I’ve been a happy E* customer for a few years, but I’m considering switching to D* so I can get MLB Extra Innings. My main hesitation is that it appears the D* HD DVR is a significant downgrade from the E* HD DVR (I have the VIP622).

I’m wondering if the D* HD DVR can do the following things that I’ve become accustomed to:

1) Control a second TV/share recordings with a second TV?
2) Record 3 shows at once (TV1, TV2, and OTA HD)?
3) Receive OTA HD channels in addition to receiving local HD channels via satellite?
4) 30 second skip/10 second rewind buttons?

Any other general pros and cons to the E* and D* HD DVRs?

Thanks in advance.

I’ve been a happy E* customer for a few years, but I’m considering switching to D* so I can get MLB Extra Innings. My main hesitation is that it appears the D* HD DVR is a significant downgrade from the E* HD DVR (I have the VIP622).

I’m wondering if the D* HD DVR can do the following things that I’ve become accustomed to:

1) Control a second TV/share recordings with a second TV?
2) Record 3 shows at once (TV1, TV2, and OTA HD)?
3) Receive OTA HD channels in addition to receiving local HD channels via satellite?
4) 30 second skip/10 second rewind buttons?

Any other general pros and cons to the E* and D* HD DVRs?

Thanks in advance.

1) No
2) Not sure. Maybe the newer ones can record more than 2 channels at once.
3) Yes
4) Yes, but implemented differently. It is more of a "slip" than a skip.

Ted

No


No.


Yes, but only with a $30-$40 add-on tuner which connects to the DirecTV HR21/HR22/HR23 DVR.


Yes, although it's not enabled by default. DirecTV has 30sec "slip" (fast forward) enabled by default and code is required to enable 30sec "skip."

As far as other pros and cons...


The guide and menus on the DirecTV HR21/HR22/HR23 DVRs aren't nearly as responsive as the ViP622/ViP722. The ViP622/ViP722 have the most responsive EPG available on a DVRs.


The DirecTV HR2x DVRs don't have dual buffers. They only buffer the current channel.

Wow...the D* DVRs don't have much going for them do they. Why does D* have so many subscribers -is it that the DVR is an afterthought for most folks?

Seems like I'll have to give up quite a bit (DVR-wise) to get the baseball package. :(

Wow...the D* DVRs don't have much going for them do they. Why does D* have so many subscribers -is it that the DVR is an afterthought for most folks?

Seems like I'll have to give up quite a bit (DVR-wise) to get the baseball package. :(

D* got a lot of subs when they had Tivo DVRs. The new ones are "good enough" for most people. If people are willing to put up with TWC Navigator, the HR22 seems pretty nice in comparison. Also, if you don't know what you are missing, then you have no reason to complain.

Ted

Also, if you don't know what you are missing, then you have no reason to complain.That says it all.

Most customers are coming from cable company DVRs, which, in many cases, offer inferior UIs and functionality relative to what you get with the satellite DVRs.

Thanks for the responses.

I saw the answer regarding the 30 second slip/skip. Do the D* DVRs have a 10 second back slip/skip feature?

Thanks for the responses.

I saw the answer regarding the 30 second slip/skip. Do the D* DVRs have a 10 second back slip/skip feature?Yes, they've got a button for instant replay just like your Dish Network DVR.

Wow...the D* DVRs don't have much going for them do they. Why does D* have so many subscribers -is it that the DVR is an afterthought for most folks?

Seems like I'll have to give up quite a bit (DVR-wise) to get the baseball package. :(

Contrary to some of the info you've been given, I think the D* DVR's have a lot going for them. I was a tivo user for 8 years and turned them all in once I started using the D* DVR's. To clarity a few things:

1. No, but it's coming. A version of it is currently being tested.
3. Yes. The HR20 models have a built in OTA tuner, the others need the add-on which was mentioned.
4. Yes. You can use skip OR slip (which I prefer).

In addition, some of the things I like:

1. The channel buffer is 90 minutes
2. I can schedule recordings from my phone or online
3. I have 3 DVR's and record 50 hours of programming per week. I've missed a total of 2 hours of material in the last 18 months.
4. Widgets - I have a Widget that instantly gives the the local 4 day weathercast, for instance.
5. One touch record, two touch series record (from the guide).
6. Directv2PC: Can watch recordings on my computer if I wish.

Now, I've never had Dish, so maybe the Dish DVR has a lot of those too, but off the top of my head those are some of the features I like.

Oh, and the Sports: NFL Sunday Ticket, Masters Sports Mix Channel, etc.

1. The channel buffer is 90 minutes
2. I can schedule recordings from my phone or online
3. I have 3 DVR's and record 50 hours of programming per week. I've missed a total of 2 hours of material in the last 18 months.
4. Widgets - I have a Widget that instantly gives the the local 4 day weathercast, for instance.
5. One touch record, two touch series record (from the guide).
6. Directv2PC: Can watch recordings on my computer if I wish.



For the sake of of clarity, here is how Dish compares in these areas:

1. Up to 2 60-minute live buffers. Only one per TV in dual mode.
2. This is currently in beta at dish.sling.com. Works pretty well so far.
3. Reliability is probably about the same.
4. Nothing comparable on Dish's DVRs.
5. One touch record is the same, but series works differently.
6. The only option is a portable device, such as PocketDish.

Hope this helps.

Ted

Regarding the HR20 with the buit in OTA tuner - can you record this OTA HD signal?

And...what is a Widget?

