Receiver Comparison Chart

Echostar Knowledge Base
The Dish Network User's Resource


This chart is a work in progress, and since I don't own most of these models, I'm guessing at some of the features. If you spot any errors or omissions, please contact us with corrections and/or additions.


Much of the info on this chart is from the old Dish Network Comparison Chart, although some of their chart looks as though it came from here, other information has been provided by contributors. Any errors are probably mine.

See the Discontinued Receiver Comparison Chart for Models 1000, 2000, 3000/3500, 3700, 3900, 4000/4500, 4900, 5000/5500, JVC D-VHS, 7100/7200, DVR721, 6000 and DVR921.
Models 3800 and 4700 have been software upgraded to 3900 and 4900.
Models 2700 and 2800 have been software upgraded to 3700.
Model 5400DVD never saw production.

Don't see Model xx22? See Dish System Model Number Chart.

Last updated 4/5/08 (522 has 399 NBR events).

IE users hit F11 to toggle full-screen mode.


Common Features

  • Digital Video/CD-Quality Audio
  • MPEG-2/DVB Compliant Technology (transport stream & video)
  • Software Upgrades Via Satellite (“Flash” Memory Component)
  • 32-Bit RISC Processor
  • User-Selectable Receiver Diagnostic Testing
  • Smart Card-Based Conditional Access with Nagra Interlock System

  • Dish 500 compatability
  • SuperDISH (105°, 121°) compatible
  • Dish 1000 129° compatible
  • DishPro compatible
  • Dish Antenna Peaking (Signal Strength) Via Audio Tone and 2-Color Bar Graph
  • Dish Antenna Aiming Screen Based Upon User ZIP Code

  • Alternate Audio (Alternate Language Support)
  • Closed Caption Support


  • 16-Color/Pixel On-Screen Graphics
  • Song Titles for DISH CD music
  • Themes categories for program selection
  • Page-at-a-Time Scrolling
  • Transparent Browse Banner
  • One-Touch Program Information Button
  • One-Touch Channel Return Via Recall Button

  • Impulse Pay-Per-View
    • On-Screen Past/Future Purchase Summary
    • Internal Modem/Phone Jack
  • Parental Control Lockout (V-Chip-type Technology) for Channels/Ratings/Content
  • Password Protection for Parental Control Lockout
Hardware & Remote 111 Pro 301 311 322 DVR 501 508/510 DVR522 DVR625 811 DVR942 ViP211 ViP222 ViP622
Introduced 1/04 4/01 11/03 11/03 4/01 11/03 12/1/03 3/05 12/??/05 6/1/07 2/11/06
Dimensions HxWxD 2x 8.75x 9.5 1.75x 15x 10.625 1.75x 15x 10.5 1.75x 15x 10.625 3x 15x 11.5 3.5x 16x 13 2.625x 16x 13 3.5x 16x 13 2x 16x 12.25 3.5x 16x 13 3.5x 16x 13
Color Black Black Black Black Black Black Sil/Blk Silver Silver Silver Silver
Front panel: Power, Channel, Menu control, Sys info, Option, info PC PC PC PC PCMS PCMS PCMS PCMSOi PCS PCMSi PCMSi
Power cord prongs 3 2 3 3 2/2/3 3/3 3 3 3 3 3
Smart card Int Yes Int Int Yes Int Int Int Int Int Int
Remote: IR, UHF, UHF Pro, # keys, Blue, Platinum IR,33,B IR,33,B IR,33,B IR,37,B/ UP,37,B U,45,P IR,49,P/ UP,49,P UP,49,P IR,49,P/ UP,49,P IR,49,P IR,49,P/ UP,49,P IR,49,P/ UP,49,P
Interface 111 301 311 322 501 522 811 942 211 222 622
OpenTV Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
View TV on Menus   EPG EPG Most EPG Most EPG Most Most Most Most
Interactive On-Screen Program Guide 44 Hrs 44 Hrs 44 Hrs 44 Hrs 9 Days 9 Days 44 Hrs 9 Days 44 Hrs 44 Hrs 9 Days
No-wait EPG Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Program Info on EPG       Yes   Yes   Yes Yes Yes Yes
Extended Browse           Yes   Yes Yes Yes Yes
Local Channel Mapping Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Favorite Lists: # (x max), AllSub, max total 4, AS, 120 4, AS, 120 4, AS, 120 4/4, AS, 1500 4, AS, NoLimit 4/4, AS, 1500 4x96, AS 4/4, AS, 1500 4, AS, 120 4/4, AS, 1500 4/4, AS, 1500
Hide Channels Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes Yes
Program search by title or keyword Yes Yes Yes   Yes (17) Yes (17) Yes Yes (17) Yes Yes (17) Yes (17)
Connections 111 301 311 322 501 522 811 942 211 222 622
Tuners, TVs 1 1 1 2 / 2 1 2 / 2 1 2 / 2 1 2 / 2 2 / 2
Dolby Digital Fiber Optic         Yes 1/0 Yes 1/0 Yes 1/0 1/0
RCA-type A/V input jacks (11)             2        
RCA-type A/V output jacks 0 1 1 1/1 2 1/1 2 0/1 1 1/1 1/1
S-Video output 0 1 1 1/0 1 1/0 1 0/0 1 1/0 1/0
HD output             Component, DVI-D Component, HDMI Component, HDMI Component, HDMI Component, HDMI
Internal Modem Baud Rate 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 2400 56K 2400 (--?) 2400 (--?) 2400 (--?)
DISH Comm                 (8) Yes Yes
External Cable/Antenna Input (F-connectors) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
RF Modulator Channel 3-4 3-4 3-4 3-4/ 21-69 mono 3-4 3-4/ 21-69 MTS   /21-69 MTS 3-4 3-4,21-69/ 21-69 (--?) 21-69 MTS 1&2
USB           1.1   2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0
Recording 111 301 311 322 501 522 811 942 211 222 622
IR Blaster for VCR control Yes Yes Yes Yes/ Yes Yes/ Yes Yes/ Yes (8)/ Yes/
One Touch VCR recording control from EPG Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Auto-tune Yes
Timers/Events 10 10 10 20 50?/256 96/399 10 96/288 10 (--?) 50 (--?) 96/576
Name-based Recording         Yes Yes   Yes     Yes
Internal hard drive for TV pause and PTV         40/80/ 120GB 120GB/ 250GB   250GB     320GB
Recording hours (approximate)         30-35/ 70/110 100   25HD- 180std     30HD- 200std
Extras 111 301 311 322 501 522 811 942 211 222 622
On-screen Caller ID (16) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes (17) Yes Yes (17) Yes Yes (17) Yes (17)
Seamless off-air channel interface (Local TV Link)             Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HDTV capable             Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
PocketDISH   Record Link Record Link     Yes   Yes USB (--?) (--?) Yes USB
Fees (DVR, No Phone, etc)       NP //DVR DVR, NP   DVR, NP HD NP, HD DVR, NP, HD
Dish & Switches 111 301 311 322 501 522 811 942 211 222 622
Supports cascaded switches Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Supports SW64/SW21 cascade for 4 satellites (--?) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Supports DPP44/DP21 cascade for 5 satellites (--?) Yes (--?) (--?) (--?) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
8PSK Tuning Yes   Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
MPEG-4                 Yes Yes Yes

Notes

  1. All Subscribed list, and the 120 total favorites can be divided any way among the four user lists.
  2. Future feature
  3. Pass-through only
  4. Requires subscription to local phone Caller ID provider and phone connection to receiver
  5. With history