I'd appreciate any advice you guys can give on what a new HD user (me) should do to enjoy HD programming. I purchased a 50" DLP HDTV last week and currently have an indoor OTA antenna hooked up to it for local HDTV broadcasts. Though this works very well, I work 2nd shift and unable to watch most of my favorite shows in HD. So obviously what I need is the ability to record the HD shows from the antenna and/or HD Pak when I upgrade programming with Dish.
Okay, so I have the 522 now with the AT120 package. I've been with Dish for about 11 months, so my 1 year commitment will be coming up shortly. My local cable company (Mediacom) only has 1 or 2 locals in HD and they don't have a DVR that can record from the OTA antenna, so they aren't really an option right now. So these seem to be my best options (unless you guys can suggest somthing better):
1) Replace my current 522 with the 921. I assume that my current monthly costs would remain the same (since both are dual-tuner receivers) except for the additional $10 for the HD Pak. And of course, I'd have to pay the $550 for the receiver itself. Do I understand correctly that the 921 does NOT support name-based recording like the 522 does? What other differences (besides HD of course) between the 522 and 921? What else would I lose/gain?
2) Wait a couple (or more) months until the 942 comes out and just keep the 522 for now. I'm still not clear on whether existed customers will be able to lease the 942 for the $250 fee? Or whether the 942 will only be available to new customers at first? This sounds like a more affordable option and will give me a (hopefully) better receiver but I don't know how long I'd have to wait for it? I would miss all of my favorite shows in HDTV until I got the new receiver! Also, what are the main differences between the 921 and 942?
3) YOUR SUGGESTIONS?
Comments: My TOP priority has to be the ability to record HD content since I am rarely home to watch them. I watch the local channels the most, so recording OTA HD channels is also a TOP priority. And having 2 tuners is also pretty high on the list since many of my shows are on at the same time. Output to more than one TV is NOT a neccessity, however, as I would be perfect content with just watching TV in the living room (we don't watch TV anywhere else except for DVD's for the kids in the bedroom).
I am assuming that the 921 or 942 are my only options with Dish. I have no idea on what Direct TV offers in this area but I really don't want to go through the hassle of switching unless there is a significantly better offering. Though I will probably be interested in watching some of the other channels in HD (Discovery, etc), the locals are my top priority and *if I could find some way to record my locals in HDTV without having to upgrade receivers and subscribe to the HD Pak, I would probably do that for now...
Sorry for so many questions! I appreciate ANY help here.
Okay, so I have the 522 now with the AT120 package. I've been with Dish for about 11 months, so my 1 year commitment will be coming up shortly. My local cable company (Mediacom) only has 1 or 2 locals in HD and they don't have a DVR that can record from the OTA antenna, so they aren't really an option right now. So these seem to be my best options (unless you guys can suggest somthing better):
1) Replace my current 522 with the 921. I assume that my current monthly costs would remain the same (since both are dual-tuner receivers) except for the additional $10 for the HD Pak. And of course, I'd have to pay the $550 for the receiver itself. Do I understand correctly that the 921 does NOT support name-based recording like the 522 does? What other differences (besides HD of course) between the 522 and 921? What else would I lose/gain?
2) Wait a couple (or more) months until the 942 comes out and just keep the 522 for now. I'm still not clear on whether existed customers will be able to lease the 942 for the $250 fee? Or whether the 942 will only be available to new customers at first? This sounds like a more affordable option and will give me a (hopefully) better receiver but I don't know how long I'd have to wait for it? I would miss all of my favorite shows in HDTV until I got the new receiver! Also, what are the main differences between the 921 and 942?
3) YOUR SUGGESTIONS?
Comments: My TOP priority has to be the ability to record HD content since I am rarely home to watch them. I watch the local channels the most, so recording OTA HD channels is also a TOP priority. And having 2 tuners is also pretty high on the list since many of my shows are on at the same time. Output to more than one TV is NOT a neccessity, however, as I would be perfect content with just watching TV in the living room (we don't watch TV anywhere else except for DVD's for the kids in the bedroom).
I am assuming that the 921 or 942 are my only options with Dish. I have no idea on what Direct TV offers in this area but I really don't want to go through the hassle of switching unless there is a significantly better offering. Though I will probably be interested in watching some of the other channels in HD (Discovery, etc), the locals are my top priority and *if I could find some way to record my locals in HDTV without having to upgrade receivers and subscribe to the HD Pak, I would probably do that for now...
Sorry for so many questions! I appreciate ANY help here.
