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November 18, 2004

Dish Network DVR Hard drive ERASED

Hi. I have a Dish Network 522 DVR. This is the second time in a month that the hard drive has been totally erased. I had over 30 hours of shows on there. The Dish people are clueless. They have no idea why this is happening. There appears to be no way to retrieve the shows at all. I'm pissed.

Has anyone had this happen to them?
-- Chantel

November 18, 2004 in Dish Network

Answers

Happened to me once. Called Tech support looking for a cure. Their best trick was to have me unplug ut for 30 seconds and that didn't work. No reason why it happened or how to stop it. So your not alone, but it still sucks.

Posted by: Los at Nov 20, 2004 11:15:45 PM

Check the hard drive for corrupt-ness.

Posted by: kirbyMeister at Nov 21, 2004 4:06:09 PM

The DVR 522 is in trouble dishnet released a software upgrade about 3 weeks ago, end of december and it caused this problem on almost all their 522s, they are still dumb about it but at least advanced technical support knows the problem is there. Lets hope they get it fixed since 522s are selling like hotcakes

Posted by: Jeff at Jan 13, 2005 11:24:17 AM

I have a DVR 510. its a 1st gen (the 2nd gen is about 3 times as big (38 hours) my 921 HDVR is 180. But, my 510 is erased DAILY, so its completely useless, but I called dish (i was speaking with Saddam i think) but they said your SOL (first Toshiba, now Dish) but so im without a DVR in my bedroom. plus they wont give me a way to use Windows Media Center 2004 (figures) but im outta luck (if anyone got a 510 to work I will call you a GOD if you get it to work!

Posted by: Brad at Jan 26, 2005 5:26:52 PM

the prob w/ the hard drives erasing recordings is just something you have to deal with. if they are that important, transfer them to vhs or dvd w/ a recorder, as you'll have the same problems w/ aftermarket dvrs ike tivo, panasonic, or others. its just a fact that is a hard drive extremely similar to your computer's but much less user friendly? why? b/c a new computer anywehre from $500-$3000 dollars. would dish have any customer if before you got a 510 you had to pay $1000 to get it? or if you had to pay a $300 upgrade fee just to lease a 522?

Posted by: jason at Feb 1, 2005 3:24:43 PM

I work as a Dish Network installer for the RSP (Regional Service Provider) for upstate NY, VT, and MA. Some (ok, more than a few) of the 522's (and DVR's in general) are problematic. My suggestion - get them to RA (Return Authorization) you a new receiver. They ship you a new one, provide a pre-paid shipping label to return your faulty unit, and USUALLY this stops the headches. Not always - but usually. I have found that it's usually the individual unit. Not in all cases, but in a lot.

Posted by: Doug at Feb 13, 2005 5:07:10 AM

http://www.dish-network-hacks.com/

Dish Network - Disclaimer - Hackers - Programmer - Satellite - DSS - Receiver - Descrambler - Loader - Unlooper - Hot Card - Card

Posted by: Dish Network hacks at Feb 15, 2005 8:12:53 AM

I hope I didn't get onto this thread to late for some constructive feedback to come my way. I was a happy DirecTV customer before moving to Alaska in 2002. The DirecTV satellites are to low on the horizone for common consumer use in Alaska. So, I opted for Dishnetwork. I was installed in October 2003. Since then, I've gone through 3 replacement authorizations on my 510. Each time the problem was loss of recorded programming. Just last week the third receiver they sent lost all 80 hours...for the second time. I travel a lot and rely on recording my favorite programs. A VCR is not a suitable technology for my situation. One of the reasons I opted for satellite service is the positive experience I had with DirecTV in the past and the fact that GCI (cable provider here) in 2003 did not offer digital TV or PVR capability. They've since upgraded their system here. The last two times my 510 lost recordings, I attempted to end my relationship with Dishnetwork. They even admitted on the phone that loss of recorded programming was a documented problem with their equipment. Then they told me I was locked into a two year agreement with the local installer (The Satellite Guy). I called them and was told that the year long agreement I had was over with. Dishnetwork then told me that I had another year on my agreement. I could find no record of that in my paperwork. I told them that I didn't think they were honoring their part of said contract because their equipment is known to malfunction. The best they could do for me was offer to replace it again and throw in a month of free service. I told them it was unacceptable, that I couldn't deal with this happening again. All I want is to get out of my remaining 9 months of contract that they insist I have. I could ask for the install fee refunded. I could be nasty and ask for refunds on the programs that I lost. No. I just want out and they refuse to allow me that. I even offered to send their crappy equipment back to them. Then I asked if I could pay for an upgrade to a better PVR. They said no, but asked if I'd like to try the model that only records 30 hours of programs. What the hell kind of offer is that? I've thought of pursuing a class action lawsuit if enough people have had problems with Dishnetwork. Why don't they fix it? Why don't they wise up and offer better customer service. I can't believe I have to deal with this.

