I have a customer who has Dish Network and is unwilling to switch to Direct TV. He wants to add HDTV and a PVR. I personally have a Tivo model SVR2000, mapped to a cable system and it comes with the Season Pass feature which is a feature he also wants. Can anyone tell me about the package that Dish Network offers that would give me the HDTV and the PVR. I have heard of the unit 721 with a dual tuner but cannot find anyone that has it or can tell me about it including Dish Network.Is the Dish Network PVR actually a Tivo or another brand and if so who makes it? Does their PVR have features such as Season Pass and does it have discreet codes? Can a Tivo series 2 work with a Dish Network receiver and if so has does it get its mapping program? Since I definitely need discreet codes, any suggestions on how to put together this system would be appreciated.

The 721 is not even close to a Tivo. Try www.dbstalk.com and www.dbsforums.com for more 721 info. For HD, you will have to stick with the model 6000 receiver. If you want a combo PVR/HDTV box you will have to wait on the 921. Based on Charlie Chats and rumors, it should have been out by now.

-Robert

I've been a Dish customer for three years. I recently upgraded to the Dish 500, with the
DishPVR 508 as my third receiver. I have found the 508 to be easy to use, but it's inability to record local channel broadcasts limit's it's appeal. The 721 is an enhanced version of the 508, basically a larger hard drive, two tuners, and caller ID. I agree the Dish PVR's pale in comparison to TiVo. Tivo is more versatile.

At $199.99 the 508 upgrade isn't a bad deal, as a reciever would have cost me $100 bucks anyway, so I get a 60 hour PVR for another $99.

And yes, the 6000 is the only way to get HDTV from Dish as of now. I may still invest in a Tivo after the first of the year...

Bill