Is the Hopper the only option now

[kgm32]

I have 4 tvs in my house, when i try and configure dish online I get the hopper and 3 joeys. Lets just say the Hopper is to limited in the number of shows it can record at one time. I would like to configure my system as

[h=3]2 SoloDVR ViP 612[/h]2 SoloDVR 512

Is this configuration doable?

another question if I were to get a DuoDVR[SUP]®[/SUP] 625 to hook up 2 tv are the two tv hookups independent? or can I view any show recorded on either tv. I really want to be able to have them work independent as I dont what my youngest to be able to view some of the shows my oldest child records if they were to share a 625

Thanks

 

[boba]

Virtually any configuration is doable it is just the cost to do it. Why do you want any SD receivers if you are going to upgrade? Any TV you buy as a replacement/upgrade is going to be HDTV.

 

[satjay]

If you speak to dirt possibly they may be able to set up a two hopper system perhaps?! If the three joeys are going to be used more for live tv then recordings I would recommend a two hopper set up to avoid conflicts

 

[osu1991]

With the duo dvrs any recorded programming is viewable on all TVs connected. You can make a custom guide to make any channel not show up in the guide.

Sent from my Toshiba Thrive

 

[kgm32]

Virtually any configuration is doable it is just the cost to do it. Why do you want any SD receivers if you are going to upgrade? Any TV you buy as a replacement/upgrade is going to be HDTV.

I assumed the SD dvrs would not cost as much as I assumed there would be an upfront cost to me with this many dvrs. If that ends up not being the case I would just elect 4 SoloDVR ViP 612.

 

[greyphantom]

another option could be 2 hoppers and two joeys. Not exactly sure wich is cheaper. 612's have a coax out so even though its a hd reciever it can be connected to a sd tv. The reciever can be configured to show 480p. Then u have the benefit of more recording time and if u upgrade your tv u dont have to pay a upgrade fee for reciever!!

 

[sperry85]

Here's what you do. Get installed with a hopper and 3 Joey's. Then, a day or two later, call back and explain that its not enough tuners and $200 is too much for a second hopper. They will then offer to 'downgrade' you to a 722 and 3 612's for no extra cost. (So you don't have to buy the 4th receiver, or pay the upgrade cost of getting more than 1 HD dvr) The only cost difference would be $5 more a month for the 4 VIP receivers. They may charge $15 to send a tech or they may waive it if you tell them nobody explained the hopper system to you. You have 10 days I believe to 'downgrade' for no extra cost.

But yes 512 cost $49 to purchase vs 612 cost of $300-$400.

 

[kgm32]

Here's what you do. Get installed with a hopper and 3 Joey's. Then, a day or two later, call back and explain that its not enough tuners and $200 is too much for a second hopper. They will then offer to 'downgrade' you to a 722 and 3 612's for no extra cost. (So you don't have to buy the 4th receiver, or pay the upgrade cost of getting more than 1 HD dvr) The only cost difference would be $5 more a month for the 4 VIP receivers. They may charge $15 to send a tech or they may waive it if you tell them nobody explained the hopper system to you. You have 10 days I believe to 'downgrade' for no extra cost.

But yes 512 cost $49 to purchase vs 612 cost of $300-$400.

Thanks for the advice, just seems a little risky if they do not offer the downgrade a outlined I am stuck for 2 years with a Hopper, 3 Joey's and 3 very unhappy family members.

 

[dangue]

Thanks for the advice, just seems a little risky if they do not offer the downgrade a outlined I am stuck for 2 years with a Hopper, 3 Joey's and 3 very unhappy family members.

2 Hoppers/ 2Joeys for the win!

 

[kgm32]

2 Hoppers/ 2Joeys for the win!

This would give me basically a total of 5 tuners..considering 2 (one on each hopper) would be setup for the big 4 primetime and 2 on each hopper correct (or is the 3 tuner available if you are not using the primetime feature, I do not believe so but I could be wrong). Still may be to limited. I currently have Dtv with 2 HD DVRs and 2 older Dtv Tivo boxes. This is a total of 8 tuners. Most of the recording is also not primetime. Are there any online sites that would let me attempt to setup my system if various ways to see the costs. I have tried on the Dish site but the Hopper is all they want to offer me. Most online sites just want my number of tvs, package choice, credit card and installation times....I have no idea what they would setup, most likely a Hopper and 3 Joey's as well.

