The Hopper and Joey - What is DISH Network's new Hopper and Joey HD Receiver?
UPDATE (3/15/2012): DISH Announced today that the Hopper and Joey is now officially available for new and existing customers!
What is the Hopper and Joey?
You've definitely been hearing about DISH's new "Red Kangaroo," but you've probably heard it by its common name - The Hopper and Joey. The Hopper and Joey is DISH Network's new HD-DVR receiver system designed to deliver Whole Home HD and HD-DVR services. With DISH's new Hopper and Joey system you'll be able to record up to six HD programs at the same time and you'll be able to have HD and HDDVR in up to six rooms! This level of functionality is simply not possible with other service providers.This system is coming soon ...
The Hopper is the primary HD-DVR receiver
When you order the new Hopper and Joey system the Hopper is your primary receiver. It is an HD-DVR (Digital Video Recorder) with a massive 2 TB Hard Drive (That's a Terabyte, or 1,000 GBs). In most cases, the Hopper receiver will be located by your primary HDTV. The Joeys are used to send HD signals to the other rooms in your house.
So what does the Joey do?
The Joey, cleverly named like a baby Kangaroo, hops from the momma Kangaroo (The Hopper) to the other rooms in your house. The Joey is a small receiver designed to work specifically with the Hopper. They act as little HD-DVRs allowing you to have full HD and HD-DVR capabilities in each room that has a Joey.
Each room that contains a Joey will receive HD programming, will be able to watch separate channels and DVR events at the same time, get it's own remote control, and be able to access all the DVR events on the Hopper. This is truly a Whole Home HD DVR system like the TV industry has never seen before.
A caveat to note about the Hopper and Joey system:
The Joey's do not have their own satellite tuner. They share the Hopper's satellite tuner. The Hopper has three satellite tuners. So, while one Hopper can support three Joeys, it's important to note that only the hopper and two of the Joeys can be viewing or recording independent programming. The "Fourth Room," as it is being called, can do a number of things while the three tuners are occupied. It can: (1) Watch previously recorded events, (2) watch any of the active tuners from the other TVs, (3) watch Primetime Anytime, (4) watch any number of DISH's massive Video on Demand titles. We're going to write several more articles all about the Hopper and Joey! Stay tuned.
Are you excited about DISH's new Hopper and Joey?
See results without votingCheck out DISH's announcement of the Hopper and Joey at 2012 International CES
The Hopper and Joey release date is March 15th 2012 (3/15/2012)!
The Hopper and Joey system officially released on March 15th, 2012. It is now available to new and existing DISH customers! We're excited. Are you?
We're excited to bring you the Hopper and Joey
As a retailer for DISH, we're happy to bring you these articles about new products, promotions, and services. We are the only ones offering this new Whole Home HD-DVR system to new customers as part of our new customer incentive, which currently includes an exclusive $75 cash back rebate.
Thank you!
~You're DISH Authorized Retailer
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Comments
@Heyzues1,
The article was in the process of being updated when you left your response. You're absolutely right! One Hopper and three Joey's share a total of three satellite tuners, meaning the fourth TV is not independent, but they can still do a lot with it.
We've added a whole new section to the article titled: "A caveat to note about the Hopper and Joey system:"
This is an exciting new system, so stay tuned as we bring you more information about it.
Will the Logitech Revue integrate with the Hopper? If so to what extent?
What cabling is needed between the 4 Joey's and primary?
@Edgardo - At this point the Hopper and Joey system is not compatible with the Logitech Revue for advanced DVR Integration, but I will check to see if it can still be used without the integration feature activated.
@skn70056 - It's just using regular coaxial cable.
Why are the Joeys having issues linking up with the Hopper? Software issue or poorly trained techs? My installation took 6 hrs to be completed and tech had to replace 2 joeys because they were not linking.
I'm not sure, Dishcriber. Was the scenario resolved?
just like anything else new in the tech world. got to work out the kinks. do not blame the tech. blame the engineers, or developer of the software.
Thanks for jumping in, TS!
e, I appreciate your comment. You're right. There are always going to be bumps in the road when you're the pioneer.
What is the cost for existing customers to upgrade to this system. Any time I've tried to upgrade in the past, I've had to jump through firey hoops to the point that I've almost dropped my contract to switch to directtv...
Is it true that you must have 2 HD TVs for this, that absolutely kills this for me and others, I only have 1 HD TV, and they refused to upgrade me.
