Judging from a quick review of posts here in the past 4 months A LOT of people will be LOSING THEIR BETS.

The new HD-DVR coming out next month. Info is right from DirecTV!!!

http://www.tvweek.com/page.cms?pageId=202

"The box has performed magnificently in tests," he said. "It's going to be a fantastic product."

Uh, huh. Sure.

Where's that 30-second skip button again? How am I supposed to watch football without 30-second skip?

"The box has performed magnificently in tests," he said. "It's going to be a fantastic product."

Uh, huh. Sure.

Where's that 30-second skip button again? How am I supposed to watch football without 30-second skip?

I would also like a 30 second skip, but you know we've become too spoiled when we ask questions like that. How could we possibly watch football without a 30 second skip?? I'm not trying to be a smart alec, but I did it for about 30 years until I got my first DVR....

I would also like a 30 second skip, but you know we've become too spoiled when we ask questions like that. How could we possibly watch football without a 30 second skip?? I'm not trying to be a smart alec, but I did it for about 30 years until I got my first DVR....

From what I understand, the current D* DVR based on NDS tech has a 30 second "slip" button. Not quite instant like the Tivo, but serviceable.

Ok, now we all get to fight with D* over upgrade fees. Please let this one be better explained/thought out than the H20 upgrade crap.

"The box has performed magnificently in tests," he said. "It's going to be a fantastic product."

Uh, huh. Sure.

Where's that 30-second skip button again? How am I supposed to watch football without 30-second skip?

And to a lesser extent, I've heard there is only one live buffer...sometimes I have two games on at once and go back and forth between the two with my HR10...sucks...

Looks like we've got a good few weeks to do lots of guessing, uh, speculating on what the H20-250 will actually have in it and how it will work. I have heard that one feature is a "consumer upgradable" hard drive - that came from their quarterly presentation to their dealers. The rumors have already started... :eek:

I, for one, can wait a month (or more) to see the facts, and then react and make decisions on getting one. After seeing the hiccups with the E* HD DVR and Comcast HD DVR launches (eventually both were fixed with firmware upgrades)...my guess is will be 4Q before a reasonably de-bugged D* HD DVR will be in operation in the general marketplace. That's a normal expectation, and has been proven to be the case with other providers...so we'll just sit on the sidelines and wait...and then the hackers will be fully engaged for all the neat hacks, I'm sure :cool:

At least we know its finally coming - the sky is no longer falling... ;)

At least we know its finally coming - the sky is no longer falling... ;)

... and I can sleep comfortably with the knowlege that the whole mess is (probably) irrelevant to me until some time next year anyway. :D

Early lab-rats ... er ... adopters that is ... get in line, don't delay ... Let the feeding frenzy commence! :D

Sound interesting, but I'll stick with my HDTiVo for now. Once they move more content into MPEG4 I might have to choose to switch or go with cable; but I get decent OTA reception and don't need HD LiL right now. And I also like the 30 sec skip & 2 live buffers. Will be interesting to see what kind of product it turns out to be.

I'm tempted, I'm in the LA market, and I'm moving at the end of next month to an area where I might be able to get decent OTA. The only reason I've wanted mpeg4 up till now is for the improved picture quality over mpeg2.

Hmmm, sae the money on an ota... give up my tivo and get the new mpeg 4 dvr... or keep my tivo and get OTA? decisions decisions...

I'm a long time Directv customer...love the selection, the local channels, my two directv tivos, the selection, etc...whole house is wired.

However, Directv may be losing me (forever?)... I just got my first HDTV...46" LCD Samsung. So far so good... I've got the rabbit ears plugged in, HD looks amazing over the air from the locals. But, after years with TiVo, I can't watch TV without it. So, what to do? My answer for now: Comcast. Unless someone can help/convince me otherwise, Comcast seems like a no brainer at this point. Pros: local channels, no more rabbit ears, HD DVR (15 hours isn't much, but better than nothing), and the big deal: tell them you have Directv and just wait to hear what they throw your way...I can't believe it. One more plus: my incredibly fast cable internet will be $10 off/month. What is Directv offering me? Nothing but a $300 -$400 lease on a soon to be out-of-date DVR...no locals in my area...HD lite(?)...and higher upgrade fees...

So for now, I'm done with Directv...forget it... And, really, if this new Directv DVR and service isn't better than Comcast...and we're not all treated like we're important to their company...I don't see myself going back. I guess I wonder, what's in store for us from Directv and how will it be better than Comcast? Meanwhile, I'm switching to Comcast...

Nothing but a $300 -$400 lease on a soon to be out-of-date DVR


You don't think you can talk them into a free/low-cost exchange of your tivo? I'm not planning on spending a dime on the new DVR. beyond that, I see no reason for you to get the new DVR if you have ota and you're happy with the Tivo. Especially if you don't have HD Lil in your area. Why not just keep your tivo?

Still, the only reason I see for sticking with D* is sunday ticket. If you aren't a football fan, I don't know why anyone would stick with them in the first place.

You may be able to get a free or nearly free hdtivo out of D*, call customer retention and see what they will give you. I was able to get one for next to nothing and I'm not a ST subscriber. There is a thread just devoted to this topic in the hd hardware thread.

"The box has performed magnificently in tests," he said. "It's going to be a fantastic product."

That guy works for D*, of course he is going to say that.

This matches with what've been told by email and phone from Directv. I wanted to know if it would be available before the NFL season started and they said it would... so it looks like barely they'll make that. Of course, they also said it would be available before the World Cup. So....

I've been really disappointed with Directv's new product offerings coming out so slowly; if it wasn't for the NFL Sunday Ticket, I would be switching to Cox Cable and getting a Tivo or even building my own PVR from scratch. So really, it's the NFL signing exclusively with Directv that is causing my pain!

Hopefully all this extra time means they got all the bugs worked out of the HR20. Knock on wood because the next release is probably '08 or later!

Good idea about calling D* and explaining my situation (I do not need ST, so that might not help)...perhaps they will give me a great upgrade offer... Problem is, I'll be getting a soon to be out-of-date hd-tivo dvr...no? Won't they have to install a new dish and new wiring, etc...for HD, since I only have SD now? And, will that all have to be replaced when the new HD DVR's come out/or when they bring in the new HD channel line-up?

I guess it's all about minimal cost upgrades...if they hardly charge me for any of this, who cares, right? Still, what a pain, and I'll still have the Comcast come out on Tuesday...no install charge and no contract...and it could still mean the end to Directv for me...

I have been with Directv for almost 10 years, I called to CSR to get a deal on a HDTV Tivos to go with my new Plasma. I have three Direct Tivo's and really wanted to go this route, but the best they would do was $299. Being that the new DVR will be out shortly and I'm sure they would make me pay again, I am bolting to Dish. Going though Centurytel and bundling it with my phone and DSL I am getting the VIP622 and a standard 625 DVR for just the activation fee of $49. My monthly will go up but Dish has a much better HD line up. The voom channels look interesting. I really tried to stay with Directv because their service has been good all this time, but they would not work a deal. If they would have Tivo making their new DVR I might have been swayed to wait a little longer also, but their non Tivo DVR really is a bad piece of equipment. I'll hold on to my DirecTivo's just in case I ever come back, they really are a great piece of equipment even though my first one is going on 6 years old. :eek:

I have a simple question, when I got my H20 and asked about the new 5 lnb dish, I was told I wouldn't really need one for a couple of years in Los Angeles. And I've seen messages in other threads where people living in LA have been told the same thing. One was even told that they weren't even installing 5 lnb dishes in the Los Angeles area (which is a lie, because I got them to install one for me, although I had to agree to a two year commitment to get it). So if LA subscribers don't need the 5 lnb dish and won't need it for a couple of years, why are they introducing the HR20 in the LA market first? Wouldn't it make more sense to introduce it first in a market where the 5 lnb dishes are needed? (and after running spell check on this message I have another question: why does spell check want to replace "H20" with "WY"?)

...Comcast seems like a no brainer at this point. Pros: local channels, no more rabbit ears, HD DVR (15 hours isn't much, but better than nothing)...
OTA is also "better than nothing", and I would choose OTA before ever going back to the incompetence of comscat.

I have a simple question, when I got my H20 and asked about the new 5 lnb dish, I was told I wouldn't really need one for a couple of years in Los Angeles. And I've seen messages in other threads where people living in LA have been told the same thing. One was even told that they weren't even installing 5 lnb dishes in the Los Angeles area (which is a lie, because I got them to install one for me, although I had to agree to a two year commitment to get it). So if LA subscribers don't need the 5 lnb dish and won't need it for a couple of years, why are they introducing the HR20 in the LA market first? Wouldn't it make more sense to introduce it first in a market where the 5 lnb dishes are needed? (and after running spell check on this message I have another question: why does spell check want to replace "H20" with "WY"?)

I've had my 5 LNB since January here in Los Angeles. The only local channel at the moment you are missing off the 5 LNB dish is the FOX SPORTS WEST HD since it's a MPEG4 spotbeam to this market, and it's part-time. I've heard several times that they'd like to turn off the MPEG2 HD Los Angeles feeds as soon as possible. Maybe that's why they are pushing for the HD DVR replacements in Los Angeles. If and when they ever open more local HD MPEG4 channels for the Los Angeles area (maybe KTLA 5 since it'll be the new CW) you will need the dish. That's not to say they will since know one knows what their plans are. I would love to see them start transmitting PBS HD since the OTA signal is so weak where I live.

