DISH Network ViP 622 Review

DISH's ViP 622 HDTV DVR can record up to 25 hours of high definition content on its 250GB hard drive. This may be your last satellite receiver.

Summary

EchoStar has long been called "the other" DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) satellite company by some.  However, these days many people believe that it may be even better than other satellite companies because of improved overall image quality (especially with local channels), and a line-up of more innovative set-top box satellite receivers. This past year, the other prominent satellite company began offering stripped-down and featureless HD boxes.  Fortunately, DISH Network takes the other road.  Even though cable accounts for 70 percent of the viewing public, satellite continues to gain subscribers, who now total about 25 percent of all U.S households. Other users get their TV signals from over-the-air.  Today we take a look at the new ViP 622 receiver which promises a lot more features and better quality video that previous receivers.

 

*Editors Note (By Ian Bell) 5/18/06 –

The second TV connected to the 622 will likely be using the coaxial connection if it is another room (although it will let you use composite connections if you can install it yourself), not an HDMI or component video connector. What this means is a couple things. First if you have a flat panel monitor without an integrated tuner, you most likely are out of luck since most monitors lack the coaxial connector. Secondly while the picture will look good, it will not look as good as the TV using the HDMI or component video connections, which means you are not able to view true high-definition content on that second TV. If this is important to you, buy a separate HD receiver box for your other TV instead of using the 622 for both.

Features and Design

 

 

The DISH Network HDTV DVR satellite receiver model ViP 622 is a high definition satellite receiver that is capable of recording approximately 25 hours of high definition or 180 hours of programming on a 250GB hard-drive.  This is the replacement model for last year’s model 942 HD PVR.  While having similar features from last year’s model, the 622 is now capable of receiving MPEG-4 video signals as well.  What that means to you — the consumer/end-user — is that it allows you to receive more HD channels, including all of the VOOM HD channels (now totaling 15), than before.  While older systems used MPEG2 encoding that takes up a lot of bandwidth, MPEG4 encoding takes substantially less thereby allowing more signals (resulting in more channels for users). 

 

What makes model 622 exceptional is the fact that it gives you multi-room capability via one satellite receiver without any additional wiring in your house.  Who needs to re-wire anyway?  Essentially you get two receivers in one box so that you can watch TV in two separate locations, watching two different programs, on two different TVs, at the same time.  Each room has its own dedicated remote, but the 2^nd room does not have a separate receiver.  Cool!  In the 2^nd room, you simply set the TV to a specific channel (normally Channel 60), and you’re done.  The 2^nd room’s signals are sent via your house’s coax cable wiring.  An RF antenna is attached to back of the box for channel change and recording of programs.  It could not be easier!

 

The box also features DISH’s Video-On-Demand Service that provides the capability to ‘pause’ live TV, record any type of DISH Network programming, skip recorded commercials, and create ‘instant replays.’  Besides being able to ‘pause’ live TV, the Video-On-Demand service allows you to fast forward/fast reverse at four speeds ( 4x, 15x, 60x, and 300x), skip forward (30-second increments), skip back (10-second increments), and the capability to view shows in slow motion or frame-by-frame.  It is sweet!

 

The model 622 offers several types of recording capabilities.  It allows you to set TV1 and TV2, manual/auto event timers, and do quick records.  It also allows you to record a ‘live’ program while watching another pre-recorded program from the hard-drive.  If a program is broadcasted in Dolby Digital, it will be recorded in Dolby Digital.  Of course, to fully appreciate Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, you will have to use the digital optical output tethered to a home theater receiver or processor with the proper number of speakers (or have an HDMI-enabled A/V receiver).  There are 50 automatic and manual event timers that can be used to program the 622 to record directly to the hard-drive.  You can also automatically set the receiver to tune into a program at a desired time, e.g. ABC at 9 p.m. on Wednesday night for Lost. You can watch one channel, and record two standard definition channels.  Or, you can record one HD channel and a standard definition channel simultaneously. 

 

Image Courtesy of DISH Network

Features Cont’d

To assist in model 622’s recording capabilities, this unit features an extended Electronic Program Guide (EPG).  Simply navigate the cursor over to the desired program to ‘record,’ and press the ‘Select’ button.  It works much like TiVo or ReplayTV.  The system then gives you several options for your recording frequency (e.g. once, weekly, and Mon-Fri). It is very simple and intuitive.  The EPG features 14 days worth of programming, which is stored on the hard-drive for quick and easy access to all listing information.  It is clear, concise, and very easy to read.  The EPG is easily navigatable simply by using the cursor key ring, which is centrally located on the universal remote.  To find your favorite programs, simply use the ‘Search’ function, which can be accessed by the ‘Menu’ key.  To access the EPG, simply press the ‘Guide’ button on the remote. 

 

Outputs include 1 HDMI output 1 component video output, 1 A/V output, and 1 digital optical output.  Clearly, to obtain the best images, use the HDMI or component video output.  In addition to the satellite antenna input, there is an antenna RF input for over-the-air HD signals, which will also allow you receive (and record) local high-definition channels.  There is also twin satellite inputs on the back panel of the receiver, a USB port (for unspecified future use), an in-distribution jack for 2^nd TV, a phone jack, a UHF remote antenna jack, and an accessory jack (for the attachment of VCR signal blaster).

 

Setup and Installation

 

Installation of the 622 was very easy because of EchoStar DISH Network’s staff of installers.  When you purchase your gear, the retailer will set up an appointment for your installation (instead of bringing it home with you and installing it yourself).  The day before your installation, EchoStar will call to verify the time and place.  The next day the installer will show up with all the equipment needed (including your satellite dish and the set-top box satellite receiver that you’ve ordered).  It takes them approximately two hours to get the dish up and working in conjunction with the set-top box.  It could not be simpler.  Of course, you can go to any retailer that carries DISH Network products, and bring it home yourself (and even install it yourself