If the hopper goes bad, then the joey(s) connected to that hopper cannot be viewed because the joey(s) do not have tuners. You will have to wait for a replacement hopper to arrive in order to watch on tv(s) that have a joey connected.

Prime time anytime is ONLY available during prime time, 7-11 pm. ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX. The big four networks have to be your locals and be broadcast in high def by Dish Network, if not then the channel(s) that are not in hd will not be available for the prime time feature. The six programs being recorded at the same time have to be on FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS and two other channels. It will not let you record six cable channels at once (USA, FX, HBO, TNT, STARZ, DISCOVERY). The rest of the time, the hopper can only record three programs at once and on any channel.

A one hopper, three joey will have a viewing conflict when four people want to watch four different live programs at the same time. Three tv’s will be able to watch live programming while the fourth tv will have to view a recorded program or watch what one of the other tv is viewing. And if one or more programs are being recorded, then the live viewing conflict will get worse.

The majority of the two terabyte hard drive is used by dish for other downloaded programming. In fact about 1/4 of the hard drive can be used by the end used to record programming.

The hopper/joey setup is not compatible with the current vip series of receivers. If you have a hopper and a 722, the tv with the 722 connected will not be able to view programming stored on the hopper. The tv with the 722 will need the 722 replaced with either another hopper or joey.