Right now, Dish Network is offering their ViP622 HD DVR for lease for $299 to existing and new customers. It includes the install.

Dish has the most HD content among providers (recently adding Universal HD, ESPN2 HD and the Voom HD channels).

Also, a big deal is that this receiver IS mpeg4 compliant. Soon, Dish will have locals in HD in many areas....if you cannot get them in your area through Dish, you can use the OTA tuner to receive local HD broadcasts.

This new 622 receiver is basically the same as the 942 receiver (which I have). The 942 was a great receiver with very little bugs (I dont remember experiencing any). It has the capability to record 3 shows at one time (2 sat tuners and 1 OTA tuner).

I have mine on order and it should be here any day now. Excellent deal for an HD DVR.

I thought to change over to Dish due to the new HD packages. But, the more I got to think about it, the more I realized: nearly 75% of what I watch is OTA. I have my HD DirecTiVo for the specific reason that it has two OTA tuners (Cable is NOT an option since they don't carry Fox, which means no NFC HD football). Until my area is switched over to mpeg4 and HD locals come over the satellite, I'll be sticking with DirecTV.

Those Voom channels are mighty tempting though.

Yeah, im in DFW and they arent starting HD locals here yet. They have a long list of other cities though....dont know why DFW doesnt have them yet. Probably soon.

Luckily, I havent had any conflicts so far when recording OTA HD.

I thought it could record 2 shows at once from any of 3 tuners.

Nope....I can record 3 as long as they are on all 3 tuners....did it just last night.

At 7pm central, I recorded American Idol on the HD OTA tuner, Survivor on the SD CBS sat channel and Deal or No Deal on SD NBC sat.

When Dish adds DFW to the HD locals, I will be able to record 3 HD primetime shows if I want (1 on ota and 2 on sat).

Does that mean you can then watch a fourth previously recorded program?

Lease? What are the terms?

Previously recorded Yes.

You will have to ask a CSR for sure.

BUT, my understanding is that you have to pay the $299, sign an 18mo contract and subscribe to one of the HD packages (Gold, Silver or Bronze). The CSR could probably explain it better and give more detail.

Supposedly, there is no lease fee, but as with any DVR with DISH, you have to pay a $5 DVR fee (I hate that stupid fee).

That $5 per month for no phoneline is another fee that doesn't get me too excited about Dish. Direct has it too, but doesn't enforce it.

I read you can go without a contract if you pay a $50 activation fee. (rather, you don't get the activation fee refunded if you don't sign a contract).

Yeah, I have mine connected to a phone line, so I dont get charged that anyways....the on screen caller id is nice too!

I may be dense but I still don't get it. Maybe I'm hung up on the word "lease". Do you own the PVR at the end of 18 months? If not, that's a damn expensive equipment rental.

I don't think you own it, but I could be wrong. DirecTV is going to start going to that stupid lease program too w/ their new HD DVR.

No, you dont own it after 18 months. You have to give it back if you leave.

So, pay $799 or whatever the retail price is and own it (plus install cost if needed). Or, pay the $299 (with install included) and lease it (without a lease fee each month).

Sucks that you dont own it, but seriously if you leave Dish (after 18 months) then what are you going to do with it? You could recoup some of the $799 on ebay or something I guess.

Also, I think Directv's lease fee is $499 for their HD DVR.

Actually there is no price set for DirecTVs lease option on their HDDVR because they haven't released it. You can buy a HD DirecTivo for about $300 after MIR and it is yours to keep if you keep their service or not.

Have they announced what they will do when the mpeg4 switch takes place?

Im sure someone would hate to buy a new HDTIVO and then get stuck with it at the switch.

Every indication is that they'll do a switch out program with that being either for free or a "small" fee.

If I were to bet, I'd say the small fee would be "free with 2 year commitment".

I have DirecTV with a HDTivo and have been considering Dish due to more HD channels and the mess DirecTV has made of their picture quality by compressing the HD.

The problem is that I can't get OTA here so I need DirecTV for that. I REALLY want MonstersHD though.

Dish Network has HD locals in 12 markets (I believe thats correct) and supposedly 25 by this summer. Im not sure what area your in, but you should check it out.

I'm a current Dish Network subscriber and have been thinking about making the jump from my current HD DVR box to the new one. The only thing is, I receive my locals OTA which look great. Can't really find a good reason currently to shell out $300 for it.

There is a rumor going around that starting April 1st, Dish is going to offer a $200 rebate on the new mpeg 4 HD DVR. $99, I'll make the jump. Just waiting to see if it is true.

Im set up for install on April 1. I have the 942 and love it, but I want the mpeg4 capable receiver. Thats reason enough for me. Ill sell my old one on ebay.

Did this ever happen?

I'm currently a SD Dish subscriber and get HD in one room via OTA. I'm thinking about making the jump to HD via Dish, but pretty much want the same set up I have (dual tuner DVR controlling living room/bedroom, single receiver in media room). I have had Dish for 2+ years so sure I'm not under any contract or anything...

So whats the best way and deal available?

I recently switched from Direct to Dish simply because I was ready for the HD plunge and Dish had my locals in HD, but Direct did not....and I can't get them OTA.

It seems like I got the lease for $199 and there was a rebate as well that I sent in that was good for current customers or new customers but I forget if it was $100 or $200 (I think it was $200). The catch is that the $200 rebate is $20 off your bill for 10 months, iirc.

Right now, DISH has the BEST hd content. Hands down. If you want HD content and can live with crappy customer service (which supposedly Direct has also), then DISH is the way to go.

They do have a lot of HD channels, and I am intrigued by the HDDVR...but the 'lease' fee, the fact I'd need two boxes, the fact I wouldn't get HD networks without going OTA, and the fact that I'm not a new customer [and that when they first came to my house, they said they'd need us to cut down two of our nicest trees] mean it's not for me : (.
The contract thing is one place cable still has a great advantage.

Am I missing something--I can't find the size/capacity of the Dish HDDVRs?

The lease fee does suck. Its $6 a month. BUT, if anything happens to the unit (ive had a hd go bad)...then they just send you another.

Why 2 boxes? As far as OTA, you can connect your attenna up to some of their hd receivers. I know I do for my 622. In fact, I can record 3 shows at once (one on OTA and 2 on sat).

Im not sure of the exact harddisk size (250gb maybe??), but it holds 25 hours of mpeg2 hd....the mpeg4 channels take up a bit less (i think its like 45 minutes for an hour show).

As far as the trees, that also sucks.....sat signals have a hard time getting through trees (due to the water in them I believe).