The best standard TV tuner Dish Network offers
Written: Dec 22 '03
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Pros: Dual tuners, watch and record simultaneously. Easy install, easy interface. On-screen caller ID.
Cons: Needs two physical dish connections. Some minor glitches in software.
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a tuner with more PVR emphasis and you have Dish Network, this is the way to go.
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| owenw's Full Review: JVC TU PV721RU Satellite TV System / PVR |
In September of 2003, my old DishPlayer 7200 died, and I replaced it with the very impressive DishPVR 721 branded by JVC.
I bought the DishPVR 721 at Sears. It seems that this was the only place I could find it. Retailers simply aren't carrying Dish Network equipment these days, even though it seems technically superior to DirectTV. The DishPVR 721 does not work with Direct TV.
The unit was pretty simple to install. As an early adopter of mini satellite, I had personally installed the dish itself, including the multi-dish switch. This technical issue is important to note. If you already have a dish setup, you might have two dishes, like I did. The DishPVR 721 requires two physical cables to the dish because it includes two tuners. If you have a second (or third) tuner in your house, you may need to upgrade your switch so that it supports the cabling required to add the 721.
Setting up the software on the 721 was easy, but lengthy. After the one-time 45 minute setup, I had a little difficulty getting my channels to come up properly, but after a few minutes on the phone with a Dish Network tech, that was resolved. I had to call them anyway to get the player's smartcard activated so that it could decode the signal.
On of the nicer things about the DishPVR 721 is the dual tuners. One of the major complaints about satellite and cable receivers is that they can only tune one channel at a time when you're recording - meaning, you always have to watch what you want to record. This system is different.
With this system, you can tune in and record two stations even while watching something you have recorded earlier. Moreover, you can make it work like a traditional VCR, watching one thing while recording another. This is a very handy feature.
Using the compression built into the satellite data stream and the larger hard-drive size, you can record up to 90 hours of programming. That's almost 4 full days. Recording more than what space is available automatically deletes older programs to make room for the new. The PVR has the option to manually protect shows so that they won't be deleted if the drive gets full.
One weird thing about the PVR is the way it is programmed to record shows. The DishPlayer would only record a show if the name of the show that was playing at the specified time matched the one you originally told it to record. This is useful for when West Wing is replaced by Law & Order, for example. The DishPlayer wouldn't record Law & Order in the West Wing's time slot. Unfortunately, the DishPVR 721 does. So when the rerun season starts, I end up with a lot of shows that I did not mean to record.
PVR also gives you the ability to pause live TV. This is a great feature. You can instant-replay and skip 30 seconds of TV. Unlike other things you might have read, it won't just skip the commercials for you - you have to press the button a few times. But it's pretty simple when you get the hang of it.
I can't emphasize how different your TV watching will be after you get used to the pause and rewind buttons on PVR. You won't be able to watch TV without it - you'll even start to resent your car radio for missing this feature. I will routinely show up to watch a show 15 minutes late, so I can skip all of the commercials and watch an hour-long show in only 45 minutes.
All of the functions of the unit are controlled via the spiffy remote. It's a universal remote with some programming capability, but I don't use this feature and can't comment on its effectiveness. The remote supports both infrared (IR) and radio frequency (RF) transmissions, meaning you can transmit through walls and other obstructions. Why do this? Two reasons: Hook up a video transmitter (like those from X10) and watch video from another room, or snuggle up in a blanket and keep your remote hand inside. PVR functions won't work without the remote, so don't lose it.
The DishPVR 721 software provides some features not found in other PVRs. The on-screen caller ID is a nice touch. There are some simple games in the box, including solitaire, which play transparently with live video in the background.
Future upgrades of the 721 software might release currently locked features, although this never happened for the equally capable DishPlayer 7200. There are USB ports for expansion, to which an ethernet adaptor or modem could be connected for internet capability. In fact, the box of the system had a sticker placed over top of the printed words "Internet Capable", which implies they meant to include this feature, but it was either removed or not completed in time for release.
Does the system have flaws? Yes, although they are not as severe as the DishPlayer 7200. There is a noticeable delay when changing channels due to the initial satellite decompression and hard drive buffering. The on-screen guide and preview modes alleviate some of this inconvenience.
I have had to "reboot" the system a couple of times because it stops responding to the remote. This is pretty annoying because it takes a few minutes (literally, like 3) to reset. Even the front-panel buttons stop working. Only the front-panel power button works to reset the system.
There is also no way to temporarily remove the pause banner (the graphics that appear on-screen when the image is paused) or any other play/live/rewind graphics that I can find. This is a problem when transferring shows to tape (or CD/DVD in my case). Without using proper timing your recording will include some of the PVR graphics.
I have not had to call Dish support since I installed the system, which is a pleasant change from my old receiver.
Dish is releasing a new system, the DishPVR 921, which will do all of these things plus have HD support. So this tuner won't be the hottest thing for too long.
In all, I am very happy with the new tuner. It isn't as problem-free as the solid-state Dish tuners, but the extra features more than make up for it.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 599
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Epinions.com ID:
owenw
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Member: Owen Winkler
Location: Downingtown, PA
Reviews written: 11
Trusted by: 1 member
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