You don't think you can talk them into a free/low-cost exchange of your tivo? I'm not planning on spending a dime on the new DVR. beyond that, I see no reason for you to get the new DVR if you have ota and you're happy with the Tivo. Especially if you don't have HD Lil in your area. Why not just keep your tivo?

Still, the only reason I see for sticking with D* is sunday ticket. If you aren't a football fan, I don't know why anyone would stick with them in the first place.

So if I'm not a Sunday Ticket guy, where service should I be using? E*, Comcrap?

And some people may feel inclined (forced) to get the HR20 b/c they want their RSN in HD (I'm one of them)...I hate to do it but I've been waiting years for my RSN in HD...

is that the same Directv spokesman that earlier this year said he didn't forsee any rate increase?

Received letter telling me that D* was dropping my DNS feed(I live in SF bay area and receive HD network programming from LA feed--but no Fox as no waiver granted and of course no PBS in HD at all). I have called these morons 6 or 7 times this past week, have been transferred around, cutoff, promised that a Sup will call me back, all to no success in answering why I am losing DNS. I finally figured that must have something to do with the fact that I had recently installed one of D*'s mpeg 4 receivers(no DVR). I cancelled this device.

Today I called and after being hung up once(the only way that you can talk to a real live person is when the computer asks you to vocalize what your wishes are, you merely tell it "Cancel my account) and you will eventually get someone.

Twice after speaking at length to the 1st line support, I asked to be placed to Customer Retention. The first time, the connection was lost in 45 seconds(probably had no answer for me and just hung up). The 2nd time thru I got to a lady named Miriam. She after consulting at length with fellow miscreants told me that ALL D* users who are getting DNS support will be cancelled from it if they are getting an D* support for local network channels(HD or SD). This she says is because of FCC rules that have recently been enforced in the last 45 days. After a long chat on the fact that I have been a customer of D* for 12 years and so forth, I told her that I had no choice but to cancel D* and go all Comcast(I already have installed their HD DVR support which is not all that bad). I will have to pay a penalty of 12 dollars times the number of months remaining on my D* contract. Stupid me, I had signed up for a 2nd HD 250 Tivo some 5 months ago. I already had another for a couple of years that I acquired from the Good Guys and thought that I would get another as I knew that D* in their stupid wisdom was going to drop Tivo in favor of their probably abortive attempt to build a Tivo look-A-Like. Well they can build all they want now, as it appears that Comcast is my future. Also my understanding is that Comcast is doing a venture with Tivo which is all the more reason. Now does anyone know how to hack a Comcast DVR to expand record time for HD?

Being a customer for 12 years they should give you some kind of break.

Now does anyone know how to hack a Comcast DVR to expand record time for HD?
Currently in the bay area all you can do is off-load content to DVHS or a PC using the firewire connection, and that's only for non-encrypted content, plus I think it has to be done real-time.

Received letter telling me that D* was dropping my DNS feedI'm sure I'll regret asking this --- but what is a DNS feed? :)

If I did have cable, I would be tempted to just get more than one Comcast HD-DVR. You'd be able to record two programs (or more) at the same time and also double (or more) the recording time. Or, does their DVR already have dual-tuners? How much extra would a 2nd DVR cost?

I'm going to be watching the TiVo/Comcast marriage closely... Nothing beats TiVo IMHO.

I'm sure I'll regret asking this --- but what is a DNS feed? :)



Distant Network S.... Service?...

The ability to receive the NY or LA locals if you live in a market where the station is owned and operated by the parent network, or if you live in a remote area where you cannot receive locals with an antenna.

Judging from a quick review of posts here in the past 4 months A LOT of people will be LOSING THEIR BETS.

The new HD-DVR coming out next month. Info is right from DirecTV!!!

http://www.tvweek.com/page.cms?pageId=202
When should we start believing what DirecTV says. They have been tap dancing for months.
IT also says LA market. It may be several weeks or months to get to all the markets.
What a joke!

DNS = Distant Network Service
HD DNS = High Def Distant Network Service

Refers to NY and LA big 4 network stations. Until recently, if you lived in an area with a station owned & operated (O&O) by NBC, ABC, CBS or FOX, you could get either the NY or LA HD DNS of that channel for free.

http://directvdnseligibility.decisionmark.com

... does anyone know how to hack a Comcast DVR to expand record time for HD?That would involve hacking comcrap equipment, and cable/DBS hack talk is taboo on this forum....

I came home yesterday and had lost power to my home sometime during the day. MY H10 Tivo unit would only bring up the Welcome Power Up screen and nothing else. I called DIRECTV and after trying several resets was told that they would have to send a new unit. However, I was told that they could send me a rebuilt Tivo unit or I could get a new non-TIVO DVR that DIRECTV is going to and that they were phasing out TIVO in favor of this newer technology. I assume this is true and that their new HD-DVR will not be TIVO but of this same technology.

I decided to go with the newer technology, especially since I will be upgrading to HD-DVR this fall. Any comments? Should I have stayed with a rebuilt TIVO unit?

Was this your HDTivo, HR10-250, that died or another Tivo unit that you had. If it was your HDTivo and they replaced it with an SD Tivo, you got owned and need to call them back and have them ship you the correct Tivo unit.

Was this your HDTivo, HR10-250, that died or another Tivo unit that you had. If it was your HDTivo and they replaced it with an SD Tivo, you got owned and need to call them back and have them ship you the correct Tivo unit.
It was not HD. I have been waiting on new HD TVs comming out and the H20 DVR. I guess i could go ahead and get the HD DVR and use it with my non-HD TV until I buy one.

Hey, just read this in this mornings Chicago Tribune:

Here's a response from DirecTV's Robert Mercer:

. . . "We have a $99 offer to swap our HD equipment for existing customers." . . .

Article is here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/home/chi-0608060267aug06,1,1489914.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Hope that applies to the HR250 units too . . .

Justin

Hey, just read this in this mornings Chicago Tribune:

Here's a response from DirecTV's Robert Mercer:

. . . "We have a $99 offer to swap our HD equipment for existing customers." . . .

Article is here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/home/chi-0608060267aug06,1,1489914.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Hope that applies to the HR250 units too . . .

Justin
Do you have another source for this since the site won't allow me access to read the piece?

Thanks!

Do you have another source for this since the site won't allow me access to read the piece?

Thanks!
It's free registration, the relevant segment is below, courtesy of www.chicagotribune.com.

Q. When I bought my home theater, the salesman told me to hold off on getting hi-def channels from DirecTV for two reasons: There weren't that many channels to make it worth the extra money and you didn't get the local [channels] in hi-def. He also said that new satellites had been launched and DirecTV would be doing an upgrade of all hi-def equipment. I know Congress has mandated that everything be broadcast digitally by 2009, but do you know if the DirecTV upgrade is going to happen sooner than that?

-- Mike Mulkerin, Chicago

A. Here's a response from DirecTV's Robert Mercer:

"This has nothing to do with the digital mandate and the salesperson was only half right. We are significantly expanding our HD programming. By the end of next year, we will have the capacity to offer more than 150 national HD channels and more than 1,500 local channels. We have already launched HD locals in 26 markets, including Chicago, and several more are going up. We launched the local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC affiliates in HD in Chicago back in November of last year.

"We are gaining this new capacity by launching new satellites -- two last year and two more next year -- and are using the MPEG4 transmission standard along with new compression technology. This requires the customer have HD equipment -- the receiver and the dish -- that is compatible with the new transmission technology. We have a $99 offer to swap our HD equipment for existing customers. For new HD customers, that equipment is available now at major retailers or through DirecTV."

I'm pretty sure Mr. Mercer is only talking about the H20/AT9 swapout here.

Hey, just read this in this mornings Chicago Tribune: Here's a response from DirecTV's Robert Mercer: "We have a $99 offer to swap our HD equipment for existing customers."Mercer obviously works for D*. His comment is frightfully vague. I'm not going to read too much into it. Instead, I will wait to celebrate until D* is more forthcoming about exactly how much they intend to charge to lease their HR20 (Mpeg4 DVR).

The sorry fact is that switching from D* to cable (after about 15-years) is getting more and more likely for me. I won't continue paying $1,800 a year for D*'s unacceptable (intermittent) HD service. Not that cable has better quality.

Perhaps I'd just be happiest living in the deep woods with Sasquatch for a neighbor and doing without TV altogether? I can always drop into the local bar/restaurant to watch Boston Legal once a week. :rolleyes:

The fact is that it all hinges more upon whether the HR20 actually works instead of how much D* will charge for the HR20 anyways. If, the HR20 is as lousy as the H20, it will be a very simple decision for me. It's past time for D* to put up or shut down in my house. It sure would be great to get what I am paying for...

Hey, just read this in this mornings Chicago Tribune:

Here's a response from DirecTV's Robert Mercer:

. . . "We have a $99 offer to swap our HD equipment for existing customers." . . .