@Tracy,
I will verify the exact requirements for existing customers. I believe it is the same as the new customer incentive: Agree to a 24 month contract, subscribe to minimum qualifying programming, and subscribe to HD Programming. If you subscribe to the Top 200 or above, then the receiver upgrade is free. Check back and I will verify that with DISH.
@Michael,
No, you do not need to have two HDTVs. I'm not sure why you were refused. I will check into this as well as Tracy's question. Check back for the answer. I will update the comments.
If you are an existing Dishnetwork customer, will you require a technician to install the equipment and a new dish or is this something a customer can do and send back the old equipment? Also, do the Joeys need to be connected to the wall coaxial or does it work with the Hopper wirelessly? Thanks!
How much is an extra Joey?
@Barbara,
Yes, the Hopper and Joey Whole Home DVR System requires professional installation. When you upgrade, the installation will be included. The Joey's are connected via Coaxial cable and communicate with the Hopper via MoCA.
@Alicia,
Each Joey is $7 per month on your account.
I've verified through my contacts at DISH that this is not true. The exact answer I received, "They do not need all HD TVs."
The cost of the upgrade for existing DISH customers depends on the history of that customer with DISH. It is safe to expect anywhere between a $100 and $200 upgrade fee for existing customers to upgrade to the Hopper and Joey system.
If I only want the Hopper DVR and do not need the Joey receivers, why do I need to have professional installation when all they do is plug everything in and then call Dish to activate the DVR? Or do they need to do something different for The Hopper (such as new dish or wiring)?
@Taulukos,
You're not paying extra for the installation. It's part of the upgrade fee. And yes, the Hopper and Joey is using a slightly different installation schematic than the one you're using.
If you have two Hoppers and several Joeys can they all communicate. @nd if only one Hopper is connected to the Internet will they all have access to Internet Apps,etc.
Can a Hopper or Joey be controlled by more than one remote control? Will remotes that currently work the VIP722 work with a Hopper or Joey?
@Bruce,
1. The Hoppers cannot communicate with each other at this point, but a scheduled software update in the near future will make it so they can.
2. I'm not sure about the multiple Hoppers sharing an Internet connection if only one is connected. I will found out about that.
3. Each Hopper and subsequent Joey will have their own remote controlled programmed specifically to it and the TV it controls. However, each Hopper and Joey does have access to all three tuners.
4. I'm not sure if the 722 remotes will work with the Hopper and Joey. I'm inclined to think they probably would, but I'm not sure. I will find out about that as well.
Thanks for reading, Bruce! Share the article with your friends. We appreciate it.
Currently we have a 722 DVR as our primary receiver on an HDTV in the living room and a 722k as the receiver for the SDTV in the bedroom. Both are setup as independent units. Any advantages to upgrading to a Hopper/Joey setup? In the future, we may upgrade the SDTV to an HDTV and add a third HDTV to another room.
Thanks.
Mike
I have direct tv, does the hopper need high speed internet to work
UPDATES:
1. The 722 remote will not work with the Hopper and Joey.
2. Not much is known about the future Hopper to Hopper communication functionality, and for that reason I cannot answer Bruce's question yet. I will update when that info is available.
@Mike,
Yes, I think you'd benefit from an upgrade. Give it a shot! The Hopper and Joey will give you HD and DVR on a shared hard drive from both rooms, plus Primetime anytime, which is awesome.
@Casey,
It does not require High Speed Internet to work, but it is highly recommended as it unlocks several advanced features.
existing customers should expect to shell out plenty of money to upgrade. i called today and was told $200 upgrade fee for the hopper and $100 for each joey. With 4 televisions that's $500!
Yikes! I would need a hopper and 3 joeys. I was excited about this, but not so sure at $500! That's a bit steep for someone that has been a customer for over 5 years with the pretty much everything package and hd, paying $150 a month for service.
What advanced features will highspeed internet unlock? I have no access to internet, I live in the sticks...
Existing Customer Deals for the Hopper and Joey are determined by your history with DISH. It is not wise to assume that the deal one customer writes about is the deal that DISH will offer you. My advice: call DISH and see what they offer.
@CaseyBrooks,
The most notable features unlocked by connecting your receiver to the Internet is the ability to stream On Demand Content and to utilize the Sling Adapter.
If you live in the sticks then you may be out of luck because even some of the High Speed Internet via Satellite options are probably not fast enough to assist in the streaming of SD or HD video. But, it can't hurt to try! If you're interested in hearing more about Satellite Internet just contact my company. We can help with that.
