So you're looking for a Dish Network satellite system? Maybe seeing all the receivers for sale on ebay has got your head spinning. DVR? HD programming? Dual tuner? ViP series? Homezone? This brief guide will explain the main differences between the models and will hopefully steer you in the right direction when upgrading or taking that first step away from cable TV.

First off, lets explain some of those terms that will be randomly thrown about:

DVR/PVR - Digital or Personal Video Recorder. Have it pause live TV, record hundreds of hours worth of shows. Watch it at your leisure. Skip through commercials, instant replay. If you are familiar with the concept of Tivo & ReplayTV, then you are already ahead of the game.

HDMI - The newest interface standard for carrying data from receiver to TV. All new HD TV's should have this connector.

HD - High Definition. The standard TV broadcasts are well, standard. HD brings with it better (higher resolution) video, crisp audio, and overall looks more realistic than TV or DVD. As far as I know, all Dish HD receivers will output 1080i. Be prepared, however, to pony up for that nice new HD TV to fully take advantage of your HD programming. Another note, because the second TV output is coax or RCA, a dual tuner HD receiver will allow a second TV to view HD programming but not at HD resolutions.

Dual Tuner - In a nutshell, it will output two TV signals. One for your primary TV, such as the one in the living room, and one for a secondary TV, such as in the master bedroom. If a single room install is desired, then setting the receiver to single (as opposed to dual) mode will enable Picture In Picture capabilities. One could also record a show on the second tuner while watching a different show on the first tuner. They come with two remotes, with one being wireless and the other infrared. You can watch two independent shows on each TV. Why a dual tuner receiver? Most likely it is cheaper to make one box versus two. Another factor could be noise. Nothing like the hum of a hard disk & fan to keep you awake at night...

ViP - a term referring to the newest HD series of Dish Network receivers.

MPEG 4 - a compression standard used by current HD receivers such as the ViP series

Smart Card - A device the size of a credit card that is used to allow a receiver to access/restrict TV programming. In an attempt to reduce piracy and cut costs, current Dish receivers have their smart cards embedded onto the mainboard.

Homezone - A satellite receiver offered by AT&T that integrates your photos, music, DVR and satellite TV into one nice little home media center unit. It is mentioned because here in California their digital TV service is currently subcontracted out to Dish Network. (Update February 2008 - Homezone may no longer be offered due to the startup of AT&T's U-verse service.)

Starting from (in my humble opinion) the most advanced to the least advanced receivers along with comments on their features. Forgive me for missing some, since I can only comment on the receivers I have actually handled.

• ViP722 - HD, dual tuner, DVR, 55 hours HD, 350 hours SD, HDMI out, 2 TV capable
• ViP622 - HD, dual tuner, DVR, 30 hours HD, 200 hours SD, HDMI out, 2 TV capable
• ViP612 - HD, dual tuner, DVR, 30 hours HD, 200 hours SD, HDMI out, 1 TV capable
• ViP222 - HD, dual tuner, no DVR, HDMI out, 2 TV capable
• ViP211 - HD, single tuner, no DVR, HDMI out, 1 TV capable 
• 942 - no longer in production, HD, dual tuner, 25 hours HD, 180 hours SD, DVI, s video, RCA out
• 811 - no longer in production, HD, single tuner, no DVR, DVI, s video, RCA out
• 625 - standard definition, dual tuner, 150 hour DVR, s video, RCA, coax out, 2 TV capable
• 522 - same as 625, but with 100 hour DVR (thanks, jmorlan)
• 510 - standard definition, single tuner, 100 hour DVR, s video, RCA, coax out, may contain smart card, 1 TV capable
• 501 - no longer in production, same as 510, 35 hour DVR, may contain smart card
• 322 - standard definition, dual tuner, no DVR, s video, RCA, coax out, 2 TV capable
• 381 - standard definition, single tuner, no DVR, has 2 inputs to accept DVD player or game console, two outputs for TV and maybe an audio receiver. NO coax out, 1 TV capable
• 311 - standard definition, single tuner, no DVR, s video, RCA, coax out, 1 TV capable
• 301 - same as 311, may contain a smart card

Any receiver that contain four digits (i.e. Dish 3500, or 3700) is referred to as a "legacy" receiver. Yes, they are old.  They need a functioning smart card to operate. After software updates they will function with any Dish Network LNB that carries a "Dish Pro Plus" logo.

Hopefully this guide will help you in choosing a receiver to purchase. Better yet it may help you understand what is going on the next time you have the service rep on the phone or the Dish guy at your door :)