Our Pick: Echostar Dish Pro 501 System
There is a multiple of choice that the potential consumer will face when contemplating what teh best sysytem and package to purchase is. Our opinion, based on a great deal of customer feedback, is that the Pro 501 System offers the best choice in all-round price and system performance. Here are the specifications:
ECHOSTAR DISHPVR 501 SYSTEM
The DishPVR 501 is an integrated Satellite TV System and Personal Video Recorder that gives you the ability to record and control TV programming.
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
* Digital Video/CD-Quality Audio
* Infrared Universal Remote
* Advanced MPEG-2/DVB compliant
* Power, Channel Up and Channel Down Front Panel Buttons
* Software upgrades via satellite
* System information available at a button push
* V-chip technology for Parental Control based on ratings and content
* Easy access Smart Card
* Inbound DISH Network electronic mail support
PROGRAM GUIDE FEATURES
* Personal Television (PTV) Includes: Live TV Pause, Fast Reverse, Skip Forward, Skip Back, and One Touch Record. Play, delete or protect a recorded event.
* On-screen Program Guide with complete program listings
* DISH CD Music Song Titling
* Page-At-A-Time Scrolling in on-screen Program Guide
* Interactive information "soft keys" in the menu explain the feature functions
* On-screen transparent channel and program information banner
* 4 user defined Favorites Lists (30 channels each)
* Theme categories for program selection
* Closed caption support
* Alternative language support
* Pay-per-view on-screen purchase summary
OUTPUT CONNECTIVITY
* Dolby Digital Output
* S-Video Output jack
* 2 sets RCA-type audio/video output
* Off-air antenna input (F-connectors)
* 2400 baud internal meditated jack
Reviewed
by John Seaton, Connecticut
AS A DECODER
The 501's picture quality is great. Obviously there are other variables
other than the receiver (like the dish), but the 501 comes with some
nice features. It has two RCA jack ports (the white, yellow, and red
cables), one S-Video port, and a simple coax output. I recommend the
S-Video - the PQ is MUCH better and I have experienced interference
with the picture over the RCAs and the coax line. Its function as a
decoder of the DISH signal is excellent.
AS A GUIDE
The guide on the 501 is also one of its strong points. Unlike the 301,
the 501 has the ability to store a nine day guide and has instantaneous
access to it. Note that the 9 day guide requires DISH 500 (The dish
capable of receiving info from the 119 and 110 satellites). The 301's
guide is slow to download and access (we're talking about 30 seconds
here), making the 501 the better choice even excluding the PVR features.
The 501 also has a search feature meaning that you can lookup any phrase
that may appear in the program's title AND description. Pretty nice.
If you subscribe to Caller ID, the 501 will pop up the name and number
of the person calling while you are watching a TV show - pretty nice.
AS A PVR
Surprisingly, this is where I'm a little dissapointed in the 501. The
features of pausing, rewinding, and jumping ahead in a LIVE program
are great. No problems or complaints here. However, the timers to record
programs often skip! VCRs have been around for over twenty years and
I have never had one that has forgotten to record a program! Albeit
it is rare, but it is annoying to come home and find out that your favorite
program didn't record. The software crashes about once a month as well,
but your recordings are luckily not erased. The ability to skip commercials
on a recording is invaluable, though. I'm literally addicted to it.
Please note that you CANNOT record a program and watch another live
show at the same time. Since it only has one input from the satellite,
it is unable to turn to a different channel. You of course can watch
the program you're recording currently.
DISH SERVICE
I am also a little disappointed in the service that I have received
from DISH Network, in particular, the fact that they do not yet have
the YES network for Yankee baseball. They claim to be in negotiation
even though the CEO has said that all negotiation is over and YES will
not be on DISH. The CSR's stories have also been inconsistent - come
on, this isn't a mom and pop operation. Be a little more professional!
They will also replace your equipment with FACTORY REFURBISHED materials,
something to take into consideration.
OVERALL
The PVR 501 has some great capabilities, but some of them are often on the fritz. Furthermore, the service received is subpar. Perhaps with the possible merger these issues would be solved. If you want to go with DISH, you really can't go wrong with the 501, though. Even though there are problems with this receiver, the features and capabilities of this one make the other receivers look like cardboard boxes.
Recommended
YesAmount Paid (US$): 49
Pros
PVR capability, faster guide, search feature, Picture Quality blows cable awayCons
UHF Remote has zero range, software often unstable, Customer service quite poor.The Bottom Line
Although this receiver has its share of troubles, it is the best of DISH's lineup of receivers.Pros
Dish receiver/PVR integration, software upgrades via satelliteCons
Software "hangs" occasionally, single tuner