DVRs, Dish's new ViP612 - like the ViP622, but now with less
By Richard Lawler 
posted Jan 7th 2008 2:35PM
posted Jan 7th 2008 2:35PM
EchoStar's DVR lineup is practicing addition by subtraction. Take the dual-tuner ViP622 HD DVR (pictured) that currently supports output on two HDTVs, cut that to one HDTV output, and you have the brand new ViP612. Fans of the more popular addition by addition, like some forumgoers at SatelliteGuys.us, are a bit disappointed there's not any new functionality to look forward to. If you've only got one HDTV and have been waiting to make the jump, here is your device.
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Ummm the 622 and 722 only have one HD output anyways. The 2nd output on the the others are downconverted content. This box just cutting out the 2nd tuner from what I have read.
Damn, I was hoping there was some way for me to output HD to my second TV... Thanks for crushing my hopes and dreams again Engadget!
MisterLas is right about the 1 hdtv support. Engadget should correct their post in case folks just read the article and don't scroll down to view others' comments.
yeah, I read that and thought I was doing something wrong all along
As the other posters have pointed out, the vip622 has only ONE HD out. The other output is an SD out and is useless if you have another HDTV and you want to watch HD on it. So really, as far as HD goes, there is no difference between the vip622 and the new vip612. Matter of fact, if you are an HD only house, the new vip612 makes more sense.
So in otherwords, this is exactly like the 622, except it's purely for one TV and Tivo-like ie record one show, watch another, where as in the 622 you had to put it into single TV mode in order to do this
There are TWO HD outputs on the vip622, but they both output the same picture. HDMI and Component outputs are for TV1. So, I do not understand the difference. Is this a single tuner?
The 612, like the 622 has two HD satellite tuners and one HD off-air tuner. It has one HD output, while the 622 has one HD output and one SD output. It's probably significantly cheaper to build (and doesn't support PIP because of its inability to decode two streams at once). Many people have little use for the SD output. Mine barely works. The advantage for users is that Dish will probably lease you two 612s, but they won't lease you two 622s (you pay through the nose to buy one, which I've been considering). So, this would be for someone like me who wants DVR function and HD output in two rooms. Can I add a leased 612 to my leased 622 and leased single tuner HD receiver? Probably not? Can I swap my 622 for 2 612s? Probably not, but when my contract expires, I can probably get a better deal.
I assume they'll treat a 2-tuner, 1-output DVR as one "tuner" for their limit of four leased tuners per household b/c I think their concern is with how many people can watch it at once, not with how many shows you can record at once. Anyone know?
I found very limited information about pricing on a terms and conditions page here: http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/offers/disclaimers/dha/index.shtml
It has the same lease payment, HD enabling fee and DVR fee as the 622, unless they're waived on your package, but it does not have the additional outlet programming enabling fee the 622 has because it only supports one outlet.
The fact that they charge a fee for additional outlets and not for additional tuners is part of what makes me think that the limit of four leased "tuners" is really a limit on outlets. That seems to be what they care about.