Dish 625 DVR

Dish DVR 625

Product Brochure
Manual (15.10 MB PDF)

Review:

The Dish Network 625 satellite receiver contains 2 individual tuners in one box. These Tuners are designated TV1 and TV2. TV1 is intended for use at a TV in the same room as the 625, whle the TV2 can be connected to a 2nd TV or distributed to several TV's throughout a house. The ouput for TV2 is through a built in modulater that operates on either UHFor CATV channels.

 

The 625 DVR has two operating modes. Single and Dual Mode. In Single Mode the 625 can be used as a dual tuner DVR with full control of both tuners from one remote. In Single Mode, you can switch between the tuners, or press "PIP" on the remote use the built in "Picture in Picture" feature. Press Swap and the two images will swap places. Of Course you also have Full DVR control over both tuners. The Extra Bonus of the 625 is you can also use the receiver in Single Mode from the TV2 location. It would not be a good idea to operate the system in Single Mode while two people are trying to use the receiver in two locations, remote wars will quickly escalate.

For true two room use by two views, switch the unit into Dual Mode (change modes by pushing a button on the front panel). In Dual Mode both viewers have complete control over their own tuner. Each person can record or watch withour affecting the other person.
In Dual Mode you will not be able to watch one channel while recording another if two people are using the system at two locations. If only TV is being watching in one room, and the viewer presses record to record a channel, they are given the option to send the recording request to the OTHER tuner.

 

The 625 debuts a new Feature previousy on found on TIVO DVRs. Name Based Recording. NBR allows you to select a show to be recording and not a Channel /Time senerio. This allows the DVR to adjust the recording date and time of a television show, when the show moves to another day and(or) time. This does not mean that the DVR knows the game is running late and adjust. NBR is controled by the on-screen programming guide. If the guide is updated, so the DVR recording profile. For more information on NBR, go here (pdf)

 

The DVR (digital video recorder) allows for 100% digital recording of your favorite television shows. The 120 gigabyte inernal hard drive provides up to 100 hours of digital video recording. The actual number of hours of recording time you achieve will depend the type of shows you record. Fast moving action such as sports and action movies will lower that time. However, the 120 gigbyte hard drive is the largest in the satellite DVR business. Compared to DirecTVs TIVO 40 or 80 gigabyte hard drives which provide 32-80 hours, the 100 hour hard drive is a new benchmark for others to match.

Anyone considering the Dish 625 DVR receiver should give some consideration for the effective range of a UHF remote control. UHF remotes do have range limitations. Dish Network advertises a UHF remote range of 200 feet. However, that is though open air, and does not take into account the reduction in UHF remote range caused by walls and floors. Usually 1 normal wood framed floor or 2 walls is a safe assumption for effective UHF remote operation. UHF remote usable range is greatly reduced if passing through masonry or concrete walls or floors.

The Dish Network 625 does require some special wiring considerations. There are four methods used to provide signal to this receiver and carry signal to the 2nd television (TV2).

Option 1

Use three coax cables from the outside to the satellite receiver location. Use two coax cables to provide satellite signal to the dual tuners and another coax to carry the signal back out to the 2nd television.

Option 2

Use two coax cables from the outside to the satellite receiver location. Use two coax cables to provide satellite signal to the dual tuners and use diplexers to piggy back the 2nd television signal on to one of the two coax cables.

Option 3

Use DISH Pro Plus upgrade equipment to reduce the two cable requirement for the dual tuners to one coax cable. A second coax should be used to carry the signal back out to the 2nd television.

Option 4

Use DISH Pro Plus upgrade equipment to reduce the two cable requirement for the dual tuners to one coax cable. Use diplexers to piggy back the 2nd television signal on to the one coax cable.

