Dish Network ViP622 (200-hour DVR)

Editors' Note: Since this review was originally published, we've lived with the Dish ViP622 for 21 months. During that time, it has operated very smoothly, and after comparing it to the DirecTV HR20 and the TiVo HD, we've awarded the Dish ViP622 our Editors' Choice among HD DVRs. Note that we're reviewing the hardware only; our choice is not affected by programming differences between Dish, DirecTV, and/or cable, although prospective buyers should certainly consider programming as well. For more information, check out our guide to satellite HD programming.

As the most advanced piece of electronics in many home-theater systems, a high-definition digital video recorder (DVR) has the potential to be the most satisfying--or frustrating--entertainment device you'll ever use. The Dish Network ViP622 has even more going on under the hood than most DVRs. When it launched in early 2006, it was the first DVR that could receive and record both standard MPEG-2 and newfangled MPEG-4 HD satellite broadcasts, which include the local high-def affiliates of ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC available in most metropolitan areas. Both Dish Network and rival DirecTV have moved to MPEG-4 and cable companies are following at a slower pace.

After living with the Dish Network ViP622 for for nearly two years, we can say that it does just about everything right, and after some initial bugs, since remedied by firmware updates, it has performed smoothly with nary a glitch. If you're a Dish subscriber with an HDTV, getting a ViP622 or its larger-capacity cousin, the ViP722, is a no-brainer. And if you're sick of cable company DVRs, don't demand the most-comprehensive local HD and sports programming, and don't love DirecTV's expanded high-def programming or the TiVo HD's additional fees and networking capabilities, the capabilities of the ViP series of DVRs makes getting a Dish subscription downright tempting.

Design

On the outside, the Dish Network ViP622 is a fairly staid silver box, measuring 16 by 3.5 by 13 inches and weighing 11 pounds. Its most prominent feature is a row of six LEDs on the middle of the face, which light up to indicate recordings in progress, dual- or single-mode operation (see Features below), and power on or off. The front of the ViP622 comprises three similarly sized sections of subtle clear-on-silver plastic; pressing against the rightmost section elicits a soft click and lets it swing open to reveal a USB port and a set of front-panel controls. These include the major menu commands found on the remote, as well as the only button that can switch between dual and single modes.

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