. If you're a tech, you'll love it at first, but it will get very annoying after you're comfortable with the system.
2. Download times are longer with the Hopper than with your other receivers. I've also observed Hopper download times to vary greatly as well. You're looking at an average of 20 - 45 minutes for the Hopper to receive its software + activation.
3. Download times for Joeys average roughly 10 minutes each. Activation takes 3-5 seconds (which rocks, by the way). You may not simultaneously download software onto your Joeys! They must be done one at a time! You will permanently destroy your Joeys if you try to link them to your Hopper at the same time! Keep them in the box until you're ready to install and download, one at a time! Keeping them in the box will have a tremendous result as far as the "dummy factor" goes. And this must be done after (and only after) the Hopper has received its software first!
4. Therefore, a 3-room setup with one Hopper and two Joeys will take roughly an hour (and some change) to download and activate. The good news is, you will save a ton of time on cabling this system out. So time-wise, it evens out to what you're already used to. For now.
5. Most of us techs are in the habit of activating all receivers at the same time. That's a good habit - with this system, you absolutely must activate your Hopper and Joeys at the same time. And as usual, new connects can be activated through ETA direct, but upgrades must be done by calling Dial-A-Dunce.
6. The remote controls will not allow you to program a TV code (or learn from another remote) until everything is downloaded, activated, and ready for channel surfing. This goes for both Hoppers and Joeys. If you try to program a remote while it's downloading, weird things happen with the lights across the top. It looks almost as if the remote is cussing you out in its own special way.
7. NEVER fight the process! I'm used to DNS's other receivers, where I can abort a checkswitch if I get an error message. Not with this system. If you make any attempt to thwart what a Hopper or Joey is trying to do, you will regret it. Follow each step-by-step procedure, no matter how much it makes you want to grind your teeth. Never hit "Cancel" during setup - for any reason - ever, unless you're looking to double your install time.
8. There's no need to use long stingers on the nodes. I generally keep mine flush, and I have confirmed that flush works.
9. If you're going for an Eastern Arc, God be with you. And let us all know how that went.
10. I've also confirmed that crummy, crappy RG-59 from the 1980s, with dry rot, barrels etc...... carries a beautiful HD signal to the Joeys. Cheap splitters work just as well. Don't get hung up on that kind of stuff anymore. Only keep the feed to your Hopper in high regard. To hell with everything else. Especially wall plate barrels.
11. Solo nodes fit nicely in cable company boxes. Can't vouch for the duo though.
12. If you're reading this, it means that you're doing your homework. Do more! Get some wiring diagrams - they help tremendously. And remember, nobody at corporate is going to help you. So if you get stuck, don't bother calling them.
