VIP722K/VIP622K receivers and OTA tuner

Charles Branch · 07-07-2009, 04:36 PM

I just had a new DISH install of their 4 room package using one VIP722 and one VIP622. I had chosen these particular receivers in part because I have to have an OTA tuner to get local channels. After the installer left, I decided to move my antenna connection from my old DirecTV H20 receiver to the new VIP722 receiver, and to my surprise there was no place to plug in the the type F antenna connector. I called DISH, and the agent informed me that I had received new versions of both receivers (hence the "K" in the model number). He said the VIP722K has some nifty new features, but that it does not come with the OTA tuner. The tuner is an optional accessory. I was about to get angry, but he said the optional modules are only $32 each ($64 for the two receivers), so I bit the bullet and ordered them.

Now if he had said they were $330 each, I would be writing a pretty nasty post.

I have been with DirecTV for 13 years. For the most part they have provided pretty good service. I sure hope I don't come to regret making the change.

Charles

jim5506 · 07-07-2009, 06:38 PM

You did not get a 722 you got a 722K, and if the other receiver is a 622, it does indeed have one OTA HD tuner in it, so you did not need the second module.

The good thing about the module is that it has TWO OTA tuners so you can record 4 simultaneous programs 2 sat and 2 OTA.

Just to make sure the 622 is silver and the 722 and 722k are black.

Charles Branch · 07-07-2009, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim5506

You did not get a 722 you got a 722K

I thought that was what I said. I ordered a 722, but learned after the install that it is actually a 722K.

Quote:

, and if the other receiver is a 622, it does indeed have one OTA HD tuner in it, so you did not need the second module.

I misspoke. It is a 222K, and it has the same empty slot as the 722K

BTW. Are you the same Jim who has been trying to help me get my friend's antenna picking up the CBS channel after he lost it with the digital transition? We haven't got the crane out yet to bypass his pre-amp. But I happened on a WEB site called www.mydistantnetworks.com. According to them my friend is eligible to get the CBS feed from DISH without a waiver. If that is true, that would give him another option. Can I trust their information?
I'll post an update on the other thread too.

Thanks,

Charles

jim5506 · 07-08-2009, 11:52 PM

Yes.

Yes.

Charles Branch · 07-11-2009, 02:34 AM

Yesterday I read that I am eligible for the PBS national feed if Dish does not offer local channels in my area: http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/aboutpbs_prog_dish2.html. So I called Dish to see about adding that feed. But the Dish rep told me that I can get local channels. I told him that I had been told the day before that my area is not eligible, and I asked him to double-check my 36832 ZIP. He confirmed that I am eligible. Now here is where it gets weird: he said I would get my local channels from Milwaukee, WI. He even read off the channel numbers.

Sure enough, a little while later I noticed channels from 7070 through 7081 on the guide, and the channels were the same as he described and the same as listed here: http://www.dish-systems.com/hdtv/dis..._wisconsin.php. On most of them I get an error message that indicates Dish knows there is a reception problem and is working on it. But on 7080 and 7081 I get an error message that the channels are not available outside the designated viewing area.

Anybody know what's going on here? Aren't the Milwaukee channels on a spot beam? Is it even technically possible to receive them at a 36832 ZIP in Alabama?

This has been really confusing. The first Dish salesman who called me a few weeks ago said we have locals. When they called to confirm the installation, the second rep said we do not have locals, so I canceled the installation. I later decided to go ahead anyway, and when I spoke with another Dish rep about not getting the guide for OTA channels, he said the guide is transmitted OTA, and that Dish has no way to provide them. That same guy explained that the reason I can't get locals is technical (because the spot beam does not quite reach my area). Then the last guy signs me up for Milwaukee locals. I'm beginning to think I would get more consistent answers if I asked the clerk at the local Zippy Mart instead of calling Dish.

garys · 07-11-2009, 06:53 AM

Call back, it is a mistake on Dish's part. There is absolutely no way to get Milwaukee's spot beam in Alabama.

Charles Branch · 07-11-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garys

Call back, it is a mistake on Dish's part. There is absolutely no way to get Milwaukee's spot beam in Alabama.

Maybe this time I'll get a rep with a really creative story...like, "I've figured out how to get you locals by bouncing off Vega through a worm hole."

Let's see, now. Would that mean I could watch Mystery Science Theater live all over again?

But seriously, what about the PBS feed? Was that link correct? I thought Dish lost their DNS feeds a couple of years ago. And AllAmericanDirect told me they do not offer PBS.

So far the only thing I will miss about DirecTV is the loss of the OTA guide and the loss of the CBS and PBS national feeds I was getting.

garys · 07-11-2009, 09:29 AM

DNS has nothing to do with the PBS channel as it is a National Feed. The rule Dish uses is from PBS directly and nothing to do with the FCC.

Charles Branch · 07-11-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garys

DNS has nothing to do with the PBS channel as it is a National Feed. The rule Dish uses is from PBS directly and nothing to do with the FCC.

I guess I'm confused. I thought "DNS" was the term used for sending a national feed to the whole country, as opposed to the spot beams, And I thought that was what the court took away from Dish back in about 2006. What am I missing?

garys · 07-11-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Branch

I guess I'm confused. I thought "DNS" was the term used for sending a national feed to the whole country, as opposed to the spot beams, And I thought that was what the court took away from Dish back in about 2006. What am I missing?

