Digital Trends

DISH Network ViP 622 May 18th, 2006 | by Dennis Barker

Features and Design

The DISH Network HDTV DVR satellite receiver model ViP 622 is a high definition satellite receiver that is capable of recording approximately 25 hours of high definition or 180 hours of programming on a 250GB hard-drive.  This is the replacement model for last year's model 942 HD PVR.  While having similar features from last year's model, the 622 is now capable of receiving MPEG-4 video signals as well.  What that means to you -- the consumer/end-user -- is that it allows you to receive more HD channels, including all of the VOOM HD channels (now totaling 15), than before.  While older systems used MPEG2 encoding that takes up a lot of bandwidth, MPEG4 encoding takes substantially less thereby allowing more signals (resulting in more channels for users). 

What makes model 622 exceptional is the fact that it gives you multi-room capability via one satellite receiver without any additional wiring in your house.  Who needs to re-wire anyway?  Essentially you get two receivers in one box so that you can watch TV in two separate locations, watching two different programs, on two different TVs, at the same time.  Each room has its own dedicated remote, but the 2^nd room does not have a separate receiver.  Cool!  In the 2^nd room, you simply set the TV to a specific channel (normally Channel 60), and you're done.  The 2^nd room's signals are sent via your house's coax cable wiring.  An RF antenna is attached to back of the box for channel change and recording of programs.  It could not be easier!

The box also features DISH's Video-On-Demand Service that provides the capability to ‘pause' live TV, record any type of DISH Network programming, skip recorded commercials, and create ‘instant replays.'  Besides being able to ‘pause' live TV, the Video-On-Demand service allows you to fast forward/fast reverse at four speeds ( 4x, 15x, 60x, and 300x), skip forward (30-second increments), skip back (10-second increments), and the capability to view shows in slow motion or frame-by-frame.  It is sweet!

The model 622 offers several types of recording capabilities.  It allows you to set TV1 and TV2, manual/auto event timers, and do quick records.  It also allows you to record a ‘live' program while watching another pre-recorded program from the hard-drive.  If a program is broadcasted in Dolby Digital, it will be recorded in Dolby Digital.  Of course, to fully appreciate Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, you will have to use the digital optical output tethered to a home theater receiver or processor with the proper number of speakers (or have an HDMI-enabled A/V receiver).  There are 50 automatic and manual event timers that can be used to program the 622 to record directly to the hard-drive.  You can also automatically set the receiver to tune into a program at a desired time, e.g. ABC at 9 p.m. on Wednesday night for Lost. You can watch one channel, and record two standard definition channels.  Or, you can record one HD channel and a standard definition channel simultaneously. 

Image Courtesy of DISH Network