Q's regarding Dish Wally with external hard drive?

[vsheetz]

I have Traveler antenna with two Wally receivers. No hard drive, as of yet. With the hard drive / DVR function enabled what can be done?

Record just one TV channel while watching another, correct?
Is there a Prime Time recording feature like with Hopper?
Other capabilities?

Thanks!
Vince

[Lt Dan]

Originally Posted by vsheetz

I have Traveler antenna with two Wally receivers. No hard drive, as of yet. With the hard drive / DVR function enabled what can be done?
Record just one TV channel while watching another, correct?
Is there a Prime Time recording feature like with Hopper?
Other capabilities?
Thanks!
Vince

The Wally just has one tuner, so you can't record one channel and watch another, except if you have the OTA tuner. I have two Wallies with hard drives and have both set up where I can watch either one from any TV. If we want to watch one show and record another, I just record it on the other Wally. I have a solid state 250 gig hard drive on each one and they work without an external power supply. Since they have no moving parts the power draw is minimal.

[computerguy]

Originally Posted by vsheetz

I have Traveler antenna with two Wally receivers. No hard drive, as of yet. With the hard drive / DVR function enabled what can be done?

Record just one TV channel while watching another, correct?
Is there a Prime Time recording feature like with Hopper?
Other capabilities?

Thanks!
Vince

Wally does not have the same "Prime time" feature as hopper. Also there is no Dish Anywhere functionality. As Lt Dan (life is like a box of chocolates, Lt Dan) says, you can watch an OTA channel (assuming you add the OTA usb dongle) while recording a satellite channel (or a satellite local channel).
BTW the dongle has been hard to come by. I recently paid $56 on Amazon then found them at Lazydays store in Tampa for $42.

[bruceisla]

To clarify, the 2 Wallys can only see the same satellite. So, you can watch any channel on the same satellite while the other Wally records on that same satellite.

The other feature that is enabled with the hard drive is instant replay.

I have 2 receivers with 2 hard drives enabled .... paid 1 activation fee.

[Frutza]

Originally Posted by computerguy

Wally does not have the same "Prime time" feature as hopper. Also there is no Dish Anywhere functionality. As Lt Dan (life is like a box of chocolates, Lt Dan) says, you can watch an OTA channel (assuming you add the OTA usb dongle) while recording a satellite channel (or a satellite local channel).
BTW the dongle has been hard to come by. I recently paid $56 on Amazon then found them at Lazydays store in Tampa for $42.

Just starting to look at satellite systems, why a dongle? I thought I could just use my existing ant for ota (that is over the air?) on a different input?
Off subject, but thanks

[computerguy]

Originally Posted by Frutza

Just starting to look at satellite systems, why a dongle? I thought I could just use my existing ant for ota (that is over the air?) on a different input?
Off subject, but thanks

The dongle allows you to receive the OTA channels via your batwing AND record them if you so choose AND simplify life using one remote all through the Dish interface. No need to change inputs and fiddle with 2 remotes..
Your way works if you don't want to record AND want to play with 2 remotes AND not have a guide in the Wally for those channels. Just makes it a little easier.

[JDT]

Originally Posted by Frutza

Just starting to look at satellite systems, why a dongle? I thought I could just use my existing ant for ota (that is over the air?) on a different input?
Off subject, but thanks

Just to add and as already said, you can use the OTA antenna to watch locals by switching inputs on your tv. Not a big deal in the scheme of things but by adding the dongle it just makes it easier. On our 211z's I just tell it to scan for local OTA channels and it downloads them into the program guide, highlighted in yellow. Only one remote to find that way.

Any opinions on which is best, the Wally or the older 211z. I assume there must be some differences.

[FatChance]

The Wally remote is RF, the 211z is IR. RF is much more better!

[vsheetz]

Originally Posted by JDT

Any opinions on which is best, the Wally or the older 211z. I assume there must be some differences.

I've had 211k, 211z, and Wally. The Wally is compact, runs cool, has the newer user interface, and RF remote. Plus it just works better, imho.

[computerguy]

Originally Posted by vsheetz

I've had 211k, 211z, and Wally. The Wally is compact, runs cool, has the newer user interface, and RF remote. Plus it just works better, imho.

Agreed on all counts. I had the 211k and upgraded to the Wally. Much better unit all around. The downside was the 211k had the built in tv tuner. The Wally has an optional OTA usb tuner. But well worth it IMO.

[Lt Dan]

Originally Posted by bruceisla

To clarify, the 2 Wallys can only see the same satellite. So, you can watch any channel on the same satellite while the other Wally records on that same satellite.

This is true for a dome antenna, but the OP and I have Trav'ler antennas which have three LNBs and can see all three satellites at once. We routinely watch different channels on separate satellites.

[vsheetz]

Thanks all.

Picked up a 512GB SSD from Costco for $99. Plugged it into a Wally, called Dish Network as promoted on the screen. After a couple three minutes it was working. If nothing else great to be able to pause and backup live TV.

[RockyMtnRide]

I currently have two 211z through a traveler antenna. Works great, but would like the features of a pair of Wally's. I read here on the forum and confirmed with a Dish Tech that the 211's are more forgiving if you have only partial satellite signals (say you are way up in north Canada or stuck behind a mountain) and that the Wally will not lock if it doesn't see all three satellites. Can anyone comment on this? Thanks

[ghaynes754]

The Wally's have had a software update so needing three sats seems to be an issue of the past.