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DISH Player-DVR 510 - DVR - 100 hour(s) - DISH network
Binding: Electronics
Brand: EchoStar
EAN: 0753960006291
Feature(s): Includes DISH Video-On-Demand Service that allows you to pause live TV, play, stop, fast forward, fast reverse, skip forward..120 gigabyte hard driveUp to 100 hours* of 100% digital personal video recordingUp to 9-day extended Electronic Programming Guide
Hard Disk Size: 120unknown-units
Item Dimensions: Height 3"Width 10"Length 15"Weight 11 lbs.
Label: EchoStar Communications
List Price: $299.00
Manufacturer: EchoStar Communications
Model: 510
MPN: 510
Product Group: CE
Publisher: EchoStar Communications
Studio: EchoStar Communications
UPC: 753960006291
Editorial Reviews
Product Description:
The DISH Player-DVR 510 is a DISH Network satellite receiver that is capable of recording up to 100 hours* of programming on a 120 GB hard-drive. DISH Player-DVR 510 also includes DISH Video-On-Demand Service that provides the ability to pause live TV, record standard definition DISH Network programming, skip recorded commercials and create instant replays.
Customer Reviews Average rating - 3.0
Rating - 1 Date: 2008-11-14
Content: We've gone through at least five of these DVRs - every time it's the same thing: suddenly we lose programs we had recorded - even the night before, and/or the timers we had programmed all suddenly disappear and have to be reprogrammed - only to vanish again. These problems start between 6 months to a year of use. Each time we have called Dish Network and they have exchanged it, then it takes some time to set up the new DVR and get it synced with your satellite feed etc. Then months later - same thing. I should mention that there was one exception: one DVR that was sent to us for exchange was faulty right out of the box. The rest took at least 6 months to go on the fritz.
This seems to be either "built in obsolescence" or just horribly shoddy quality.
Summary: Built In Obsolescence? Or just poorly made?
Rating - 2 Date: 2007-07-04
Content: The DVR works fine but there was no instruction manual. Also when I registered the Receiver I had to pay $33.00 to Dishnetwork because that amount was still owed to them by the previous owner
GJ Hedenkamp
Summary: Dvr 510
Rating - 5 Date: 2006-10-07
Content: I've just upgraded one of my 301 receivers for this 510 so I can get dvr.This dvr has a feature called live record which is similar to what the Xm skyfi 2 has.It automatically records the minute you cut the receiver on.You can pause and pick up where you left off or rewind to the beginning.It will record for over an hour and then start writing over.Also this dvr has a harddrive which will let you record over 100 hours of shows,movies etc.You can record several ways.My favorite is to go to the guide and just click on a future show and you're all set.Incidently this guide goes a week out about 9 days.The 301's guide goes 2 or 3 days a big difference.There is also a menu to let you edit your recordings,name them and even erase them.It also lets you know how many hours you have left on the harddrive.I checked the recording and you can't even tell a difference in the live picture and the recorded one.The recorded one looks the same as the live one and the sound is the same too.It isn't dimminished thru recording.Previously I use a dvd recorder to record from dish.The picture quality on the dvd recorder was diminished slightly and I had to cut the sound up a lot.Not so with this dvr.The only thing I don't like about the 510 is it gets hot even when it's off for a lot of hours.My 301 is cool to the touch when it is off for a few hours.
Good points
Dvr feature lets you just set it up to record on the guide days in advance which means no programming vcrs or dvdrecorders.The clock is already set in the receiver.All you do is press select over the show you want to record in the guide and it's all set.You can also do a manuel recording where you extend the times if you want to.
Over 100 hours of harddrive space
Guide goes out 9 days instead of 2 like the 301
Beautiful Picture Quality Sharp and pristine like all of dishes receivers dvd quality.
Auto Record I should mention that when you cut it on it records but when you cut it off it's erased.This isn't what goes on the harddrive.
Recordings are as great as the original picture both in sound and picture.
Info on dvr lets you know how many hours are left on harddrive,edit,name etc.
Remote has the interactive button for instant access to channel 100 the interactive channel.
Receiver has fan to keep harddrive cool.
Has all the bells and whistles of the 301 and lets you pick favorites channels on the guide and themes.
Bad Points
Receiver gets too hot even when it's off it's hot to the touch.
Manuel states you have to unplug receiver before you move it because it can damage harddrive.
Summary: Dish dvr 510
Rating - 5 Date: 2005-04-18
Content: i had dish dvr for two years, and it was awesome. it was so easy, fast, and you always got what you wanted to tape. when i got tivo, i was frustrated as i could be. they tape things that you don't want them to tape, and it takes minutes just to rewind an thirty second show, whereas dish literally takes 4-5 seconds. also, in dish it takes you 10 seconds to tape a show from a week from now, whereas tivo takes several minutes to tape a show from just two days from now. buy dish over tivo... best decision of your life
Summary: much better than tivo
Rating - 3 Date: 2004-12-29
Content: I used to consider DirecTV to be the preferred choice of satellite television providers. With the introduction of new personal video recorder models, also referred to as PVR's or DVR's, Dish Network has established themselves as a formidable competitor in the areas of price, selection, picture quality, and customer service. My gripe is with their lack of Dolby Digital and 5.1 surround sound channels. It's enough to be a dealbreaker for audiophiles.
