External Hard Disk Drive and Satellite Receiver

[Wayne M]

Well, I learned something I did not know today - and there is a lot more that I need to learn in life.

I have a VIP-722 (2 of them) and I decided that I wanted to record a lot more programs/movies and have something to watch, and a variety of selections, when we are on the road, and with the portable antenna I don't want to set up every time we stop for one night.

So, I did some research and knew that one could install a hard disk drive and an external device for recording. What I read was that it would cost $40 for a one time fee to have DISH activate the receiver.

Guess what I found out - I'll tell you. If you have the VIP-722 you just plug in the external hard disk drive with it's own power supply using the USB 2.0 of the receiver and format it. No activation required, no money involved.

Darn. I wish I had know that some years ago. Now with a 2Tb hard drive - DW will be happy that I take all her HGTV recorded programs with us.

p.s., You can move the hard disk drive to other DISH vip-722 (And I think other DISH receivers with USB connectivity) and watch what is on the external hard drive or transfer the programs to the other receiver hard drive.

Guess I should have paid attention to some other threads on this subject.

[Scarab0088]

The $40 thing is to activate the firmware for the receivers without internal recording capability (like the 211 series).

Hope you didn't give Dish the $40...or at least they didn't take it.

The 722 is a very nice 3 channel receiver - that already could record, right?
Dish Network ViP HD DVR review - CNET
The external HD just increased the available memory, just like on a PC.

Congrats on the upgrade and enjoy!

[Wayne M]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

The $40 thing is to activate the firmware for the receivers without internal recording capability (like the 211 series).

Hope you didn't give Dish the $40...or at least they didn't take it.

The 722 is a very nice 3 channel receiver - that already could record, right?
Dish Network ViP HD DVR review - CNET
The external HD just increased the available memory, just like on a PC.

Congrats on the upgrade and enjoy!

Nope! The service person on the phone said that there was no cost on the 722. I'll use the $40 on....well, I'll use it. Yes it can already record.

I have had a 722 since I don't know when and travel with it for the past 7 years. Back in March the hard disk drive failed on my original one. Called DISH and one was delivered. Decided to get an extra one for those times that there are conflicts of programming/recording. With the external drive I will be able to move it from one 722 to the other and restore or play the recording.

By three channels I'm assuming you are are talking about two satellite inputs and one Over The Air (OTA) input. I really enjoy the OTA capabilities. Hook up the batwing, scan for channels, then use the satellite guide button to view the OTA channels, select on and it views that channel. One can even record an OTA channel. The distribution out function allows two televisions to view different stations at the same time, with only one 722 receiver. The 722 has nice features.