 

[Bobby]

You would have 6 tuners when not in Prime-Time, 5 when in. You simply disable one of the Hopper's PTAT. You can actually disable both and have 6 tuners all the time. If you are interested in a 2 Hopper, 2 Joey system, PM one of the DIRT members on this site and they can get you started, price quotes, installation, etc....

 

[kgm32]

You would have 6 tuners when not in Prime-Time, 5 when in. You simply disable one of the Hopper's PTAT. You can actually disable both and have 6 tuners all the time. If you are interested in a 2 Hopper, 2 Joey system, PM one of the DIRT members on this site and they can get you started, price quotes, installation, etc....

Thank...well then that may well work assuming the PTAT is available to all receivers. Thanks..how do I get a DIRT members name?

 

[Bobby]

Go to the main forum page, look at the very bottom. Names in RED are DIRT members. You might have to wait a little bit, they start a bit later on Sunday.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

What about 211s? 211s can optionally be turned into DVRs with external hard drives and a one-time $40 DVR integration fee (for all the 211s on the account). There is no $6/month DVR fee associated with the 211. However, if you have another DVR receiver, then you would see the $6/month DVR fee. I am not sure if you want the Hopper/Joey setup or if that is the only option being shown to you. I am not sure if you can combine Hopper/Joey and VIP receivers.

 

[Mr Tony]

I am not sure if you want the Hopper/Joey setup or if that is the only option being shown to you.

dish site only shows the kangaroo regardless of how many TV's you have set up.

I am not sure if you can combine Hopper/Joey and VIP receivers.

you can't unless there is a tailgater involved

 

[Mr Tony]

correction...they must have fixed that on the website because now it does show different equipment but if you say DVR on more than one location then you get the kangaroo

I just was able to select 3 TV's and put just HD on it so it offered me 3 211's

edit: just monkeying with some options if you select DVR and HD for anything more than 2 TV's you get the kangaroo
2 TV's one with HD/DVR one with nothing gives you a 622/722
Heck I did 3 TV's...one with HD/DVR and the other 2 with neither and it showed a 612 and a 322

so there are options other than the kangaroo

 

[Bobby]

All 211s configuration won't allow you to share any material between them. They would be stand-alone....

 

[Mr Tony]

correct

 

[navychop]

You would have 6 tuners when not in Prime-Time, 5 when in. You simply disable one of the Hopper's PTAT. You can actually disable both and have 6 tuners all the time. If you are interested in a 2 Hopper, 2 Joey system, PM one of the DIRT members on this site and they can get you started, price quotes, installation, etc....

This is good advice. DIRT and a CSR on the phone can arrange for a 2H/2J setup. Or you can talk with a local retailer.

Plus, you can later add a ViP211k (say its a tailgater unit) to the system if you want someone to have a separate system that cannot see what's on the H/J side of the house.

You certainly do NOT want to install H/J and then try to downgrade.

 

[kgm32]

correction...they must have fixed that on the website because now it does show different equipment but if you say DVR on more than one location then you get the kangaroo

I just was able to select 3 TV's and put just HD on it so it offered me 3 211's

edit: just monkeying with some options if you select DVR and HD for anything more than 2 TV's you get the kangaroo
2 TV's one with HD/DVR one with nothing gives you a 622/722
Heck I did 3 TV's...one with HD/DVR and the other 2 with neither and it showed a 612 and a 322

so there are options other than the kangaroo

Thanks, I did not try it that way, I meant I have no choice if I select 5 tvs and 4 dvrs. I would be nice to have the option to select for TV 1 box X, TV2 box Y, etc and have it give you a price at the end. Maybe they feel the average consumer cannot figure out how to mix and match. I will talk to the CSR or DIRT member but I may just end up adding the free HD DVR receiver DTV is offering and living w/o the NFL redzone....all would be so much easier if DTV would just offer that as a standalone system. That is really all I am switching for as it appears cost (when factoring in having to pay $2 - 300 in upgrade fees for additional DVRs) will be pretty much a wash.