Article is here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/home/chi-0608060267aug06,1,1489914.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Hope that applies to the HR250 units too . . .

Justin

I hope not -- I think $99 is too much to pay to get what I already am receiving (HD Network broadcasts (via a waiver) and a DVR that records them in HD. I can see $99 if you aren't currently getting HD via D* but not for those of us who already have it. They are the ones who are changing technology -- the upgrade should be free not $99.

Most likely the $99 deal is the swap for the new H20 receivers and 5LNB dish plus install. That was my deal and I got two new H20's included for that price.

Most likely the $99 deal is the swap for the new H20 receivers and 5LNB dish plus install. That was my deal and I got two new H20's included for that price.
I've got 5 HD recievers and I'm not going to pay $500 for a swap out. $99 total I could live with, although free would be ideal.

I'd hold out on paying that $99. I'm not paying them to come to my home to swap out leased equipment they've made obsolete when I'm already paying $100/month. I'll re-up for 2 more years instead.

It's worth $99 just to get a DVR that is faster than the HD10-250.

Lot's of skepticism here, I understand that. But in all my years with D*, they haven't let me down in terms of quality gear. The HD10--250 was the first HD DVR, and years later it probably still is the best.

Compare D* to E* in this department. One of the things I have always loved about D* is they rarely make promises they don't keep, unlike Charlie Ego from E*.

Whether or not the HR 20 is faster than the HR10 (which gets a small speed improvement when the 6.3 software arrives soon), the HR20 will very likely be burdened with the same problems as the HR-15 SD unit from DirecTV.

If reliability (doing what you want it to) and usability (ease of use) are important to you, you may not want to be in a hurry to replace an HR10 with an HR20. A better approach might be to add an HR20 to the mix and decide later about retiring an HR10 or not.

Actually, I hope that DirecTV proves me wrong and delivers a much more finished HR20 product than their experience with the HR15. I just don't see a reason to have high hopes here.

Judging from a quick review of posts here in the past 4 months A LOT of people will be LOSING THEIR BETS.

The new HD-DVR coming out next month. Info is right from DirecTV!!!

http://www.tvweek.com/page.cms?pageId=202

So ScoBuck,
you started working on your spin as to what mid august means? :rolleyes:

So ScoBuck,
you started working on your spin as to what mid august means? :rolleyes:

Check out this link at DirecTV investor relations from yesterday's Q2 2006 The DIRECTV Group, Inc. Earnings Conference Call webcast:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=127160&p=irol-IRHome

I just listened to it and here's some highlights: 25 more Local HD markets by the end of the year. Launch of 2 more sats in 2007 will position them to be the market leader in HD, and...

"contrary to recent press we will begin shipping our new hd dvr in the next few weeks."

Later in the call the question of the Los Angeles market and Time Warner taking over Adelphia / Comcast came up so I'm not surprised they are releasing the HR20 here first just to be agressive against Time Warner.

I live in Los Angeles and I'm getting annoyed in swapping connections whenever I want to watch my Local HD RSN on the H20 instead of my Hr10 so I called retention just now, and got put on some HR20 email notify list. Cat said they probably would have more info late next week.

That's what I've been told, don't everybody start yelling at me. I take it all with a grain of salt for now.

I just got this in my inbox from DirecTV:

"Thanks for asking about our forthcoming HD DVR.

Courtesy of your DIRECTV Customer Service Representative, you're now on our list for regular email updates about this product. We plan to send monthly updates over the next few months, until the product becomes available. At that point, we'll tell you how to order one.

Here's some basic information about the receiver:

Model number: HR20

Overview: Brings together features of the DIRECTV Plus DVR and DIRECTV HD Receiver. It receives HD local channels via satellite (where available), all the other great DIRECTV channels and has our latest DVR and interactive capabilities.

Recording time: More than 30 hours of HD programming delivered in MPEG-2, up to 50 hours of HD programming delivered in MPEG-4, or up to 200 hours of standard-definition programming.

Expected Availability: Fall 2006

Like you, we're really excited about releasing this new product. Thanks for your interest, and we'll keep you posted!"

Some couple of months ago, I installed a H 20 and the 5 lnb dish, merely to get local channels in HD. I was/am running a Comcast HD DVR that gave me HD local channels just fine, but wished to avoid the expense of this duplicate service.

Found that the H 20 is not a DVR(D* salesperson did not tell me that, just told me that this would get my local HD channels). Also took D* some 4 visits and 30 days before my 5 LNB dish was properly installed. Don't get me started on that mis-adventure.

I currently also have 3 sd Tivo's and 2 HDR 250's so I am a fan of Dvr's and really annoyed that D* is dropping Tivo in favor of their homegrown version. The good news is that Comcast Cable has picked up Tivo, so if D*'s DVR is as poorly executed as is rumoured, then I have somewhere to go if need be. Comcast's HD DVR has some good features(picture is better then H 250 and of course local channel HD support), but limited record time, and a somewhat kluge interface and other limitations, Tivo it ain't.

After tried to watch the H 20 for a few days, I have now discontinued service with it. Found it not to my liking after being accustomed to Tivo. Rather watch local channels in SD then be watch them in HD without DVR support. About a thousand to 1 in favor of Tivo.

Anybody have any info on the confirmed specs of the HR20? Are they what was shown at CES?

My top questions?

Will it be released with client server functionality?
If so will it be ethernet, coax, wireless? All of the above?
Hard Drive size?
Inputs?

Comscat also rents HD receivers that don't record, so I don't see the difference. The H20 is a DirecTV HD receiver and cannot record. The HR20 is the DVR. One would realize this with even the most basic of research, like asking the CSR: "can the H20 record or pause live TV?"

Comscat also rents HD receivers that don't record, so I don't see the difference. The H20 is a DirecTV HD receiver and cannot record. The HR20 is the DVR. One would realize this with even the most basic of research, like asking the CSR: "can the H20 record or pause live TV?"
Have you had a CSR answer your questions correctly?

Yes.

Have you had a CSR answer your questions correctly?
Yes.
When? :)

I think the point is that D* CSRs do not always provide correct answers to customers' questions... It might even be said that they rarely know the correct answer? But, I have found their CSRs to be very polite. :)

I understood Sxrxrnr to be saying that he was basically unhappy that D* doesn't have any H20-type DVR receiver. Not that his H20 isn't a DVR? I too completely share his unhappiness. I am also not thrilled that D* has chosen to end their relationship with TiVo.

I can't help but wonder if the reason it will have taken D* about a year (or more?) to design, develope, test and release a Mpeg4 DVR might have a lot to do with the fact that D* isn't partnered with TiVo now. Seems like all that would have been involved would've been to replace the HR10-250's guts with the H20's guts and we would have had a functional TiVo-powered HR20-250? Sorry if my technical jargon ("guts") is too technical. :)

My biggest problem with D* is that if the soon-to-be-released (?) DVR doesn't work better than the H20 receiver - I will be most unhappy... But, I'll just wait and see before jumping to conclusions.

I'll wait. And I'll wait. And I'll wait some more... :eek:

When?
Last week.


.

My biggest problem with D* is that if the soon-to-be-released (?) DVR doesn't work better than the H20 receiver - I will be most unhappy... But, I'll just wait and see before jumping to conclusions.

I'll wait. And I'll wait. And I'll wait some more... :eek:
It's supposed to be an HD version of the SD DVR, the R15..? I have no idea how well the R15 works though.

I left DirecTV back in Dec of 2004. They have been calling me ever since to come back but I have been waiting for this HR20-250 to hit the market. In the mean time I have been dealing with Adelphia cable, terrible GUI!! Well since I have heard the HR20 should be released soon, I called D** Customer retention 4 separate times seeing who would would give me the best deal to come back. It totally depends on who you talk to. One person offered me $100 off the $399 price of the HR10-250, the next person said that deal doesn't exist and is only for new customers. Well yesrteday I called in and got the right person. I got the HR10-250 for $299 which included an instant $100 rebate, plus he noted my account stating that when the HR20-250 comes out to swap out and upgrade me at no cost. He said D** is leaning towards charging people $99 to swap out and upgrade to the HR20-250 which would include the 5 LNB dish if you don't already have it. In my opinion, since I didn't have the HR10 yet, it was either pay now or pay later, so I bit the bullet and will get the free upgrade. I also got $10 off the Total Choice Plus for 12 months, $10 off HBO for 6 months and they threw in Showtime, $5 off Hi Def programming for the 1st 6 months. And for he couldn't work the deal for the Sunday Ticket since it was for only new customers so that is why he hooked up the rest. I got the Sunday Ticket extended to a 5 pay for $49.80/month or a one time payment of $249. Seems like a pretty good deal to me, what do you all think?

