DISH Network says some models of DVR can no longer be sold
By Nilay Patel 
posted Apr 21st 2008 5:34PM
posted Apr 21st 2008 5:34PM
[Thanks, Dennis]
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So in all tivo was just suing dish because they made a better dvr... Anyone that has used a tivo and a dish network dvr knows what i'm talking about.
I have a Dish DVR and wish it was a TiVo, which I had years ago. This Dish DVR is garbage.
Though I don't want to lose the Dish DVR I do have, does anyone know what exactly the new software kills? Might be time to call DirecTV...
Trust me, if you think Dish's DVR is bad you don't want DirecTV.
Unless you get the Tivo DirecTv receiver from several years back.
That's what I've got. Picked up a replacement via Ebay after my original was struck by lightning.
-Knock, Knock.
-Who's There?
-Dishes!
-Dishes, who?
-Dishes bullshit?
Damn, TiVo. Where's Comcast When You Need Them? Oh Yeah With Motorola, sorry no knock knock jokes for them.
So was there any change in functionality after the so-called "update?"
I have a 522. I can't imagine TiVo's interface is any worse... Don't
think it's possible. Ok, it's not that bad, but there is defiantly
areas that need improvement.
And I didn't even notice a change in functionality.
This doesn't cause any changes. Those models are ancient boxes that haven't been sold in years. The software update to remove the infringing code was done last Sept.
Ya, I had one of these like 4 years ago. Every receiver listed there sucks in comparison to their current lineup. Nothing to worry about. Dish will just get their customers on the latest receivers and spend more time making those better than worrying about these antiques. Love my Dish (currently using the VIP 622)
Not surprisingly, none of the listed "non-compliant" receivers have been sold for a few years, being obsolete boxes that DISH replaced a while back, AND any customer currently using one is exempt (you're safe, Cory). This "news" isn't even newsworthy, as it affects no one but the unfortunate retailer that might have these old boxes mouldering in inventory.
BTW, Engadget, way to pretend DISH is lying when your own link proves otherwise. You know, because a company not updating old hardware in perpetuity is such a SHOCKING idea in the tech world...
They still sell the 1022, but only to people who bundle their Dish service with AT&T. Well, they did until recently, anyway; I guess they don't any more. There are probably a lot of independent dealers who had a lot of those in inventory and won't be too pleased about this.
The others really are pretty old, though, and they haven't been selling those models for several years.
The 501 and 508 are older than any of the now-decomissioned models, oddly enough. They're a lot more common, though, so that and their similarity to the 510, which they do still sell, is probably how they managed to survive.
Yeah the dish dvr can be a little hard to use, and isn't tivo slick, but compared to my brother's directv, or TWC(shudder) it is downright angelic!
As long as I can say "Record Only New" I am happy!
Brux2dc
That notice was sent out by Dish to TiVo saying that all their DVR's don't infringe their patent. The only problem is that Dish never proved that their software doesn't infringe. Their appeal was denied and therefore they are currently ignoring the court which could mean that they will be fined for contempt of court. This story is not over yet.
Damn.
I was hoping they would send us an upgraded box.
Guess I will not be getting Dish service. Tivo will never enter my home.
IF you think Dish's DVR is bad you haven't seen ANYTHING. The comcast DVR is a complete JOKE. The only thing good it has going for it is dual tuners. I use my media center PC to record shows now. Beautiful interface.
What have you got against TIVO might I ask?
I think the Dish DVR is a great system- it is very easy to use and does just as much as I would like to (the first generation PVRs 501 & 508 were good enough for me plus they were free to use before Dish realized what a lucrative model TiVo had going). Personally the idea of paying $11/mo for software to sit on top of my TV experience is too much- I was pissed enough when I needed HD and had to ditch my 508 for a 622.
I'm not sure what people expect out of a DVR- I just want it to record new episodes of the shows I watch and handle any recurring timers- what more do you need? Seriously, search by actor?
The major flaw with Both DirectTV and Dish's own DVRs is that there is only one buffer for both tuners; Tivo has a buffer for each of its two tuners (Dual Live Buffers). When you switch tuners (channels) with a Tivo, the full functionality of reverse, pause, FF, forward & backward slow motion, etc., is still there when you switch back to your first channel; with the Direct TV and the Dish unit, it is lost and you start over from the "present". Also if you pause one show and switch to the other tuner, when you switch back the pause is lost and you are back to the present - having lost all program since the the pause. This makes it impossible to watch two sports events, for instance, at the same time. This is ironic, since Direct TV has the famous NFL Sunday Ticket (for $250) that puts ALL NFL Sunday games on its own separate channel; also similar packages for NBA games, baseball, college basketball, etc. They want to be known as the premiere sports venue. Using their one-buffer DVR effectively limits viewers to one channel at a time and undercuts the value and useability of their sports packages, - and infuriates all us sports fans out here. This is why I still use my Tivo with Direct TV, even though it is only SD. Dual Live Buffers is the most important function of a DVR and is the one that launched Tivo (and DirectTV with it) into super-stardom 10-12 yrs. ago. Without DLB, their DVR and Dish's DVR are just glorified program guide/VCRs. This is a major flaw and a much flamed topic on the various Satelite/DVR/Tivo forums. Even though it is acknowledged as a fixable software problem, responses from Direct TV and Dish are always that this is not a major concern at the present time?. Incompetent loons.
^^WRONG!!!....w/my 622....i can pause, switch tuners & still maintain my show.......this is how i watch TV all the time now w/o having to record
need 2 go back & check ur facts homie,
-Competent loon
timaeuss77, you're not correct. If you go to the recorded list and switch to the other show currently recording, yes you have to start over or start where it currenlty is and can't rewind, but that's now how you navigate between to recording shows. Use the "swap" button and you can go between shows instantaneously and have full control over rewind. Granted if you have it in dual mode where you have the second tuner going to a second tv, you can't use swap, but who wants to watch anything in sd these days.
I regularly record 3 shows simultaneously (1 ota) and watch a fourth all of which are HD with no issues on my 622.
Hey, I just went to check and see if I had the banned receivers and found a $299 "upgrade fee" on my account. Funny thing is, I haven't upgraded in two months- I did upgrade in February to HD, but all that was paid for.
Think I'm being charged for new, non-patent-infringing software? Or maybe Sc ifi and USA in HD?
Better yet, anybody have the number for Direct TV?
I have a Dish Network ViP722 HD receiver. You can hear the hard drive running all the time, even after you have turned the receiver "off." I stuck an electricity usage monitor on it. With nothing turned on, the ViP722 uses .30 kwh every six hours, according to my P3 International Kill A Watt usage meter. So, if you have a ViP722, add up the hours you are NOT using it, multiply each six hour period of standby time by .30 and the result times your local electrical utility's per kwh usage rate and that is how much the thing is costing you to just sit there and look pretty.