Dish Network 211/222 ethernet/internet "phone home"?

[stanger89]

OK, so I've been scraping by with one Dish VIP211 so far, but now that the HD PVR is coming out and Dish is back adding national HDs, I'm seriously looking into my options.

The biggest reason I don't have a second box already is because I don't have a landline so I couldn't connect my box to the phone and I don't want to deal with potential "friendly call" from the audit team for not having by boxes call home.

However I've read that the 622 could be connected to your network/internet and would "phone home" over that, and I believe the 211 (222 also?) has received the same update somewhat recently. So has anyone tried connecting your 211 or 222 to your home network and allowed them to "phone home" over the internet?

[briands]

but over at DBS talk I saw this thread... Looks like there was an update in March (L437)... I'll give it a go later tonight.

[stanger89]

Yeah, I found the setup menus for broadband connectivity in the newish software, but I'd have to run another ethernet line (need a new >8port swtich too ) so I haven't bothered yet.

[stanger89]

A little searching and it does appear that the broadband connectivity allows for the phone-home:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/1264587-post18.html

[SpiffyRex]

OK, so I've been scraping by with one Dish VIP211 so far, but now that the HD PVR is coming out and Dish is back adding national HDs, I'm seriously looking into my options.

Looking at some of your postings you seem to have good taste for hardware. Is there any reason why you would choose the HD PVR over the r5000 HD mod?
The only downsides I see are:

1.) You have to marry Dishnetwork. Not literally.
2.) Fork $600 vs $250
3.) Longer channel changes. Not a big deal if you use the channel guide and don't surf.
4.) Network encoder is win based only.

But you get real digital recordings. Personally I don't care about 1-3, 4 is keeping me from having a Linux based server since I don't want to use another system just for the r5000 network encoder.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by SpiffyRex

Looking at some of your postings you seem to have good taste for hardware. Is there any reason why you would choose the HD PVR over the r5000 HD mod?
The only downsides I see are:

1.) You have to marry Dishnetwork. Not literally.
2.) Fork $600 vs $250

More like $1400 for two tuners vs $750 or so. That plus the $50 SageTV "tax" if you want to use the R5000 with Sage.

3.) Longer channel changes. Not a big deal if you use the channel guide and don't surf.

I don't think I've seen a channel change but once.

But you get real digital recordings. Personally I don't care about 1-3, 4 is keeping me from having a Linux based server since I don't want to use another system just for the r5000 network encoder.

Frankly, I don't know, probably the price has been keeping me from going with an R5000, not really sure. I could basically spring for an HDPVR though.

Oh, then there's the problems with recording to UNC paths with the R5000 IIRC, that's kind of a killer for me.

[Motofreak75]

Since I'm with ExpressVu in Canada and uses the same Echosdtar brand IRDs. I just informed them that I have VOIP and so far in the past 3 years not one of my 4 boxes has had the phone line hooked up and no one has called me.

Prehap Dish has the same policy for VOIP in the USA?

[stanger89]

Pretty sure not, I think the Dish T&C specifically say you agree to connect them to a phone.

Of course not having them connected to a phone doesn't guarantee a call.

[briands]

Originally Posted by stanger89

More like $1400 for two tuners vs $750 or so. That plus the $50 SageTV "tax" if you want to use the R5000 with Sage.



I don't think I've seen a channel change but once.



Frankly, I don't know, probably the price has been keeping me from going with an R5000, not really sure. I could basically spring for an HDPVR though.

Oh, then there's the problems with recording to UNC paths with the R5000 IIRC, that's kind of a killer for me.

What is this problem you speak of? I record to UNC with my R5000.

[stanger89]

http://forums.sage.tv/forums/showthr...ight=r5000+unc

[SpiffyRex]

More like $1400 for two tuners vs $750 or so. That plus the $50 SageTV "tax" if you want to use the R5000 with Sage.