I left DirecTV back in Dec of 2004. They have been calling me ever since to come back but I have been waiting for this HR20-250 to hit the market. In the mean time I have been dealing with Adelphia cable, terrible GUI!! Well since I have heard the HR20 should be released soon, I called D** Customer retention 4 separate times seeing who would would give me the best deal to come back. It totally depends on who you talk to. One person offered me $100 off the $399 price of the HR10-250, the next person said that deal doesn't exist and is only for new customers. Well yesrteday I called in and got the right person. I got the HR10-250 for $299 which included an instant $100 rebate, plus he noted my account stating that when the HR20-250 comes out to swap out and upgrade me at no cost. He said D** is leaning towards charging people $99 to swap out and upgrade to the HR20-250 which would include the 5 LNB dish if you don't already have it. In my opinion, since I didn't have the HR10 yet, it was either pay now or pay later, so I bit the bullet and will get the free upgrade. I also got $10 off the Total Choice Plus for 12 months, $10 off HBO for 6 months and they threw in Showtime, $5 off Hi Def programming for the 1st 6 months. And for he couldn't work the deal for the Sunday Ticket since it was for only new customers so that is why he hooked up the rest. I got the Sunday Ticket extended to a 5 pay for $49.80/month or a one time payment of $249. Seems like a pretty good deal to me, what do you all think?

I think I will call E*.

I think you got a great deal, uvamack.
Of course, just getting rid of adelphia is a great deal ;-)

I've found that when CSR's say they are placing a note on your account (even if its somone in retention) that the next person you talk with is not able to see what they wrote. So either they don't note the accounts as they claim, or there are just too many places where they can put notes so that its impossible for the next csr to find it.

I've found that when CSR's say they are placing a note on your account (even if its somone in retention) that the next person you talk with is not able to see what they wrote. So either they don't note the accounts as they claim, or there are just too many places where they can put notes so that its impossible for the next csr to find it.Jedi,

Or the first CSR failed to note it, or the next CSR doesn't know where to look or doesn't bother to actually look? Or... who knows. I have had a CSR comment about a note that a previous CSR did place in my account --- referencing a previous problem, so go figure.

Bottom line is you might not want to believe everything people tell you. Well, except for what I tell you. :)

I would also like a 30 second skip, but you know we've become too spoiled when we ask questions like that. How could we possibly watch football without a 30 second skip?? I'm not trying to be a smart alec, but I did it for about 30 years until I got my first DVR....



How many years did you watch B&W TV? Do you still own one..............I bet not. :)

How many years did you watch B&W TV? Do you still own one..............I bet not. :)

I do. But it's in the garage. But it does still work! :)

How many years did you watch B&W TV? Do you still own one..............I bet not. :)I have to admit that I can't remember the last time that I watched a TV show in B&W. I do remember back in the fifties when I watched the first TV show broadcast in FULL and glorious color in Indiana. It was the Ed Sullivan Show! The picture was absolutely terrible and the color was awful. But people cheered! :D

Will B&W television be a thing of the past when TV stations begin broadcasting only in digital circa 2009? Maybe there will be converter boxes so people with B&W sets in their garages can still watch TV? ;)

Of course you can watch digital TV on a B&W set. A digital DVD recorder, vcr or convertor box is all you need, provided it has an analog RF modulator, or you add one.

When? :)

I think the point is that D* CSRs do not always provide correct answers to customers' questions... It might even be said that they rarely know the correct answer? But, I have found their CSRs to be very polite. :)

I understood Sxrxrnr to be saying that he was basically unhappy that D* doesn't have any H20-type DVR receiver. Not that his H20 isn't a DVR? I too completely share his unhappiness. I am also not thrilled that D* has chosen to end their relationship with TiVo.
I'm not thrilled about them ending their relationship with TiVo either, and I'd be happier if the DVR receiver was already available, as well. But Sxrxnr isn't saying those things, as I read his post. Basically, he seems to be faulting the CSR for not being able to read his mind. He assumed that it would have a DVR unless they specifically told him it didn't, and the CSR assumed that he would understand that it wouldn't include a DVR unless they pointed out that it included this capability.

I'm not thrilled about them ending their relationship with TiVo either, and I'd be happier if the DVR receiver was already available, as well. But Sxrxnr isn't saying those things, as I read his post. Basically, he seems to be faulting the CSR for not being able to read his mind. He assumed that it would have a DVR unless they specifically told him it didn't, and the CSR assumed that he would understand that it wouldn't include a DVR unless they pointed out that it included this capability.
READ ALL OF HIS ORIGINAL POST.
He says all of his present equipment are DVR's. The conversation probably went this way.
Called CSR and asked for a HD box that would receive HD local channels to replace an existing box that does not. Instead of the CSR admitting they do not have one, a HD non DVR was shipped. The only thing D* had to offer.

For a piece of equipment that's supposed to be released basically now, there's startlingly little information available. Everytime I check this topic I just see more personal anecdotes about switching to Comcast or getting a D* deal that have almost nothing to do with the HR20 (although I suppose any thread involving D* seems to attract that type of posting anyway).

For a piece of equipment that's supposed to be released basically now, there's startlingly little information available. Everytime I check this topic I just see more personal anecdotes about switching to Comcast or getting a D* deal that have almost nothing to do with the HR20 (although I suppose any thread involving D* seems to attract that type of posting anyway).
True, in a few days it will be "mid-August" so we'll see what happens, although, that statement by Mercer of DirecTV about the rollout reeked of being a "cover my ass with the investors" statement since DirecTV was getting pounded in the press due to no DVR offering, it would not surprise me at all if "mid-August" slipped even further into the future.

The fact of the matter is that D* doesn't have a DVR that works with their Mpeg4 compressed transmissions. D* CSRs not pointing out this lack isn't really surprising to me. My question is why has it taken so long to release a H20 DVR?

It appears to me that the decision to stop using TiVo-technology and instead manufacture their own DVRs (motivated primarily by financial greed) is the root cause.

I could be all wrong, but the decision has DirecTLY caused this interminable delay in providing a functioning D* DVR. I defend their right to choose this course of action, but strenuously object to their decision. Plus, one has to wonder how well their own DVR will operate when compared to TiVo.

The best way for me to object would be to stop using D* altogether. When you consider that in additon to the lack of a DVR --- D*'s Mpeg4 local HD quality is exceptionally poor... it makes me wonder why I'm still paying $150 a month. My own laziness probably, or maybe the fact that cable service isn't really any better.

The solution? Take a nice, long nap and see if things improve in a year or two... ;)

The fact of the matter is that D* doesn't have a DVR that works with their Mpeg4 compressed transmissions. D* CSRs not pointing out this lack isn't really surprising to me. My question is why has it taken so long to release a H20 DVR?

It appears to me that the decision to stop using TiVo-technology and instead manufacture their own DVRs (motivated primarily by financial greed) is the root cause.

I could be all wrong, but the decision has DirecTLY caused this interminable delay in providing a functioning D* DVR. I defend their right to choose this course of action, but strenuously object to their decision. Plus, one has to wonder how well their own DVR will operate when compared to TiVo.

The best way for me to object would be to stop using D* altogether. When you consider that in additon to the lack of a DVR --- D*'s Mpeg4 local HD quality is exceptionally poor... it makes me wonder why I'm still paying $150 a month. My own laziness probably, or maybe the fact that cable service isn't really any better.

The solution? Take a nice, long nap and see if things improve in a year or two... ;)

Overall agree with comments -- however, my "nap" is just about over...once the HR20 FINALLY gets released, it better be good OR ELSE!!! Enough already with D*TV and their BS...the ONLY thing keeping me with D*TV is the Tivo HDDVR; if the HR20 is no better than cable's DVR, I'll go with cable (Cablevision in my case) -- more HD, especially ALL local sports teams in HD, plus better HD quality....Sunday Ticket is becoming less of a value as the greedy NFL is putting more and more games on days OTHER than Sunday...

For a piece of equipment that's supposed to be released basically now, there's startlingly little information available. Everytime I check this topic I just see more personal anecdotes about switching to Comcast or getting a D* deal that have almost nothing to do with the HR20 (although I suppose any thread involving D* seems to attract that type of posting anyway).

AGREED -- its amazing isn't it? I remember when Tivo first came out (remember Bullwinkle?), the Tivo community was constantly on the cutting edge of new features, troubleshooting and many of us involved in beta tests....how quickly things have changed!!! Once this baby hits the market, I cannot wait for info re: features, bugs, etc. -- more importantly, how does it stack up to Tivo interface and features??? I already hear it does NOT have dual buffers, a BIG step backwards already!!!! :eek:

So, I wonder if the delays are providing time to perfect the box or to just make it passable for now.

So, I wonder if the delays are providing time to perfect the box or to just make it passable for now. :D

:D

:D

Stop it, my sides are hurting!

A "perfect" DVR receiver? Now that's a real hoot! Remember that this will be the first DVR made by D* without help from TiVo... Perfected? LOL.

I would lean more towards a buggy DVR with limited features and strange problems no one has ever seen before. :) But, even that would be better than no DVR --- which is what we've had for the last 9 or 10 months.

I wonder if the people in L.A. will sell their DVRs on the black market. :p But, I guess that's a premature question since D* still hasn't started distributing them to anyone yet.

:D

:D

:D

Stop it, my sides are hurting!

A "perfect" DVR receiver? Now that's a real hoot! Remember that this will be the first DVR made by D* without help from TiVo... Perfected? LOL.

I would lean more towards a buggy DVR with limited features and strange problems no one has ever seen before. :) But, even that would be better than no DVR --- which is what we've had for the last 9 or 10 months.

