Dish HD DVR - Audio Issue

[festivus]

Anyone else have the Dish Network HD DVR? Last night, twice, my audio disappeared on all channels. I had to reboot the thing twice. It happened as I was recording an OTA broadcast and tried to play a previously recorded program, also recorded OTA. The screen kind of froze for a split second then the audio went out. Picture was fine on all channels, but no audio. I tried to do the same thing after rebooting, same issue. So I stopped trying it after rebooting a second time and all was well. Fortunately, we were able to watch the show during reboot using my second receiver.

Anyone else encounter this?

[zelig2]

It appears to be an issue with the latest software update (3.63 i think). Hopefully they'll fix it soon. The best way I found to get the audio back is to bring up a PiP screen, swap the PiPs and then swap back to what you were watching. That seems to work for most everyone at the moment.

[festivus]

Do I need to be in single-tuner mode to do the PiP thing? I haven't been successful in getting the DVR PiP to work. But I'm always in dual tuner mode so that the kid can watch his TV in another room. Takes up both tuners so it would make sense that the PiP wouldn't work that way.

[Timcredible]

speaking of the vip622, i called dish to replace my sd receiver with the hd dvr, they wouldn't sell it to me (odd, a company not wanting my money - they said they wouldn't sell me anything since i just upgraded my hd receiver recently). anyway, what do you guys think of the 622, and where did you buy it (if not from dish)? thanks.

[zelig2]

I signed up through AT&T for Dish, DSL & Phone just recently. So I got my 622 via them. It was $199 with $20 off for 10 months basically making the box free. So far I like the 622. The only real main complaint is that there's only one ATSC OTA tuner in the box. I'm wishing I could record more of the network shows in HD.

[festivus]

I got mine through Dish directly, basically the same deal as zelig2 minus the dsl and phone.

I agree with Zelig2's assessment. I'll add that since I use it in dual tuner mode (allows a second TV in another room to use the receiver independent of the first TV) I have issues with recording conflicts. If I'm recording a show on a satellite supplied channel, tbs for example, one of the 2 TV's must be watching that show unless one of them is watching an OTA channel. I seldom record a show and watch it at the same time. It really limits when and what I can record. Only 2 satellite channels can be viewed and/or recorded at the same time. If you use the thing in single tuner mode, you probably wouldn't encounter these conflicts because you would free up the second tuner for recording. And the bug that I mentioned above is a big pain in the rear.

[Timcredible]

thanks for the info. i would be using it for 2 tvs. doesn't sound like it's really worth $500.

[festivus]

If it had one more tuner, even if that tuner could be used only for recording, the device would be much better.

Also, in my opinion, the manuals supplied by Dish stink. They don't address common questions like our discussions here. And they're not correct sometimes. My SD Receiver 322 Dual Tuner manual advises that I can input an OTA connection. It even has an OTA RF input on the back of it. I couldn't figure out how to scan or input the OTA channels so I called Dish support. They advised that the 322 (or more likely the dish software) doesn't support an OTA input. Ok, so why is it in the manual?

[zelig2]

If they came out with the ability to network the ViP 622 boxes to share recordings then I could see myself doing that just to have another OTA tuner. That would give me 4 satellite tuners and two ASTC tuners, more than enough for my needs.

[festivus]

Had the audio issue happen again tonight. Switched the 622 to single tuner mode so I could do the PIP swap. Did the PIP thing and it didn't work. Still no audio. Had to reboot and missed a few minutes of a program that I was recording. I'm not very happy with the technology that dish has provided thus far. This issue happens far too often when I'm fast forwarding or rewinding. This equipment is really buggy.

Combine this issue with the horrible rain fade and I'm really starting to regret leaving the world of cable.

[zelig2]

Is your box in a well ventilated area?

[festivus]

I would say moderately well ventilated. My 322 sits on the top of the 622 though. I don't believe that the top of the 622 has vents. This is how it was set up and I've had 2 different tech visits subsequently. No tech has advised that it's not adequately ventilated. But, that doesn't mean that it isn't.

After some thought, I'm beginning to isolate exactly when this happens. We like to dvr two 30 min shows in succession on Monday's via the OTA input. We typically start watching the first show about 15 minutes into it. That way, we can ff through the ads and finish right at 10:00. The problem has been occurring near the end of the first show while the dvr is recording the second show. Maybe something happens when the dvr switches from one recording to the next. The defaults for recordings at set up with what I'll call a minute or two of "overtime". Maybe it's the conflict/overlap between the 2 recordings, even though they're on the same channel.

I'll ask Dish about it and see what they say. I'm sure that others have inquired about it.

[posty-mcpost]

No audio issues here with L363 or the new L365. I'm sorry your Dish experience has been rocky Festivus. Just remember, there are no perfect options atm and every provider has issues.

[festivus]

Yes, you are correct there, Posty. I have to keep reminding myself about the incompetent CSR's at TWC and the inability to dvr abc and fox in HD. If TWC could get an HD dvr that allows an OTA input or if they could strike an agreement with Sinclair (and the NFL Network), I would consider switching back to them after my agreement time with Dish is up.