EchoStar has upgraded its line of DISH Network personal video recorders. The ViP722 is a multi-room dual-tuner high definition recorder, much like the ViP622. You can watch HDTV in one room while viewing standard definition programming in another.

In fact, the ViP722 is pretty much exactly the same box as the ViP622 except it's black and comes with more storage space. The new box packs a 500GB hard drive, which is enough to record 350 hours of standard definition or 55 hours of high definition programming. That's compared with 30 hours of high definition recording on the ViP622.

There's no reason to call DISH for an upgrade if you've got the older box though. This week DISH issued an update that lets you plug in an external hard drive for extended storage. The update is good for both ViP622 and ViP722 boxes.