Yes I was referring to MPEG 4 satellite locals as not having sound with Dolby on. Sorry for any confusion. Anyone else running into this?

I am going to record a cener ice game tonight, with a start time five mins ahead of when the picture should start. I consider this the acid test for whether the beast actually works.

Yes I was referring to MPEG 4 satellite locals as not having sound with Dolby on. Sorry for any confusion. Anyone else running into this?
Sorry to tell you... No. My local HD have dolby sound with it set to "on" & it is a program that has it.

ok guys, i finally took the plunge and purchased the HD DVR. Now what should i expect when i go for the instore pickup today.
I don't know what to expect at the store, but when you connect it I would do the "forced download" to update the software. Then I hope you have the same favorable experience I'm having with mine.

Very nice upgrade. Both 30 sec skip and 4x are nearly where they should be.
which begs the question...why weren't they rolled out like this??????
Did you think you weren't an unpaid beta tester?

I am going to record a cener ice game tonight, with a start time five mins ahead of when the picture should start. I consider this the acid test for whether the beast actually works.
Now that you have the new software, if you don't have the unit working as it should, I would do a "reset everything". If it still doesn't perform right, get it replaced [since others aren't having the problem RIGHT?].
There is no reason "we" should be having problems anymore. The software seems to be good. System bugs should be "flushed out" with a reset everything & anything that isn't should require hardware replacement.
D* has a replacement on the way for me, but right now I don't think I'll even open the box before I return it, since it looks as if the problem was their bad software.
Only time will tell as it is too soon for anybody to know for sure about this release, but so far, so good.

Now that you have the new software, if you don't have the unit working as it should, I would do a "reset everything". If it still doesn't perform right, get it replaced [since others aren't having the problem RIGHT?].
There is no reason "we" should be having problems anymore. The software seems to be good. System bugs should be "flushed out" with a reset everything & anything that isn't should require hardware replacement.
D* has a replacement on the way for me, but right now I don't think I'll even open the box before I return it, since it looks as if the problem was their bad software.
Only time will tell as it is too soon for anybody to know for sure about this release, but so far, so good.

I presume "reset" from the menu is adequate???

Pardon if this has been covered (I ran a search)

I plan to purchase the HR20 once OTA goes live. If I don't subscribe to the HD package, will the OTA channels show up on the progamming guide and will I have full functionality like season pass, etc...? At this point my HD viewing is only on the major networks and I have no problem picking up the signal off Mt. Wilson so I don't see the need to subsribe to the HD package.

...which begs the question...why weren't they rolled out like this??????
Because everyone was screaming at them to get the box out.

When Wall Street started pounding on them, too, D* executives undoubtedly reacted like most other public corporations and gave their engineers an arbitrary deadline, after which the box would be shipped. Which it was, probably to the dismay of the engineers who know there was much more to be done. :eek:

It made for a less than great consumer experience, but distracted the analysts and took heat off management. Such is life in the modern corporate world. :rolleyes:

Because everyone was screaming at them to get the box out.

When Wall Street started pounding on them, too, D* executives undoubtedly reacted like most other public corporations and gave their engineers an arbitrary deadline, after which the box would be shipped. Which it was, probably to the dismay of the engineers who know there was much more to be done. :eek:

It made for a less than great consumer experience, but distracted the analysts and took heat off management. Such is life in the modern corporate world. :rolleyes:

And I thought I was a cynichttp://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon4.gifhttp://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon7.gif

I presume "reset" from the menu is adequate???
This is where I would go. There are really only two useful options. "reset recorder" which is the same as the red button. Then there is "reset everything" which will do just that AND WIPE OUT ALL RECORDED PROGRAMS on the disk. This will set the HR-20 back to "out of the box" condition [except it will maintain the new software update]. There is no "cleaner" reset available unless you replace the hardware, which would be the next step.

Did you think you weren't an unpaid beta tester?


actually, I'm a paid tester, total bill will be 45 dollars less this year because of this one :-)

actually, I'm a paid tester, total bill will be 45 dollars less this year because of this one :-)
I won't ask what your dollar/hour rate is. :rolleyes:
I'm glad you're getting something for it though. I'm "up to" $198 for the year - $20 paid for the 2-H20s & a HR-20. ;)

lol..I'm getting very little, but so far very few problems. I spent 15 dollars and change for the H20 with dish, and money back for the HR.

though, my monthly bill is still Hd, hbo, showtime, locals, Dvr, 3 receivers....so not like I'm cheaping out on then.

Because everyone was screaming at them to get the box out.

LOL

Everyone forgets how much D* got FLAMED for rolling out the HR20 in July, one whole month late. On AVS alone there were 4 or 5 threads with thousands of posts consisting of nothing but constant b****ing on a daily basis. Now everyone posts things like, "I didn't want to be an early adopter", and "How could they release this box until it was perfect!!!". I spent $15 for my two HR20s and they have been nothing short of spectacular. The new 0xEF release that was downloaded last night makes it even better.

Well it recorded a game on center ice, and then when it went to the D* logo it stopped recording and as far as I can tell, I have the whole game.

Another test drive tomorrow night and then a game I want to watch on Saturday, but won't get to in real time.

Well it recorded a game on center ice, and then when it went to the D* logo it stopped recording and as far as I can tell, I have the whole game.
Another test drive tomorrow night and then a game I want to watch on Saturday, but won't get to in real time.
One small step for mankind, one giant leap for DTV. ;)

As I have posted if you are having any problems with your HR-20:
Reset your box, force a software update if you don't have the latest.
If your still having troubles go to the menu for settings and select "reset everything" but remember this will delete all of your programs.
If you are still having problems, then most likely there is a hardware problem.
Call D* & tell them what it's doing AND that you've "reset everything". They will send out a replacement.
Last week's software was defective causing me to follow my "five steps". DTV sent a new unit within 60 hours!
Now that we know it was bad software, it's sitting in the unopened box waiting for the next glitch to come. I hope it will be a long wait. I've told them it will sit here for a couple of weeks before I send it back [unopened I hope].
I guess my "five steps" are now only three. :D

I apologize if this has been covered before, but I have a couple of questions regarding the HR20. I live in Albuquerque, and currently use the HR10-250 as my DVR. HD locals have been promised by year's end (we'll see if it actually comes to pass), and once we get them, I will strongly consider upgrading to the HR20. My questions are these:

Once I receive the MPEG-4 satellite upgrade, will my HR10-250 no longer work with my system? Or will it simply be unable to record HD programming? And if it can't record HD programming, would that mean ALL HD programming, or just the HD locals in the compressed MPEG-4 format?

When I upgrade to the HR20, I'm hoping to move my HR10-250 to another TV in our house. As long as it could continue to record standard def programming, I could find a home for it, but I'm hoping the satellite upgrade will not render it completely obsolete.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Once I receive the MPEG-4 satellite upgrade, will my HR10-250 no longer work with my system?...
Your HR10-250 will continue to be able to do whatever it does now, no more no less. It will continue to receive and record MPEG-2 and OTA HD as well as SD, but, of course, it cannot decode MPEG-4.

Thanks, Macfan424, for your quick response. Will the local channels be the only HD content in MPEG-4? (Will stuff like ESPN, HDNet, HBO, etc. remain in MPEG-2?)

And do you know if future D* HD channels will be MPEG-4 or MPEG-2?

Thanks again!

Sooner or later, D* will switch all satellite HD content to MPEG-4.

They are expected to add new national channels in MPEG-4 sometime next year (probably in the second half). They are not expected to add any more MPEG-2 channels due to limited capacity. (There is a remote possibility they might find a way to squeeze in one or two more, but I wouldn't bet on it.)

In all likelihood they will leave the existing MPEG-2 channels in place for a while, at least until have replaced existing MPEG-2 receivers for all customers who want to change. However, there is no certainty regarding how long that will be.

I'd look at any long term use of the HR10-250 as only being for HD OTA and SD satellite.

One small step for mankind, one giant leap for DTV. ;)


It is kind of sad when making a functinal product (particularly, what is essentially a better version of an existing one) seems to be an incredible challenge and we have to look at it in monumental terms.

How'd I miss the HR20 coming without an HDMI cable? Now I have to run out and get one and my installation is tomorrow! Which cable brand is preferred? Sorry for not searching this on this topic first, but this has thrown me for a loop.

When I got my Sony H200 four years ago, it came with a DVI cable (pre-HDMI days), and I assumed the HR20 came with a HDMI cable. Isn't the whole idea to use the best connection? Shouldn't DTV provide it in-the-box?

It is kind of sad when making a functinal product (particularly, what is essentially a better version of an existing one) seems to be an incredible challenge and we have to look at it in monumental terms.
You must remember that this is an "in house" product from D*, as opposed to the previous units.

How'd I miss the HR20 coming without an HDMI cable? Now I have to run out and get one and my installation is tomorrow! Which cable brand is preferred? Sorry for not searching this on this topic first, but this has thrown me for a loop.
When I got my Sony H200 four years ago, it came with a DVI cable (pre-HDMI days), and I assumed the HR20 came with a HDMI cable. Isn't the whole idea to use the best connection? Shouldn't DTV provide it in-the-box?
This isn't the $800 Sony. Radioshack was where I got my first one for the H-20, when I found this didn't come, as you.
My next cables will come from www.monoprice.com as they have a much better price.

You must remember that this is an "in house" product from D*, as opposed to the previous units.

I am aware and it kind of begs the questiopn, they paid (as I understand it) some real dollars to the tivo people so they would not be sued as E* was and make the HR20 when they could have had lots more happy customers much faster had they just worked with Tivo directly.

Or did I miss something, other than that they will ultimately make some more money this way, but at the same time make some existing customers plenty unhappy, some of whom will now give their dollars to cable companies, E* (assuming the patent wars end) and Verizon for FIOS.

I am aware and it kind of begs the questiopn, they paid (as I understand it) some real dollars to the tivo people so they would not be sued as E* was and make the HR20 when they could have had lots more happy customers much faster had they just worked with Tivo directly.

Or did I miss something, other than that they will ultimately make some more money this way, but at the same time make some existing customers plenty unhappy, some of whom will now give their dollars to cable companies, E* (assuming the patent wars end) and Verizon for FIOS.
This gets into the area of management's verses engineering's thinking. As a tech, the first doesn't alway make the same sense as the latter [to me].

This isn't the $800 Sony. Radioshack was where I got my first one for the H-20, when I found this didn't come, as you. My next cables will come from www.monoprice.com as they have a much better price.
Ah . . . a much needed dose of reality regarding the Sony. It's been a real workhorse for me and first brought HD into my life.

I made a quick call to my installer, and after his telling me to go component, I prevailed upon him to include an HDMI-to-DVI cable for me. But I'll remember the monoprice recommendation for future needs. Thanks!

Ah . . . a much needed dose of reality regarding the Sony. Thanks!
The "new reality" of Sony:
Sony brought HDTV into my life with the Sat HD-200 & KP-51WS500. The SAT HD-200 was crap. After 18 months of rebooting, they exchanged it with a HD-300. This solved the problem BUT I paid $800 for what I bought & they replaced it with a $345 unit. This was bad enough BUT now my TV has a bad CRT [$186.40], which Sony has discontinued, leaving me with a $2,300 broken TV. Federal law requires replacement parts to be available for 7 years. Mine's 3 1/2 old. Sony has offered to replace the TV for a "mere" $1,400! I could get the same replacement TV for $1,748 at my door.
Would you like to guess if I will ever buy a Sony product again after being loyal for the last 32 years?
Consumer affairs board, small claims court, etc are the only options left.
There's a nice Mitu WD-52631 DLP. My repair guy says they replaced a bad TV that was 8 years old for free, and Sony expects to sell me it at cost!
Sony ain't the Sony they used to be. :mad: :mad:

Macfan424,

THanks so much for your posts. You gave me EXACTLY the information I was looking for.

Cheers!

...Or did I miss something, other than that they will ultimately make some more money this way...
I think that covers it, although the NIH factor probably entered in as well.

Those of us sticking with the HR10 for awhile got the bonus of a software upgrade out of D*s new deal with TiVo. Unfortunately, they sent that out with bugs, too. :(

Macfan424,

THanks so much for your posts. You gave me EXACTLY the information I was looking for.

Cheers!
:cool: :)

What type of cable does the HR-20 output require...HDMI or DVI
Thanks for your help.

What type of cable does the HR-20 output require...HDMI or DVI
Thanks for your help.
HDMI

I think that covers it, although the NIH factor probably entered in as well.

Those of us sticking with the HR10 for awhile got the bonus of a software upgrade out of D*s new deal with TiVo. Unfortunately, they sent that out with bugs, too. :(

I do high tech management consulting, I am constatnly amazed at how many companies look at the bottom line and forgot how the money got there, like the top line yet they will do lots of things to antagonize people who provide the top line dollars.

If you have any doubts, read the general dissatisfaction of people who are leaving them for E* and cable.

My brother is going FIOS, pretty much as soon as he can.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon7.gif

What type of cable does the HR-20 output require...HDMI or DVI
Thanks for your help.


HDMI. I have the Sony 60XBR950 w/DVI. I'm using HDMI to DVI cable. Using the optical digital output to my Sony ES receiver.

I was having problems with my HR20. I called DirecTV and they shipped me out a (refurbished) unit. It arrived today and after I activated it I forced the new "software" 0xEF. So far so good.
My other unit would lock up and I'd have to toggle power and reboot it. Hopefully this unit will work better.
If I dont send the other unit back D* will charge me $479.00 :):) Its going back. They can refurbish it and send it to one of you guys working better then when it left me. :)

HDMI. I have the Sony 60XBR950 w/DVI. I'm using HDMI to DVI cable. Using the optical digital output to my Sony ES receiver.
I was having problems with my HR20. I called DirecTV and they shipped me out a (refurbished) unit. It arrived today and after I activated it I forced the new "software" 0xEF. So far so good.
My other unit would lock up and I'd have to toggle power and reboot it. Hopefully this unit will work better.
If I dont send the other unit back D* will charge me $479.00 :):) Its going back. They can refurbish it and send it to one of you guys working better then when it left me. :)
Did you have this version of software in your old HR-20?
My lockups seem to have come from bad software [at least it looks that way so far].
D* sent me a new replacement unit [not refurbished] & told me the non return charge would be $55. Since I had to fight over the $240 non-return charge for a H-20, I don't believe the $55 & bet you're right about $479.