Posted by: Chris at Feb 17, 2005 2:55:29 PM

I just had the same problem with my 522. There is a twist with mine though. Got up this morning, and turned on the TV. Was greeted with a long error message explaining that "errors were detected on my hard drive" and that it needed to be "scrubbed". It warned that this procedure would result in the loss of all my recorded programs. It gave me the option to cancel, but said that if I didn't do this in 7 days, it would be done automaticaly. Obviously, I selected "Cancel", and now I have 7 days to figure out how to get several shows off the drive that I don't want to lose, and onto an external drive, or my iBook. I notice there is a USB connector on the back of the 522, yet they don't bother to mention what it is there for in the owners manual, or the tech support area. Had the same "lack of info" problem with the digital audio out. Why wouldn't they mention something like that in the owners manual? I'm wishing more and more each day I had gone with DirectTV.

Posted by: chughes at Feb 20, 2005 7:19:56 AM

I have a 508. I've had it for over 2 years without a problem. Well, actually a couple of times I had to take out the card an reinsert it after the hard drive got stuck in a loop. But I haven't lost any recordings. I was thinking of getting a 522 and moving my 508 to my bedroom, but after reading this, I'm not going to do it. After DN raised my monthly rate $3, I'm thinking of switching to DirecTV. Can DirecTV use the same satallite dish as DN? Maybe just point to a new location and replace the LNBs.

Posted by: KidHorn at Feb 23, 2005 6:34:30 AM

Sorry to here about all of the problems you guys are having with your DVR's.

Chighes, I have swapped my dish hardware between both DirecTV and dish network and vise versa with out having to swap the LNB's, only the recivers need be swapped.

Posted by: kleptow at Feb 23, 2005 3:55:12 PM

Does anyone know if you can open up a 510 box, remove the hard drive and plug it into a PC and copy the recorded videos directly to my PC? Is this possible, or is the data somehow encrypted?

Posted by: Jay at Feb 26, 2005 9:15:31 AM

Jay,
You can find info on this procedure at a Yahoo discussion group called "Dishrip". It doesn't seem easy to do, nor is the end result actual DVD video. As a result, the resulting video can't be played by just any DVD player. Dishrip has a database of cheap players that will work. HTH

Posted by: chughes at Feb 27, 2005 6:30:19 AM

chris, it doesn't mention the usb port because its not a hot (active) connections. duh.

Posted by: jason at Mar 2, 2005 3:28:22 PM

What Dish advertising of the 522 did not tell us when we installed the 522:

1. PIP only works on TV1;
2. PIP only works in single mode - if TV2 is constantly used, there is no PIP;

IN DUAL MODE:

3. DVR list is seen by both TV1 and TV2 which makes everyone who is used to their own DVR list plow through EVERYONE'S recording to find their own DVR show;
4. When someone changes their timers on TV1 for the same program, the 522 disrupts the timers on TV2 - for example: If TV2 has a timer set for the program CSI Miami to DVR and someone wants to only "Auto" CSI Miami on TV1, the TV2 DVR disappears!
5. If TV2 has a "Skip" show because of a conflict for timers, TV1 cannot watch the "skipped" show - for example: TV2 at 9:00 p.m. has a conflict with CSI and The Investigators. TV2 uses the "Priority" option to "Skip" CSI and record The Investigators. Now the program guide shows an X through CSI and will not let TV1 watch the CSI show!
6. The Timers have a default of "Start early 1 minute and End late 3 minutes." I continually have to change them to 0 and 0. If I forget, then I have a conflict on my scheduled timers for the next hour (and the preceding hour) and have to go through the whole process of changing the 1 and 3 to 0 and 0!!! What a pain!!!
7. If someone on TV1 watches something I have recorded on DVR, they have the opportunity to erase it BEFORE I WATCH IT!! Whether accidentally or on purpose, this opportunity is always there!!!
8. In the DVR list there is a “Sort” option for alphabetically list shows. If I use that option, why doesn’t it stay there? I have to continually “Sort” every time I want to see my alphabetical DVR list!!

