So you're looking for a Dish Network satellite system? Maybe seeing all the receivers for sale on ebay has got your head spinning. DVR? HD programming? Dual tuner? ViP series? This brief guide will explain the main differences between the models and will hopefully steer you in the right direction when upgrading or taking that first step away from cable TV.
First off, lets explain some of those terms that will be randomly thrown about:
DVR/PVR - Digital or Personal Video Recorder. Have it pause live TV, record hundreds of hours worth of shows. Watch it at your leisure. Skip through commercials, instant replay. If you are familiar with the concept of Tivo & ReplayTV, then you are already ahead of the game.
HDMI - The newest interface standard for carrying data from receiver to TV. All new HD TV's should have this connector.
HD - High Definition. The standard TV broadcasts are well, standard. HD brings with it better (higher resolution) video, crisp audio, and overall looks more realistic than TV or DVD. As far as I know, all Dish HD receivers will output 1080i. Be prepared, however, to pony up for that nice new HD TV to fully take advantage of your HD programming. Another note, because the second TV output is coax or RCA, a dual tuner HD receiver will allow a second TV to view HD programming but not at HD resolutions.
Dual Tuner - In a nutshell, it will output two TV signals. One for your primary TV, such as the one in the living room, and one for a secondary TV, such as in the master bedroom. If a single room install is desired, then setting the receiver to single (as opposed to dual) mode will enable Picture In Picture capabilities. One could also record a show on the second tuner while watching a different show on the first tuner. They come with two remotes, with one being wireless and the other infrared. You can watch two independent shows on each TV
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