Dish Network 625 DVR Features:

FEATURES:

  • Dual satellite tuners that provide several multi-room viewing options
  • Picture-In-Picture (PIP)
  • Includes DISH Video-On-Demand Service that allows you to pause live TV, play, stop, fast forward, fast reverse, skip forward... more >
  • 120 gigabyte hard drive
  • Up to 100 hours* of 100% digital video recording
  • Records Dolby® Digital™ when available.
  • Up to 9-day extended Electronic Programming Guide
  • Record two live programs at the same time
  • Record a live program while watching another live program
  • Record two live programs while watching another pre-recorded program
  • Picture-In-Picture (PIP) available via future software upgrade
  • Interactivity, live TV pause
  • Ability to pause live TV (up to 2 hours on each tuner)
  • Play, stop, fast forward (4 speeds)
  • Fast reverse (4 speeds)
  • Skip forward (30 seconds)
  • Skip back (10 seconds)
  • Set manual/auto record event timers and quick record
  • Recorded events management features to play, delete or protect a recorded event

RECEIVER FEATURES:

  • Extended EPG (Electronic Program Guide)
  • 9 days of programming stored onto the hard drive for quick and easy access to program listing information
  • Enhanced Automatic and Manual Event Timers
  • Programs the satellite receiver to record directly to the hard drive or automatically tune to a program at a designated time for viewing
  • Dolby Digital
  • Toslink optical digital output for Dolby Digital and Linear PCM digital audio
  • Custom program controls
  • Parental control locks
  • Program information
  • Themes lists
  • Favorites lists
  • Browse
  • One-touch channel return
  • Picture-in-guide view
  • OnDemand Weather
  • Closed caption support
  • Alternate audio support
  • Caller ID capable
  • On-Screen DISH CD song titling
  • Software upgradeable via satellite

REMOTE CONTROL FEATURES:

  • 2 Platinum Plus Remotes
  • (1st) IR: 4-component universal, operate (via IR) up to three additional components, such as TVs and VCRs
  • (2nd) UHF Pro/IR: controls satellite receiver up to 200 feet through walls and other obstructions
  • DVR buttons
  • Skip ahead, skip back, stop, play, pause, fast foward, fast reverse, record
  • "DVR" button
  • provides one-touch access to the Recorded Events Menu
  • Picture-in-Picture (PIP) functions to display, move or swap the PIP image (via future upgrade)
  • "TV Power" button

FRONT CONTROL FEATURES:

  • Buttons
  • Cursor Up, Down, Left, Right and SELECT for menu/EPG navigation
  • "POWER"
  • "INFO" gives you instant access to program information
  • "MENU" displays the Main Nenu to access key receiver functions
  • "SYS INFO" displays receiver information including: receiver and smart card numbers, software version and remote address
  • Indicator Lights
  • "POWER" green LED light indicates receiver is on
  • "RECORDING" light indicates digital recording has been initiated
  • "MESSAGE" light indicates software download is in progress
  • "ONLINE" light is for future use
  • IR Blast/Receive
  • To control the start of a VCR program recording
  • Smart Card receptacle and door

REAR PANEL FEATURES:

  • Two Satellite Tuner Inputs
  • TV Antenna/Cable Input (F-connectors)
  • Agile Modulated Output: Sends the second tuner's signal to multiple televisions using existing in-home TV cabling. Allows
  • independent satellite TV viewing on two TVs at the same time.
  • 2 sets RCA-Type Audio/Video Outputs
  • 1 S-Video Output
  • Optical Digital Output for Dolby Digital and PCM Digital Audio
  • UHF Remote Antenna Input
  • Phone Jack
  • USB Port - for future use

RECEIVER SPECIFICATIONS

DISH Player-DVRs combine the power of Digital Video Recording (DVR) technology with feature-rich satellite receivers to allow you to watch TV the way you want and when you want. DISH Player-DVR receivers feature DISH Video-On-Demand Service*, an advanced digital television recording and playback technology that lets you control how you watch television. DISH Video-On-Demand Service allows you to control the way you watch TV with these revolutionary features:

  • Pause live TV when the phone rings
  • Skip through commercials on recorded programs
  • Seamlessly record up to 100** hours of programming, from sitcoms to feature-length
    films and even live sporting events
  • On-screen DVR command menus are seamlessly integrated with DISH Network's 9-day electronic program guide to make selecting and recording standard and high definition programming quick and easy.