DISH Network HD DVR vs. DirecTV HD DVR
The Dish Network ViP722 HD DVR and the DirecTV HR23 Plus HD DVR are the industry's two leading high definition DVRs. In the highly competitive market of satellite television, Dish Network and DirecTV both bring more channels than any human could possibly watch, crystal clear programming and prices lower than that of cable TV. For many potential customers, who they get their TV from comes down to these two powerful gadgets.
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Function
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DVRs, short for Digital Video Recorders, are designed to record programming by title, channel or time to a hard drive via an onscreen channel guide. This is different from a VCR which records programming directly to a tape through programming by time. The amount of programming stored on a DVR depends on the size of the hard drive. On dual tuner DVRs, viewers can watch a live program while recording another program at the same time. You can also record two shows at the same time and watch a recorded program. The Dish Network ViP722 HD DVR can record up to 350 hours of programming of standard-definition (SD) or 55 hours of high-definition (HD).
Features
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Both DirecTV and Dish Network have moved to MPEG-4 formats, while maintaining MPEG-2 capabilities; something cable companies are developing at a slower pace. The Vip722 and the HR23 both show on-screen caller IDs and have dual tuners for recording two programs at once, either in HD or SD formats. Each console is easy to navigate and program with its on-screen guide. Viewers will have the option of recording all airings of a particular title, as well as new or single showings with the touch of a button. Each DVR's guide can be viewed up to 7 days in advance. Viewers can also search through programs by keyword.
Both machines handle Dolby Digital sounds for exquisite listening when stations offer it on certain programs.
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Benefits
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DirecTV, unlike Dish, offers online program-scheduling via the Internet or through an app on the iPhone. If you learn of a program you would like to watch, or you forgot to program the DVR for a Fall premier, you can program the console to record the event in a matter of seconds. It's this functionality that Dish Network has been slow to adapt. Also, the HD23 offers more storage space on its hard drive.
Differences
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While the DirecTV HR23 has a dual tuner, it is unable to support two television sets; something the ViP722 HD DVR does very well through the use of UHF signals. With Dish Network's offering, a viewer can stop watching a recorded football game in the living room and finish it in the bedroom, picking up where the game left off.
DirecTV also boasts the world's largest array of HD programming but it is only by a slim margin, and carries certain HD feeds for channels Dish Network does not provide. This channel line-up is constantly changing, so be sure to follow up with each provider for the most up-to-date programming list.
Expert Insight
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Though both systems have many similarities, Dish Network's console is more customizable and uses a less cumbersome menu and guide. With that said, though Dish Network's HD programming is growing rapidly, DirecTV's offerings are a bit more generous.
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References
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- Photo Credit Dish Network
