Is there any options for making them NOT look like dogshit?
I just switched from TWC cable, and this is one of the few things their box, the SA8300HD, does better than the HR20. The smallest sized font available with the HR20 is not small enough, and, although the HR20 reports that the background for fonts is opaque, suggesting it could be made transparent, the user interface doesn't have a control for this (or else I missed it).

although the HR20 reports that the background for fonts is opaque, suggesting it could be made transparent, the user interface doesn't have a control for this (or else I missed it).
Ummm, you do realize that you can click on "Opaque" just like all of the other options, right? One of the options for Opacity is Transparent...

It's not the HR20, it's your TV. Most TVs don't support closed captioning on HD inputs. CC worked with your R10 because it was SD.

Why bother putting a captions button on the remote or even captions feature on an HDTV if it's only supported on non HD sources.

Are you saying that it is only supported on COAX or Compostie or Svideo?

So if I used my TV connected to the HR20 by a non HD input, I would see the captions?

I just switched from TWC cable, and this is one of the few things their box, the SA8300HD, does better than the HR20. The smallest sized font available with the HR20 is not small enough, and, although the HR20 reports that the background for fonts is opaque, suggesting it could be made transparent, the user interface doesn't have a control for this (or else I missed it).

Spend more than 5 seconds in the menu and you will see a plethora of options. Transparent, translucent opaque etc. these options are available on the font itself or the background. unfortunately they still look like doo doo

Are you saying that it is only supported on COAX or Compostie or Svideo?

So if I used my TV connected to the HR20 by a non HD input, I would see the captions?
I believe so, yes.

What aspect are some of you using to watch HD. you got 480I 480P cropped pillar box 720p stretched 1080 stretched and some others i know i missed. I'm confused.

What aspect are some of you using to watch HD. you got 480I 480P cropped pillar box 720p stretched 1080 stretched and some others i know i missed. I'm confused.
Depends on your TV. If it's 720p, I'd say put it on 720p Pillar with Native off. If it's 1080p, select 720p and 1080i, Pillar, with Native on.

Why bother putting a captions button on the remote or even captions feature on an HDTV if it's only supported on non HD sources.

Are you saying that it is only supported on COAX or Compostie or Svideo?

So if I used my TV connected to the HR20 by a non HD input, I would see the captions?

The TUNER decodes the HD- if you are using your TV QAM (cable) or OTA (Over the air aka Rabbit ears) you can use the TV to turn captions on. When you are using the HR20 - the television is nothing more than a monitor, it can only display what is fed to it.

When you are using the HR20 - the television is nothing more than a monitor, it can only display what is fed to it.
Yes, and it's important to note that on HD channels, the captions are not fed as part of the picture like they are on SD channels. So even if you're using an SD output on your HD receiver, your TV will not have anything to decode. It only works on SD channels, with SD output.

What aspect are some of you using to watch HD. you got 480I 480P cropped pillar box 720p stretched 1080 stretched and some others i know i missed. I'm confused.

Like the other person said - it depends. What type of tv do you have. Make sure you tell your HR20 that you are watching a 4:3 or 16:9 depending on your set (4:3 is old school square - 16:9 is rectangular) then set your resolutions to 720p and 1080i (if you have a 1080i or 1080p monitor) or just 720p if you have a 720p monitor. Native on for either is fine since it will just go to the highest supported resolution anyway. As for stretch, pillar box, etc. I am 99% certain that this will not change regardless if you are watching HD and in Native on mode. HD content will come over as 16:9 (or whatever aspect the show is filmed in) automatically. It is really more for making a 4:3 (mostly non HD stuff being broadcast on an HD Channel) fit your 16:9 set by stretching to fill... Make sure you have your TV set for whatever the setting recommended for viewing the original aspect ratio - that way if you leave native on, the box should put the right shape picture on your set. If you have native on, and the picture is getting stretched or is fillinf the screen when it should not (ie Akeelah and the Bee is shown 1.85:1 - not 16:9 - it's been on Showtime HD a bunch this month) - then you need to tweek your TV aspect around. 1.85:1 is a wider, but shorter from top to bottom aspect that 16:9 (which is really 1.77:1) so it is not supposed to fill the screen. Check out next time you are at a movie in the theater, the curtains being pulled back after the previews and sometimes the curtains raising or lowering before the feature starting is the theater making sure the screen is framed correctly to show the Film about to be projected. Unfortunately the TV can't morph like the movie screens, so occasionally you get bars, either on top/bottom or on each side, or even all around for weird networks that are not in HD, yet show their stuff in 16:9 format (like FX was until now).