DSN refers to distant networks, each DMA has their own set which Dish is no longer allowed to supply to anyone. The ruling had nothing to do with the PBS National feed.

07-07-2009, 04:36 PM	#1
Charles Branch C-SPAN Junkie Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Alabama Age: 69 Posts: 83	VIP722K/VIP622K receivers and OTA tuner I just had a new DISH install of their 4 room package using one VIP722 and one VIP622. I had chosen these particular receivers in part because I have to have an OTA tuner to get local channels. After the installer left, I decided to move my antenna connection from my old DirecTV H20 receiver to the new VIP722 receiver, and to my surprise there was no place to plug in the the type F antenna connector. I called DISH, and the agent informed me that I had received new versions of both receivers (hence the "K" in the model number). He said the VIP722K has some nifty new features, but that it does not come with the OTA tuner. The tuner is an optional accessory. I was about to get angry, but he said the optional modules are only $32 each ($64 for the two receivers), so I bit the bullet and ordered them. Now if he had said they were $330 each, I would be writing a pretty nasty post. I have been with DirecTV for 13 years. For the most part they have provided pretty good service. I sure hope I don't come to regret making the change. Charles

07-07-2009, 06:38 PM	#2
jim5506 Yellow Submarine Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,416	You did not get a 722 you got a 722K, and if the other receiver is a 622, it does indeed have one OTA HD tuner in it, so you did not need the second module. The good thing about the module is that it has TWO OTA tuners so you can record 4 simultaneous programs 2 sat and 2 OTA. Just to make sure the 622 is silver and the 722 and 722k are black. __________________ Programming: Dish HD Absolute with 0.01 Cinemax Displays: Sony VPH-D50Q - 7 ft on the wall; Hitachi 57R59 Receivers: DishNetwork ViP722k; DishNetwork ViP211K; DishNetwork ViP211; DishNetwork 301; 2 - TiVo Series 2's; Accurian 6000; Samsung SIR-T351; Panasonic ShowStopper 2000; ATI HDTV Wonder Dish 1000 on 110,119,129; Dish 500 on 61.5; DPP44 Sony 80GB PS3; Toshiba HD-DVD

07-08-2009, 11:52 PM	#4
jim5506 Yellow Submarine Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,416	Yes. Yes. __________________ Programming: Dish HD Absolute with 0.01 Cinemax Displays: Sony VPH-D50Q - 7 ft on the wall; Hitachi 57R59 Receivers: DishNetwork ViP722k; DishNetwork ViP211K; DishNetwork ViP211; DishNetwork 301; 2 - TiVo Series 2's; Accurian 6000; Samsung SIR-T351; Panasonic ShowStopper 2000; ATI HDTV Wonder Dish 1000 on 110,119,129; Dish 500 on 61.5; DPP44 Sony 80GB PS3; Toshiba HD-DVD

07-11-2009, 02:34 AM	#5
Charles Branch C-SPAN Junkie Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Alabama Age: 69 Posts: 83	Update: Local Channels Yesterday I read that I am eligible for the PBS national feed if Dish does not offer local channels in my area: http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/aboutpbs_prog_dish2.html. So I called Dish to see about adding that feed. But the Dish rep told me that I can get local channels. I told him that I had been told the day before that my area is not eligible, and I asked him to double-check my 36832 ZIP. He confirmed that I am eligible. Now here is where it gets weird: he said I would get my local channels from Milwaukee, WI. He even read off the channel numbers. Sure enough, a little while later I noticed channels from 7070 through 7081 on the guide, and the channels were the same as he described and the same as listed here: http://www.dish-systems.com/hdtv/dis..._wisconsin.php. On most of them I get an error message that indicates Dish knows there is a reception problem and is working on it. But on 7080 and 7081 I get an error message that the channels are not available outside the designated viewing area. Anybody know what's going on here? Aren't the Milwaukee channels on a spot beam? Is it even technically possible to receive them at a 36832 ZIP in Alabama? This has been really confusing. The first Dish salesman who called me a few weeks ago said we have locals. When they called to confirm the installation, the second rep said we do not have locals, so I canceled the installation. I later decided to go ahead anyway, and when I spoke with another Dish rep about not getting the guide for OTA channels, he said the guide is transmitted OTA, and that Dish has no way to provide them. That same guy explained that the reason I can't get locals is technical (because the spot beam does not quite reach my area). Then the last guy signs me up for Milwaukee locals. I'm beginning to think I would get more consistent answers if I asked the clerk at the local Zippy Mart instead of calling Dish.

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07-11-2009, 06:53 AM	#6
garys High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Greentown, PA Age: 52 Posts: 1,480	Call back, it is a mistake on Dish's part. There is absolutely no way to get Milwaukee's spot beam in Alabama.

07-11-2009, 09:29 AM	#8
garys High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Greentown, PA Age: 52 Posts: 1,480	DNS has nothing to do with the PBS channel as it is a National Feed. The rule Dish uses is from PBS directly and nothing to do with the FCC.