I wonder if the people in L.A. will sell their DVRs on the black market. :p But, I guess that's a premature question since D* still hasn't started distributing them to anyone yet.
Unfortunately, I think I knew the answer before I asked the question. I'm glad you saw the humor!

Unfortunately, I think I knew the answer before I asked the question. I'm glad you saw the humor!You bet! If I didn't keep my sense of humor I would go bonkers... :)

The thing I find most hilarious is the way that each programming service (D*, E*, Cable or OTA) seems to have its own associated set of problems/snafus. There isn't any single one (at any price) that can deliver "perfectly". :rolleyes:

My sides have almost stopped hurting from laughing so hard at the prospect of a D* receiver/DVR that actually works perfectly... Oh no, here I go again... {ROTFLMAO}

... There isn't any single one (at any price) that can deliver "perfectly". :rolleyes:

My sides have almost stopped hurting from laughing so hard at the prospect of a D* receiver/DVR that actually works perfectly... Oh no, here I go again... {ROTFLMAO}
Actually, I think my DirecTiVo's (2 SD and 2 HD) are about as trouble-free operationally as we might ever see in a consumer-grade PVR/DVR product.

My series 1 SAT-T60 Sony SD unit occasionally suffers from forgetting its channel lineup's, but it has been fine for the last year or so (I have had this one for 5+ years, still on the original hard drive).

My series 2 HDDVR Hughes SD unit replaced a failed-hard-drive Sony about 3 years ago and has been fault-free.

My first HD TiVo (bought in first month they were offered), aside from the HDNet audio problem that was some compatibility issue between HR10-250's and HDNet, has been trouble-free except for occasional 0.25 second audio droputs that happen when it is recording 2 HD programs and I am watching a 3rd HD prerecorded program. The recordings are fine--I can rewind and play again and no dropout. I suspect this is a CPU or other resource issue in the machine.

My second HD TiVo is less than one year old and has shown no faults. This one is using the HDMI interface to the TV (I have not even tested HDMI on the old one since that HDTV has component and RGB but is not HDMI-equipped).

Of course, I do have occasional reception issues on both satellite and OTA, but those are not the fault of the boxes.

I dread the day when/if we are forced to give up our DirecTiVo's in trade for the NDS boxes. That may be the day I leave DirecTV. Fortunately, their track record of maintaining grandfathered service for their older boxes (like Ultimate TV) is very good, meaning I may be able to keep my TiVo's as long as I wish. Even if I could only use my HD TiVo's for OTA HDTV and satellite SDTV, I could still be satisfied for a long time.

Actually, I think my DirecTiVo's (2 SD and 2 HD) are about as trouble-free operationally as we might ever see in a consumer-grade PVR/DVR product.

My series 1 SAT-T60 Sony SD unit occasionally suffers from forgetting its channel lineup's, but it has been fine for the last year or so (I have had this one for 5+ years, still on the original hard drive).

My series 2 HDDVR Hughes SD unit replaced a failed-hard-drive Sony about 3 years ago and has been fault-free.

My first HD TiVo (bought in first month they were offered), aside from the HDNet audio problem that was some compatibility issue between HR10-250's and HDNet, has been trouble-free except for occasional 0.25 second audio droputs that happen when it is recording 2 HD programs and I am watching a 3rd HD prerecorded program. The recordings are fine--I can rewind and play again and no dropout. I suspect this is a CPU or other resource issue in the machine.
Take the time to read what you have written!
Do you see anything there you would consider trouble free!
IMHO I don't
My second HD TiVo is less than one year old and has shown no faults. This one is using the HDMI interface to the TV (I have not even tested HDMI on the old one since that HDTV has component and RGB but is not HDMI-equipped).

Of course, I do have occasional reception issues on both satellite and OTA, but those are not the fault of the boxes.

I dread the day when/if we are forced to give up our DirecTiVo's in trade for the NDS boxes. That may be the day I leave DirecTV. Fortunately, their track record of maintaining grandfathered service for their older boxes (like Ultimate TV) is very good, meaning I may be able to keep my TiVo's as long as I wish. Even if I could only use my HD TiVo's for OTA HDTV and satellite SDTV, I could still be satisfied for a long time.
Read what you have written.
Do you see anything there that the average consumer would consider trouble free?
IMHO I don't

One upside, hopefully we won't have to pay the monthly Tivo fee!!

Read what you have written.
Do you see anything there that the average consumer would consider trouble free?
IMHO I don't
I respect your opinion.

My intended point was that my experiences were as close to trouble free as anyone might get with a PVR/DVR.

If you are familiar with PVR/DVR boxes from other sources, including OTA (with TVGOS), cable, and Dish Network satellite, and if you compare customer experiences between all of the DVRs, you might come to the same conclusion, relatively speaking.

No, I don't see my experience as trouble free. But I do have extremely reliable "recording what I want" performance and user interfaces that my non-techie wife and children have also mastered. We are not using or needing any workarounds, nor do we have to force reboot the boxes or manage them in any other way. We just use them and they just work.

Yes, zero defects would be nice, but how much would that drive up the price and delay the introduction and upgrades of these products?

These TiVo-based DVRs are almost as reliable and friendly as the several Mac computers I have had in my home over the years.

As always, YMMV.

AGREED -- its amazing isn't it? I remember when Tivo first came out (remember Bullwinkle?), the Tivo community was constantly on the cutting edge of new features, troubleshooting and many of us involved in beta tests....how quickly things have changed!!! Once this baby hits the market, I cannot wait for info re: features, bugs, etc. -- more importantly, how does it stack up to Tivo interface and features??? I already hear it does NOT have dual buffers, a BIG step backwards already!!!! :eek:

If this new box doesn't have dual buffers, I may just stick with the HR10 until D* puts an exclusive channel on an MPEG4 satellite. Really, for those of us who can receive locals OTA, what's the point? We're paying to get the new box which in turn provides us with PQ inferior to what we already get OTA. With the rumors circulating about difficulties with the interface, it sounds like this new box could be a complete step backwards for some of us at this moment in time...

But...

This is all hypothetical since we don't have any info about the darn box yet!

I know D* doesn't like to announce things until literally the week before they happen, but their silence relating to this box seems like a bad sign.

If this new box doesn't have dual buffers
Is this true? Can it only record 1 show then?

Is this true? Can it only record 1 show then?
No, it means you can't pause viewing on one channel, then go to another, pause viewing there and then go back to the first channel. I guess folks find that handy for viewing sports/football games on different channels.

Well I called D* yesterday because I'm getting a new HDTV and wanted to see what they would offer me if I was willing to switch. They offered me a free HR20 (upon release). Sounded good to me. No offense to you tivo heads, but I'm a ReplayTV guy going back 6+ years and I know that no DVR is going to match up to my expectations (and I don't really want to build an HTPC to run the new ReplayTV software unless I REALLY have to), so I'm willing to give the HR20 a shot. I will probably still keep my replay hooked up to a sat box for watching SD programming.

No, it means you can't pause viewing on one channel, then go to another, pause viewing there and then go back to the first channel. I guess folks find that handy for viewing sports/football games on different channels.

This is a BIG issue to me...I use the dual buffer feature lots of times; especially sports, but also for occasional channel surfing, big news events, etc. Once you have a feature like this, it will be hard to give up!!!! :(

Is it mid-August 2006, in LA yet??????????

Is it mid-August 2006, in LA yet??????????

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8212961&&#post8212961

looks like they are out......

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=311887

1

Here is the first review.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=61862

Can't imagine why he didn't talk about PQ.

Can't imagine why he didn't talk about PQ.
Yes. And, if I was familiar with the R15 he kept comparing, the review might have been informative. :confused:

Can't imagine why he didn't talk about PQ.

He did and said his PQ for local MPEG was 95% as good as OTA on a difference receiver.

Then again, his monitor is a plasma with 720p at best.

Can't imagine why he didn't talk about PQ.
He said in the main review that he wouldn't discuss picture quality there because he has no objective way to measure it, and would leave discussion of picture quality to the "comments" section. He then put a post in the comments section about his own impression of the picture quality.
What exactly confused you about this?
Struck me as a pretty thorough review.

Yes. And, if I was familiar with the R15 he kept comparing, the review might have been informative. :confused:

I did compare a lot to the R15... soley because it has been out there for a year now, and there has been plenty said about it.....

Sorry about that...

I will try to get some more screen shots of the "general" functions...
And we are going to have another thread comparing to the HR10-250

As for PQ....

I did add that to the Discussion thread, as I have no way to objectively compare it.
As I said: "My Eyes to My Brain, on My TV"... may be very different from "Yours Eyes to Your Brain, on Your TV"

I personally think the PQ is better then I got on the HR10-250, on par with what I was getting with the H20... and a hell of a lot better (with SD content) then my DSR704

Just ordered 2... Aug 26th install.. excited.. DTivo's are dying...

Just ordered 2... Aug 26th install.. excited.. DTivo's are dying...
What did they charge you? I'm glad they allow 2. I decided I'm going back to D* when we get the HR20 in Dallas.

