Well, after calling 3 or 4 times and thinking Ihad the wrong number, I posted in the "comments" thread and was advised I had the write number (no mention of upgrading your hardware on the menu, just programing).
Anyway, after finally choosing the right menu option, I was told I had a 15+ minute wait, which ended up being more like 5 or 6 minutes.
I spoke with a pleasant Indian Lady who took me through the process as quick as her slow computer would let her (she must've had to resubmit it five or six times!).
So, I'm going from a 322 and 522 with America's top 120 + locals at $52.97 + tax and fees to a 522 and 622 with HDGold +locals at $96 plus tax and fees. Holy price-olee Batman, that's a lot. I figure I could have saved $15 by turning in the 522 instead of the 322, and getting the 120-equivelant package (HDSilver), but there are a few channels in the Gold packet that my wife and I like (actually more the wife than me, go figure
) and we've been meaning to upgrade to a 180 pack anyway.
I suppose I could have left the locals off and saved another $5.99, but that would not do my 522 any good, since it can't tune the locals in via antenna. We want to keep the 522 becuase it's in the exercise/guest room where the wife like to watch her time-shifted soaps while she runs on the treadmill. Currently I'm acheiving this by having the modulated TV2 output from each receiver (one on Ch 21 and the other on Ch 50) go to every room in the house, so you can have up to 4 "sources" to choose from in most rooms, but given the 622's recording volume being limited by recording HD content, the 2-3 weeks work of soaps that often reside on HDD may be overwritten before she gets 'round to watch'n 'em!
I lucked out that the first install day I was offered happened to be the only one I could accomidate - 20 February, Presidents' Day - on which I will be off work. The CSR also told me that the installer will take the 322, so I won't have to ship it back.
So I have almost 3 weeks to reconfigure my receiver/TV inputs to accomidate the new toy. I have all 3 component inputs on my receiver occupied. I'm debating buying an external component switcher (a Zektor HDS 4.1) or just direct connecting the 622 to an available component input on my set. Each has it's pros and cons - my receiver and the Zektor have discrete input control and my set does not. This means switching among components will be simplified since all switching will occur at the receiver, leaving the non-discrete TV out of the loop, but then audio & video will be routed through the receiver, meaning there will be an extra step involved in powering-up and down the system - not a problem with my universal remote - but defineately a problem for the 622's included remote (no macro capability). The extra step in not WAF-Friendly. Connecting directly to the TV will simplify day-to-day viewing, and I can still run the 622's digital audio to the receiver and mute the TV when we're watching something broadcast in DD, but then changing to other components is complicated. I guess, ultimately, I'll leave it up to the wife.