This model was a free replacement for an older model satellite receiver being phased out in 2005. A phone call set up the shipment and the process was painless. The receiver contains standard cable jacks for input and output as well as two RCA audio and video outputs, an S video output, and a Dolby Digital connector. With the number of audio/visual devices out there (TV, VCR, DVD, Satellite as well as stereo components), I would have liked to have seen an RCA audio and video input.
Included with the DVR is a built-in infrared "blaster" that works like a remote to control VCR's supported by the device (all major brands.) With this function you can use the satellite receiver to record programs to your VCR instead of the DVR. That said, it can be a daunting task to ensure both the VCR and DVR are set to the correct channels and appropriate TV/video settings or you'll end up recording the wrong program. This is why A/V inputs would be helpful and you'll likely be better off recording the program to the DVR first to transfer to the VCR later.
The Dish Network's customer service staff are some of the finest I have talked to in any company. Not only are they friendly and helpful, but I've found them to be knowledgeable (reducing the need for transfers) and hold times are usually under a minute. After installing the receiver, activation took less than five minutes and we were up and running before I hung up the phone.
Compared to the older receiver, I find this new receiver delivers a sharper picture with improved contrast and clarity. Until now, I gave the nod to DirecTV, but I believe the two are now equal. Dish also fixed some annoyances while channel surfing. In the past, pulling up the Dish guide meant obscuring the entire channel. Now the channel is moved to the right corner of the screen, similar to DirecTV, so you can view the current channel while you scan other channels. Another channel surfing option is to flip through the names (only) of programs on different channels. Unfortunately, this method obscures the top third of the screen with the title of the current channel and the bottom third of the screen with the title of the channels you're flipping through. The size of this obscured screen space could be drastically reduced and still provide the same information.
Another new feature is the ability to display the name and phone number of incoming telephone calls for those subscribing to caller id service through their telephone company. Finally, the old receiver used to suffer severe lag in downloading program descriptions. This problem seems to have disappeared entirely.
On to Digital Video Recording. This is my first experience with DVR's and I must say they have made the process very intuitive. I haven't had to refer to the user manual yet. The most prominent difference between DVR users and those without is the ability to pause live television. This is easily done via a big yellow pause button on the remote. Once this happens, the DVR kicks in and begins recording from the point you pause. To the end user, it simply looks like you hit the pause on a DVD. As soon as you start up again, the DVR continues to record as you watch so you never miss anything. Because you're now watching recorded television, you now have the advantage of skipping past commercials until you reach the point where you're back to a live broadcast. The only drawback is you will lose what you have recorded if you switch to a different channel. The system does prompt you beforehand so you won't switch back to live mode by mistake. The process may sound complicated but it's very painless. If you can operate a VCR, you can operate this DVR.
Programming the DVR to record programs is even easier than a VCR in my opinion. Simply scroll through the guide until you find a program you wish to record, then hit the record button. A prompt comes up, select VCR or DVR, and you're ready to go. I did get a tech to admit that it is possible to record one channel while watching another but they are only offering this service to new subscribers. Apparently, replacing the receivers of existing customers to include this feature will tax the current capacity of their system. If you're limited to recording the same channel you're watching as I am, a timer icon will pop up five minutes prior to warn it's about to flip the channel on you. To access and playback recorded programs, simply hit the button marked "DVR" on your remote and a list of recorded programs will pop up. Scroll through the list until you find the program you want, hit the select button, and you're off and running.
Thanks to DVR, the remote control is now as intuitive as you can get. The standard up/down/left/right controls are used to flip through the channels, the channel guide, and menus, but now you have DVR controls similar to what you would find on a VCR remote. This provides the ability to replace your current VCR remote entirely as all the functions are supported. The Dish remote acts as a universal remote for three devices in addition to the satellite. I just wish there were four devices we could add instead of three. If I didn't have to choose between controlling the home theater system and the DVD player, I could have eliminated all of the remotes in the house.
Perhaps it's better marketing but DirecTV seems to be the provider of choice for sports fans thanks to their all-inclusive sports package. Dish is the winner for music fans thanks to their partnership with Sirius. I counted 140 music channels (although I'm tempted to exclude the 20 or so channels that are broadcast in mono.)
This brings me to my only major gripe with Dish Network - the sound quality. Dish Network broadcasts only HBO, Showtime, and a few Pay-per-View networks in 5.1 or 6.1 surround sound. That's it. All other stations are simply 2-channel stereo, including premium channels. The signal/noise ratio is high enough that you won't hear any hiss, but the channel separation seems to be rather low for regular stereo. I find myself frequently fiddling with the virtual (fake) surround effects to find a setting I like. Anyone used to the immersive effects of true five or six channel digital audio will find the Dish Network sorely lacking. Since most cable companies do not have this limitation, I have a hard time recommending the Dish as an alternative to anyone owning a home theater system.
Finally, a new feature entitled Dish@Home isn't a gripe as much as an example of a really bad business decision. I beta-tested a similar service through a cable company years ago and this isn't any better. The service attempts to provide information such as news, weather, sports scores through your television yet the process is so slow and cumbersome you'll never use it. The games on cellular phones are higher quality and at least a game on a phone is a one-time fee vs. the monthly subscription this service tries to extract from you. I expect Dish@Home to die a quick death.
Hope the review helped.
Summary: Great picture and easy to use - but bad sound
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