I just called Directv Retention this morning and told them I was thinking of moving to Dish due to delays in their new MPEG-4 receiver. I already new the HR20-700 had been released to LA from dbstalk yesterday. They said I qualified to get the HR20-700 since I live in San Francisco bay area and that they would upgrade me from the HR10-250 for free.

Then they threw in a $50 customer loyalty credit and $10 per month for 12 months. Always great to get money for an upgrade, even if it is way overdue :)!

I just called Directv Retention this morning and told them I was thinking of moving to Dish due to delays in their new MPEG-4 receiver. I already new the HR20-700 had been released to LA from dbstalk yesterday. They said I qualified to get the HR20-700 since I live in San Francisco bay area and that they would upgrade me from the HR10-250 for free.

Then they threw in a $50 customer loyalty credit and $10 per month for 12 months. Always great to get money for an upgrade, even if it is way overdue :)!
good for you! could you post the retention # the one i have was disconnected... thanks

Can someone tell me what "dual buffers" are? I keep seeing people complaining about how this unit doesn't have them. This is going to be the first DVR I buy, so what is a dual buffer? Wouldn't sending the signal through a buffer twice slow down the response time between changing a channel and seeing the image?

Is there a "primer" for people on DVR info somewhere?

Can someone tell me what "dual buffers" are? I keep seeing people complaining about how this unit doesn't have them. This is going to be the first DVR I buy, so what is a dual buffer? Wouldn't sending the signal through a buffer twice slow down the response time between changing a channel and seeing the image?

Is there a "primer" for people on DVR info somewhere?
Dual buffers are when both tuners are recording their respective channels so that you can pause viewing on one channel, switch to another channel, pause viewing there, then switch back to the first channel and pick up where you left off. Apparently the HR20 does not allow this. A workaround would be to start a recording of the first channel and then switch to the other channel, pause it, then start your recording of the first channel and pause it. I don't know how long you can hold a pause though, although someone who is channel swapping is not going to pause for very long.

A lot of folks use dual-buffering to watch sports, especially football games.

The HR20 will only be buffering, or recording on the fly, the channel you are watching currently, the other tuner is not being recorded-buffered.

Thanks for the info, Keenan!

That's interesting. I figured the LAST thing I'd use a DVR for would be to watch sports. I want to know what's happening up to the moment, not lagging behind real time. What would be the point of praying that Venateri makes the field goal, if it happed before you started praying? ;)

Thanks for the info, Keenan!

That's interesting. I figured the LAST thing I'd use a DVR for would be to watch sports. I want to know what's happening up to the moment, not lagging behind real time. What would be the point of praying that Venateri makes the field goal, if it happed before you started praying? ;)
Think of it as a time warp...

If you don't KNOW what has already happened --- then it is as if it hasn't happened.

One warning though. Don't answer the phone when a buddy calls to comment on how it was really hilarious when Venateri missed that easy field goal! :)

I've found that threatening to murder anyone so inclined works fairly well...

Exactly, you stop time when you dual-buffer so you can see all the plays for both games.

DirecTV should have at least added PIP so you could at least watch 2 channels on the same screen, that would have been nice, the Dish 622 does this very well. Then you could just swap between the two images, small to large, depending on which channel had the action happening.

just called retention...

first, they offered me the HR20 for $399.99

then they offered me the HR20 for $149.99 plus $180 in credits.

then they wiped out the $149.99 and kept the $180 in credits.

so, i'm getting it for nothing out of pocket.....

installation is set for Saturday morning. fingers crossed that it all goes smoothly....

(i live in Los Angeles and have been a D* customer for over 8 years, fyi).

-CP

just called retention...

first, they offered me the HR20 for $399.99

then they offered me the HR20 for $149.99 plus $180 in credits.

then they wiped out the $149.99 and kept the $180 in credits.

so, i'm getting it for nothing out of pocket.....

installation is set for Saturday morning. fingers crossed that it all goes smoothly....

(i live in Los Angeles and have been a D* customer for over 8 years, fyi).

-CP

Is that for a lease or outright purchase? When I called yesterday the rep. told me it would be $399 for a lease or $749 for outright purchase. I got them to agree to 50% off either option and a similar amount of credits. Didn't push for more at this point as the unit isn't available in my area yet anyway.

Tom

its for a lease.

i have no reason to purchase it if they want to give it to me to use for free.

-CP

CP - I'm on with D* retention now and they won't cough up that deal. I'm in the middle of a move to LA so I'd think they'd really want to retain me (been a subscriber as long as you have).

What secret password did you use :)

If they're going to give it to us for free I don't have a problem with a lease, but there's no way I'm going to pay to buy something I don't get to own. I do find it amusing that they charge an extra $5.99 a month to give you the features that are actually enabled on the box though. I realize they do this because they can't charge you for guide data since you already get it for free.

When I got my box the rep didn't say anything about a lease, so I'll assume it's mine unless I see something that says otherwise during the install tomorrow.

CP - I'm on with D* retention now and they won't cough up that deal. I'm in the middle of a move to LA so I'd think they'd really want to retain me (been a subscriber as long as you have).

What secret password did you use :)

no magic password, but i did start to "lay the groundwork" for my upgrade to the HR20 a few weeks ago with a few calls to retention, talking with them, getting them to make me offers on the 10-250, having them documented, etc, etc.

then today, i called and, honestly, i was ready to take the $150 deal w/ $180 in credits and then the rep said "well today is your lucky day, i can waive the $150 fee).
i didnt ask too many questions after that.

FWIW, my friend at work just called and tried to get the same deal and the best he could get was $399 - $120 in credits.

-CP

no magic password, but i did start to "lay the groundwork" for my upgrade to the HR20 a few weeks ago with a few calls to retention, talking with them, getting them to make me offers on the 10-250, having them documented, etc, etc. then today, i called and, honestly, i was ready to take the $150 deal w/ $180 in credits and then the rep said "well today is your lucky day, i can waive the $150 fee).
i didnt ask too many questions after that. FWIW, my friend at work just called and tried to get the same deal and the best he could get was $399 - $120 in credits. -CP
Is it just me, or does all of this wishy-washy pricing seem like a lousy way to conduct business? Reminds me of haggling with street vendors in Tiajuana... :)

negotiating is the bomb!

sharpens your brain and communication skills, hehe

for non negotiators, you get to pay $399

for bad negotiators you should get $100 off the 399

for good negotiators / people with subs around $100+ per month you should get this unit for free to $50 (WITHOUT an existing HR10-250)....

I ran out of gas when trying to get more than 1 HR20 unit though, they became very sticky then, so each month ill try get another hr20 then I guess.....

Do the deals you guys are getting through D* Retention require that you trade in another unit? In my main living area I have an upgraded HR10-250, which I'd like to keep, but an old Philips DSR6000 that I'd like to replace with a new HR20. What type of deal can I expect? I've been with D* for about 7 years now and have been averaging about $100/month.

good for you! could you post the retention # the one i have was disconnected... thanks


The retention number I used was 800-824-9081.

I just called Directv Retention this morning and told them I was thinking of moving to Dish due to delays in their new MPEG-4 receiver. I already new the HR20-700 had been released to LA from dbstalk yesterday. They said I qualified to get the HR20-700 since I live in San Francisco bay area and that they would upgrade me from the HR10-250 for free.

Then they threw in a $50 customer loyalty credit and $10 per month for 12 months. Always great to get money for an upgrade, even if it is way overdue :)!

jdreif,

i saw your post and called D* and was told that they are NOT offering the HR20 in the SF Bay area yet. He told me that they are still doing trials only in LA and there is no inventory anywhere else. Did you get any info on when they would supposedly do your upgrade?

Paul

I wished Charlie treated long time customers as DirectTV. D* really wants to keep its high end customers (>100 bucks per month)

When E* released the 622 (Dual tuner mpeg4 DVR) it went out for $299 just for the privilege of leasing and I did not read about any deals on the forums (and I visit ever day :)

Then around June (5-6 months after release) it started to give only 100 dlls back for existing customers but only if you were not an HD sub (new ones can get the 622 for free with programming credits I believe)

You guys are getting sweet deals

I just called Directv Retention this morning and told them I was thinking of moving to Dish due to delays in their new MPEG-4 receiver. I already new the HR20-700 had been released to LA from dbstalk yesterday. They said I qualified to get the HR20-700 since I live in San Francisco bay area and that they would upgrade me from the HR10-250 for free.

Then they threw in a $50 customer loyalty credit and $10 per month for 12 months. Always great to get money for an upgrade, even if it is way overdue :)!

That is unreal. I live in SF area too. I called yesterday and said I wanted to change to cable and they said the HR20-700 is not out yet in this area and when it comes out there will NO incentives for it.

I am glad at least you got a good deal.

jdreif,

i saw your post and called D* and was told that they are NOT offering the HR20 in the SF Bay area yet. He told me that they are still doing trials only in LA and there is no inventory anywhere else. Did you get any info on when they would supposedly do your upgrade?

Paul


Mine is scheduled for tomorrow so we will see what happens, I'll keep you posted if everything goes smoothly.