The hopper is having major issues with timers. After setting up a few of them you start getting the error message "error 41 timers are full. You need to delete some to add any more.". Now it is even at the point where I cannot even record any programs without getting the same message. Reset does not fix and I have called tech support several times. Response is that it is a known issue and a software update will be sent at some point in future. That's been over a week and I cannot record anything. I'm extremely frustrated and regret making the change. Actually just wish I could get my old 722 back. Also feel a bit betrayed. The new system will not allow you to watch 4 units independently as the marketing materials suggest. My recommendation is to wait at least a few months before changing and compare against other competitor systems. The Installers are also unfamiliar with the new system and are not adequqtely trained to install as of yet
Thanks for the honest feedback, Remserman.
As with any new technology there are going to be some bumps in the road but DISH is dedicated to supporting this new platform. In the beginning of this article there is a section that discusses the fourth TV running on a single Hopper system: "A caveat to note about the Hopper and Joey system:" I believe it fairly addresses the capabilities of the three tuners. But I hear you, not all marketing material out there is as up front as this article.
If anyone has a workaround, please leave it in the comments!
If you have 2 hoppers, using the Joe is, how many sets can be joined? Can two sets be joined to one Joe? Having the same programing?
So if I have five televisions in the house then I'm pretty much out of luck unless I get a second hopper? If I did one hopper and three Joeys what would I do for the fifth television? Is there an alternative to getting another hopper?
Also, if I'm not mistaken, the joeys are connected to the hopper through the existing coax in my house with optional Cat5 to access networking features?
@mmdorm,
I'm not sure I understand your question. The maximum number of TVs that can be run with a Hopper and Joey system is six. That configuration would be two Hoppers and four Joeys.
@aaustin,
If you have five televisions in the house, and also want the Hopper and Joey system, then yes, your only real option is to have two Hoppers and three Joeys. A less desirable option would be to go with one Hopper, three joeys, and set up a split to the fifth TV.
Correct. The Hopper and Joey uses coax connections. Only the Hopper needs to be connected to a High Speed Internet signal to gain Internet functions. The multimedia signal is sent to all of the Joeys by virtue of the MoCA technology.
I hope this is helping you guys!
Thank you very much for your help!
One more question for you. I understand that there's three tuners. So that means that if I'm doing primetime anytime and recording another channel only one of the four connected televisions can watch live tv?
wish i would have waited, i wanted to upgrade for more recordings, however i only have 31 set up & keep getting error code, that i can not record anymore until i delete some, this was after i deleted some to add others, at that time i had 61 set up, now i deleted all the primetime recordings so i could add the other higher channels, but now i can't same error message, i don't get it, very frustrated
@aaustin,
You're very welcome! Primetime Anytime (PTA) uses one of your satellite tuners to record the big four locals in HD. So, if you're using PTA and have another live recording, then you have one free satellite tuner, however, any one of the Joeys or the Hopper can access any one of those tuners during the recording process.
Does that answer your question?
@Karen,
Thanks for telling us about your scenario. We do appreciate it. Some are having a similar problem as you and DISH is working tirelessly to figure it out. When they do the system will automatically update and hopefully the issue will be resolved.
If I hear anything through the grapevine about the software patch to fix the error codes I will certainly update everyone here (assuming it's not a confidential communication).
If 6 independent shows can be simultaneously recorded on the Hopper, it MUST have 6 tuners not 4. If Each of 4 TV's connected to 1 Hopper and 3 Joeys then the Hopper has 3 ( MoCA ) transmitters. That being the case, the 4th room limitation MUST be a software bug or processor overload situation. If this is not the case, which of the premises is incorrect, please explain! One more question... are there any NTSC modulators in the hopper to accommodate SD TV's?
@Eddy,
There are only three satellite tuners in the Hopper. It accomplishes recording up to six programs during Primetime hours because one of the tuners is recording all of the HD Locals Spot Beam feed. So, one tuner is recording up to four programs (ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX). The Hopper then dissects that programming into separate events. This leaves the other two tuners to record whatever, hence up to six live recorded shows at once.
No, the fourth room limitation is not a software bug. Please see the section in the article titled "A caveat to note about the Hopper and Joey system."
Yes, the Hopper and the Joeys can accommodate SDTV programming.
I hope this helps! Please let me know if this does not address your questions.
