Hello,

I plan to upgrade my DirecTV to HD. I logged into the D* site just to see what it would cost to get a HD DVR and HD dish and was wondering which receiver (HR2?) D* is likely to send me? I've seen references on this site and others to HR20, HR21, and up to HR23 I think and was wondering what the difference is between all the models? Also, from what I can gather there appears to be different 5 LNB dishes (slimline & something else?)?

Thanks in advance...
-g.

You can't specify what receiver model you want to receive and the CSR's can't tell you. It all depends on what the installed gets loaded onto their van in the morning. The only way to make sure is to go through a local retailer that can tell you what you'll get.

The HR20 isn't made anymore, it's the only model with built in ATSC/OTA tuners. The HR21 has the ATSC/OTA tuners removed, the HR22 is a HR21 with a larger harddrive (500GB vs. 320GB IIRC), and the HR23 is a HR22 with tuners that don't require the use of external BBC's if you don't have a SWMLNB. You can get a AM21 for $50 from DirecTV which add dual ATSC tuners to the HR21/22/23.

The current dish is the Slimline which comes with either a 3LNB (which sees 99/101/103) and a 5LNB (which sees 99/101/103/110/119). You might get either one, you'll get the 5LNB if your SD locals are on 119 or you order international programming. It's also rumored that they are now starting to install the SWM version of the LNB's that allows only one coax to be run to the DVR's.

You might also want to check out www.dbstalk.com which has a very active DirecTV user base.

Bottom, line the HR20s had OTA tuners and it's not likely you'll get them, unless you get refurbished equipment, which does happen.

So if you want to view/record any OTA local channels that D* doesn't provide on satellite, you'll likely need to order AM-21 OTA tuner add-ons for your DVRs. Ask the CSRs about AM21s when you order service.

Thanks for the replies.

I went ahead and ordered an HD DVR from DirecTV to get the free 5-LNB dish they supply (I believe the confirmation page said it would be the Slimline one).

My next question is how many receivers can be driven off this dish's internal multiswitch? And does it have an input for an over-the-air antenna?

Thanks,

-g

4 tuners can be driven off a standard dish, my understanding is HD installed are supposed to require an SWM capable dish, if that's the case you can drive 8 tuners. Neither gives you the option to input an OTA antenna, diplexing is not supported with the new HD set up.

The HR20 isn't made anymore, it's the only model with built in ATSC/OTA tuners. The HR21 has the ATSC/OTA tuners removed, the HR22 is a HR21 with a larger harddrive (500GB vs. 320GB IIRC), and the HR23 is a HR22 with tuners that don't require the use of external BBC's if you don't have a SWMLNB. You can get a AM21 for $50 from DirecTV which add dual ATSC tuners to the HR21/22/23.

I wasn't aware that the HR20 has those tuners inside. Are you saying that if I hook up my Comcast cable or an OTA antenna I can actually DVR a specific show from either of those sources? How do you bookmark the show to be recorded... does the additional channel(s) appear in the D* guide?

Neither gives you the option to input an OTA antenna, diplexing is not supported with the new HD set up.So if I wanted to diplex I would have to get an external multiswitch with an input for an OTA antenna?

I wasn't aware that the HR20 has those tuners inside. Are you saying that if I hook up my Comcast cable or an OTA antenna I can actually DVR a specific show from either of those sources? How do you bookmark the show to be recorded... does the additional channel(s) appear in the D* guide?

You can not connect a cable/Comcast connection to any of the ATSC tuners in D* hardware, they aren't set up to receive the cable signal only over the air. But if you do connecto an over the air antenna to a HR20 (or HR21/22/23 with an AM21) you go though the over the air antenna setup and the channels that DirecTV says you should receive over the air are added to the program guide as the -1 channels (ch 5 would be 5-1). Once in the guide treat them as you would any other channel for scheduling recordings.

So if I wanted to diplex I would have to get an external multiswitch with an input for an OTA antenna?

If you can use an SWM set up, you can purchase your own SWM8 outright and it has an OTA feed input which you can diplex on the other end. If not depending on which model receivers you have, you may or may not be able to use the work around of moving the BBC before the diplexor.

I have a brand new H20-600 still in the box that I don't need anymore since I'm going to try ATT Uverse. Can a non clubmember post an add or not?:confused:

Got my HDTV sooner than I thought I would (yesterday) so I bought an HD DVR at Best Buy so I can enjoy some HD until my current dish (3-LNB) is upgraded (installer visit is scheduled for 11/21) to get all the HD channels.

The HD DVR I picked up at Best Buy is a HR22. Anyone know if this thing supports CEC (can't find any mention of it in the manual or menu)?

If you can use an SWM set up, you can purchase your own SWM8 outright and it has an OTA feed input which you can diplex on the other end.So regardless of the dish the D* installer brings me, I can still get an external SWM multiswitch and diplex OTA feeds onto my cable runs and use single cable runs to feed dual tunner HD DVRs?

If not depending on which model receivers you have, you may or may not be able to use the work around of moving the BBC before the diplexor.I just found out what a BBC is yesterday so I'm not aware of the work around. What's the bennefit of moving the BBCs before the diplexor?

Got my HDTV sooner than I thought I would (yesterday) so I bought an HD DVR at Best Buy so I can enjoy some HD until my current dish (3-LNB) is upgraded (installer visit is scheduled for 11/21) to get all the HD channels.

The HD DVR I picked up at Best Buy is a HR22. Anyone know if this thing supports CEC (can't find any mention of it in the manual or menu)?

So regardless of the dish the D* installer brings me, I can still get an external SWM multiswitch and diplex OTA feeds onto my cable runs and use single cable runs to feed dual tunner HD DVRs?

I just found out what a BBC is yesterday so I'm not aware of the work around. What's the bennefit of moving the BBCs before the diplexor?

Can't answer the CEC question, don't know what CEC means.

If you get a SWMSlimline install for the upgrade then you won't be able to use an external SWM8, the SWM8 needs to have the four feeds from the LNB.

If you're getting a SWM LNB or SWM8 you don't use the BBC's. If you don't have the SWM's then putting the BBC before the diplexor allows you to use the diplexor since the BBC downconverts some of the sat signals out of the UHF frequency range which would cause interferrence with the TV/DBS signal.

Can't answer the CEC question, don't know what CEC means.Consumer Electronics Control. Something my new HDTV supports but apparently the D* receivers don't. Allows for advanced control of HDMI devices (through the HDMI port) and would supposedly allow for better control than using the universal slider remote that came with my TV (and also comes with D* receivers).

If you get a SWMSlimline install for the upgrade then you won't be able to use an external SWM8, the SWM8 needs to have the four feeds from the LNB.Ok sounds like I want the non-SWM upgrade and an external SWM multiswitch so I can diplex OTA locals and use single cable feeds for DVRs.

According to the D* pending installations page I'm getting a 5-LNB Multi-Satellite Dish but that's all the detail it provides.