XiP Receivers

Currently there are only three receivers in the XiP series, the Hopper 2000, Hopper with Sling, and Joey 1.0. These form part of an integrated system, which is a complete departure from prior designs in that only one or two receivers are connected directly to the satellite dish. A system must consist of at least one Hopper, which is the base system. The Hopper is capable of decoding three separate DVB-S1/S2 MPEG2/4 Nagravision encrypted program streams at once. It will also be 3D capable if/when 3D satellite channels become available.

Inputs and Outputs

Each Hopper contains three tuners, which are connected to a single Dish Pro X input port and a 1TB hard disc. Available outputs on the Hopper are composite video, component video, and HDMI, as well as analog and digital audio. Inputs include 2 ethernet ports, 2 USB ports which can be used for external hard discs, Sling Adaptors, or WiFi adaptors, a phone jack, and a UHF antenna for the remote. The Hopper with Sling is identical to the Hopper 2000, but has a built-in Sling Adaptor and WiFi.

Switch Compatibility and Nodes

The Hopper systems are only compatible with Dish Pro Plus switches such as the DPP Twin, 1000.2, DPP44, etc... Legacy and Dish Pro switches will not work. In addition to a switch or switched LNB, the Hopper also requires a node. There are two types of nodes, Solo for single-Hopper systems and Duo for single or dual-Hopper sytems. The purpose of the node is to convert the Dish Pro Plus signals from the LNB or switch to Dish Pro X. Dish Pro Plus supports two tuners over one line using 950-1450 MHz for tuner 1 and 1650-2150 MHz for tuner 2. Dish Pro X supports three tuners over the same line using 950-1450 MHz for tuner 1, 1650-2150 MHz for tuner 2 and 2350-2850 MHz for tuner 3. Because of the high frequencies used, the cable between the Hopper and node must be good quality RG6 rated to 3 GHz with no sharp kinks or bends, is limited to 100' and can't have any components in it other than a single barrel connector and/or a dpX tap.

Joeys

The Joeys are accessory receivers that run from the Hopper over a coaxial network called MoCA. Each Joey is like a thin client, it is responsible for menus and control, but receives its video programming from the Hopper. Joeys lack a hard disc as well, all programming recorded is stored on the Hopper and can be accessed from any Hopper or Joey connected to the same node. The connections on the Joey include HDMI for HD video, composite video for SD, and analog and digital audio. As of this writing, the ethernet port on the Joey is non-functional.

MoCA

The MoCA network uses the same frequencies as CATV/over the air TV, 5-900 MHz, which means that it can travel over RG-59 cable and through splitters and low frequency connectors without issue. This also means that you can't use a diplexer anywhere inside from the node. If the Hopper is working but none of the Joeys are, there's a chance there's a diplexer somewhere. The usual topology for a MoCA network is to have all of the lines to the Joeys running to a splitter, which is then connected to either the MoCA port of the node, or a dpX tap inserted between the Hopper and node. It doesn't matter whether the Joeys are connected to a tap or, in the case of a duo node, one or the other MoCA port, since they're all part of the same bus. Any unused MoCA ports or splitter ports should be capped with a 75Ω terminator, which keeps interference out and prevents the signal from reflecting back through the cable.

Tuners

The three tuners in the Hopper are dynamically assigned to whatever Hopper, Joey or recording timer need them. You can record and/or watch up to three things at a time, or six things at a time with two Hoppers. Since the tuners are shared with the Joeys and timers, it's important to consider how many Hoppers you'll need. You can connect up to three Joeys to each Hopper, but if all three tuners are busy the fourth location will have to watch what one of the other locations is watching or a DVR recording. If you have four or more people in your house who are likely to be watching at the same time or you have two or three people and do alot of recording you'll probably want two Hoppers.

Primetime Anytime uses one tuner to automatically record all of the networks available from the satellite (CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC) during primetime without taking up any usable hard disc space. There is no OTA tuner built in to the Hopper. There is a USB plug-in module available which allows you to receive local HD channels from a VHF/UHF antenna such as rabbit ears or an outdoor antenna. The module functions as a fourth tuner and is accessible from the Hopper it's connected and any Joey associated with that Hopper.

Internet

Dish Home has been replaced by applications that run from the new tile-based menu. Apps are included for the Weather Channel, Facebook, etc... and more can be downloaded from the internet. The Hopper also supports PPV on demand over the internet and downloading movies from Blockbuster at Home. Connecting the Hopper to the internet also connects all of the Joeys to the internet. Internet connection is achieved by using one of the ethernet ports on the Hopper, a USB WiFi adaptor, or a device called a Hopper Interrnet Connector (HIC). The HIC has an ethernet port and MoCA in and passthrough. It can be placed anywhere in the MoCA network and will deliver internet to all Hoppers and Joeys connected to the same node. If the passthrough port isn't used it should be capped with a terminator.