Thanks, however this raises more questions. It seems all "tuners" are not created equal. If the 1 tuner can record 4 channels from 1 feed then 3 tuners should be able to record up to 12 that is if they originate from only 3 feeds.
It was not the SD programming I was referring to but NTSC modulators to accommodate older analog TV's, this would be an actual co-axial connector on the back of the Hopper or perhaps Joey as well which output ch3 ch4 or other.
@Eddy,
I see your line of thinking with the tuners, maybe an elaboration would help. The Primetime Anytime (PTA) function of the Hopper is not a virtue of the tuner, but a virtue of the Hopper technology. So while it seems logical that the Hopper should be able to do that with all its tuners, that is not the case.
I apologize about not answering your NTSC question. It was worded in a way that wasn't clear to me. You're asking if the Hopper or the Joey has a "coaxial out" connection, and neither the Hopper or the Joey comes equipped with this connection out.
The only SD video output connection is RCA composite video. In some scenarios, where the composite video connections are not present on a TV the customer / installer can use an adapter that converts the composite signal to a coaxial signal.
Thank you once again! That answered all of my questions.
You're welcome, aaustin. I'm glad we could help.
I love the hopper system and couldn't be happier I left Directv. I've got two hoppers and four joeys, had to pay a little extra but was well worth it. The only problem I'm having is the fact that the two hoppers cannot communicate with each other, hopefully the update for that come soon. Good job Dish!!!
I have a hopper and live somewhere they do not provide HD locals.(FOX ABC NBC and CBS) Does this mean PTA will not record the 4 networks because they aren't in HD?
If I currently have dishnetwork, will they have to run totally different cables from my dish or can they use what we are currently using from the dish?
@Garret,
Thanks for the positive feedback! We appreciate it.
@Mitch,
That's a great question. I will find out the answer to that for you.
@dutchessmom,
They can use the existing cabling in your home and might need to add a few components depending on what you order.
@Mitch,
The Hopper's Primetime Anytime function will still work even if you don't have Locals in HD. It will just record everything in SD.
Thank you for the feedback.
We have ordered 1 hopper, 1 joey and a sling unit for tv everywhere. We are replacing a Vip 622 with backfeed to one BR.
We were freaking out about having to have new wire pulled as we have resided our house and covered up all of the cable running along the outside of the house and our attic is impossible.
Thank you for letting me breath, i was affraid that we would not be able to enjoy the new technology. Wheeww.
Person on phone last night insisted that we would have to have all new wire pulled. She said something about "mooo" technology?!?!? YIKES!!!!
@dutchessmom
She most likely meant MoCA which is a method of home entertainment via cable.
Is the MoCA a special type of cable that has to run from the Hopper to the Joey?
@mikepd2510,
No. It stands for Multimedia of Coaxial Alliance.
Thanks for the information.
I have DISH in my home. Does the Hopper bypass the existing cable HD wire(s) and use wireless technology?
Would my recorded programs on an external storage work with the Hopper? Is there another way to move recordings from VIP722 to the Hopper?
Thanks
We just installed the hopper and are still figuring everything out. However our hopper turns off maybe five to ten minutes after we turn the main tv off. So we cannot watch tv in the other rooms after that one is turned off. Is it programed to do that or what. I usually use my tv to fall asleep too and do not want to sit in the living room to watch tv late at night.
How do we keep the hopper on after we have turned the main tv off? It has gone off five to ten minutes after we our main tv off for the night.
We tried to record the prime time anytime, however once the tv and the hopper turned off the recording stopped. What is up with that.
do all tv's have to be hd ? or can one be standard?
Hello, everyone! Lots of comments this round. That's great! To be fair to everyone I'm going to try and not be redundant with my answers.
@mopar426440,
The Hopper and Joey is a wired solution. It can connect to the Internet via a wireless adapter.
@Mnagpal,
Yes the Hopper is compatible with a external Hard Drive for additional storage space. I believe the EHD's are keyed to the receivers they are activated for, so I do not believe it will work with the Hopper without being reformatted.
@Andrea, @Kathy, @Lala
I do not believe this is intended behavior for the system. I'll reach out to my team and see if there is any word on a fix.
@inbwyld,
No, not all TVs have to be HD.
Thanks, Guys!
If the EHD is keyed to the receiver, how am I supposed to move my recordings to Hopper. I better cancel my order for the hopper as I have a lot of priceless recordings.
@Mnagpal,
I just received word from our team. The EHD you are using with the 722 is compatible with the Hopper and it will not need to be reformatted. So, all of your priceless recordings will just transfer over seamlessly!