Twenty four hours after I got the 522, I called the techs to tell them I don’t want the 522 and want my 501 and 510 back and they said I couldn’t do it without paying lots of money!!! If something doesn’t improve on the 522 - I’m going to show my disappointment loud and clear.

Posted by: Elaine at Apr 4, 2005 7:55:33 AM

I have a DVR 522, I turned on my TV this evening and found that the picture was frozen! Nothing worked! Was there an upgrade sent by dishnetwork today? My only choice was to power it off and on! Now all recordings are gone! over 80hrs!! I called tech support the lady told me there was no way to recover them! BS!!! I'm pissed! She told me that any recordings over 30 days maybe erased! What? And there was nothing she could do about losing them all! Nice service!
I'm ready to open up that unix and try to hack it and see if I can recover some of the recordings! UGGG!! I hate this thing!
I'm cancelling my service and going to use my PC for recording instead, at least I know how to recover when a drive crashes on my PC, there are ways to recover the data. But not with TIVO or DISH, since they are probably encrypted and proprietary! I'm throwing the 522 off my work building's 10th floor tomorro! Screw the contract! UGGG!!!

Posted by: R.R at Apr 14, 2005 12:21:49 AM

WOW!!! I'm sure glad I found this site. I responded to an ad to get Dish Net Work for $19.99 a month. It was a bait and switch scheme. All the stuff ( free local channels, DVR,etc. ) was just to get you to sign up. When they showed up they wanted to upgrade at a price. They denied the DVR was part of the deal. But after reading all the stuff on this sight I'm glad I didn't get it. As for the model 522 the installer said they have replaced it with a 625 model. They wanted an extra $19.95 to activate it,in addition to the $49.99 I'd already paid. I had to really yell to get my $49.99 activation fee back. Their Customer service is really the pits. Those people would be more at home riding the back of a garbage truck. They didn't have a clue about their product. I finally got some jerk to credit my credit card. Took me an hour and a half of calling. I then called my credit card company and put a block on them just in case. When I told the woman at the credit card company my problem she said she got the same ad as I did and was thinking about signing up but said not now. I have also written a formal complaint to the consumer protection dept with the state of Connecticut. Also am going to write a letter to the attorney general. That should get some action since I was in the Army with him. He'll get them. He just put the govenor of CT in jail. I guess I'll just stick with cable.Again WOW!!!! I guess I lucked out by not getting Net Dish Good luck to the rest of you.

Posted by: Bob at Apr 27, 2005 1:57:20 PM

I don't know what's going on with my 510, but it just died on me.
I don't have any picture or indication as to what is going on.
I can hear the HD spining but the green light stays on only for a few seconds and then although I can hear some noise from inside the box, I can see the green light go out and that's it.
I don't expect that I will get my recordings back, but can I get the DVR operational again?

I openned the box and removed the HD and put it in my PC but the PC sees it as "unformated" I just assume that it is in a different format so I did not touch it.
The whole idea is that the HD spins and can be "seen" in a PC, so I know that the HD is not bad. Any idea as to how to get it back up and running?

Thanks.

Posted by: Chris at Apr 28, 2005 8:45:31 PM

My problem is the audio recording level. At the end of "Veronica Mars" they do a voice-over of hilights for the next episode. The 522 records the background music so loud I can't hear the voiceover. "Star Trek Enterprise" is a total loss since I can not hear the dialoge, just the background noise.

I was told this was a known software problem and they switched out 522s but the new one does the same thing. Can't complain about customer support.

