DISH Network ViP622 DVR™ (320 GB) DTV Receiver / 180-Hours Video Recorder

Pros: MPEG4 capeable, ATSC tuner for OTA, recording options/flexibilty, overall features
Cons: Earlier versions run "hot", limited HDD capacity for archiving programs, occasional temperamental operation

Planning/Purchase: I was a DirecTV subscriber for several years before deciding to delve into the HD arena and after many phone calls to Direct, I found that my most cost effective (read cheapest) upgrade path was to switch providers and invest in Dish ...

Pros: HD recording, 3 tuner capacity, Episode by name recording
Cons: Standard definition needs improvement

I just want to start off by saying that I've been a Dish Network customer since '99 and have always been completely satisified with the service that I have received. I just recently begun to have a few problems with my old Dish 721 DVR after about 3-4 ...

Pros: HD picture, user interface, unique features, no annoying blip noise with remote, software updated OFTEN.
Cons: Build-in storage space, external storage activation fee, No HD on second TV.

I've noticed that there aren't any recent reviews, and since the last review, Dish has continued to make improvements and enhancements to the software, and a lot of the complaints of other reviewers have been corrected. This review is based on the ...

Pros: Nice interface, Nice picture/sound quality, can connect 2 different TV's and watch 2 different shows.
Cons: Terrible reliability issues, very frequent freezing, rebooting, and shows getting cut into or off completely.

I have owned one of these for about a year now (actually I have owned 5 different of the same VIP622 model over the year because DISH has sent me replacements, but I'll get to that later). The product itself on paper is nice, it has an excellent ...

Pros: Two-room access to DVR content.
Cons: Everything else.

This review is of the very similar but newer 722 DVR and service. Dish Network does NOT know their own product. In the course of switching to this unit from a Direct Tv/Tivo I had seven people at the company, including three installers, tell me point ...

Pros: Excellent picture quality, ease of use, monster storage space.
Cons: Price (for now), no "jump back" built in to the FFW mode.

We just pulled the plug on Charter and went with Dishnetwork and the new 622. So far I like it, this box is definitely faster than the previous HD-DVR's we've had in the last two years (one from Comcast and the abysmally slow and featureless MOXI Box from Charter. As far as the operation, it is pretty much straight forward and simple to use right out of the box. Picture quality is very good and gives excellent resolution at the 1080i 16X9 setting. I especially like the two TV output and the second RF (radio frequency) remote that came with ours. The RF remote works anywhere in the house and even out in the yard a little bit. I'v had this box since the 10th of Feb and so far the hardest thing to get used to is the fact that we don't have to monitor the storage space near as much....well actually not at all....yet.

Pros: HDMI, Digital Audio out, dual tuner, RF modulator.
Cons: No 1080p (yet), has an ethernet jack but no functionality (yet).

This is an awesome receiver, we immediately purchased this receiver after buying an HD LCD TV. We are thrilled with what we got! This receiver has everything and room to expand. It has HDMI, Component out, S-Video out, and Composite out. It will output in 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i. It will allow you receive OTA HDTV and assign them to channels in your program guide. The picture is incredible and the menus are so user friendly. The upfront cost when we purchased it was $199 with a $10 rebate every month for 10 monts. It also requred an 18 month contract. We're so happy with it that I can not see us ever wanting to leave.

Pros: Capability
Cons: Frustrations with sound and picture breaking up on HD channels.

We have had our HD system for about a year, this is our second 622 receiver. We had many different problems with the first one and Dish replaced it with another one. Didn't help much. During the last year we have experienced problems with the picture and the sound cutting out, not fun when you are watching the end of a program and miss the cliffhanger ending! What I think is worse is their customer service. Takes forever to get them out to your house and they are always late, you may as well plan to take an entire day off of work. If I new that the HD system was better on Direct TV I would switch.

Pros: Great picture
Fairly compact-sized unit.
Cons: Sound gaps in recorded programs.
Timer screens are way deep in the menu structure.

I have received two different VIP622 units from Dish Network, and both have the same problem: Sound dropouts during playback of recorded programs.  There frequently are gaps in the sound, even when the picture is OK.  This only happens on recorded material, not on Live Broadcasts.  I am awaiting my third unit from dish network.  I would avoid this model if you possibly can.