Thanks for putting my mind to rest...
It's our pleasure.
How had is it to aim the dish for the Hopper?
We live in our RV and move every 6 months or so. I currently have directv with a SWM Slimline 5 LNB, and have difficultly getting a full signal on all satellites.
I should have said, how hard is it to aim the dish for the Hopper in comparison to a directv with a Slimline SWM 5 LNB?
I just had a Hopper/Joey system installed (1 Hopper and 1 Joey). I have 2 questions: 1) The Joey has ports for broadband, phone, and USB, what is the purpose of those since the Joey seems to get everything from the Hopper? I also noticed in the options that the Joey has Diagnostic tests, I assume these tests are for the ports on the Joey and not for the Hopper. 2) I was in a chat session with a Dish rep and was told that there is a monthly charge of $7/mo for both the Hopper and Joey, but when I ordered the system the Dish rep told me that only the Joey had a monthly fee. I know there is a fee for a second Hopper, but did not think there was one for the first Hopper. So which is it? Thanks in advance.
Sorry I worded my previous post question #2 poorly. I was told by a Dish rep today that the extra monthly fees for a Hopper/Joey system are: $7 (for Hopper) + $7 (for Joey) = $14/mo. But when I ordered the system I was told that the monthly fees would be: $7 (for Joey) = $7/mo. My current monthly charges show that the Dish rep that sold me the system is correct. I just want to check so I won't be surprised when I get my next bill. Thanks.
@david h,
At this time, we're not recommending Hopper and Joey for RV setups because most RVs aren't pre-wired to accommodate the Hopper and Joey. This can make installation quite difficult; however, it is certainly possible. I suggest visiting your local Camping World to see if they offer Hopper and Joey setup for an RV.
@scdad,
While there is a phone port on the Hopper, there is not one on the Joey. The USB and Ethernet ports on the Joey are not currently functional, but they will be useful for future updates.
The diagnostic tests are for the installer, so no need to worry about them.
As for the receiver fees, there is no monthly charge for your primary receiver (the Hopper). Each additional receiver is $7 per month. So, if you have a Hopper and a Joey, you should only be paying $7 per month for receiver fees. I hope that helps!
Same issues with the Hopper as some others - about 5-10 minutes after the main TV (with the Hopper) turns off, the Hopper resets itself as well. I need to check on my tv to see if there is a setting to turn off connected accessories when the power cycles on the television - this is a very strange problem. I'm disable the auto time-out feature on the Hopper, but the system still shuts down every night when the living room TV goes off. I've even set the timer on the TV to go off after 60 minutes, and still, the Hopper turns off and resets for about 15 minutes... Glad I'm not the only one with this issue. Tech support suggested I put the Hopper on a separate surge protector than the TV and to check the settings on the TV itself (it's a Vizio for what it's worth...)
@Justjoeindenver,
Thanks for expressing your scenario. This is a known issue and the tech teams are working tirelessly to get it resolved. I will keep you all updated!
Is there a way to change or disable the timeout feature on the hopper?
@Gator,
As of right now, this is a known bug that DISH is working tirelessly to fix. Once the issue is resolved, it will likely be an automatic update for everyone.
You pay a monthly service fee, the recievers should be free. Another GREED company!
@Maverick,
The monthly service fee you pay with DISH is for your programming. Your first receiver is included in your monthly programming fee.
Receivers are not purchased, so they are free. You will only pay monthly service fees if you choose to lease additional receivers.
If i replace one of my Joey receivers with a hopper can i install it my self?
@James C.
If you decide to add a second Hopper, DISH will send a technician out to your home with the new equipment. This installation is free as it would be included with your upgrade. Most customers find it's easier to let the tech install the receiver, which also means its guaranteed - You'll have a warranty on the labor.
If you'd rather set the Hopper up yourself or have a preferred method of doing so, I would suggest speaking with the tech about it when he shows up with your equipment. He'll accommodate you in any way he can.
Does the Hopper come with ota module?
@gerald,
The Hopper does not come with an OTA module, but the module can be purchased separately from DISH and connected to your Hopper.
You can find more information including a link to the online store here: http://www.mydish.com/support/setup-ota-module
heyzeus1 2 months ago
this information is incorrect. so...not to be misled. a typicall hopper/joey system will run THREE hd tvs independantly, not 4. if you have 2 hoppers (costs more) only then can you have 6 tuners...and six hd tvs (not 4 as it says above)