Did you have this version of software in your old HR-20?
My lockups seem to have come from bad software [at least it looks that way so far].
D* sent me a new replacement unit [not refurbished] & told me the non return charge would be $55. Since I had to fight over the $240 non-return charge for a H-20, I don't believe the $55 & bet you're right about $479.


Yeah I had it on my old unit. Didnt help with lock ups. I noticed this refurbished unit vibrates slightly, my old unit didnt. But so far so good. :)
The $479 is printed on the instructions for sending the unit back. I have to call FEDX etc..

Make sure you record the shipping number and check its progress at the FedEx site. DirecTV is not the greatest at recording the receipt of receivers and you may need proof of delivery to avoid an erroneous charge.

Make sure you record the shipping number and check its progress at the FedEx site. DirecTV is not the greatest at recording the receipt of receivers and you may need proof of delivery to avoid an erroneous charge.


Will do! Thank you!

Make sure you record the shipping number and check its progress at the FedEx site. DirecTV is not the greatest at recording the receipt of receivers and you may need proof of delivery to avoid an erroneous charge.
This is a very good point. FedEx can use a new label which will make everything difficult, from one who spent 28 hours on the phone "making it right".

I noticed this refurbished unit vibrates slightly, my old unit didnt. But so far so good. :)
New my box had some vibration [to the touch] & after the latest software update, has become noisier. Sound like the drive head banging around. They've improved the speed & this may be a byproduct.

Ok. I just was informed from my wife that our HR20 locks up after we turn it on. I noticed that there was a new upgrade for the software so I am wondering if that is the culprit? Only thing that works is to reset the box and let it reinitialize everything again. The one draw back about working 12 hour shifts is not watching TV and finding out something is wrong from the wife and it is somehow my fault it is not working right!

Ok. I just was informed from my wife that our HR20 locks up after we turn it on. I noticed that there was a new upgrade for the software so I am wondering if that is the culprit? Only thing that works is to reset the box and let it reinitialize everything again. The one draw back about working 12 hour shifts is not watching TV and finding out something is wrong from the wife and it is somehow my fault it is not working right!
Well this must need to be fixed right now!
Do a forced download to make sure you have the newest software. Mine would lockup before the latest update. Since then, it is working fine.

Well this must need to be fixed right now!
Do a forced download to make sure you have the newest software. Mine would lockup before the latest update. Since then, it is working fine.
How do you do a Forced Download?

How do you do a Forced Download?
Go to my posting # 1186 on this forum.
I listed what I found to help you.
I'll be here for questions for a while.

Go to my posting # 1186 on this forum.
I listed what I found to help you.
I'll be here for questions for a while.
Thanks. I'm going to have to wait to do that until my sister in law watches CSI that I have recorded. Plus we still have Lost on there that we have not watched yet. Once we get through with those I'll give it a try and see how it goes. Now that I am off the next 4 days I can sit down and play with it and see what else is going on.

Thanks. I'm going to have to wait to do that until my sister in law watches CSI that I have recorded. Plus we still have Lost on there that we have not watched yet. Once we get through with those I'll give it a try and see how it goes. Now that I am off the next 4 days I can sit down and play with it and see what else is going on.
The software update should help. If it doesn't then the next step is in the setup menu. You will want to "reset everything" BUT THIS will wipe out all recorded programing. After this will be replacing the unit if you still have problems.

How do you do a Forced Download?

All I had to do to get my download was hit the red reset button on the front of the receiver next to the access card.

So far all is good.

The download has provided:

Faster 30 second skip
Added 4X forward/reverse
MyVod changes to My Playlist
Dolby Digital is fixed. You now must have it switched to "ON" to get 5.1

Have I missed anything?

For you that must return bad HR20, I would call Directv and ask them for a recovery kit.

This should have everything you need to send back including a prepaid FedEx label.

Just fill out the FROM portion and drop off to a FedEx place and be sure to keep the top of the FedEx label for proof.

With having my HR-20 for two weeks now, I've found the need to open the replacement box. Series links haven't always worked as they should. Some have but some [and they will vary] will not. I can go into the guide & find the program, then set it to record, but the series link icon will not show. I can get the record icon, but no series icon. Going into the menu I can setup the series link to record, but again it doesn't work on the "problem" show. The funny part is, I can go back into the to do list later & my "problem" show is ok, but another show then is screwed.
D* doesn't know of it being software issue, so I'm trying new hardware to see what happens. This is a "long term" issue as it needs to not have been reset for a number of days to find the problem.

I am still having a problem with not receiving any sound over the HD locals with Dolby ON. All other channels are fine. Apparently I am the only one. I spoke with D* tonight and this was the first they have heard of this. This began after the new software was received 11/17. Oddly I do get sound on SD locals with Dolby ON. It seems strange that this is completely isolated. I really did not want to lose my recordings, but I guess I will have to try oldschools reset trick.

I am still having a problem with not receiving any sound over the HD locals with Dolby ON. All other channels are fine. Apparently I am the only one. I spoke with D* tonight and this was the first they have heard of this. This began after the new software was received 11/17. Oddly I do get sound on SD locals with Dolby ON. It seems strange that this is completely isolated. I really did not want to lose my recordings, but I guess I will have to try oldschools reset trick.
It's a shame, but the only reset that I know of that would have any effect to resolve this would be the "reset everything" from the setup menu. This is the only thing that goes through resetting the "chips" in the recorder. You will lose your recording as this will also clean the disk.
You might try "reset recorder" first, but this isn't anything more than the red button & therefore doesn't do that much.
The sound on SD channels is just PCM and not dolby, so it sounds as if you have a problem decoding dolby [5.1 channel] sound.

Tier 2 is no guarantee of getting someone that knows much about the HR-20.
I've had some questions/problems with setting up series links.
First call to D* tier 2 today said it wasn't a software problem. After some playing around, I tried new hardware to see if it was hardware.
The new unit was showing the same thing, so I called D* tier 2 again.
This time "oh yeah we know about it" & it's a software issue. Email was sent to the software dept. As we kept playing around, she was using the TiVo HD unit to troubleshoot my problems. Didn't get anywhere [Duh].
End of the day... If you're having trouble with setting up a series link it may be that the data stream simply hasn't given the recorder all the information it needs.
You may see the program in the guide & when you press the record button, if you only get the icon for a single recording [and not the series icon], it means the recorder hasn't receive all of the information [yet]. If you go back to it later [after it has what it needs] you will either see that it is set to record the series or can then setup the series link.
Just because you can see the program in the guide doesn't mean all of the guide information has been downloaded.
So much for changing out the hardware needlessly, thanks to D*s tier 2 great tech support.

Earlier I asked about no HDMI cable with the HR20, and I'd like to share my install experience with all. Let me start with the good news: Had three very nice guys come to the house, they provided an HDMI-to-DVI cable free of charge, and they set me up with a new Slimline dish. The bad news: An install scheduled for Friday morphed into 8 hours over Saturday-Sunday, and the job still isn't done! Here are some details, and I'd be interested to know if others have experienced my latest (I so much want to say "last") hangup:

- HR20 and an International Dish scheduled for Friday install. I had been holding off on the International so it could be installed at the same time as the Slimline. I'd only have to stay home once, and they could do all the cabling, digging (two poles), and pointing at the same time. I was told the International was readily available, and whenever the HR20 came in, they'd have the International as well. Well, Friday PM I get a call from the installer: Good news, they're coming with the HR20, but the International is out of stock! I say B.S. They say OK, they're getting more Internationals "tonight" and they can do the install Saturday. OK.

- The first installer comes Saturday, installs both dishes, and after 2 hours can't get a signal on anything. Promises to come back first thing Sunday with two friends. OK.

- The trio come Sunday, and take another 6 hours to get HD and International reception on the HR20. OK.

- Leftover business #1: I have 2 other receivers that now cannot receive International channels from the new dish (fine on old dish). No one caught this in making the order. If anyone checked, they would've known my other 2 receivers were incompatible with the new dish. Called C.S. and they're sending out two receivers free-of-charge. OK.

- Leftover business #2: The 3 guys didn't setup the HR20's second line/tuner! This after staring for hours at a signal strength screen that clearly shows that both tuners need to be setup. Now they have to come back a third (I so much want to say "last") time. Has this kind of oversight been reported before?

they set me up with a new Slimline dish. - HR20 and an International Dish as the Slimline.
- Leftover business #1: I have 2 other receivers that now cannot receive International channels from the new dish (fine on old dish). No one caught this in making the order. If anyone checked, they would've known my other 2 receivers were incompatible with the new dish. Called C.S. and they're sending out two receivers free-of-charge. OK.
- Leftover business #2: The 3 guys didn't setup the HR20's second line/tuner! This after staring for hours at a signal strength screen that clearly shows that both tuners need to be setup. Now they have to come back a third (I so much want to say "last") time. Has this kind of oversight been reported before?
First: the Slimline dish I have has a provision for international channels with the addition of another LNB to the dish, not requiring a second dish.
Second: installers are for the most case, at the bottom of the food chain & therefore: paid the least, and have the least training or experience.
Ironwood Communications is notorious for this. I request supervisors for my service calls. They have the knowledge & experience.

Interesting veryoldschool. I was getting international on the 3LNB dish before, and I assume the same is the case for the 5LNB dishes. But when we ordered some new programming on -- I want to say Sat 95 -- I was told a new separate international dish would be needed. The installers did say eventually the Slimline could handle all international channels, but not at the moment. I'd like to learn more, but since this is OT for an HR20 thread, is there another thread that discusses international installs/service? Nothing relevant showed up in a first search.

Interesting veryoldschool. I was getting international on the 3LNB dish before, and I assume the same is the case for the 5LNB dishes. But when we ordered some new programming on -- I want to say Sat 95 -- I was told a new separate international dish would be needed. The installers did say eventually the Slimline could handle all international channels, but not at the moment. I'd like to learn more, but since this is OT for an HR20 thread, is there another thread that discusses international installs/service? Nothing relevant showed up in a first search.
I'm sorry that I'm not "a thread master" for you. I'm lucky to be able to type. My knowledge of the SlimLine dish comes from: 1- having one, 2- asking the installer what the "blank hole" was for on the LNB assemble. Since the SlimLine is new, the optional LNB may not yet be available.

I hope this is the correct thread for this question. If not someone please point me to the right one.

I have two HR20 units that I want to put in the same rack and operate independently using two remote.

Does anyone know how to change the remote code on these machines? I have not been able to find any instructions on the manual and online. I contacted DTV support and at first I has to explain why one would have two units on the same rack. After waiting for 10 minutes she told me that there is no way to do this. Which does not make any sense to me.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.
:confused:

I have two HR20 units that I want to put in the same rack and operate independently using two remote.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
:confused:
The simple way is to have one set for RF and the other set for IR. Go into the setup menu then remote, and it will instruct you as to what to do. You will most likely need to manually turn one off with the power button on the front panel so you won't be trying to program two units @ the same time.

I'm currently scheduled to get one on Wednesday morning... after reading several pages of this thread, not sure I''m going to jump in. We currently have a D* Tivo receiver (non-HD), and it works flawlessly.

I'm currently scheduled to get one on Wednesday morning... after reading several pages of this thread, not sure I''m going to jump in. We currently have a D* Tivo receiver (non-HD), and it works flawlessly.
This is a statement & not a question? :confused:

I'm currently scheduled to get one on Wednesday morning... after reading several pages of this thread, not sure I''m going to jump in. We currently have a D* Tivo receiver (non-HD), and it works flawlessly.

So how well does it "flawlessly" show HD? :p HD via HR20 is better than no HD.

Deezul

Originally Posted by tema
I have two HR20 units that I want to put in the same rack and operate independently using two remote.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.


The simple way is to have one set for RF and the other set for IR. Go into the setup menu then remote, and it will instruct you as to what to do. You will most likely need to manually turn one off with the power button on the front panel so you won't be trying to program two units @ the same time.

I believe you can also set the receivers so that they function with one remote set to sat for one and AV1 (or2) for the other. This changes the remote ID for one of the receivers and each will only respond to a remote setting (AV1 or sat) which has the correct id. In the H20 this is the lowest box in the remote set up. I believe this feature is also available in the HR20. It is a lot easier than having two separate remotes. It is also easier than it sounds.

So how well does it "flawlessly" show HD? :p HD via HR20 is better than no HD.

Deezul

True, but having your show actually record in 'low def' is better than not having it record in HD.

True, but having your show actually record in 'low def' is better than not having it record in HD.
My HR-20 is recording everything I'm asking it to in HD. While there have been some issues with special sports programing, I believe they've been resolved.

I hope this is the correct thread for this question. If not someone please point me to the right one.

I have two HR20 units that I want to put in the same rack and operate independently using two remote.

Does anyone know how to change the remote code on these machines? I have not been able to find any instructions on the manual and online. I contacted DTV support and at first I has to explain why one would have two units on the same rack. After waiting for 10 minutes she told me that there is no way to do this. Which does not make any sense to me.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.
:confused:

If you go to remote in the setup menu you will find a box marked receiver mode. This lets you set a remote id for each receiver and you can then use 1 remote and set "ID1" on the satellite setting and "ID2" on AV 1 or AV2 and at the same time this will set whichever box you did this with to "ID2" Once this is accomplished it will allow you to use 1 remote for both boxes.

Hope this helps.

I have an h20 and hr 20 and am moving them into the same room and this is how I will accomplish using them together.

My HR20-250 is due to be installed tomorrow. I'm wondering how this is going to turn out? I'll post after it is installed.

If you go to remote in the setup menu you will find a box marked receiver mode. This lets you set a remote id for each receiver and you can then use 1 remote and set "ID1" on the satellite setting and "ID2" on AV 1 or AV2 and at the same time this will set whichever box you did this with to "ID2" Once this is accomplished it will allow you to use 1 remote for both boxes.

Hope this helps.

I have an h20 and hr 20 and am moving them into the same room and this is how I will accomplish using them together.

how will you hook it up in the other room with the 2 sattelite in cables? I wanted to move mine but I just don't want to run another line for the 2nd sat line is this even necessary for the reciever to have?

Just wondering if Ethernet is enabled on this box, it would be easier than a phone line for some of us. Or has anyone gotten the phone to work over VOIP?

how will you hook it up in the other room with the 2 sattelite in cables? I wanted to move mine but I just don't want to run another line for the 2nd sat line is this even necessary for the reciever to have?