A fairly simple workaround would be to tell you series link to start 1 min early on each show... To do this, go to you prioritizer, select each show and go to rec options, then tell it to start 1 min early and hit update.
That is an obvious work around a stupid piece of software engineering. Why should I do this to 50 shows and each show that I record in an ad-hoc manner?

My question was posted to see if anybody else has experienced this problem.

Many people are having this problem. Also many people don't seem to be affected by it. For some reason there doesn't seem to be much of an outcry to get it fixed. The dbstalk forum has the most in-depth coverage of the HR20. Here are 2 recent links to threads on this subject:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=103952

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=106791

Jay
Thank you for the link. So now that it is obvious that this is a problem with the HR20 unit (Did not see this problem with my two HR10-250s), why isn't there an outcry for DTV to solve this problem?

Why are they pretending that nobody has reported this problem?

This is just not acceptable!!!

My HR20-700 got a software update last night.
Previously, I had 0x18a
Now I have 0x1b4
I noticed that the blue ring light was very bright, so that tipped me off that the until had re-booted.

Anyone know what the new version does?

My HR20-700 got a software update last night.
Previously, I had 0x18a
Now I have 0x1b4
I noticed that the blue ring light was very bright, so that tipped me off that the until had re-booted.

Anyone know what the new version does?

Check out the 10.24.07 headlines here (http://www.dbstalk.com/)
for full notes and discussion. Biggest changes are the Video On Demand (if networked) is active - plus the ability to come out of FF without automatic overrun correction.

Thank you for the link. So now that it is obvious that this is a problem with the HR20 unit (Did not see this problem with my two HR10-250s), why isn't there an outcry for DTV to solve this problem?

Why are they pretending that nobody has reported this problem?

This is just not acceptable!!!

I have had the same problem and wrote a post earlier, on mine it is only about twenty seconds, but it turns out that the twenty seconds was recorded, but the box decided to start play at the point twenty seconds after the recording started. You can try rewinding when the show comes on, it is a lot easier than setting it to record a minute earlier. :)

Check out the 10.24.07 headlines here (http://www.dbstalk.com/)
for full notes and discussion. Biggest changes are the Video On Demand (if networked) is active - plus the ability to come out of FF without automatic overrun correction.

Another good one for you Tivo converts is the left arrow acts like the "back" button now in a lot of places...

Thank you for the link. So now that it is obvious that this is a problem with the HR20 unit (Did not see this problem with my two HR10-250s), why isn't there an outcry for DTV to solve this problem?

Why are they pretending that nobody has reported this problem?

This is just not acceptable!!!

There is a bit of an outcry but, as issues go, this one is solvable so not as big as other outcries. Personally, I haven't had a big problem with it - at least not much different than my HR10 was. Also, I believe you can change your default recording options to do the 1 minute pad so that it happens automatically each time you request a recording.

There is a "wish list" item for the box to do this automatically if there are no conflicts as well.

Well, noticed I got updated last nigh. It happened by accident really/. i hit menu to get to the settings to turn on CC like mentioned above.

I noticed I have an On Demand selection now.

However, when i select On Demand, nothing happens. i also noticed that if I try to go to channel 1000, it tells me that it is unavailable.

Not sure what that means, but I figure somebody might find it interesting. I guess that means my box is updated so it can use the On Demand feature. however, it is my guess that the service is not yet ready on D*s end. That is my uneducated guess being that I have done no research on the On Demand since I really don't care for it.