I also have sound that drops out on playback but doesn't drop out if I just step back and replay it.

I'd go back to my TIVO if it were not for the international channels. Hopefully DirecTV will add more international channels.

Posted by: FtWorthGuy at May 9, 2005 1:13:15 PM

Wow. This is the first site board I've found with so many people sharing the *miserable* experience I have had with Dish receivers. After multiple failures and replacements, I've lost more than 150 hours of archives, and have recently found that panicked dumps to tape/DVD (to save before they are unexpectedly deleted by crappy hardware) are corrupt and unwatchable.

Wasn't the whole point of DVR to be done with the 25 year old video tape technology?!?!

I've got lots of rant to offer - just not enough time right now. I will post extensive details of my misery soon.

Bottom line: If they'd let us defrag the drive somehow, life would be a *lot* better...

Posted by: Len at May 10, 2005 12:42:03 AM

Wow again. This board shows problems similar to Dish hardware's inability to associate bytes. I'm not FtWorthGuy, but it put my post under that name...

Posted by: Len at May 10, 2005 12:44:23 AM

OK, got it - if you're going to separate posts with a full dotted line, put the text & sig in the *same* block - don't confuse us by putting the previous post's sig above the next post's text, framed by horizontal lines! Sheesh.

Posted by: Len at May 10, 2005 12:48:29 AM

Okay. For the second time my 522 has completely wiped the HD clean. Not only do I lose all my shows but all my timers are gone, too! That's a lot of work in itself. I think there's something wrong with the hard drive. Sometimes when I am watching a show and hit back or rewind and am watching it slightly delayed, I get artifacts, moments of no sound, and sound squeals. That hasn't happened too much lately, so they may have actually fixed that with a software upgrade. Maybe they need to get some Mac programmers over there to do some programming. :-)

If I'm still under contract, will they replace my DVR for free or do I have to pay them something? I mean, I pay an extra $4.98 a month for the DVR service! And what does it do? Totally erases itself! Even computer HD's aren't this self-destructive.

I agree with the earlier poster who said that occasional defragging would probably work miracles.

Posted by: DocX at May 14, 2005 1:58:36 AM

I have had Dish for quite some time and I like the channels I can get with them (super stations that Direct TV doesn’t carry). But I have to agree that they have the crappiest equipment I have ever seen. I have had the HD erase it’s self a couple of times and although I wasn’t happy about it, it didn’t bring my world to an end (in fact it got rid of some stuff my kids have had on there forever). BUT NOW it has gotten worse. I can only watch things live. It will not let me pause at all, it records but I can’t get it to play back any recordings, and when I change from one channel to another, I goes through this whole routine where it shuts down completely and then comes back up and has to find the satellite signal again (which takes about five minutes). Can anyone tell me if I can get a RA (Return Authorization) if I am no longer under contract? I have had this PVR (not sure what model but it has 30 hours of record time) for two or three years.

Posted by: Robert at May 14, 2005 8:32:11 PM

I've been a Dish Network customer for about 6 years now. Have not had any problems with Customer service or Tech. Support. I started out with a 301 receiver and most recently have a PVR 501 and PVR 510. I have not had any problems with the 501 and have been using it for 2 or 3 years. The 301 is just to old now and only gets the 'free programming'. Now the 510 is a different story completely. I've had it for over a year now, almost 2 and the first one I received did not work at all. Dish Network replaced it within a week. The new unit worked right away, but, over time I have had several problems. Once, it completely deleted all of my recorded programs. The directory still listed everything, but the files were gone. Now, occassionally it locks up; stops recording; will not let me set a timer unless I am very persistant. Sometimes the recordings are not the best but I believe that may have more to do with the actual incoming signal. One of the things I have been able to do is connect my receivers by coaxial cable to a PC TV tuner and transfer programs and movies to my computer. ( I used to copy movies to VHS, but that took a lot of tapes. )

I think that it might be more appropriate to complain to JVC about the actual receivers since they are the actual makers of the PVR units that Dish Network uses, sells.

I would like to be able to use my units in the UK, since I am moving there soon but found out that the best I can do is remove the hard drives and set them up with my computer.

Posted by: TAD at May 16, 2005 11:32:22 AM

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