I have three lines coming in to the room. As I understand things, the one thing you can not do is run the leads through a splitter. My family room is directly above my basement and I know exactly how the framing runs so it is easy for me to bring up lines.

If you want to get full use from two HR 20's you will need four lines.

Hope this helps

I have three lines coming in to the room. As I understand things, the one thing you can not do is run the leads through a splitter. My family room is directly above my basement and I know exactly how the framing runs so it is easy for me to bring up lines.

If you want to get full use from two HR 20's you will need four lines.

Hope this helps

is it necessary to use both lines in the back of the reciever IE(sat 1 and sat 2) I tried messing around with the reciever today and unpugged the sat 2 cable and nothing happened so maybe I can just move this reciever to the other room and just hook up sat 1 instead of hooking up both. Anyone here have any installation info?

is it necessary to use both lines in the back of the reciever IE(sat 1 and sat 2) I tried messing around with the reciever today and unpugged the sat 2 cable and nothing happened so maybe I can just move this reciever to the other room and just hook up sat 1 instead of hooking up both. Anyone here have any installation info?
At this time, connecting only one cable will allow only one tuner to record programing, so if you want to have only half of the capabilities of your HR-20 working, one cable will work, otherwise you want two feeds from the dish. Greywolf has posted that in the future there will be a way to use one dish cable to feed both inputs of the HR-20, but not at this time.

Just wondering if Ethernet is enabled on this box, it would be easier than a phone line for some of us. Or has anyone gotten the phone to work over VOIP?

Ethernet functionality is NOT enabled. The box asks for an IP address via DHCP but cannot do anything with it.

There are those who have gotten VOIP to work with the box but there are too many variables for guarantees.

The phone is line is not important at all. D* does not care if it is hooked up and it is only used for reporting PPV events. The box will store 20 PPVs until it will not allow any more.

Just went you thought it might be safe to... a new update comes out.
Here's the link: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=70589

Stopped by a friends to help him setup his second box, installers one was fubared, so they shipped him one. I got it up and in the new software, it locked up and died about an hour after I left.

Guess he'll try for box #3 today...unbelievable.

Just went you thought it might be safe to... a new update comes out.
Here's the link: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=70589

I never thought it was safe and the new download only confirms that. The sound on mine is often well out of synch (way behind, so bad that I saw an interception as the announcer was saying the quarterback was dropping back to pass) and last night I had to do a reset, (and I had done one the day it downloaded last week) because the background music was there for CSI Miami, but not the voice track!!! I was watching about 20 mins behind, but even when I tuned to live there and turned dolby off there was no voice track either.

I did notice in one of the DBS talk threads that the "pink" box in the fast forward mode was supposed to be fixed in the last download. It is still there and believe me pink is the least of my worries. On Saturday a Center Ice game I wanted to watch (in SD) came up as an unauthorized channel. Fortunately my Samsung box connected to the DVD recorder was able to tune it. Well, maybe not fortunately, the game was terrible.
:eek:

Got my HR-20 and new dish installed today (Fort Worth Texas). Installer was on time, clean, fast and did a very professinal job. No problems...installer got his $20 tip and was on his way after 2 hrs.
So far all is good, very happy with unit. :)

Are there any HR20 experts who can answer this question?

I have two HR20 units that I want to put in the same rack and operate independently using two remotes.

I am able to do this with HR10-250 units. I can not believe the latest model does not have this feature.

Does anyone know how to change the remote code on these machines? I have not been able to find any instructions on the manual and online. I contacted DTV support and at first I had to explain why one would have two units on the same rack. After waiting for 10 minutes she told me that there is no way to do this. Which does not make any sense to me.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

My installer was 2.5 hours late, but once he got here he did a good job. In addition to needing a new antenna, I needed another line run into the bedroom for the HR10-250 that was replaced by the HR20-700. It was a three hour job here.

Are there any HR20 experts who can answer this question?
I have two HR20 units that I want to put in the same rack and operate independently using two remotes.
I am able to do this with HR10-250 units. I can not believe the latest model does not have this feature.
Does anyone know how to change the remote code on these machines? I have not been able to find any instructions on the manual and online. I contacted DTV support and at first I had to explain why one would have two units on the same rack. After waiting for 10 minutes she told me that there is no way to do this. Which does not make any sense to me.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Didn't our posts yesterday help you? Please go back one page & read the 2 or 3 posts for you. If they don't work or you have more questions, we'll be glad to help you further.

Ironwood was here today to install my HR20. I was gone and my wife merely let the installer do his job and he left. When I got home a little bit ago, I looked at the satellite there are only 3 LNBs. I'm supposed to get a 5 LNB dish. I know this is going to sound like a stupid question, but does the 5LNB only have 3 visible LNBs?

Thanks,

Paul

Ironwood was here today to install my HR20. I was gone and my wife merely let the installer do his job and he left. When I got home a little bit ago, I looked at the satellite there are only 3 LNBs. I'm supposed to get a 5 LNB dish. I know this is going to sound like a stupid question, but does the 5LNB only have 3 visible LNBs?
Thanks,
Paul
Stupid, no!
The three LNBs are mounted into one assembly with a single white cover. The other two are visible, so looking at the dish, you will see three white covers over all five LNBs.

Thanks so much. I was worried I'd have to have the installer come back out.

I have the "slimline" dish and there appears to be extra places for LNBs and that's what got me wondering.

Thanks for the peace of mind.

Thanks so much. I was worried I'd have to have the installer come back out.
I have the "slimline" dish and there appears to be extra places for LNBs and that's what got me wondering.
Thanks for the peace of mind.
I try...
The "extra places" [only one I think] I was told was for the international programing, which comes off another SAT.

[QUOTE=dhkinil]I never thought it was safe and the new download only confirms that. The sound on mine is often well out of synch (way behind, so bad that I saw an interception as the announcer was saying the quarterback was dropping back to pass) and last night I had to do a reset, (and I had done one the day it downloaded last week) because the background music was there for CSI Miami, but not the voice track!!! I was watching about 20 mins behind, but even when I tuned to live there and turned dolby off there was no voice track either.


So last night it would not let me watch the hockey game on versus in HD on channel 95. It kept saying, channel not purchased. I had to do a complete reset, the third option on the reset menu. It is the third or fourth I have done since the software download. I hope it is the last.
:o

[QUOTE=dhkinil]I never thought it was safe and the new download only confirms that. The sound on mine is often well out of synch (way behind, so bad that I saw an interception as the announcer was saying the quarterback was dropping back to pass) and last night I had to do a reset, (and I had done one the day it downloaded last week) because the background music was there for CSI Miami, but not the voice track!!! I was watching about 20 mins behind, but even when I tuned to live there and turned dolby off there was no voice track either.
So last night it would not let me watch the hockey game on versus in HD on channel 95. It kept saying, channel not purchased. I had to do a complete reset, the third option on the reset menu. It is the third or fourth I have done since the software download. I hope it is the last.
:o
I would say that sucks...
The first "sound" issue seems more like the station than your unit [to me]. I've seen similar problems but I believe it was the station(s) screwing up as their equipment goes down too..
There is another software update 0xFA that came down last night [24 hours after 0xF6]. I did a "reset everything" last week some time & haven't really had any problems [except for bad Tier2 CSRs]. I'm on my second box but only because of nit-wits @ D*. Of course the box has only 72 hours on it & it's third software update. The box is working, but I've lost all track of pretty much everything. I wish I could send you my "return box" as the unit works fine, in my testing.

Thanks for all the help on the LNBs, now another question.

I've been playing around with my HR20 and for the most part I'm very satisfied. The one thing that bothers me is the "Tivo" aspect. What I truly miss is the way that when hitting play after Fast-forwarding, Tivo would back up a few seconds to start playing. Is there a way to set this on the HR20 or will I have to continually try to presage the end of the commercials?

Thanks,

Paul

Thanks for all the help on the LNBs, now another question.
I've been playing around with my HR20 and for the most part I'm very satisfied. The one thing that bothers me is the "Tivo" aspect. What I truly miss is the way that when hitting play after Fast-forwarding, Tivo would back up a few seconds to start playing. Is there a way to set this on the HR20 or will I have to continually try to presage the end of the commercials?
Thanks,
Paul
Tivo users have been complaining about this forever. Last nights software download seemed to add this to mine, but I haven't used a Tivo box to know for sure. I just use the "new & improved" 30 sec jump.

...The first "sound" issue seems more like the station than your unit [to me]...
Yes, there have been a number of complaints about Monday's CSI Miami audio problems on the Chicago OTA forum.

Has the retention # changed from 1-800-824-9081? The prompts seem different.
I called them previously and was given a decent offer. Thay now have no record of it.
The current 'best' offer for a D* 12 year subscriber is $299 for the hr20 with 4 months of HBO @ $2 and free HD programming for 4 months.
Any thoughts?

Has the retention # changed from 1-800-824-9081? The prompts seem different.
I called them previously and was given a decent offer. Thay now have no record of it.
The current 'best' offer for a D* 12 year subscriber is $299 for the hr20 with 4 months of HBO @ $2 and free HD programming for 4 months.
Any thoughts?
There is no direct number to retention anymore. It seems this forum swamped the number, so it has been added to the "normal" system. They gave me an "express" number: 1-800-695-9251, but you will still need to be transferred to retention.
I would call, make a stink, and "remind them" of their offer. They gave me my HR-20, after I pointed out it was going to be a lease & I wouldn't pay for something I didn't own.

Yes, there have been a number of complaints about Monday's CSI Miami audio problems on the Chicago OTA forum.

It was not there even at the end of the first part of the recording. I did a reset about 1/2 way through, mostly to see what would happen and once I did, I had sound after that????? :confused:

[QUOTE=dhkinil]
I would say that sucks...
The first "sound" issue seems more like the station than your unit [to me]. I've seen similar problems but I believe it was the station(s) screwing up as their equipment goes down too..
There is another software update 0xFA that came down last night [24 hours after 0xF6]. I did a "reset everything" last week some time & haven't really had any problems [except for bad Tier2 CSRs]. I'm on my second box but only because of nit-wits @ D*. Of course the box has only 72 hours on it & it's third software update. The box is working, but I've lost all track of pretty much everything. I wish I could send you my "return box" as the unit works fine, in my testing.

I did get a download at 3 this morning, I assume it was OxFA, I did not get OxF6, or at least it was not in the history before or after the complete reset. It did show the download from last week in the history after the reset. It was the only thing in there. :confused:

I've only recieved oxfa also and that was just this morining. Maybe the oxf6 is for ppl with hd locals which is not yet offered in my area :(

I've only recieved oxfa also and that was just this morining. Maybe the oxf6 is for ppl with hd locals which is not yet offered in my area :(

No I have HD locals, and one is pixelated often and I only got one download this week as well. It is possible that the first download did not correct all that it was supposed to, that happened witht he last major download.

It was not there even at the end of the first part of the recording. I did a reset about 1/2 way through, mostly to see what would happen and once I did, I had sound after that????? :confused:
Coincidence????

Having read all the comments, I was planning to just delete the episode without viewing it, but hadn't yet, so I checked my recording made OTA on an HR10-250, and the center track came on about 14 minutes in. I didn't check further to see if it dropped out again later or not.

If I liked the show better, I'd probably watch it anyway using CC for the first 1/4, but missing David Caruso for a week is no big disappointment to me. :rolleyes: (I watch it for the audio/video production values, which almost offset the "star.")

No I have HD locals, and one is pixelated often and I only got one download this week as well. It is possible that the first download did not correct all that it was supposed to, that happened witht he last major download.
Being a "left coaster" they give me everything, even before it works. So consider yourself lucky to miss the downloads that aren't national releases.

Coincidence????

Having read all the comments, I was planning to just delete the episode without viewing it, but hadn't yet, so I checked my recording made OTA on an HR10-250, and the center track came on about 14 minutes in. I didn't check further to see if it dropped out again later or not.

If I liked the show better, I'd probably watch it anyway using CC for the first 1/4, but missing David Caruso for a week is no big disappointment to me. :rolleyes: (I watch it for the audio/video production values, which almost offset the "star.")

We are not big fans either, but we do need to watch a "murder a night" in our house. We do tivo a lot of City Confodentials. American Justices, etc. :)

Being a "left coaster" they give me everything, even before it works. So consider yourself lucky to miss the downloads that aren't national releases.

It is a sad commentary on things when you feel fortunate that you did not get the updated software. :rolleyes:

It is a sad commentary on things when you feel fortunate that you did not get the updated software. :rolleyes:
I got this knowing I would be an unofficial beta tester. I keep thinking: they should pay me for this, oops, they did by giving it to me & some programing credits.
It's working. I have given up any long term testing as it's changing every 24 hr.
Oh well, it's working better than my Sony TV & Sony's total screw job over their defective TV, but that's another [expensive] story.

I got this knowing I would be an unofficial beta tester. I keep thinking: they should pay me for this, oops, they did by giving it to me & some programing credits.
It's working. I have given up any long term testing as it's changing every 24 hr.
Oh well, it's working better than my Sony TV & Sony's total screw job over their defective TV, but that's another [expensive] story.

i think a lot of us have gotten credits for being unofficial beta testers, it is just that some of us have been more official unofficial than others. :)

VeryOldSchool, I have the same model TV as you and now have the same D* box. Question. What did you set the output resolutions to in the HR20?

VeryOldSchool, I have the same model TV as you and now have the same D* box. Question. What did you set the output resolutions to in the HR20?
1080I with native off.

Watch out for your blue CRT to burn-in. Mine has started to fade, pillar boxes are still strong. but from there it gets weaker. Sony has discontinued stocking all replacement CRTs, leaving me "out in the cold" with my 3.5 year old HDTV. I'm not a very happy camper & Sony's customer service has basically told me to go F**k myself.

Thanks.

I've only recieved oxfa also and that was just this morining. Maybe the oxf6 is for ppl with hd locals which is not yet offered in my area :(

0xF6 was intended to be nationally released and rolled out over a few evenings. The development team changed their mind after the first evening, added a few more changes, and released 0xFA nationally the next evening. There is no such thing as a regional or market oriented release. Everyone gets the same release, even if it takes a few days to do it.

I've been playing around with my HR20 and for the most part I'm very satisfied. The one thing that bothers me is the "Tivo" aspect. What I truly miss is the way that when hitting play after Fast-forwarding, Tivo would back up a few seconds to start playing. Is there a way to set this on the HR20 or will I have to continually try to presage the end of the commercials.