Last year i was recovering post surgery on a friends couch. He had Comcast. I decided to check out the On Demand feature since I was stuck on the couch for days and he didn't have any premium channels. I have to say, I was not impressed at all. If D*s on demand is better than what I saw then I will check it out. if not, it really seams like a a waste to me.

Am I on with my assumptions?

Oh yeah, 0x15c -> 0x1b4 for those who were curious.

Well, noticed I got updated last nigh. It happened by accident really/. i hit menu to get to the settings to turn on CC like mentioned above.

I noticed I have an On Demand selection now.

However, when i select On Demand, nothing happens. i also noticed that if I try to go to channel 1000, it tells me that it is unavailable.

Not sure what that means, but I figure somebody might find it interesting. I guess that means my box is updated so it can use the On Demand feature. however, it is my guess that the service is not yet ready on D*s end. That is my uneducated guess being that I have done no research on the On Demand since I really don't care for it.

Last year i was recovering post surgery on a friends couch. He had Comcast. I decided to check out the On Demand feature since I was stuck on the couch for days and he didn't have any premium channels. I have to say, I was not impressed at all. If D*s on demand is better than what I saw then I will check it out. if not, it really seams like a a waste to me.

Am I on with my assumptions?

Oh yeah, 0x15c -> 0x1b4 for those who were curious.Video On Demand (VOD) was activated with that software update. However, for it to be usable on your DVR requires that you connect your HR20 to the internet through your home network.

Well, noticed I got updated last nigh. It happened by accident really/. i hit menu to get to the settings to turn on CC like mentioned above.

I noticed I have an On Demand selection now.

However, when i select On Demand, nothing happens. i also noticed that if I try to go to channel 1000, it tells me that it is unavailable.

Not sure what that means, but I figure somebody might find it interesting. I guess that means my box is updated so it can use the On Demand feature. however, it is my guess that the service is not yet ready on D*s end. That is my uneducated guess being that I have done no research on the On Demand since I really don't care for it.

Last year i was recovering post surgery on a friends couch. He had Comcast. I decided to check out the On Demand feature since I was stuck on the couch for days and he didn't have any premium channels. I have to say, I was not impressed at all. If D*s on demand is better than what I saw then I will check it out. if not, it really seams like a a waste to me.

Am I on with my assumptions?

Oh yeah, 0x15c -> 0x1b4 for those who were curious.
Like Smuuth said, you have to have an ethernet connection into the back of your HR20 - if you do, don't worry about the lack of content. I too got my update last night and just now got the list to pop up... not a lot of content, but since it's free, I can't complain...

The SD captions are present tho.

With the HD Tivo for example - Watching Enterprise in HD on HDNet. If I miss some dialog I can REW, toggle to 480i and my TV will decode the old SD style captions from HDNet. This works on pretty much all HD content.

However with the HR20 if you toggle to 480i the captions are NOT present for the TV to decode. This seems to be an outage on the HR20 IMO.

Maybe they are passed on the HD Tivo over component but not HDMI.

peace . . .


Yes, and it's important to note that on HD channels, the captions are not fed as part of the picture like they are on SD channels. So even if you're using an SD output on your HD receiver, your TV will not have anything to decode. It only works on SD channels, with SD output.

Oh, Ethernet has been connected since I got the reciever, internet is up according to info and test. I'm not worried at all, just sharing my experience. I've got a DVR, not really worried about a special on demand section to watch old reruns. but you have a great point... Free is Free!

I do have a non On Demand question though. The installer told me something that DOES NOT jiove with what I have read. He told me that if you hit the D* & TV power off button on the remote, that it WOULD NOT turn itself back on to tape a previously scheduled program.

Now as far as I can tell, toyrning the power off only puts it into standbye mode and that you have to pull the plug to really turn it off. Just like my old SD TiVo.

So, I assume that if I hit the power off on the reciever, it WILL turn itself on automatically to tape something on the todo list.

