When you sign up for satellite cable service from DISH Network, your first decision after choosing your channel plan is whether or not to get a DVR receiver. At the time we signed up two years ago, DISH did not have the two-room DVR's available, so we had to get two receivers. Along with the
DISH DVR 510, we got the basic
DISH 311 DTV Receiver.
Compared to our DVR and VCR (yes, we still have one of those) the
DISH 311 DTV Receiver is relatively small. At just under two inches high, it measures 15" wide and 10 1/2" deep, it takes up very little space in our entertainment center. The receiver is also fairly light, weighing about five pounds.
Installation of the
DISH 311 DTV Receiver was quick and easy. Of course, the DISH Technician installed it, but when I later switched it to another television and room, it took me three minutes. Part of the ease in installation is due to the fact that there are not a whole bunch of outputs and inputs on the back of the receiver. There are three basic outputs (RCA-type, S video and RF modulated), all of which are well-labeled. Likewise, there is a TV/cable antenna input with a picture of a TV above it, and a Satellite input with a drawing of a satellite above it. For a technological imbecile such as myself, these are well-appreciated because they allow for few errors.
Other than the power cord, the only other feature on the back is a phone jack.
The remote control included with the
DISH 311 DTV Receiver is an universal infrared remote that can work with up to four devices, such as your television, DVD player, VCR and tuner. The remote control is also
essential, since the only buttons you can access from the front of the receiver are the power, Channel Up and Channel Down buttons. Considering how many hundreds of stations you will have in your DISH Network plan, your fingers will be mighty sore if you can only navigate the channels from the box.
There are several features about the
DISH 311 that I find convenient. For one, the guide schedule holds two days of programming at once, and I have very rarely had to wait for it to reload, unlike the DISH DVR 510.
I also like that I can pay my bill from my television, as long as a cable is hooked into the phone jack. If I want to order movies from one of the Pay stations, I can order those easily as well. DISH's interactive functions work well with this receiver.
The only thing I am not fond of with the
DISH 311 DTV Receiver is that I can't program the timer to record on my VCR. If I scroll through the program guide and see something I want to record in the future, pushing 'Enter' on that spot of the guide leads to me 'Timers,' which leads me in a loop because the receiver does not recognize my VCR. The reason I went ten years without a cable or satellite box was that the thought of not being able to set my VCR timer while away was traumatic, but here I am, in the same boat. Luckily, I also have my DISH DVR.
As far as sound and picture quality are concerned, there is nothing good or bad to say. I have used the
DISH 311 DTV Receiver on two different television sets (one of which is
ancient), and the picture looks the same using the receiver as it did before we had DISH Network. Ditto for the sound.
Final Word
If you have DISH Network and are looking for an inconspicuous receiver, but don't care too much about recording, the
DISH 311 DTV Receiver will not disappoint you. If being able to set recording timers is important to you, you may want to check first that your recording devices will be compatible with this receiver.