The "back up" thing is a TIVO patent. It will not be present any time soon on the HR20. On the HR20 I do not have to FF through commercials. I have already adjusted to learn how long commercials really take. For instance, on NFL games they take exactly 2 minutes for a commercial. The HR20 slips forward exactly 30 seconds each time you press the button, it only takes 2 seconds, and it queues them for you. As soon as a commercial break starts on an NFL game I hit 30 sec slip 4 times. 6 seconds later I am watching the next play. It is faster and I don't have to watch the screen while it is happening.

Warning...this method requires the user to be intelligent and not a whiner. It will not be appropriate for some adults and most children under 10.

Warning...this method requires the user to be intelligent and not a whiner. It will not be appropriate for some adults and most children under 10.[/QUOTE]

hahahahahahaha, some of these people just like to complain no matter what.

ya i have had my hr20 for about 2 months now and it has happened about three time on hd and non hd channels so im not sure what to do and dtv ppl are idiots and they have no idea what to do about it i hope someone else reads this and helps me out

I've had this exact problem 5-8 times (playing back a recorded/recording show and the screen goes black and won't play. . . . mine actually causes the box to reboot after about 30 seconds!!!). It seems to only happen when I'm recording HD particularly the ABC HD shows, weird!!! It screws up Desperate Housewives every week for the last 3 weeks! (my wife is supremely annoyed at this). I can't trust the HR20 any more. I have to make sure it is working if I can every time now! The recent update is nice but hasn't helped my on this issue yet. Someone help me out here!

I've had this exact problem 5-8 times (playing back a recorded/recording show and the screen goes black and won't play. . . . mine actually causes the box to reboot after about 30 seconds!!!). I can't trust the HR20 any more. The recent update is nice but hasn't helped my on this issue yet. Someone help me out here!
I've had two times where I've hit "play" & had a back screen. Both times the program was recording while I hit play. I've pressed RR which has started the program [no black screen]. It seemed to have "gotten lost" as it was starting to play the program [or never completed the task].
If this doesn't solve it for you then:
1- watch all recorded programs, as #2 will delete them.
2- go into the setup menu, select reset & then reset everything. This will cause the unit to "zero" itself. You will need to complete the installation setup all over again.
3- if this still doesn't resolve it, then call D* for a replacement & tell them you've already done a "reset everything" [which they require before replacement].

Is there a special way to setup the output to HDMI or do you just plug the cable in and it goes. Reason that I ask is that my unit may have a faulty HDMI output.

If I turn my unit off and plug in the HDMI cable, the unit will not turn back on until I unplug the cable. If I leave the unit on and plug in the HDMI cable then I just get a blank screen.

Is there a special way to setup the output to HDMI or do you just plug the cable in and it goes. Reason that I ask is that my unit may have a faulty HDMI output.
If I turn my unit off and plug in the HDMI cable, the unit will not turn back on until I unplug the cable. If I leave the unit on and plug in the HDMI cable then I just get a blank screen.
This is a new one. You should "only" need to plug it in before your turn it on. If you try after the unit is on then it won't go through the "hand shake" required.
Is your HDMI cable good?
Can you try to check it out on something else?
Your HDMI cable could be bad or the box, but without some substitution it's hard to isolate. If you have an Ohm meter you can check the cable, but it might be easier to get another cable from a store that will take it back [Fry's, etc.] if it isn't the cable.

This is a new one. You should "only" need to plug it in before your turn it on. If you try after the unit is on then it won't go through the "hand shake" required.
Is your HDMI cable good?
Can you try to check it out on something else?
Your HDMI cable could be bad or the box, but without some substitution it's hard to isolate. If you have an Ohm meter you can check the cable, but it might be easier to get another cable from a store that will take it back [Fry's, etc.] if it isn't the cable.

I tried 2 different brand of cables (both are high quality) and I get the same results. It is very odd. I turn off the HR20. Plug the HDMI cable in. Then press the 'power' button to turn it on. The unit will not turn on with the HDMI plugged in. But once I disconnect the HDMI, the unit will turn on without me pressing the 'power' button.

Remember the HR20 is actually "on" all the time, switching it off just disables the outputs. My guess is that when you switch it on, the Hr20 goes through its start-up sequence and part of the sequence is negotiating the "handshake" with the TV over HDMI. There is something in that handshake that isn't working correctly and so the startup sequence never completes.
I have seen several reports of HDMI connections (including other devices like cable set-top boxes) where the HDMI connection only works when the TV and device are powered up in a particular sequence, or need to be powered up before the cable is connected. Looks like yours is just another variation on that.
I don't believe this is anything to do with either the cable or the HR20 hardware, so there is no point in asking for a replacement box. Some HDMI problems seem to be HR20 software-related, others are with the TV. Samsung seems to be by far the most trouble-prone, then Sony. What type of TV do you have??
DirecTV is looking at all these issues and every software release has several HDMI-related fixes. I believe some of the TV manufacturers have also made modifications to their firmware. All I can suggest is that you do what many people have done and use component video connections until the problem is fixed. In most cases you can't see the difference between component and HDMI.

I tried 2 different brand of cables (both are high quality) and I get the same results. It is very odd. I turn off the HR20. Plug the HDMI cable in. Then press the 'power' button to turn it on. The unit will not turn on with the HDMI plugged in. But once I disconnect the HDMI, the unit will turn on without me pressing the 'power' button.
Ok, it's not the cable(s). It is either the HR-20 or your TV.
I would watch all of your recorded programs & then do a "reset everything" from the setup menu. This will delete all of your recordings [not that this is the problem] and will do the most complete resetting of the HR-20's hardware [which hopefully will correct the problem]. If this doesn't solve it. then get "creative" and call D* telling them it won't power up & have them send a replacement. If this doesn't solve your problem, it most likely would be the TV.

Anything I should watch out for as my installers come back today to connect my HR20's second tuner? For instance, my coax coming out of the wall already has a diplexer with one line going into SAT 1 and the other going into Off Air (which I know is not yet activated, but I had this line going into my previous receiver for OTA). Should the SAT 1 and SAT 2 be connected in a particular way? I ask because my installers totally missed the second tuner the first time around, and they may be equally clueless today. Thanks.

I've done a search of this forum and couldn't find an answer to my question, forgive me if it's already been covered and if this is the wrong forum to ask it in. I've got the HR20-700 hooked up to 46" XBR2 (mixed bag of Pluses and minuses coming from Tivo). My question is, has anyone successfully hooked up the HR20 to your home network? and if so what proccess did you use? The manual says the network connection is for "future use" but I know people have networked their Tivo boxes in the past. My Networked computers are PC based Windows XP with the latest updates, if this helps.

Thanks in advance

Anything I should watch out for as my installers come back today to connect my HR20's second tuner? For instance, my coax coming out of the wall already has a diplexer with one line going into SAT 1 and the other going into Off Air (which I know is not yet activated, but I had this line going into my previous receiver for OTA). Should the SAT 1 and SAT 2 be connected in a particular way? I ask because my installers totally missed the second tuner the first time around, and they may be equally clueless today. Thanks.


My installer said you can't use a diplexer....he ran three lines, two from the dish and one from the OTA antenna. I ask him to run the one from the antenna to TV so to get local off air channels.

My question is, has anyone successfully hooked up the HR20 to your home network? and if so what proccess did you use? The manual says the network connection is for "future use" but I know people have networked their Tivo boxes in the past. My Networked computers are PC based Windows XP with the latest updates, if this helps.
Thanks in advance
As D* said "future use". It doesn't do anything but find a DHCP address so far. The copyright boys are still stopping any chance of getting a digital program out of the box.

Thanks for the info VeryOS, That's what i figured but I had to ask just incase someone had discovered a work around.

HDMI should work correctly after the unit upgrades itself.

Mine was not working so I had it running through component. It upgraged itself that night.

The next morning I tried HDMI and it worked fine.

Oh,

Does anyone know if you can dim the display?

The blue circle is REALLY bright and distracting....

"Oh,

Does anyone know if you can dim the display?

The blue circle is REALLY bright and distracting.... "

Yeah ON THE BOX hold the left arrow and tap the right arrow, it steps down in brightness about four times I think, until it turns off entirely. That's at least ONE thing that made it in the manual. ;)

This is the only operation that helped me. Simultaneously,press down the record buton and the the down buutton on the face panel. When the record button lights up red release both buttons. The box will cycle through as if you performed a reset everythihng operation, yet slower.

This is the only operation that helped me. Simultaneously,press down the record buton and the the down buutton on the face panel. When the record button lights up red release both buttons. The box will cycle through as if you performed a reset everythihng operation, yet slower.
After doing a reformat & then a "reset everything" which clears the hardware too, I think the reset everything is the better of the two. If you "only" have a corrupt file on the drive then you could "just" reformat. Both tasks only due a quick format [as opposed to a computer's full format].
Are you saying that you did a "reset everything" & it didn't help, but afterwards doing "just" a reformat did? It sound more like your "reset everything" was "reset the recorder". In the setup menu under reset were three options, with "everything" being the last & most extensive.
I am very interested in your results.

Remember the HR20 is actually "on" all the time, switching it off just disables the outputs. My guess is that when you switch it on, the Hr20 goes through its start-up sequence and part of the sequence is negotiating the "handshake" with the TV over HDMI. There is something in that handshake that isn't working correctly and so the startup sequence never completes.
I have seen several reports of HDMI connections (including other devices like cable set-top boxes) where the HDMI connection only works when the TV and device are powered up in a particular sequence, or need to be powered up before the cable is connected. Looks like yours is just another variation on that.
I don't believe this is anything to do with either the cable or the HR20 hardware, so there is no point in asking for a replacement box. Some HDMI problems seem to be HR20 software-related, others are with the TV. Samsung seems to be by far the most trouble-prone, then Sony. What type of TV do you have??
DirecTV is looking at all these issues and every software release has several HDMI-related fixes. I believe some of the TV manufacturers have also made modifications to their firmware. All I can suggest is that you do what many people have done and use component video connections until the problem is fixed. In most cases you can't see the difference between component and HDMI.

The HR20 actually connects to a DVDO Iscan VP50 before going to the TV. I am using the Sharp 45 inch GX series 1080p panel. The connection from the VP50 to the TV works perfectly. It is the connection between the HR20 and the VP50 that is not working. I will test more different scnerios of the boot up in the next couple of days.

The HR20 actually connects to a DVDO Iscan VP50 before going to the TV. I am using the Sharp 45 inch GX series 1080p panel. The connection from the VP50 to the TV works perfectly. It is the connection between the HR20 and the VP50 that is not working. I will test more different scnerios of the boot up in the next couple of days.
That's one hell of a interface box. What version software are you using for it? Is it the beta for it or the "production"?
I would guess if this were "out of the loop", you wouldn't have the problem. It's worth the test to try to isolate where the trouble is. Here is the link to their software updates: http://www.dvdo.com/update/update-vp.php
Their release notes for it do refer to HDMI "issues", so it might be your culprit.

My installer said you can't use a diplexer....he ran three lines, two from the dish and one from the OTA antenna. I ask him to run the one from the antenna to TV so to get local off air channels.
Ah cr*p . . . now I've got to get them back for a 3rd time. They left the diplexer on and didn't run a new line. I think I'll wait till OTA is activated to make sure I'm getting signal. Thanks for the heads up.

My installer said you can't use a diplexer....he ran three lines, two from the dish and one from the OTA antenna. I ask him to run the one from the antenna to TV so to get local off air channels.
Ah cr*p . . . now I've got to get them back for a 3rd time. They left the diplexer on and didn't run a new line. I think I'll wait till OTA is activated to make sure I'm getting signal. Thanks for the heads up.

Updates from today's call to D*:
1- New OTA software due out 12-1 [Fri.], to force the download use 02468 [on the remote] @ startup screen
2- "Reset Everything" from the setup menu will do more than a reformat. They say a reformat is for when [if] the unit hangs up at the startup screen [not letting you into the setup menu to do a reset].

Here are two threads regarding up-to-the-minute info on OTA and the HR20.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=71167

And the popular OTA status thread...

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=69780

There is no need to force the download of the new firmware. When it is available your HR20 will download it automatically around 3 am on the day it is put up on the satellite.

[QUOTE=veryoldschool]Updates from today's call to D*:
1- New express ph# 1-800-353-XXXX--------------------------------
That is NOT a new express nbr....it is the old nbr that only D*'s "A" list
customer's are suppose to use to avoid wait times & receive same day service
calls....I have a feeling that D* will not be happy for publishing it for public display.
:mad:

There is no need to force the download of the new firmware. When it is available your HR20 will download it automatically around 3 am on the day it is put up on the satellite.
My call to D* was with someone that seemed "on the ball", not that anybody can really count on D*. This said, I think 12-1 AM is valid [for PST], others [as he explained] might want to download it sooner than the auto download [time] for them. All still rumors, but as a left coaster, I'll know Fri.

[QUOTE=veryoldschool]Updates from today's call to D*:
1- New express ph# 1-800-XXX-XXXX
--------------------------------
That is NOT a new express nbr....it is the old nbr that only D*'s "A" list
customer's are suppose to use to avoid wait times & receive same day service
calls....I have a feeling that D* will not be happy for publishing it for public display.
:mad:
D* changes their "express" numbers almost weekly. This is the replacement for the "PIN" number that didn't last long. I'm on my 3rd or 4th "express #". You seem more upset about it than D* [& their CSR] who knew just what I would do with it.

[QUOTE=kmullen]
D* changes their "express" numbers almost weekly. This is the replacement for the "PIN" number that didn't last long. I'm on my 3rd or 4th "express #". You seem more upset about it than D* [& their CSR] who knew just what I would do with it.
-------
You are 100 percent wrong....D* does not have any direct nbrs anymore, that
is why they started the "pin nbr" and this is not a replacement nbr.....
and yes as a "A" list customer, I resent the number being given out.....
here is the responce from D* on the subject via E-mail........
--------------------
Response (Brandon) 11/28/2006 04:59 PM
Dear Mr. XXXXXX,

Thanks for writing and informing us of this issue. We will contact the administrators of the site provided in your message and request that they remove the A-List phone number from being displayed in the forum. However, unfortunately we are unable to force them to do this, and they may not adhere to our requests.

I can assure you that regardless of the outcome, we will continue to provide you with outstanding service, and the A-List line is staffed to be able to handle additional volume. I can also assure you that any special offers provided specifically to our A-List customers will not be available to other customers, regardless of the number they use to contact us.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please let us know and we will assist you as quickly as possible.

