I was going to buy a Dish VIP 211Z receiver to be able to get month to month service using my "FLEX VUQUBE". I went to the Camping World online store and I see the 211Z is on sale. I checked a couple of other sources and they appear to be on a price reduction there also. I'm wondering if there is a "next generation" in the works and the VIP211Z is being cleared out. Does anyone know if this could be? I hate to buy this thing only to find out a month later that I should have waited for the new model. Thanks for any insight you might shed on this.

is there any issue with the 211z? not sure what my 211 is however. do you want it on sale or pay more for a "new" MODEL.bumpy

The 211z, like it's better featured predecessor, the 211k, will continue to be a good single tuner receiver for quite some time. The newest version of the 211 series is called the "Wally", and it's primary claim to fame is having the same user interface as the new Hopper 3 sixteen tuner DVR receiver. The Wally has about the same features as the 211z, including conversion to a single tuner DVR with the addition of an external hard drive. The Wally is selling for about $99 from vendors like DishDepot.com, but if the Camping World sale price is a lot better than that, I'd say go for it. The 211z won't be obsolete for a long time.

Thanks for the info Dutch. The fact that it will be operable for a long time is what I wanted to hear. I'm not overly concerned about a few dollars here or there but I just got suspicious that the prices had dropped and I could be buying another boat anchor.

In the world of electronics and computer it has NEVER happened that a state of the art device was delivered.. WhyWell the next generation is designed, tested and sent to the factory, By the time it comes off the line, is boxed and shipped, the next generation, the new state of the art, is already being tested.SO the moral of this is "don't worry about it".

If you haven't bought yet, try to find and buy the older 211K model. It's a better choice for the RV. The older 'K' model has a coax input so you can hook up your onboard TV antennae feed directly to the 211k. Dish will scan the local channels and they will appear as selections in your guide for viewing and/or DVRing. The 211z does NOT have the coax input, rather Dish would like you to buy their local channel adapter which is essentially a coax to USB device. You plug the adapter into the USB port and from that point on it will appear to work just like the 211K's built-in one. BUT!! if you plan on adding an external harddrive so you can DVR shows, the 211z is a disaster.Both the external harddrive and the external local adapter will occupy the only 2 USB ports at the back of the 211z. Problem is that both ports share one electronic bus. This means that if you are trying to DVR a local program, the 211z must do memory swaps between the shared USB bus. The result is a DVR'd event that is so choppy it is basically unviewable.I am selling my 211z and the local channel adapter. Then I'll be looking on Craigs list to buy a used 211K. By the way, while in Quartzite and the big RV show, I asked the Dish vendor if he had a local adapter for sale and he said he had one that I could have for half-price because they were only going to sell the K model since the Z got so many complaints.

Dish reciever being phased out? | Good Sam Community

Goostoff
Explorer
May 15, 2016
AllegroD wrote:
Only issue I know of with a 211Z is initial programming should be done by a sat company. It does not self program over a portable dish.

My 211z was all set up and programmed while hooked to my tailgater in my trailer in about a half hour. I never had to hook it up in my house at all.
Travelin2
Explorer
May 12, 2016
Well....I bought a new VIP 211K on ebay today. It should be here in 3 days. Thanks to all you guys for helping me understand these things. When it comes time to crank it up I may be back begging you guys for guidance.
GBuilders
Explorer
May 12, 2016
I bought the 211K right before they stopped selling them. I ask a friend that owns an AV company and sells and installs dish Network. He knows these receivers and told me to buy the 211k instead of the 211z. I bought his last 211k and added the Winegard X2 with an external HD and it works great. Just like using my DVR at home but now while camping.
AllegroD
Nomad
May 12, 2016
Only issue I know of with a 211Z is initial programming should be done by a sat company. It does not self program over a portable dish.
Travelin2
Explorer
May 11, 2016
Thanks for that link. I learned a lot. Apparently the "K" models have the Smart card programmed into the thing. This is from that link..............

"Most ViP receivers with a "k" in their model name have a G3 smart card burned onto a ROM on the mainboard, they have an empty smart card slot behind a door on the front of the receiver for future upgrades. This is the only time you should buy a receiver with no smart card."
TechWriter
Explorer
May 11, 2016
Travelin2 wrote:
TechWriter, Thanks for that great visual of the connections. When it shows an "OTA in" connector, does that mean that I would remove the coax that now goes to my TV from the antenna and connect it there on the back of the 211K and then there would only be one HDMI cable going to the TV regardless of which source I was using?

Yep.

Travelin2 wrote:

While looking for a 211K to buy I saw a used one (which I don't want) advertised that mentioned it did not include the "card". Could you explain to me what the "card" is . . .

The smart card is like an ignition key -- more info. No card, no go. Contact DISH to see what to do.
Travelin2
Explorer
May 11, 2016
TechWriter, Thanks for that great visual of the connections. When it shows an "OTA in" connector, does that mean that I would remove the coax that now goes to my TV from the antenna and connect it there on the back of the 211K and then there would only be one HDMI cable going to the TV regardless of which source I was using?

While looking for a 211K to buy I saw a used one(which I don't want) advertised that mentioned it did not include the "card". Could you explain to me what the "card" is, does it come with a new unit, what does it do? How do I get one? What do I do with it? Is this what determines the "month to month" billing option? Sorry for all the dumb questions...I know you don't believe it but I can walk and chew gum....a few stumbles here and there but I do get by.
TechWriter
Explorer
May 11, 2016
Travelin2 wrote:
Does the 211k use HDMI to the TV for HD?

All three versions of the 211 have HDMI outputs, but the 211z lost Component video outs (along with other things):
Travelin2
Explorer
May 11, 2016
Good heads up hbillsmith. Does the 211k use HDMI to the TV for HD?
hbillsmith
Explorer
May 10, 2016
If you haven't bought yet, try to find and buy the older 211K model. It's a better choice for the RV. The older 'K' model has a coax input so you can hook up your onboard TV antennae feed directly to the 211k. Dish will scan the local channels and they will appear as selections in your guide for viewing and/or DVRing.

The 211z does NOT have the coax input, rather Dish would like you to buy their local channel adapter which is essentially a coax to USB device. You plug the adapter into the USB port and from that point on it will appear to work just like the 211K's built-in one. BUT!! if you plan on adding an external harddrive so you can DVR shows, the 211z is a disaster.

Both the external harddrive and the external local adapter will occupy the only 2 USB ports at the back of the 211z. Problem is that both ports share one electronic bus. This means that if you are trying to DVR a local program, the 211z must do memory swaps between the shared USB bus. The result is a DVR'd event that is so choppy it is basically unviewable.

I am selling my 211z and the local channel adapter. Then I'll be looking on Craigs list to buy a used 211K. By the way, while in Quartzite and the big RV show, I asked the Dish vendor if he had a local adapter for sale and he said he had one that I could have for half-price because they were only going to sell the K model since the Z got so many complaints.