Yes... the sports...Hmmmm

Regarding the HR20 with the buit in OTA tuner - can you record this OTA HD signal?Yes.

The HR20 was discontinued quite some time ago. The OTA tuners were moved into a separate $30-$40 add-on to help reduce costs on the HR21/HR22/HR23.

And...what is a Widget?Widgets are on-screen graphics that provide information such as sports scores and weather.

So....can you record the OTA HD signal provided by the add on tuner?

So....can you record the OTA HD signal provided by the add on tuner?Yep, it's a dual-tuner add-on that sits atop the DVR. Looking at online prices, it sells for a bit more than I remembered ($50-60). See the PDF below for an illustrated review.

http://hr20.dbstalk.com/am21_firstlook.pdf

With this add-on, you can record two DirecTV channels, two OTA channels, or one of each at the same time.

The D* DVR is capable of outputting the native resolution of the channel(fox in 720p and CBS in 1080i) or a fixed resolution(all channels in either 720p or 1080i) whereas the E* DVR outputs only a fixed resolution.

Wow...the D* DVRs don't have much going for them do they. Why does D* have so many subscribers -is it that the DVR is an afterthought for most folks?

Seems like I'll have to give up quite a bit (DVR-wise) to get the baseball package. :(

I haven't seen Media Share mentioned as something that DirecTV has and Dish doesn't. It allows you to view JPEG's, listen to MP3's and watch some video formats from your PC when both are ethernet connected. There's also the DirecTV2PC application that allows you to watch recorded (not live) programming from a HD DVR on an WinTel PC.

Currently in testing is the capability to watch recorded programming from a HD DVR via ethernet connection to a HD receiver in HD, which is an advantage over Dish where the TV2 output is only SD via NTSC. Not a big deal if that 2nd TV is a SD set but it becomes important if that 2nd TV is HD, who wants to watch SD on a HD set?

So....can you record the OTA HD signal provided by the add on tuner?

As mentioned it's a AM21, once you're a DirecTV customer you can order one for $50+shipping on the DirecTV web site. You might also be able to talk them into giving you one for free if they don't carry a HD channel via satellite that you want to watch alot (like PBS). Also the electronic progamming guide includes all the ATSC channels, including the sub channels when the AM21 is added, even if the ATSC channel isn't carrier via satellite, IIRC that's something that Dish doesn't do.

Also the electronic progamming guide includes all the ATSC channels, including the sub channels when the AM21 is added, even if the ATSC channel isn't carrier via satellite, IIRC that's something that Dish doesn't do.The Dish 612 has all the subchannels in the guide... however, if you actually want the guide DATA (something other than 'Digital Service') you have to pay an extra $5 per month.:mad:

I am a new subscriber to dish coming from DirecTv. With Direct, I had 1 Hr21, and 1 Hr22, along with non dvr hd receiver.

I am *really* hoping someone can tell me I am an idiot and point out ways to better use my DVR because currently, I have a LOT of problems with the usability of my 2 Dish 612's.

I must say, to date, the overall the experience of the DirectV setup was much better. Granted, the guides were fairly slow to navigate and some things (deleting recordings) took too many clicks, overall I liked the way it worked better.

My problems with teh 612 are:

#1 - The thing makes WAY too much noise when it powers on to receive network updates. The fact that you can't do manual updates or otherwise prevent it from powering on at whatever time (the update time is user changable) annoys me - only because of the noise it makes while it updates. I have seriously considered opening the thing up and removing the fan!!!

#2 - If I come home from work a @ 8:10 and power up the TV and DVR, and see somthing on I want to see from the begining (8), the thing doesn't "remember" the previous 10 minutes because it wasn't "on". With Direct, you could come in, turn on and see up to 90 past minutes, even if the unit was turned off. (I realize that the easy solution to this is to never turn the DVR off but I would really like to see a "lower power keep DVR alive setting".

#3 - Similar to 2, if I leave the box on and walk away for 30 minutes, come back and hit record... it records from that point on, it does not record from the start of the buffer of the current channel. I think that is STUPID! I have called Dish network and they tell me to choose the Start early end late option when I hit record, but I do not have the option EVER, for recording shows that are in progress, only for future scheduling

#4 - I have to hit record, and then hit OK to start recording - STUPID. (Or hit record once and wait 30 seconds for the record options window to go away. If I hit record it should record...ask me questions about options later.

#5 - If I record from the middle of a show and had buffer before the record point, I loose the buffer and cannot rewind back even to watch what WAS in the buffer.

#6 - On-line scheduling doesn't exist for me. I know the dish.sling.com deal works for some users, but apparently it is not avalible on the 612 dvr - USESLESS.

#7 - completely subjective, but I liked the look of the Hr22/21 better than the dull big boxy look of the 612.

#8 - Direct signal quality was better, though not a deal breaker as the Dish stuff still looks WAY better than Comcast.

#9 - EDIT - There doesn't seem to be an easy way to get rid of SD/HD duplicate listing in the guide... I like that I can create several guide list, but having a simple filter for hiding duplicates would be AWSOME!

As you can see, I am not a happy camper right now and am heavily regretting the switch to Dish and the fact that I will be stuck with them for the next 23 months short of paying an early termination fee. If it were not for the technical signal difficulties I had with Direct, I would have never had a reason to switch...sigh.

All that being said, I can't help but think I am missing somthing here as everyone who have Dish DVR's rave about them... surely I must be doing somthing wrong?!?!?!