Thanks again for writing.

Sincerely,

Brandon
ID# 100092907
DIRECTV Customer Service

[QUOTE=veryoldschool]
You are 100 percent wrong....D* does not have any direct nbrs anymore, that
is why they started the "pin nbr" and this is not a replacement nbr.....
and yes as a "A" list customer, I resent the number being given out.....
I'm glad you know all about my phone call with D* & what the CSR and I spoke of.
You wear your "A list" as a badge of honor. If you read D*s email, they're just trying to make you feel better, since you seem to have "hurt feeling" that a commoner might get your A-list service. What a joke!
-4388 :p

That's one hell of a interface box. What version software are you using for it? Is it the beta for it or the "production"?
I would guess if this were "out of the loop", you wouldn't have the problem. It's worth the test to try to isolate where the trouble is. Here is the link to their software updates: http://www.dvdo.com/update/update-vp.php
Their release notes for it do refer to HDMI "issues", so it might be your culprit.

I have the new beta software for it and it still is non-functional. I will have to take the time and isolate the problem.

I have the new beta software for it and it still is non-functional. I will have to take the time and isolate the problem.
It would be worth connecting the HR straight to your TV, just to prove it works [or not] as a "baseline". HD programing is the hardest to get through the copyguard of HDMI's "handshake". Your other units may pass signals much easier. The HR-20 could be bad or it's the very new switching box. I'm sure it's worth the time & trouble to locate so you can address the right people for your fix.

Just when you think it is finally safe to rely on the DVR and not also record on the DVD recorder hard drive, the new DVR cancels three scheduled programs, two center ice games and a CSI!!! :rolleyes:

It would be worth connecting the HR straight to your TV, just to prove it works [or not] as a "baseline". HD programing is the hardest to get through the copyguard of HDMI's "handshake". Your other units may pass signals much easier. The HR-20 could be bad or it's the very new switching box. I'm sure it's worth the time & trouble to locate so you can address the right people for your fix.

Unfortunetly, I cant do that as the panel accepts 1080p only. I removed the AVC box that it came with so that I could feed it 1080p directly, otherwise no 1080p. Unfortnetly the HR20 does not output 1080p. I will play around with it and figure it out.

[QUOTE=kmullen]
D* changes their "express" numbers almost weekly. This is the replacement for the "PIN" number that didn't last long. I'm on my 3rd or 4th "express #". You seem more upset about it than D* [& their CSR] who knew just what I would do with it.

Is the express number the same as retention?


I think it's pretty funny they say something like "no matter who calls us, we only give deals to A list customers."

in my experience, that's crap. It's not the customer that matters, it's the CSR you get.

though, maybe everyone I know personally, and have read about, is an A lister?

About two weeks+ ago, they changed the dial direct numbers.
You now HAVE to go through the first tier, unless you already have any they provided you an expiring PIN code, to get direct access to the other departments.

Is the express number the same as retention?
I think it's pretty funny they say something like "no matter who calls us, we only give deals to A list customers." in my experience, that's crap. It's not the customer that matters, it's the CSR you get. though, maybe everyone I know personally, and have read about, is an A lister?
About a month ago, the retention number was "dumped" into the regular D* system. If you want retention, you will need to be transferred to them. For a while D* ran a "PIN" number that was to be a "shortcut". The PIN was increased by one for each day. This took about two seconds for everyone to figure out. This week, the "PIN" number was discontinued. The "express" number was to replace it. It is to move you to the top of the "Q" & reduce your wait time. Since they know who you are, you can't "fake" being "on the A list" [gosh]. There's at least one pinhead, that takes it as a personal attack, if a non A list were to use it.
A-list according to D* [I asked] is someone that pays the bill & has [been a sucker for] the new equipment, for a while.

reading all of the complaint about the HR20 is making me a little worried as I just got put on the waiting list to upgrade my D* SD Tivo (which I enjoy very much). I am concerned that the functionality of the HR20 isn't what everyone thought it would be.

My question is should I wait until all the bugs are worked out and just enjoy my OTA HD and my SD Tivo. My other concern is WAF if the HR20 is full of bugs I can already hear it now.

Please advise

reading all of the complaint about the HR20 is making me a little worried as I just got put on the waiting list to upgrade my D* SD Tivo (which I enjoy very much). I am concerned that the functionality of the HR20 isn't what everyone thought it would be. My question is should I wait until all the bugs are worked out and just enjoy my OTA HD and my SD Tivo. My other concern is WAF if the HR20 is full of bugs I can already hear it now.Please advise
I think I was exactly where you are just a few weeks ago. I was waiting for my installation and wondering if it was a big mistake. It wasn’t for me. There are still some bugs being worked out & it doesn’t work exactly as your Tivo so there is some adapting to it [I didn’t have a Tivo so it didn’t bug me]. All tolled it works well after the software upgrade of a couple of weeks ago. PQ is great! The ability to pause a program is nice. I would recommend it in its present form [with updates still coming]. OTA is due soon & might have some bugs with it as nobody has seen how it works yet. I still have my H20s, but find myself using the HR-20 all of the time.
Remember this forum is for people who mostly have problems & are looking for help, as D* customer support [to be nice] is hit or miss. I can get any answer [right or wrong] I want from them by just calling back to another CSR. Some are good & some don’t have a clue. As I’ve been part of this forum, the overall complaints have dropped off measurably, which I think is a sign that the units are working [well] & the members of this forum have been able to offer help to those in need.
As a backup, keep your old Tivo [as some do] since there is one member with problems recording "center ice". Mine records what I want, when I want. YMMV :)

How many programs will the Hr 20 record at the same time?

How many programs will the Hr 20 record at the same time?
Two [with the two cables from the dish]. There is some rumor that it might record 3 after the OTA is enabled [2-OTA & 1-SAT or 2-SAT & 1-OTA]. but I wouldn't count on this.

How many programs will the Hr 20 record at the same time?With two satellite inputs. two programs can be recorded. The manual says the thing can record two Sat and one OTA at the same time but that has generally been construed as an error. Don't expect it to work when OTA gets activated.

So with that said, the same basic functions of the tivo are on the hr20.

Sorry for being such a noob on this, I am just trying to get the information so I can explain it to my wife.

I live in Texas and currently getting all the network television feeds from LA and NY through my D*. Will this still be possible with my HR 20?

I am just trying to get the information so I can explain it to my wife. I live in Texas and currently getting all the network television feeds from LA and NY through my D*. Will this still be possible with my HR 20?
SD programs can come from both coasts, but the HD programing will be restricted to only one [coast]. If you're in Central time zone, then East Coast will be your HD feed. D* wants to get rid of the DNS & replace them with your local HD channels. To date, you keep them, but don't make any changes to them [or try] as this ends up losing them. You just need to "take what you can get" for DNS [HD].

So when I get my HR 20 and my HD programming all of my current programming will stay the same correct?

So when I get my HR 20 and my HD programming all of my current programming will stay the same correct?
If I understand your question, yes. Now the HR will/can get your local HD channels too [if avalable in your area]. The "idea" is to expand your channel lineup & not to restrict it.

I just want to say after a couple of months of this thing it is finally working pretty well. I'm still very gentle with it when deleting a program, and if I'm home I always make sure whatever channel I'm recording is actually able to pause and recorde before the show starts. I can say that over the past few weeks only 1 show has not recorded, but it was House damn it. I don't really care about this OTA update, I live in the sticks anyway. I just hope it doesn't screw up some of the updates they've already done.

Maybe the wrong forum to post in, but I noticed tonight that I am getting KTLA(the CW) in HD on my HR20. Since the antenna function is not working yet, I can still watch Smallville in HD--too bad it's a repeat tonight.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MLXB
This is the only operation that helped me. Simultaneously,press down the record buton and the the down buutton on the face panel. When the record button lights up red release both buttons. The box will cycle through as if you performed a reset everythihng operation, yet slower.


[QUOTE]After doing a reformat & then a "reset everything" which clears the hardware too, I think the reset everything is the better of the two. If you "only" have a corrupt file on the drive then you could "just" reformat. Both tasks only due a quick format [as opposed to a computer's full format].
Are you saying that you did a "reset everything" & it didn't help, but afterwards doing "just" a reformat did? It sound more like your "reset everything" was "reset the recorder". In the setup menu under reset were three options, with "everything" being the last & most extensive.
I am very interested in your results.
When I was trying the reset everything operation, the box was still not recording or allowing playback of recorded programs. It also would freeze occasionally when just trying to change channels for normal viewing. Talking to D* they suggested the reformat the hard drive procedure that I mentioned. So far the box has been working fine since I performed this.

Maybe the wrong forum to post in, but I noticed tonight that I am getting KTLA(the CW) in HD on my HR20. Since the antenna function is not working yet, I can still watch Smallville in HD--too bad it's a repeat tonight.
Really? That would be freakin awesome.

When I was trying the reset everything operation, the box was still not recording or allowing playback of recorded programs. It also would freeze occasionally when just trying to change channels for normal viewing. Talking to D* they suggested the reformat the hard drive procedure that I mentioned. So far the box has been working fine since I performed this.
Thanks for your feedback. I sure don't know everything & always enjoy "more input". From what you're describing, it sounds as if your box didn't do the reset everything [as it should] & fell into where D* recommends reformatting for "errors" at startup. I talked to D* over your situation [along with other things] & they agreed that reset everything was the most effective, but there was a need to reformat if it hung at the startup screen.
I'm still learning & it looks as if there are some files stored on the drive that can screw up how the box configures [itself].
So I guess the lesson is to fix your unit:
1- do a red button reset.
2- do a reset everything [this reformats & clears the memory chips too] or reformat [this only clears the drive]
3- do the other [reformat or reset everything]
4- If you unit still doesn't perform correctly, replace it.
Since there seems to be two sources of where errors can be stored there is a little "the chicken or the egg" [came first] so this would require the need for both forms of cleaning out the system.

Did you have to re-enter your ZIP code after your "reset everything"?

My HR20/AT9 managed to record a program (from the 101 sat) during a heavy snowstorm this morning. Signal readings were around 50 on 101 & 119 sats. Everything on 99, 103, & 110 was reading zero and remained that way until I removed the snow accumulation from the AT9.

With WGN-DT(CW) added two days ago, Chicagoland is now receiving 6 MPEG4 channels.

My HR20/AT9 managed to record a program (from the 101 sat) during a heavy snowstorm this morning. Signal readings were around 50 on 101 & 119 sats. Everything on 99, 103, & 110 was reading zero and remained that way until I removed the snow accumulation from the AT9.

With WGN-DT(CW) added two days ago, Chicagoland is now receiving 6 MPEG4 channels.

I only count 5 channels 2, 5, 7,9, 32. Neither 26 nor 11 is on in MPEG4. :confused:

I only count 5 channels 2, 5, 7,9, 32. Neither 26 nor 11 is on in MPEG4. :confused:
I think he is referring to the RSN....Comcast SportsNet Chicago

Yes. The 6th is Comcast SportsNet Chicago HD. Channel 640 has 2 entries; the SD is designated CSNC and the HD is shown as RSN. (PBS-HD 11-1 is rumored to be coming soon.)

Yes. The 6th is Comcast SportsNet Chicago HD. Channel 640 has 2 entries; the SD is designated CSNC and the HD is shown as RSN. (PBS-HD 11-1 is rumored to be coming soon.)

I know about Comcast in HD, but as I care about exactly zero Chicago sports teams, I have never actually watched. I will wacth it once, I believe some time in January, when the Blackhawks play the Rangers as that game will be blacked out from Center Ice.

11-1 or 11-2?, on the antenna, 11-2 is the same as 11 in SD

11-2 is already carried as part of the SD locals package. 11-1 (PBS-HD) should be added to the MPEG4 HD channels at some point, making a total of 7 in that group.

In the last couple of days I've had several conversations with D* based on conflicting information. They seem to be giving February, 2007 as the date when the OTA tuners will be activated.

They also told me that LIL HD for Jacksoville, FL is also pushed back to February. I'm wondering if those who were told "by the end of 2006" have gotten that same message?

Software date estimations are extremely flexible. The beginning of a job is worse than the end. I once did a original estimate of six weeks that wound up being 11 months. It would have been longer except the old software became unusable and I was allowed to put 100% of my time on the project.

Software date estimations are extremely flexible. The beginning of a job is worse than the end. I once did a original estimate of six weeks that wound up being 11 months. It would have been longer except the old software became unusable and I was allowed to put 100% of my time on the project.

Very few (less than 1%) participants in forums such as these have a professional and pragmatic view of development such as yours. They see a projected date and attach themselves to it like children do with promises of Christmas toys. You will see much child-like whining in the next few weeks and much mention of broken "promises" by D*. :(

Very few (less than 1%) participants in forums such as these have a professional and pragmatic view of development as you do. They see a projected date and attach themselves to it like children do with promises of Christmas toys. You will see much child-like whining in the next few weeks and much mention of broken "promises" by D*. :(
These "children" should ask themselves "do you want it to work right or just to have it?" They're the same ones complaining that the HR-20 should have worked better before it was released.
Have they ever used Microsoft? They release software long before they should have IMO.

OK so anyone else getting recordings that won't play?

Most of the time, you try to play it and you see the progress bar but there's no picture or sound and the tick doens't move, whether you fast forward or play.

One time, I select play and it comes up with delete or don't delete, as if it's only at the end of the file.

Curiously, this is happening more on SD channels than on HD channels.

OK so anyone else getting recordings that won't play?
Most of the time, you try to play it and you see the progress bar but there's no picture or sound and the tick doens't move, whether you fast forward or play.
One time, I select play and it comes up with delete or don't delete, as if it's only at the end of the file. Curiously, this is happening more on SD channels than on HD channels.
Not since the last upgrade [or two]. While just today I did get the delete message just after hitting play. I said no & it sent me back to the program [play, delete, keep] menu where play started it.
If you're still having problems playing your programs, you might need to do some "house cleaning". Doing various resets should help you out. The setup menu has a "reset everything" that will wipe out the drive & clear the hardware. One poster needed to also do a reformat [how is in the manual].
I now remember once, where I pressed RR [which worked] because of a black screen. It was as if the unit hadn't completed its task & RR [though it was at the beginning] caused it to play. I've told D* about it, but so far it's just happened once.
This is the first [posting] in a while about still having these problems.