HI,

I Just got 2 HR-20 units installed at my house. I called up Directv on Wednesday and spoke to a CSR, where it was news to him that the units were even available. I am in the LA area and wanted to replace the HD tivo and the SD tivo units that I have. I was quoted $399, then a $100 rebate. I mentioned that others were getting the boxes for $99 and he agreed to that price. It was very easy, I was given an install date of Friday from 1-5 pm. The total on my account was $229, for the 2 new HR-20, and new antenna.

Now for the fun part...

The installers showed up at 1 today to install. When I asked about the units, they had one SD recorder and one HD box to install, no HR-20 units, and the work order did not mention them. I explained that I ordered the other HR-20 units to replace my current DVR's. I then called up Directv and explained my situation, got no where with the first person (who did not even know they were released), the second person said that I could have one unit for $399 with a $100 rebate, and that since demand was high I could not get a second one. I was upset since I was quoted 2 days before for 2 units at $99 each. He said that the $99 price was for the non HD version of the DVR. I said that I was going to leave and go to dish, after 10 years with directv. I was then transferred over to retention, where the lady was very nice and said sorry for the mix up plenty of times. I was then offered the same deal, one box at $299 and no second unit. I said that this was unacceptable, and would soon cancel and order dish. I explained that the person that took the order understood that the unit was the HD DVR, not the SD one, he even had to read the notes on taking the order since this was the first one he had done. I was put on hold, and she came back with an offer for the first unit at no charge, and the second at $399 - and this was the best that can be done, but the installation would be in 2 weeks. I said that I wanted the units installed today and she arranged for the installers to bring 2 boxes out this afternoon and get them hooked up.

They got everything hooked up in a couple of hours, but one of the HR-20 units did not work, not sure why but he is bringing one back tomorrow morning. All in all I am satisfied, the one that works is a huge improvement to the HR10-250 that was super slow. This unit is much faster in gudes and no lags after hitting record. So far so good. I wish that I could have paid $200 less, but understand that the person taking the order made a mistake.

Hope my install goes better then that. I'm in Los Angeles and have been waiting for the HR-20 to add hd dtv to my home. I currently have two dtv tivo boxes that we love and a regular dtv box. I called the number a few post up and after telling them that dish just called me and offered me an awesome deal on a hd dvr (I lied :cool: ) the lady offered me the hr-20 for $399 minus a $200 instant rebate and also included 6 months free hd programing and 3 months of free HBO and showtime. Not bad since I almost paid $399 for the tivo version a few months back at bestbuy. She also said she was upgrading me to a 5 lnb dish. not sure what that means, made it sound real important. Cool part is she was able to get me scheduled for tomorrow, saturday between 8am-12pm. Hope the installers don't cancel on short notice or show up with the wrong box. Thanks for the tips guys.. The cool part is we are not $100 a month customers. Up until now we only had total choice plus and tivo. We've just been with them for 5 years.

The 5-LNB dish is required for the MPEG4 sats, at least that is what the installers told me. It is much larger than the 3 LNB that I had. They could not mount it to the chimney on my house since it was so heavy, but instead mounted it on the roof edge. They asked where I would like it and were quite helpful. There were 3 guys here at one time, and seemed to know the install procedure quite well, I was impressed with their service.

Since you were quoted the $399 price, I would assume that you are going to get the HR-20.

One interesting thing was that the installer said that with the new dish there would be 200 channels of HD coming in December. I will believe that when I see it, but I am thinking that he was speaking of the HD locals across the country.

I find it troublesome dealing with the reps at Directv, it really depends upon how hard you push them to get a better deal, almost reminds me of car salesmen. It is always tough when you find out someone got a better deal than you since they were more agreesive. I would be nice if they had some type of loyalty program and let you know what they are offering.

The 5-LNB dish is required for the MPEG4 sats, at least that is what the installers told me. It is much larger than the 3 LNB that I had.

It IS big and it weighs 45lbs the tech told me. I had to get a new mount to put on the roof of our apt bldg. I got really lucky and the tech waited while I ran down the street to buy a new place to mount it.

I find it troublesome dealing with the reps at Directv, it really depends upon how hard you push them to get a better deal, almost reminds me of car salesmen.Whether DirecTV representatives are instructed to operate like sleazy car salesmen or Tijuana street walkers --- the point is that basically, we as customers, should all be treated fairly and equally without having to beg, plead and cajole them for "special" deals. Offering long-standing, preferred customers a discount is one thing --- but making you perform tricks like a pet dog seems like quite another: "Sit-up. Roll-over. Play dead. Beg!"

IMO, DirecTV's All-Haggle policy is blatantly discriminatory and capricious. I guess that what I really mean is that it sucks? :eek:

I can bargain with the best of them, but why should I have to "work a deal" just to get a fair price when upgrading my satellite receivers?

Basically this is just one more reason for me to end my decade-long business association and also stop paying D* $150 plus a month...

I will admit that it is highly amusing to hear people boasting here about what great deals they have forced/tricked/fooled D* into coughing up. Perhaps the funniest was when jasonjm said that negotiating with D* "sharpens your brain and communication skills". I can't help but think that the same could be said of robbing banks... although that would require larger cajones. :D

Some people just seem to get-off when they think they have pulled a fast one. Besting D* and getting a "free" receiver must be a real rush from the look of the numerous posts. But, personally, I find it degrading to have to "negotiate" to get the deal that D* should have simply offered in the first place ----- to one of their "most preferred and loyal customers".

Begging just doesn't sit very well with me. Of course, YMMV. :)

IMHO, the "fair price" is the published asking price. The alternative would be to go to a 100% lease business model (which they are trying to do) ... this would no-doubt cause the average monthly subscription prices to creep up more toward the typical cable bill. I did a comparison of D* vs local cable company for "equivelent" programming; D* was $65/mo ... cable was $85.

TC w/ locals + DVR + Starz vs. "Classic Cable" + Digital Basic/Silver pack(inc Starz) + two leased digital stbs (SD only.)

Do the math folks ... especially looking at the "long term." ;)

I'm in Long Beach, just 20 miles south of L.A.
I called the number listed on the previous page and gave them the whole 'moving to Dish' spiel.
The service rep said she did not yet have a price on the unit, so all she could do was put a credit on my account.
When I said that that was strange, considering the fact that several users on AVS had their installations already scheduled (and obviously priced), she said that that was just a small number of test units.

Can anyone confirm/deny this, or should I call back and try my luck with a different service rep?

Thanks.

For me the big question is if I can keep my HR10 and HD-DNS from LA upstairs while I get MPEG-4 locals and new national HD channels on the HR20 downstairs.

I guess until we see installs outside of LA market, we won't have an answer.

They got everything hooked up in a couple of hours, but one of the HR-20 units did not work, not sure why but he is bringing one back tomorrow morning. All in all I am satisfied, the one that works is a huge improvement to the HR10-250 that was super slow. This unit is much faster in gudes and no lags after hitting record. So far so good. I wish that I could have paid $200 less, but understand that the person taking the order made a mistake.

Here is an update -

The installer arrived this morning at 9 am as promised, with a new unit in hand. The issue with the first unit (this is according to the installer), is that Directv did not install the software update for the unit, and there is a code that needs to be input before the unit can work. It is an easy process, but for some reason the unit that I had did not take the code. They have been programming the units at their office and brought one to me that was already programmed. The hookup took a few minutes, and he called directv to setup the box, and I am up and running. I asked how many of the HR-20 units they have, and he said hundreds, so they are out there.

Here is an update -

The installer arrived this morning at 9 am as promised, with a new unit in hand. The issue with the first unit (this is according to the installer), is that Directv did not install the software update for the unit, and there is a code that needs to be input before the unit can work. It is an easy process, but for some reason the unit that I had did not take the code. They have been programming the units at their office and brought one to me that was already programmed. The hookup took a few minutes, and he called directv to setup the box, and I am up and running. I asked how many of the HR-20 units they have, and he said hundreds, so they are out there.


FYI the code is 02468
Once the unit restarts, the FIRST screen that comes up, you have to enter it ONCE, and ONLY once....

It is a "little" touchy, but it usually takes.
That will download the latest software build your unit is authorized to receive.

It's nice.. I moved my d* Tivo unit into one of the bedrooms and now have the new HD DVR in the living room. Looks real nice but not as clear as OTA HD. Plus having the different interface is weird after using Tivo for the last 3 years. What sux is the person on the phone said I would get local sports in HD. She was wrong. I should of did a search. Anyone know when we will get local sports in HD? Dodgers in HD would be sweet! I'm still playing with it. It comes with that horrible universal d* remote. I've been so use to the tivo one. Also teh lady promised 6 months of free HD and when I activated the box, I was told the best they could do was four.. oh well. gotta go.. dodgers are on.. :D

Has anyone been able to get OTA through this box. The installer tried to hook up my OTA antenna to it and durring initial setup the option of sat/antenna was grayed out. Is this normal? He had no clue and his office had no clue. If I go to setup sat/antenna is still grayed out. I wonder if this is something that will be enabled in the future or do I have a bunk box?

Has anyone been able to get OTA through this box. The installer tried to hook up my OTA antenna to it and durring initial setup the option of sat/antenna was grayed out. Is this normal? He had no clue and his office had no clue. If I go to setup sat/antenna is still grayed out. I wonder if this is something that will be enabled in the future or do I have a bunk box?
The OTA tuners in the HR20 are not "activated" yet.