About two years ago I paid $550 for the mod plus the $50 SageTV network tuner "tax". You don't have to own the VIP211. Reading the fine print in my contract (back then) I will have to buy the unit if for any reason I close the account and fail to return it. Called Dish and the CSR told me that as long I have an HD package I don't have to pay any extra lease or whatever fees. Of course the CSRs can say anything they want since Dish only cares about what you sign. But so far so good. Worst case, I will pay $200 years later or perhaps they "forget about it" once the unit is obsolete.
I'm planning to get a second VIP211 and connect a HD PVR to it. Using the r5000 for material I really care about and the HD PVR for anything else. I'm not planning to buy the second VIP211 either, but will have to pay the $5 additional receiver fee.

Oh, then there's the problems with recording to UNC paths with the R5000 IIRC, that's kind of a killer for me.

Never had a problem recording to UNC paths... Will check that thread to see what's going on.

[Slipshod]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Pretty sure not, I think the Dish T&C specifically say you agree to connect them to a phone.

Of course not having them connected to a phone doesn't guarantee a call.

Nope. The phone connection is only for the Dual-tuner DVRs like the 622 or 722. Doesn't apply to the 211. I just went through this myself when I added 2 R5000'd VIP211s a couple of months ago.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Slipshod

Nope. The phone connection is only for the Dual-tuner DVRs like the 622 or 722. Doesn't apply to the 211. I just went through this myself when I added 2 R5000'd VIP211s a couple of months ago.

Per the residential agreement:

F. Additional Tuners and Receivers. We may allow you to place additional receivers on your account in our sole discretion. Each additional receiver will be authorized to receive the same Services as your initial receiver. This option is only available if your initial DISH Network receiver and all additional receiver(s) are located at the same residence and are continuously connected to your same land-based telephone line. Unless otherwise specified in the customer agreement(s), if any, applicable to the promotion(s) pursuant to which you are receiving Services and/or Equipment, DISH Network will charge you a monthly additional outlet programming access fee (“Additional Outlet Programming Access Fee”) for each tuner activated on your account beyond the first.

[Slipshod]

From this link: http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/c...es/index.shtml

Customers who keep a phone line connected to their two-TV receiver save money every month. Customers who do not keep a phone line connected to their two-TV receiver, will automatically be charged the Programming Access Fee monthly when the system does not detect a continuous phone line connection. The following two-TV receivers are subject to this fee:
322 ● 522 ● 622
625 ● 722 ● 942
For more info, CLICK HERE

622/722 ONLY - if customer has a broadband connection through their provider it’s as easy as plugging in a CAT5 (Ethernet Cable) into their receiver. DISH Network installers will attempt to hookup, however, customers may have to refer to their specific network admin for specific hookups (via Router, Hub, etc ?).

Clicking "Click Here" leads to...:

http://www.dishnetwork.com/phoneline/, and they have a "Save Money" blurb which only talks about the dual-tuner DVRs saving money with a phone line plugged in.

There is a $7 lease fee (or "access fee" if you own) for each Vip-211 receiver on your account. I think the first lease fee gets waived, but I'm not sure since I have a 622 w/ DVR advantage on top of the two VIP-211s, and it's lease fee is waived from DVR advantagee. As far as I've been able to tell there is no phone-line connect fee for the Vip-211 since it only has one tuner in it. I'll hookup my 211s, but I'd be really surprised if my $7 access fees disappeared.

[Slipshod]

One more thing, in case the phone line thing does matter... The ViP-211s support "DishCom", so they can verify phone line connectivity over the AC power lines. Lets you have one receiver attached to phone, and the others AC-only. No need for ethernet _or_ phone!

[stanger89]

Yeah, there are really two issues, the first being if they charge you or not, and for that the only time having the box connected is with the dual-tuner boxes. The other issue is they want the boxes conneted to verify they are colocated and not spread over the country.

But I may well have found the answer to my original question, on the "phoneline" page, it sounds like VIP series recievers can simply be connected to a broadband connection.