These "children" should ask themselves "do you want it to work right or just to have it?" They're the same ones complaining that the HR-20 should have worked better before it was released.
Have they ever used Microsoft? They release software long before they should have IMO.

I think "work better" is one thing. Work at all is another.

Back in the day when I bought a VCR, I expected it to actually record programs from day one. I'm not sure that's an unreasonable request from a DVR.

I think "work better" is one thing. Work at all is another.
Back in the day when I bought a VCR, I expected it to actually record programs from day one. I'm not sure that's an unreasonable request from a DVR.
If it was just "hardware" [your VCR] it would be an easy task. Once "software" comes in you've lost the direct connection [thru put] & it's a wonder it works at all. But then this is from an old hardware guy, who likes good analog. The times there are a changing...

If it was just "hardware" [your VCR] it would be an easy task. Once "software" comes in you've lost the direct connection [thru put] & it's a wonder it works at all. But then this is from an old hardware guy, who likes good analog. The times there are a changing...

OK, fair enough. What I find bizzare is the attitude of D* and some others, that we who purchased a product advertized to do certain things are considered "whiners" when it clearly doesn't.

Take a look at their website, the box the HR20-700 comes in and the owners manual. Then compare that with what it really does. That's false advertizing.

Now, I did buy it knowing that OTA was disabled. That was advertized. That was honest. I'll even give them that although they said it would be available via a software download by the end of 2006, that date has now slipped to February, 2007. Fine...they ran into unexpected problems.

What I think is just sheer arrogance is to advertize and sell a product that at best has beta software in it. I'd even be willing to cut them a break if, as referenced in a previous post, they advertized it the way Microsoft does with its pre gold release. I don't expect beta software to work consistently.

What would have been a hoot, would have been for D* to put a disclaimer in the literature: "This DVR is being released with a beta version of the operating system. As such, it may or may not record consistently. It may delete recorded programs unexpectedly, or not allow you to play programs that have been recorded. It may lock up frequently, requiring repeated re-boots which may or may not cure the problem. Video may or may not be in synch with the audio.

The action of the remote control may be erratic. We've eliminated the dual buffer previously available on our 10-250. However, you can still toggle between two programs by making sure you set both to record. Of course, when to go to play them, the recordings will start at the beginning, not at a convenient place.....and so on."

What would have been a hoot, would have been for D* to put a disclaimer in the literature: "This DVR is being released with a beta version of the operating system. As such, it may or may not record consistently. It may delete recorded programs unexpectedly, or not allow you to play programs that have been recorded. It may lock up frequently, requiring repeated re-boots which may or may not cure the problem. Video may or may not be in synch with the audio. The action of the remote control may be erratic. We've eliminated the dual buffer previously available on our 10-250. However, you can still toggle between two programs by making sure you set both to record. Of course, when to go to play them, the recordings will start at the beginning, not at a convenient place..... and so on."
You mean to be "honest"? Now I know you're "very old school". You're right on all counts. I wouldn't have bought this with those disclaimers [oops, I didn't buy mine, they gave it to me & I knew it was in "beta form", which makes a big difference]. I know I wasn't happy paying $20 for my H-20 [with it working the way it did].
Anybody reading these posting should realize [by now] we're all extended beta testers. Once you can "put it in the right perspective" it's a lot easier to live with.
I've had my HR-20 for about a month now & after the first week's upgrade, it does what it should [for the most part], but then I didn't have to go through the early teething stage of the HR-20 as some have.

I would say if you're still having problems with your unit, make sure you call D* and let them know what they are.

You mean to be "honest"? Now I know you're "very old school". You're right on all counts. I wouldn't have bought this with those disclaimers [oops, I didn't buy mine, they gave it to me & I knew it was in "beta form", which makes a big difference]. I know I wasn't happy paying $20 for my H-20 [with it working the way it did].
Anybody reading these posting should realize [by now] we're all extended beta testers. Once you can "put it in the right perspective" it's a lot easier to live with.
I've had my HR-20 for about a month now & after the first week's upgrade, it does what it should [for the most part], but then I didn't have to go through the early teething stage of the HR-20 as some have.

I would say if you're still having problems with your unit, make sure you have the current software & do some "house cleaning" on the box. You shouldn't be still having [big[ troubles with it. If you are, then call D* for a replacement because the two units I've had were both working [well] for the most part. Only a minor "miss que" every once and a while.

As for "old school", let's just leave it at when the first magnetically-recorded time-delayed network television program using the new Ampex Quadruplex recording ("Douglas Edwards and the News") was done on November 30, 1956 I was old enough to understand what that was all about.

I guess if I had paid $20 instead of 10 times that for the HR20 I'd be a little more forgiving. ;) Anyway, it is what it is, and I know that eventually there will be a release or two that will make it a stable box, with all the advertized features working without a hitch.

I suppose by now I'd have learned not be be an early adopter. I still have a lovely selection of SQ, QS and CD-4 quadraphonic/quadrasonic PHONOGRAPH records that periodically taunt me from their shelves in the corner of the the family room.

I got a HR-20 two months ago. First went belly up and so the dish.
They came and replaced both and I really don't have any issues other than getting slow when channel up or down. It takes up to 10 secs here and there. Any thoughts?

After installation I called them back and complained about lack of local HD either from OTA or the D*. Long story short they credited my $200. So it is free and I don't care about local HD's. I have a H20 in my living room that gets the local HD's. Call them and give them hell.

As for "old school", I still have a lovely selection of SQ, QS and CD-4 quadraphonic/quadrasonic PHONOGRAPH records that periodically taunt me from their shelves in the corner of the the family room.
You might remember when those "records" used to come in something that looked like a collection that photos would be saved in, with 4 or 5 records in them. It was nicely bound with pictures on it... As I remember it was called an album. You would put them on a record changer in the "HI-FI" & needed to flop them over half way through. But be careful or you would break one. Nobody liked listening to [or sounding like] a "broken record". Then came those unbreakable long playing [LP] ones.
I never could get D* to explain why I should pay for something I didn't own [the HR-20 lease] after paying $800 for a Sony DirecTV receiver [which D* obsoleted within 3 years]. I know I'm old school, but it was easier for me to explain why I wouldn't, than them making enough sense why I should.

...I suppose by now I'd have learned not be be an early adopter. I still have a lovely selection of SQ, QS and CD-4 quadraphonic/quadrasonic PHONOGRAPH records that periodically taunt me from their shelves in the corner of the the family room.
:D If it makes you feel any better, you're not alone here. (I still have a couple of high end beta VCR's, too! And even owned a 4-track [sic] automobile tape player :o ).

I guess I've reluctantly learned to become a little bit more selective in my rush to new technology. Much as I hate sitting on the sidelines watching others get something new I don't have, I been avoiding the HR-20 because my HR-10 does what I need. The only benefit of the HR-20 for me would be Comcast SportsNet Chicago, but so far that's not enough to offset the aggravation I read about here. (Of course, the last HR-10 software upgrade is buggy, too.)

It would be a different matter if I were one of those who can't get OTA HD reception, and I might still take the plunge once OTA is activated on the HR-20 (although this forum is doing a good job of convincing me to leave well enough alone).

By the same token, I'm also going to wait for Blu-Ray/HD DVD mess to straighten out before I throw money at that upgrade. My SACD player may have finally convinced me to not be so quick to jump on new formats. :rolleyes:

Being the first kid on the block with the latest and greatest tech toy is great fun, but early adopters should be willing to accept that the first ones are almost always glorified beta units. As long as people continue to buy them, that situation is not going to change. There is so much pressure to be first to market these days, it's almost more of a wonder that early offerings work at all than that they are less than perfect.

In this, D* is neither better nor worse than most consumer technology providers.

I was reading about someone complaining about their HR-20 & lack of response to the remote. A friend went over to look at it & took his remote with him. It turned out the remote was the problem & not the HR-20.
Just a [good] thought I read. It might not always be the HR-20 when it doesn't do what you want.

Resetting the recorder wiped out good and bad recordings in your list.

Who knows if the problems won't occur again.

Resetting the recorder wiped out good and bad recordings in your list. Who knows if the problems won't occur again.
It will occur again. The software is according to D* level 2 tech is only 95% reliable, which means one out of 20-25 recordings will be bad! :(
Mine has been been working well [I thought] until tonight. Trying to play a series link of the tonight show, found Friday's show just a black screen, no matter what I did. Called D* to report it [again] & they had me do a reset, then unplug for it.
This took the program out of my play list. The history showed it recorded [& not deleted] but what was there [unwatchable] before the reset is gone.
If you have the same thing, call D* to have them log it for the software people. It doesn't seem to be on their "bug listing", but they acknowledge the HR-20 is only reliable 95% of the time. :mad:
Still beta testing...

I received my HR20-700S which had been on order since September 15th over the weekend. Installation is scheduled for Friday. In the mean time I hooked it up to my existing 3LNB Sat to just one Sat Input. It seemed to be going well including downloading and installing a new software update. Now it is stuck in this endless loop. It goes thru "Step 1" searching for satellite configuration and goes to "Step 2" downloading satellite information and gets to 90%. At that point it reboots and goes to the "Almost there - Just another minute" Screen and then to the almost done screen. Then it just goes to back to "Step 1" again and starts over!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any idea how to get it out of this loop? CSR was clueless and tells me he has no more to ship out!

I received my HR20-700S which had been on order since September 15th over the weekend. Installation is scheduled for Friday. In the mean time I hooked it up to my existing 3LNB Sat to just one Sat Input. It seemed to be going well including downloading and installing a new software update. Now it is stuck in this endless loop. It goes thru "Step 1" searching for satellite configuration and goes to "Step 2" downloading satellite information and gets to 90%. At that point it reboots and goes to the "Almost there - Just another minute" Screen and then to the almost done screen. Then it just goes to back to "Step 1" again and starts over!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any idea how to get it out of this loop? CSR was clueless and tells me he has no more to ship out!
This sounds like one of those reformat times. Look through the manual & it should tell you to press the down & left [I think] arrow buttons [at the same time] on the front of the unit, just after hitting the red reset button [to start the welcome screen again].

This sounds like one of those reformat times. Look through the manual & it should tell you to press the down & left [I think] arrow buttons [at the same time] on the front of the unit, just after hitting the red reset button [to start the welcome screen again].


Thanks. I did try hitting record and down at the same time and that is supposed to be a reformat but it does not seem to do much of anything other than make it start to the process over. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!

Could it be the lack of the second Satellite Tuner Ant - Sat Feed?

Thanks. I did try hitting record and down at the same time and that is supposed to be a reformat but it does not seem to do much of anything other than make it start to the process over. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!!
Could it be the lack of the second Satellite Tuner Ant - Sat Feed?
Not the record & down arrow, but the left [or right] & down arrow.
Did you get the red record light to light up during the reformat? If not then it didn't [reformat].
I suppose the lack of a second cable could [as I haven't tried with only one cable].
You might try connecting it to the other SAT connection, as I believe others have been able to get theirs to work without both connections.

The reformat operation given to me by D* involved pressing the record button and the down arrow on the receiver simultaneously. Hold them down until the record button lights up red. Release the buttons and the red light should stay illuminated another 10 seconds or so to let you know the operation is working. The box will then begin to cycle and get sattelite info. This worked for me when I was not able to play recordings(black screen).

I set up a series to record, and now I'd like to delete the series from the Prioritizer. But I cannot find anywhere to do this. When I deleted the shows, I could not bring up anything that allowed me to mark it for delete. The manual was lacking in this as well. Can someone tell me how to delete it? I don't have any more shows recorded, and there's nothing coming on in the future for that series either.

Yeah but is reformat a permanent fix or will it after a month of operation start to make bad recordings again, as was the case for me?

I reset the recorder and was left with just 3 recordings. So this would be a good time to reformat. But only if it's a permanent fix.

Yeah but is reformat a permanent fix or will it after a month of operation start to make bad recordings again, as was the case for me?
I reset the recorder and was left with just 3 recordings. So this would be a good time to reformat. But only if it's a permanent fix.
With the current software, there is no permanent fix [yet].

I set up a series to record, and now I'd like to delete the series from the Prioritizer. But I cannot find anywhere to do this. When I deleted the shows, I could not bring up anything that allowed me to mark it for delete. The manual was lacking in this as well. Can someone tell me how to delete it? I don't have any more shows recorded, and there's nothing coming on in the future for that series either.
Go to the prioritizer, select the program, then press the dash button twice.

The reformat operation given to me by D* involved pressing the record button and the down arrow on the receiver simultaneously. Hold them down until the record button lights up red. Release the buttons and the red light should stay illuminated another 10 seconds or so to let you know the operation is working. The box will then begin to cycle and get sattelite info. This worked for me when I was not able to play recordings(black screen).
Your correct. This is what I get for "remembering" and not looking at my notes.

I set up a series to record, and now I'd like to delete the series from the Prioritizer. But I cannot find anywhere to do this. When I deleted the shows, I could not bring up anything that allowed me to mark it for delete. The manual was lacking in this as well. Can someone tell me how to delete it? I don't have any more shows recorded, and there's nothing coming on in the future for that series either.

Call up program guide.
Find the program and hit record once; record symbol disappears for the entire series

Call up program guide.
Find the program and hit record once; record symbol disappears for the entire series
As he had posted there were no more shows coming up in the program guide, which is why you need to go to the prioritizer & find it there. That's where the dash button works [by pressing it twice] to delete it.

Yeah but is reformat a permanent fix or will it after a month of operation start to make bad recordings again, as was the case for me?

I reset the recorder and was left with just 3 recordings. So this would be a good time to reformat. But only if it's a permanent fix.
I can only speak from my experience. My box has been working well after the reformat procedure. Before that, I wanted a new box. With new software on the horizon, who knows what that may introduced. For me, the reset everything did not take. Recordings that I had manually deleted, reappeared and were playable, after a reset everything. Much to the surprise of my D* tech.

I just flipped through the almost 50 pages in this thread to see if I was suffering alone. I seem to have plenty company. I took the $99 bait to upgrade to the HR20 about 2 mos ago. But (fortunately) i kept my old hr10-250 TIVO. So I can flip back and forth between the 2, but am mostly back to the HR10 which gets almost all of the locals in central FL (with a big outdoor antenna) with very good HD when available.

I tried to cancel and return the HR20, but got the run-around and may be stuck with the contract agreement.

Have generally been pleased with D* until this very bad experience with the HR20

The HR20 was rushed before ready and misrepresented. I guess us early adopters have to suffer for asking for the latest big new thing.