Oh, Ethernet has been connected since I got the reciever, internet is up according to info and test. I'm not worried at all, just sharing my experience. I've got a DVR, not really worried about a special on demand section to watch old reruns. but you have a great point... Free is Free!

I do have a non On Demand question though. The installer told me something that DOES NOT jiove with what I have read. He told me that if you hit the D* & TV power off button on the remote, that it WOULD NOT turn itself back on to tape a previously scheduled program.

Now as far as I can tell, toyrning the power off only puts it into standbye mode and that you have to pull the plug to really turn it off. Just like my old SD TiVo.

So, I assume that if I hit the power off on the reciever, it WILL turn itself on automatically to tape something on the todo list.The installer was incorrect. You assume correctly that the only way to shut the DVR completely off is to pull the plug. Scehduled recordings will continue no matter whether you "turn it off" by the remote or the front panel button.

To add to the VOD information: The channels will take some time to populate after it is active, The content available will increase over a few days to a week. If you see the On Demand item on the menu and you have the unit networked, then you should be seeing VOD content soon. See here for more information on DOD: http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=137

Ok Thanks

For the others out here, there were some nice little updates in this latest batch. The biggest for me was updating the list of HD channels on the Guide Category.

Well, noticed I got updated last nigh. It happened by accident really/. i hit menu to get to the settings to turn on CC like mentioned above.

I noticed I have an On Demand selection now.

However, when i select On Demand, nothing happens. i also noticed that if I try to go to channel 1000, it tells me that it is unavailable.

Not sure what that means, but I figure somebody might find it interesting. I guess that means my box is updated so it can use the On Demand feature. however, it is my guess that the service is not yet ready on D*s end. That is my uneducated guess being that I have done no research on the On Demand since I really don't care for it.

Last year i was recovering post surgery on a friends couch. He had Comcast. I decided to check out the On Demand feature since I was stuck on the couch for days and he didn't have any premium channels. I have to say, I was not impressed at all. If D*s on demand is better than what I saw then I will check it out. if not, it really seams like a a waste to me.

Am I on with my assumptions?

Oh yeah, 0x15c -> 0x1b4 for those who were curious.

Give it a little time and your VOD stuff will populate. It needs to download it from the satellite.

On your other point, I've had VOD for a week or so now and I think you'll find the same as you did before. Not only is the content not all that compelling, but the quality is sub-par. Even below regular SD. I'm pretty much not interested in content that isn't HD on this box and that just isn't practical on the internet connection. With all the channels and the ability to record two shows at once - I've got plenty of HD content to watch without VOD (which they actually call DOD - DirecTV On Demand).

Just my opinion, though...

Last year i was recovering post surgery on a friends couch. He had Comcast.
Next time go to a hospital for surgery, even if your friend does have Comcast.

Just got an HR21 today. Boy is is shiny!

Is there a separate thread for the HR21? If not shouldn't there be?

fafner

I think the HR21 and HR20 are functionally eqivalent except for the lack of on OTA tuner on the HR21 - cosmetics would be the big difference.

Actually there seem to be quite a few differences...ie, the HR21 has no OTA tuner and there are a lot of differences in the software implementation, and I have not begun to really explore the Hr21 yet.

That is the reason I asked about a separate thread....to discuss these differences.

fafner

there are a lot of differences in the software implementation
There are no differences in the software, aside from the obvious lack of OTA menus. The HR21 is just running an earlier version of the software right now. It will eventually catch up to the HR20.

There are no differences in the software, aside from the obvious lack of OTA menus. The HR21 is just running an earlier version of the software right now. It will eventually catch up to the HR20.


Have you seen the two side by side? I have and there are differences in software. For example, the HR21 displays only 4 letters for the channel name in the grid. My HR20 never had that limitation. Also there are more options to change colors/fonts in the HR21 than there never were in my HR20.