It is a minor point--since recording failures and missing features dominate--but being able to switch A/B from mpeg4 hd to OTA hd on the same program, proves that mpeg4 sucks by comparison. So I will never willingly give up OTA. The old regular HD channels 7x are fine, very close to OTA.

My main hope is that software upgrades can gradualy fix some of the HR20 problems, but the user interface is and will always be awfull. Maybe a new model will eventually improve the situration. Maybe D* will wise up a embrace TIVO at least as an option for customers that prefer it.

I just flipped through the almost 50 pages in this thread to see if I was suffering alone. I seem to have plenty company. I took the $99 bait to upgrade to the HR20 about 2 mos ago. But (fortunately) i kept my old hr10-250 TIVO. So I can flip back and forth between the 2, but am mostly back to the HR10 which gets almost all of the locals in central FL (with a big outdoor antenna) with very good HD when available.

I tried to cancel and return the HR20, but got the run-around and may be stuck with the contract agreement.

Have generally been pleased with D* until this very bad experience with the HR20

The HR20 was rushed before ready and misrepresented. I guess us early adopters have to suffer for asking for the latest big new thing.

It is a minor point--since recording failures and missing features dominate--but being able to switch A/B from mpeg4 hd to OTA hd on the same program, proves that mpeg4 sucks by comparison. So I will never willingly give up OTA. The old regular HD channels 7x are fine, very close to OTA.

My main hope is that software upgrades can gradualy fix some of the HR20 problems, but the user interface is and will always be awfull. Maybe a new model will eventually improve the situration. Maybe D* will wise up a embrace TIVO at least as an option for customers that prefer it.

I have certainly made my fair share (maybe even more than fair share) of posts regarding difficulties with the new box. I had no choice, I have serious problems with OTA for several HD locals and so the HR 10 was not a winner for me.

Nonetheless, the one aspect of the box that is very good and better than the tivo is the interface. It is consistent with the H20. More important, it is easier to set up a series link, two clicks if you do not care to select first run only. It also is much faster to detect conflicts, maybe a second or two and then gives you the option of which of the programs not to record. The Tivo takes forever and then only gives two options (or at least both of mine did, both the HD and SD ones anyway). Indeed, it is much faster overall in setting up a program to record, I assume because the conflict checker is much faster.

The guide has its pluses and minuses. It is not possible to see eight or ten lines of programs in one screen as you can in the tivo, but you can instantly move to a different time and date and the ability to step in 12 hour increments is really convenient if you want to see what is on at say 7 every evening on ESPN.

I truly believe that once they resolve the software issues (and they still have a lot of work) it will be more convenient in a lot of ways than the tivo box.

I truly believe that once they resolve the software issues (and they still have a lot of work) it will be more convenient in a lot of ways than the tivo box.


IMO it already is. THe PQ of mpg4 alone makes it worth the trouble. I think there are software glitches that everybody has had (some worse than others) that have made the transition slightly annoying.

But I also think a number of people got bad boxes. Differentiating between the two is the hard part.

I have certainly made my fair share (maybe even more than fair share) of posts regarding difficulties with the new box. I had no choice, I have serious problems with OTA for several HD locals and so the HR 10 was not a winner for me.

Nonetheless, the one aspect of the box that is very good and better than the tivo is the interface. It is consistent with the H20. More important, it is easier to set up a series link, two clicks if you do not care to select first run only. It also is much faster to detect conflicts, maybe a second or two and then gives you the option of which of the programs not to record. The Tivo takes forever and then only gives two options (or at least both of mine did, both the HD and SD ones anyway). Indeed, it is much faster overall in setting up a program to record, I assume because the conflict checker is much faster.

The guide has its pluses and minuses. It is not possible to see eight or ten lines of programs in one screen as you can in the tivo, but you can instantly move to a different time and date and the ability to step in 12 hour increments is really convenient if you want to see what is on at say 7 every evening on ESPN.

I truly believe that once they resolve the software issues (and they still have a lot of work) it will be more convenient in a lot of ways than the tivo box.
I do agree that some of the functions of the HR20 are much faster than the HR10. So it may eventually be satisfactory. I haven't given up. But I am too comfortable with the old unit and do get the the locals ok OTA. The ?? recording reliability of the 20 (lost almost all of the football games over the holiday weekend) makes me count more on the HR10 until the bugs are fixed.

IMO it already is. THe PQ of mpg4 alone makes it worth the trouble. I think there are software glitches that everybody has had (some worse than others) that have made the transition slightly annoying.

But I also think a number of people got bad boxes. Differentiating between the two is the hard part.


The PQ of the OTA ATSC MPEG2 should be better than the MPEG4 locals, unless you have reception problems. It is a trancoding from one lossy algorithm to another plus the mpeg4 locals are a bitstarved, you can easily see it in panning.

I am sure there as some bad boxes but most of the problems are software related, there have been a lot of bugs in the HR20's code.

I too hated the HR20 for the first week or two. Now that I have had (used) it for a while, I really think that it is a very good upgrade to the TiVo.

If it was a perfect world, I would make it 80% HR20 and 20% HR10.

Overall, once you get use to it, the HR20 is a better "user friendly" unit.

The PQ of the OTA ATSC MPEG2 should be better than the MPEG4 locals, unless you have reception problems. It is a trancoding from one lossy algorithm to another plus the mpeg4 locals are a bitstarved, you can easily see it in panning.

I don't use OTA (Like most D* subscribers). Most users are reporting MPG4 being much closer to OTA quality than the same nationals in mpg2, and I have not heard any proof that bitstarving of mpg4 is occuring.

If it is, it is minimal. THe mpg4 PQ is the best thing I've seen out of D* in years.

Just got my HR20 and have a few questions; is the hard drive supposed to spin 24/7? And is there a way to pre-select upcoming programs? I can select a program to record it, but I can't just select it to switch to it while watching another channel.

Just got my HR20 and have a few questions; is the hard drive supposed to spin 24/7? And is there a way to pre-select upcoming programs? I can select a program to record it, but I can't just select it to switch to it while watching another channel.

record yes, switch no

Just got my HR20 and have a few questions; is the hard drive supposed to spin 24/7? And is there a way to pre-select upcoming programs? I can select a program to record it, but I can't just select it to switch to it while watching another channel.

Technically, yes, the HR20 is recording all the time whether it be a selected program or just the buffer on the channel last viewed.

Looks like release Ox104 happened early this morning for the West Coast.

OTA has been activated for them, with a gradual national rollout. Here is the discussion thread from DBSTalk:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=72036

THe mpg4 PQ is the best thing I've seen out of D* in years.I'm very impressed with it as well. If it holds up for the HD nationals next year, we will be in very good shape.

I am wondering if D* is presently running just one MPEG4 station per transponder. If this is the case, and they later go to 2 or even 3 per transponder, PQ could be compromised as we have seen over the years with MPEG2. If 99 & 103 are to carry all the "up to 150 national HD channels", it seems that 2, and sometimes 3, channels/transponder will be required.

Looks like release Ox104 happened early this morning for the West Coast. OTA has been activated for them, with a gradual national rollout.
This is not something that you can force a download of. I'm on the West Coast & usually see the software early, but this is such a selective rollout that I needed to call D* have have them set it up for a download tonight.
The first call to D*, tech support, tier2, supervisor, came away with not until "early 2007". This was to Oklahoma. Next was to Texas & they set me up for tonight.
D* is operating as usual -- you never know [or they never know] what answer is the right one, which turns into multiple [choice] calls to decide which you want to believe.

I'm very impressed with it as well. If it holds up for the HD nationals next year, we will be in very good shape.

I am wondering if D* is presently running just one MPEG4 station per transponder. If this is the case, and they later go to 2 or even 3 per transponder, PQ could be compromised as we have seen over the years with MPEG2. If 99 & 103 are to carry all the "up to 150 national HD channels", it seems that 2, and sometimes 3, channels/transponder will be required.
The new transponders [500 MHz] carry many more channels than the old [36 MHz] so I don't think it's an MPEG-2 or 4 issue. A OTA HD channel uses 5 MHz. The more compression the less bandwidth, so except for "cross talk" they should be fine.
Remember right now that every local HD channel is coming through only 3 or so transponders on the 103 SAT for the whole country [so I don't know how many channels that is but a whole bunch].

I've only posted once back in Sept. when I ordered my HR20's. They were due to be installed on 10-11-06 but they cancelled because lack of units. They then showed up un scheduled while I was on Vacation on Nov. 17th. Of course they left me a message that no one was home when they attempted to install and of course I told them that it would have been nice if someone bothered to set up an appointment before showing up. Well we got it worked out and on 12-02-06 they installed 3 new HR-20's to replace 2 HR-10's and an old Samsung that was not HD. They also put in a new slimline dish. I helped with the install as I knew where the old multiswitch was in the attic and did not really want them up there. Everything went fairly well as they did not have to run any new lines so they were up and running in about a hour. I was very worried about all I had read here but I guess the delay was a blessing as I have had no problem with anything seen here since the install. We have recorded many things and some Series Links with no problems what so ever. The closest we've had to a problem was one recorded program had sound that would fade and get louder. It never went silent like I had with the last update of the HR10-250 about 2 months ago. It's not happened since. Other than getting used to it being so different than the Tivo based HR10-250 it's been fine. I see they are now rolling out the next update that activates the OTA and corrects one of my early concerns and that was the tabbed screen for settings on recordings options. They have now split it to 2 seperate screens labeled"'Record Once" and Record Series". I would like to see the ability to change the default so when you hit the record button twice to setup a series link you don't have to go to the option screen to change it later but that is a small issue. I don't have the new update that activates the OTA but I guess some do on the west coast. Anyway I've rambled on long enough but it sound like they are closing in on many of the problems reported here. Good luck to all.

Have a great day! :)

The new transponders [500 MHz] carry many more channels than the old [36 MHz] so I don't think it's an MPEG-2 or 4 issue. A OTA HD channel uses 5 MHz. The more compression the less bandwidth, so except for "cross talk" they should be fine.
Remember right now that every local HD channel is coming through only 3 or so transponders on the 103 SAT for the whole country [so I don't know how many channels that is but a whole bunch].

Actually many of the transponders - a lot more than three - on both 99 and 103 are delivering HD locals. In the East where there are many cities receiving HD locals people have reported seeing signals on 7 or 8 different transponders on 99 and 103, because of the overlap of the spotbeams.
For most cities, their HD locals are delivered on either one or two transponders.

Well I hope the software update providing OTA does a bit more. Last night I recorded a Center Ice Game, but when I went to watch, part way through, it would not play. I watched it on the hard drive from the dvd recorder. I also stopped recording and deleted it about an hour in. When I went to watch CSI, which I saw was being recorded because the record light was on, it just went to do you want to delete, same with Men in Trees. I thought a "minor" reset might be in order. Not only did CSI and Men in Trees disappear from the playlist, they also disappeared from the history.

I must have received a minor update to the software, no OTA, but I can manipulate the playlist in several new ways. Of course, that would be a lot more helpful if some of the things I wanted to watch were actually in the playlist. :rolleyes:

I also stopped recording and deleted it about an hour in. When I went to watch CSI, it just went to do you want to delete, same with Men in Trees. I thought a "minor" reset might be in order. Not only did CSI and Men in Trees disappear from the playlist, they also disappeared from the history. I must have received a minor update to the software, no OTA, but I can manipulate the playlist in several new ways. Of course, that would be a lot more helpful if some of the things I wanted to watch were actually in the playlist. :rolleyes:
The last update came 11/22. This may be your first reset since then. What happened to you was the same thing that happened to me last weekend. I called D* to report it [you should do this also] & following their instructions [bad idea] did a red button reset & pulled the power cord for 15 sec. After a VERY long wait for it to power back up, my program was gone from the play list, but was still in the history as recorded [& not watched].
The current software they claim is 95% which they said will have one in every 20-25 programs fail.
I think the best thing to do is to call D* & have them log your complaint(s) so the software group will address it.

Actually many of the transponders - a lot more than three - on both 99 and 103 are delivering HD locals. In the East where there are many cities receiving HD locals people have reported seeing signals on 7 or 8 different transponders on 99 and 103, because of the overlap of the spotbeams.
For most cities, their HD locals are delivered on either one or two transponders.Has anyone published a listing of what channels are carried on each active transponder on 99 & 103? In Chicagoland, I see 97-100 on transponders 1, 3, 5 on Sat. 103, and 85-95 on the first 6 transponders of 99.

Has anyone published a listing of what channels are carried on each active transponder on 99 & 103? In Chicagoland, I see 97-100 on transponders 1, 3, 5 on Sat. 103, and 85-95 on the first 6 transponders of 99.

No, I've never seen a list of the 99/103 transponders, just the other three satellites...

The last update came 11/22. This may be your first reset since then. What happened to you was the same thing that happened to me last weekend. I called D* to report it [you should do this also] & following their instructions [bad idea] did a red button reset & pulled the power cord for 15 sec. After a VERY long wait for it to power back up, my program was gone from the play list, but was still in the history as recorded [& not watched].
The current software they claim is 95% which they said will have one in every 20-25 programs fail.
I think the best thing to do is to call D* & have them log your complaint(s) so the software group will address it.

Calling D* is not my idea of a good time, and as for a reset, i did a total one just before the 22nd, but have done the basic one several times since then, I can almost set my calendar by them, and that is what I did last night as well. CSI is not even in the history!

Calling D* is not my idea of a good time, and as for a reset, i did a total one just before the 22nd, but have done the basic one several times since then, I can almost set my calendar by them, and that is what I did last night as well. CSI is not even in the history!
I can understand about calling D*, but if you don't report it how are they to know [about it]?
Try calling 1-800-695-9251 as it seems to be the quickest. It will ask if you have a PIN [1 for no & 2 for yes] & press 1. I got through quickly when I called.

My HR10 went down - Being forced to upgrade. I'm not a as scared as I would've been a few months ago - hopefully this thing is a little more stable now. Any advice is appreciated.

My HR10 went down - Being forced to upgrade. I'm not a as scared as I would've been a few months ago - hopefully this thing is a little more stable now. Any advice is appreciated.

Each software download is making the HR20 a better product. If you want to read what others are saying, here is a link to dbstalk.com:

http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=112

I've only had 2 missed shows since I got it. Hopefully the newest update that adds OTA capability also addresses that problem.

I can understand about calling D*, but if you don't report it how are they to know [about it]?
Try calling 1-800-695-9251 as it seems to be the quickest. It will ask if you have a PIN [1 for no & 2 for yes] & press 1. I got through quickly when I called.

Had a nice chat with them, they offered a new dvr, but I aksed if the new software update would fix and they said yes, so I decided, for the time being, better the devil I know...

By the way, 1 is for yes and 2 is for no v/v the pin.

Had a nice chat with them, they offered a new dvr, but I aksed if the new software update would fix and they said yes, so I decided, for the time being, better the devil I know... By the way, 1 is for yes and 2 is for no v/v the pin.
Old age must be setting in as this is the second time this week my "memory" has failed me.
Like you, I don't think my hardware is defective & that it's a software problem. From what the people in LA are posting, the next update isn't the one to fix your [my] problem. It does enable OTA, but as time goes on, the same old "complaints" are being posted. If we can continue to give them the feedback about their software, they should fix it eventually.

anyone know if the hr-20 works with the harmony 880 remote?

anyone know if the hr-20 works with the harmony 880 remote?


I'll personally know in 2 weeks but all feedback I have seen is good.

Here is some feedback

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=71324

Well, I decided that until all of the software issues are ironed out that i will also activate my old R 10 so I can at least record stuff in SD and be sure it is there.

Couple of brief freezes and pixelization on tonight's recordings of Sleeper Cell:American Terror and Dexter on Showtime HD (channel 71).

Anyone else see these?

anyone know if the hr-20 works with the harmony 880 remote?
I haven't had any problems with the HR-20 and my 880. It seems all the buttons are there and I like being able to lay out the buttons how I want too. I've been using the two of them together since October. I think you will find that the two work pretty darn good.

The first HR20 that I received was DOA. It never would get past setup, it was stuck in an endless loop. It would get to Step 2 of 2 and get to 90% and then just start over. Tried Reformating and it just kept doing same thing.

I received another one on Friday and it appeared to be working great but it seems the second tuner is bad. On some channels it pixelates badly and the audio dropouts continously, I get mostly readings in the 90's from all SATS. I tried switching my Sat inputs for both tuners and even ran a new line to be sure its not a bad feed but only one tuner is doing it. I am honestly not sure its the second tuner but it seems to be the second one.

Anyone else experienceing this? Should I do a hard reformat? Any ideas. Should I call DirecTV and go thru the pain of spending an hour on the phone troubleshooting!?!?

The first HR20 that I received was DOA. It never would get past setup, it was stuck in an endless loop. It would get to Step 2 of 2 and get to 90% and then just start over. Tried Reformating and it just kept doing same thing. I received another one on Friday and it appeared to be working great but it seems the second tuner is bad. On some channels it pixelates badly and the audio dropouts continously, I get mostly readings in the 90's from all SATS. I tried switching my Sat inputs for both tuners and even ran a new line to be sure its not a bad feed but only one tuner is doing it. I am honestly not sure its the second tuner but it seems to be the second one. Anyone else experienceing this? Should I do a hard reformat? Any ideas. Should I call DirecTV and go thru the pain of spending an hour on the phone troubleshooting!?!?
Do you have the the up-converters [BBC] connected? Try disconnecting the "little boxes" from your cable and then see if there is a change.

I just upgraded to the Slimline dish and a new HR20 and H20. I relocated my HR10 and kept it activated.

Last night during a delayed play back of "Brothers and Sisters", the picture froze about 9 minutes into the show for about a minute, then resumed missing a key scene. Fortunately the HR10 was still recording the same show and I was able to replay the missing piece on the other TV.

Is this typical of the software issues people have been encountering with the HR20, or is a disk problem? If I need to do a reformat, I would prefer to do it now before I start getting more shows recorded.

Thanks,

Mike

I just upgraded to the Slimline dish and a new HR20 and H20. I relocated my HR10 and kept it activated. Last night during a delayed play back of "Brothers and Sisters", the picture froze about 9 minutes into the show for about a minute, then resumed missing a key scene. Fortunately the HR10 was still recording the same show and I was able to replay the missing piece on the other TV. Is this typical of the software issues people have been encountering with the HR20, or is a disk problem? If I need to do a reformat, I would prefer to do it now before I start getting more shows recorded.
Thanks, Mike
What version software do you have? it isn't "typical" with 0xfa.

What version software do you have? it isn't "typical" with 0xfa.

I have 0xFA. Any possible consequences of doing a reformat? Should I call tech support before doing that?

I have 0xFA. Any possible consequences of doing a reformat? Should I call tech support before doing that?
D* support could make your troubles worse.
Doing a reformat or going into the setup menu and "reset everything" will clean out your unit. If there would be a "downside" it would be losing any recorded programs & "custom" settings. The "upside" would be to have a fresh start with your unit, after which if your still had problems it would start to look like having bad hardware.

I did the reformat last night. I'll just have to wait to see if any more freezes occur.

Thanks,

Mike

Well, I bit the bullet and reactivated my old SD tivo, so now at least I can be sure to get things which are broadcast in SD.

D* support could make your troubles worse.
Doing a reformat or going into the setup menu and "reset everything" will clean out your unit. If there would be a "downside" it would be losing any recorded programs & "custom" settings. The "upside" would be to have a fresh start with your unit, after which if your still had problems it would start to look like having bad hardware.

Hey oldschool. I got a payperview a couple months agon on my HR20. It's not hooked up to a phone line, so D* hasn't charged me. If I were to "reset everything" what would happen to my history of the pay per view purchase?

Hey oldschool. I got a payperview a couple months agon on my HR20. It's not hooked up to a phone line, so D* hasn't charged me. If I were to "reset everything" what would happen to my history of the pay per view purchase?
This is a very good question & on "first take" it would make sense that the "reset everything" would purge this from the unit. The hard disk would be reformatted and the memory chips cleared. The only thing that remains is your software [firmware] and I would doubt D* would have thought about storing PPV in the same [non-volatile] memory chip as the firmware. On "second take" it wouldn't make sense to give us the option so easily. The cost of another [non-volatile[ memory chip would be less than one PPV. Does this mean D* thought about it, I don't know. Now you have me thinking about my Sony SAT HD-300 with its service menu NVRAM clear option, which isn't published. Humm.... I guess it would be good for you to find out & maybe send me a PM, but one of those "things" that shouldn't be posted.

This is a very good question & on "first take" it would make sense that the "reset everything" would purge this from the unit. The hard disk would be reformatted and the memory chips cleared. The only thing that remains is your software [firmware] and I would doubt D* would have thought about storing PPV in the same [non-volatile] memory chip as the firmware. On "second take" it wouldn't make sense to give us the option so easily. The cost of another [non-volatile[ memory chip would be less than one PPV. Does this mean D* thought about it, I don't know. Now you have me thinking about my Sony SAT HD-300 with its service menu NVRAM clear option, which isn't published. Humm.... I guess it would be good for you to find out & maybe send me a PM, but one of those "things" that shouldn't be posted.

I've been meaning to do a "reset everything" since I'm all caught up on my shows. the PPV shows in my history. So I'll let you know what I find.

I've been meaning to do a "reset everything" since I'm all caught up on my shows. the PPV shows in my history. So I'll let you know what I find.
I know your history will be cleared, but that might not be where the PPV "billing" is stored. This is part of my interest in your question, as it was a very unique one.

So, more friends and family are getting these now. I am actually the only person that has my original, first HR20.

Friend #1 - 1 -2
Friend #2 - 1 - 1
Father - 1 - 3
me - 1 - 0

So, that's 4 good units out of 10.....doubt I would have ordered mine if I had realized they had such poor initial quality...but I clearly am not the norm with my initial HR still working fine.

So, more friends and family are getting these now. I am actually the only person that has my original, first HR20.
Friend #1 - 1 -2
Friend #2 - 1 - 1
Father - 1 - 3
me - 1 - 0
So, that's 4 good units out of 10.....doubt I would have ordered mine if I had realized they had such poor initial quality...but I clearly am not the norm with my initial HR still working fine.
I've had two units in a month. If I discount for bad software & lousy CSRs, I'm 2 - 0. While I'm not going to say quality is great, I'm thinking there is more to lame CSRs, bad software, & poor installers than bad hardware. But then I'm "a hardware guy". YMMV

I just noticed I got a new firmware upgrade this morning, and THE ANTENNA IS NOW WORKING. You can now record shows ota like the HR10.

The new firmware is 0x108 and again it activates the antenna. I haven't had a chance yet to see what else it might do. So now in my guide for example I get 2(KCBS HD from satellite) and right below that is 2(KCBS standard def from satellite) and right below that is 2.1(KCBS HD over the air). Same for KNBC and KABC as well and you can select if you want to see the subchannels listed or not.

The new firmware is 0x108 and again it activates the antenna. I haven't had a chance yet to see what else it might do. So now in my guide for example I get 2(KCBS HD from satellite) and right below that is 2(KCBS standard def from satellite) and right below that is 2.1(KCBS HD over the air). Same for KNBC and KABC as well and you can select if you want to see the subchannels listed or not.
As one of the "lucky few" you might want to go to: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=72914&page=1
To read about it or to post any bugs you find.

Those of you that do not have the new version that enables the OTA. Tonight between 11p and 2am EST, a download at your own risk timeslot opens up for this. DO NOT CALL THE CALL CENTER IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS, go to www.dbstalk.com
and report issues, if you dont like the new version reload the software and it will revert back to the old version.

To download reset the recvr, once the welcome screen comes on, press 02468 on the remote and it should load. The same thing if you want to go back to the old version.
This update also adds computer connection for ViiV, to allow sharing of pictures and music from your PC.
Go to dbstalk for more...

This info is courtesy of Earl at DBSTALK.COM

unless somethinglast minute changes this will help the rest of us finally get OTA.

Just set it up today but the dish doesn't come until next week - but a few questions as I'm setting up my harmony 880 to work with this...

What are the equivalent of thumbs up, thumbs down and live tv buttons?

also, what is the difference between 1080i stretch, cropped, and pillar box - what should I have it on?

thanks - any other hints appreciated. sorry if this is covered - this thread is VERY long.

I've had two units in a month. If I discount for bad software & lousy CSRs, I'm 2 - 0. While I'm not going to say quality is great, I'm thinking there is more to lame CSRs, bad software, & poor installers than bad hardware. But then I'm "a hardware guy". YMMV

I don't know, but friend #2 just had unit #2 go bad, so now he's back using #1 that needs a hard reset about every 30 minutes.

make that 1 - 2

I just don't see how it could be anything but hardware, that's the only variable in the equation that is changing...they all get the same software when they boot up, so csr's shouldn't need to get involved at that point unless something is already wrong.

eh, at least *knock on wood* mine has only required one reset in 6 weeks or so.

I don't know, but friend #2 just had unit #2 go bad, so now he's back using #1 that needs a hard reset about every 30 minutes.
make that 1 - 2
I just don't see how it could be anything but hardware, that's the only variable in the equation that is changing...they all get the same software when they boot up, so csr's shouldn't need to get involved at that point unless something is already wrong.
eh, at least *knock on wood* mine has only required one reset in 6 weeks or so.
Does your friend #2 have it in an entertainment center? How warm is it [is why I ask]?
In the setup menu it reports the temp. My is 127 (F). You may be right about it being hardware. I don't know, but two for two [bad]. :confused:
Could you give more information on what's happening [or not happening] needing a reboot?

I don't think he's put it in an entertainment center. It has needed a reset from the first time he's opened it. Apparently when you go to play a show, it just gives you the options like you just finished watching it, to either keep it, or delete it...can't actually watch it. Not real convenient.

All sorts of problems with all the ones my friends/family have sent back. From hdmi port problems to at least one that I finally got working for friend #1, then it simply died w/in 24 hours.

not heat related as they're all in reasonably open environments...and if it is, it would be a seriously pathetic job of engineering a piece of electronic equipment if it can't survive in entertainment centers with limited airflow. My old ultimate tv box would get so hot in the hard drive area you almost didn't want to touch it, and it was always on just like this one. no issues with that it 4 years.....

I don't think he's put it in an entertainment center. It has needed a reset from the first time he's opened it. Apparently when you go to play a show, it just gives you the options like you just finished watching it, to either keep it, or delete it...can't actually watch it. Not real convenient.

All sorts of problems with all the ones my friends/family have sent back. From hdmi port problems to at least one that I finally got working for friend #1, then it simply died w/in 24 hours.

not heat related as they're all in reasonably open environments...and if it is, it would be a seriously pathetic job of engineering a piece of electronic equipment if it can't survive in entertainment centers with limited airflow. My old ultimate tv box would get so hot in the hard drive area you almost didn't want to touch it, and it was always on just like this one. no issues with that it 4 years.....
1) I've seen this too, with mine. I think it's software, as it doesn't happen "all of the time". Last time it ended in a "black screen un-watchable". Called D* & [foolishly] followed the CSR, who had me unplug the box. It was slow to power back up [he even thought so] & when it did, the program was gone. I think the "slow" power up was as it cleaned a bad program off the drive. Do a reformat or "reset everything" and see how it works then. You [he] might find it's OK [or better].
2) HDMI is a big issue [still] as it could be the HR-20 or the TV. Dead in 24 hours sure is hardware.
3) these boxes have a lot in them that gives heat off & were built to a [low or fixed] price, so I'm sure they [like so much] "aren't the way it used to be".
I just got the "joy" of replacing my $2,500 Sony HDTV with only 3+ years on it. ouch.

Another Window Will Open Tonight From 11p-1:30a To Get Ota Enabled On The Hr20.

You Can Force Your Reciever To Update A New Test Version.
0x10b This Will Enable Ota If You Still Have 0xfa, This Is Only A Beta Version So Its Download At Your Own Risk.

If You Dont Like It Force Another Update And It Will Revert Back To Oxfa.

To Force Update Reset Reciever, Once Welcome Screen Comes Up Press 02468 And It Will Load.

Thanks to jamielee, I force-updated mine on Wednesday night. I have had the H20 for about a month, but had not activated it, since recording OTA was its primary use for me. So, after verifying that I had OTA, I activated it with D* (just in time for The Office on Thursday night!). So far, so good for me.

My HD TiVo died recently, so I am very happy to be recording again. I do miss the way it jumped back when hitting "play" after a "FF". But, I think that I prefer almost all other UI aspects of the H20 vs. the H10.

Thanks again jamielee!