What makes you so sure the software is the same between these units when I can see obvious differences?

fafner

Have you seen the two side by side?
I've had the HR20 for over a year, and have been field testing the HR21 for a while now. I know things about the HR21 that I can't even talk about.
For example, the HR21 displays only 4 letters for the channel name in the grid.
My HR21 displays 242 USAHD, 244 SCFIHD, 245 TNTHD, 247 TBSHD. I could go on, but you get the picture. No clue why your HR21 is different than mine.
Also there are more options to change colors/fonts in the HR21 than there never were in my HR20.
Not quite sure what you're talking about here.
What makes you so sure the software is the same between these units when I can see obvious differences?
They are different units. The HR20 software does not drop directly onto the HR21. Each one is independent, but the goal is to make them the same as far as features go.

They are different units. The HR20 software does not drop directly onto the HR21. Each one is independent, but the goal is to make them the same as far as features go.

That is quite different that what you said before.

And the fact that we are seeing different things means there are issues to discuss.

If no one else starts an HR21 thread I guess I will

fafner

That is quite different that what you said before.
From an end-user perspective, the software is supposed to be exactly the same. That's what I was saying before.
the fact that we are seeing different things means there are issues to discuss.
What software version are you running?

From an end-user perspective, the software is supposed to be exactly the same. That's what I was saying before.

What software version are you running?

National is 016D

there still are a few features in the newest HR20-700 software that hasn't made it to the HR21, but they're minor as you were trying to say.
VOD has made it to the HR20-700, but not "yet" to the HR21

From an end-user perspective, the software is supposed to be exactly the same. That's what I was saying before.

What software version are you running?

Exactly what is your reason for objecting to an HR21 exclusive thread?

My objective would be to discuss all aspects of it, including whether it does what is "supposed" to do.

I guess the title of this thread could be changed to HR20/HR21 if you really think that having a separate thread is a bad idea.

This forum should have some thread with HR21 in the title to help newcomers find the right place for their comments/questions. Users new to AVS and getting the HR21 as their first D* box will have to reason to believe that the HR21 is at all related to the HR20.

fafner

Early yesterday morning I got the software update on my HR20. I saw the option to not have duplicate SD & HD channels show on the guide, and did that. But when I push the menu button I don't see the On Demand option that's been mentioned in this forum. Is it because I haven't networked the unit yet, or does it take time for the unit to download this from the satellite?

Early yesterday morning I got the software update on my HR20. I saw the option to not have duplicate SD & HD channels show on the guide, and did that. But when I push the menu button I don't see the On Demand option that's been mentioned in this forum. Is it because I haven't networked the unit yet, or does it take time for the unit to download this from the satellite?

There are several parts to VOD [DoD]:
1) you do need to be networked since that's where is comes from.
2) once you're networked, D* needs to add it to your account.

Exactly what is your reason for objecting to an HR21 exclusive thread?

My objective would be to discuss all aspects of it, including whether it does what is "supposed" to do.

I guess the title of this thread could be changed to HR20/HR21 if you really think that having a separate thread is a bad idea.

This forum should have some thread with HR21 in the title to help newcomers find the right place for their comments/questions. Users new to AVS and getting the HR21 as their first D* box will have to reason to believe that the HR21 is at all related to the HR20.

fafner

If you look at the H21 thread, you'll see little to no activity. Maybe the Mods can change the titles of both to 20/21.

Exactly what is your reason for objecting to an HR21 exclusive thread?
I never made a comment on an HR21 thread. I don't care if an exclusive thread is made or not. Personally, I think having DirecTV receiver discussions here is silly, when sister forum DBSTalk is a much better resource.

If you look at the H21 thread, you'll see little to no activity. Maybe the Mods can change the titles of both to 20/21.

this thread is over a year old and 152 pages:

may I suggest a new master thread for 20/21?

one member who posts here often should start it, then this thread can be closed with a redirect

PM me

HAHA ok, well it has been almost 36 hours since my HR20 got updated. Still no channel 1000 and the on demand does nothing.

And just to confirm, my receiver has been on my network and able to connect to D* since it was dropped off by the installer.

However, I am unable to ping it from any device on my network.

Great thread: but getting too old/too long

please continue the discussion here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12070481#post12070481