One has to wonder if they ever will be. Or if they will even be in the box that is sold to the rest of the country. Why would D* want their mpeg4 HDLIL PQ compared to OTA?

DirecTV is far from providing all local digital channels (HD and SD) as LIL MPEG-4 over satellite. In Seattle, they still only have 2 of the big 4, and beyond that we have several more that we receive OTA and via cable.

There are many areas of the country that have no HD LILs yet, and some that may never.

Without working OTA tuners, they stand to lose the opportunity for many customers who won't settle for just ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

After these needs are met, folks can start comparing PQ between OTA and LIL.

In spite of my logical observations here, vurbano could still be right.

One has to wonder if they ever will be. Or if they will even be in the box that is sold to the rest of the country. Why would D* want their mpeg4 HDLIL PQ compared to OTA?

please alert me when the day comes that you have even the slightest positive thing to say - thank you!

DirecTV is far from providing all local digital channels (HD and SD) as LIL MPEG-4 over satellite. In Seattle, they still only have 2 of the big 4, and beyond that we have several more that we receive OTA and via cable.

There are many areas of the country that have no HD LILs yet, and some that may never.

Without working OTA tuners, they stand to lose the opportunity for many customers who won't settle for just ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

After these needs are met, folks can start comparing PQ between OTA and LIL.

Why are we blaming D* for carriage agreements all of the time? Just as often they are the fault of local station ownership politics and policies. BTW, D* has publicly stated that they intend to offer HD lils in virtually EVERY DMA by end of '07. And contrary to the negatoids here, they have been pretty close to 100% in delivering on their published comittments - INCLUDING the launch of the new HD-DVR. I mean come on - it was a whole 2 weeks or so late.

Still waiting to see the remarks from the 15-20 members here who had been willing to bet the house, and so on that this device wouldn't even be out until next year. I mean those people have just begun to put down D* on other issues (they obviously HAVE to complain about something) , but NEVER acknowledge the positive steps that are on-going. DirecTV has in fact launched new HD channels and markets, as well as new HD boxes almost EVERY month in the past 3-4 months.

The fact remains that we are now seeing the HD overtakng of all competitors by DirecTV - the final chapter will be the launch of the first of the 2 new birds. Just like a skyscraper, you have to plan, dig the foundation, and begin to implement. It never gets done in a day - but anyone blind to what is continuing to roll-out is just foolish IMO.


Rest assured the OTA tuners will be activated.

One has to wonder if they ever will be. Or if they will even be in the box that is sold to the rest of the country. Why would D* want their mpeg4 HDLIL PQ compared to OTA?

???

D* has distributed 3/4 of a million H20s so far. Soon they will have millions and millions of them deployed. Every H20 box has the ability to have OTA digital and MPEG4 LIL channels side by side. The OTA is slightly better in most circumstances and I always choose it before the LIL digital. However if I did not receive some or all of my OTA digitals it would be just fine. Even compressed MPEG4 HD is better than the best SD ever viewed on the planet.

I'm not sure why they launched in LA first, since it has excellent population coverage from Mt Wilson and subscribers will not want to give up OTA digital for MPEG4 digital. It might have been better to launch in rural areas were there is spotty or no digital coverage. However, the decision has nothing to do with them being scared of the comparison however. That horse has been out of the barn for almost a year now.

please alert me when the day comes that you have even the slightest positive thing to say - thank you!

Alert.

D* is a good SD service.

INCLUDING the launch of the new HD-DVR. I mean come on - it was a whole 2 weeks or so late.
Only 2 or so weeks? You sure about that?

One has to wonder if they ever will be. Or if they will even be in the box that is sold to the rest of the country. Why would D* want their mpeg4 HDLIL PQ compared to OTA?

People will compare the PQ of MPEG4 HD LILs to OTA PQ no matter what.

If they can't do it at home, they'll do it somewhere else.

My guess is that the OTA functionality did not pass QA muster, but since they were under pressure to ship the DVR, they decided to ship with OTA disabled. Since the first shipments are to customers in a MPEG4 LIL market, OTA was likely not a requirement.

vurbano your theory is certainly quite titillating. It is likely the real reason is much less exciting.

People will compare the PQ of MPEG4 HD LILs to OTA PQ no matter what.

If they can't do it at home, they'll do it somewhere else.

My guess is that the OTA functionality did not pass QA muster, but since they were under pressure to ship the DVR, they decided to ship with OTA disabled. Since the first shipments are to customers in a MPEG4 LIL market, OTA was likely not a requirement.

vurbano your theory is certainly quite titillating. It is likely the real reason is much less exciting.


Well The cable companies dont include OTA tuners in their boxes. ANd I couldnt think of anything more simple than an OTA tuner.

Has anyone been able to get OTA through this box. The installer tried to hook up my OTA antenna to it and durring initial setup the option of sat/antenna was grayed out. Is this normal? He had no clue and his office had no clue. If I go to setup sat/antenna is still grayed out. I wonder if this is something that will be enabled in the future or do I have a bunk box?
You don't have a bunk box. According to the guy who reviewed the HR20 on DBSTalk, they are in the box and will be activated later. You might want to go read his review, along with the comments section. It's a lot more informative than most of what's been posted in this topic so far.
HR20 Review (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=61862)

Well The cable companies dont include OTA tuners in their boxes. ANd I couldnt think of anything more simple than an OTA tuner.

Well almost all HDTV's sold in the last 4 years have an ATSC tuner and that would be the easiest way to compare... according to most, the MPEG 4 locals are pretty good

And your theory is asinine... its very easy with my DTivo to see how inferior their MPEG2 locals are to their OTA counterparts... but I still don't get local PBS, CW or the other myriad of digital terrestrial shows over D* hence the need for a tuner...

When you have something relavent to add to this discussion, instead of the FUD, come back.. for now please go away.

Well The cable companies dont include OTA tuners in their boxes. ANd I couldnt think of anything more simple than an OTA tuner.

Perhaps it is simple. How much do you know about OTA tuner implementation and testing? I admit I know nothing about it, but I do know about test and debug of low level device software.

Besides basic reception functionality, they need to ensure that concurrent recording of OTA and sat tuners works properly. Having various combinations of multiple tuners operate/record concurrently will uncover many test cases which have to be QA'd.

These boxen are not simple to test and debug. D*/Tivo missed their ship date for the HR10-250 by a wide margin. So it's not surprising the new box is also late. They probably felt that getting the box out with limited functionality was better than the negative PR/complaints they would get by not having *any* MPEG4 DVR solution. Another point is that folks who want to record OTA already have a working solution - the HR10-250. I believe that the only current channels which use MPEG4 encoding are the local channels. If you currently are receiving OTA, there is no reason to upgrade to the new box. That will change but by that time they will likely have OTA working.

None of us know the true reason as to why the OTA tuners are disabled. Only time will tell if OTA will be supported. But it seems to me that if D* was not planning to provide OTA in the future, they would have simply removed the OTA options from the onscreen menus, rather than having the options displayed on the menus but disabled. Not to mention the costs incurred for including the OTA tuner hardware.

You don't have a bunk box. According to the guy who reviewed the HR20 on DBSTalk, they are in the box and will be activated later. You might want to go read his review, along with the comments section. It's a lot more informative than most of what's been posted in this topic so far.
HR20 Review (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=61862)

Thanks for the link. I'll read up. This forum is so large that it's easy to miss some of the most informative threads. Plus the searches bring back so many hits that I've found myself lost in threads for hours trying to find an answer to a question I had and allready forgot. :D

I'm new to d* HD. All three of my boxes have been sd with two being tivo. Right when I brought home our first hd tv (which failed twice and had to be returned to the store. Tosh 56mx195), I set up a radio shack uhf antenna on the roof and have been loving OTA HD. This box was my way of getting d* HD service and still having the DVR function. HD on with this box on my replacement TV (sony 50" xbr1) is amazing! I was switching between one of our local OTA HD PBS feeds of a one of our national parks and D* HD feed of discovery HD which was scenes of greenland. The D* feed was amazing. Plus being able to pause, rewind and record made it even cooler. This box is really growing on me. :) Can't wait for D* to enable the OTA tuner. One of our local PBS stations ran an old Pink Floyd concert. I would of loved to record that in HD. :D

It might be that DirecTV has the OTA tuners currently disabled to make sure they are within their contract agreement with TiVo as to how exactly those tuners will record and playback programming. I have no doubt they will eventually be activated, and no doubt they are currently physically functionable, it just may be a matter of how they are integrated, recording-wise.

Alert.

D* is a good SD service.

as expected from YOU.

Only 2 or so weeks? You sure about that?

Here is the excerpt from January's DirecTV press release regarding the HR20 (link to complete release is below):

DIRECTV PLUS(R) HD DVR

The DIRECTV(R) Plus HD DVR (HR20) combines the best entertainment with unprecedented control and convenience to create the ultimate TV viewing experience. It brings together the new DIRECTV Plus DVR and DIRECTV HD Receiver. Viewers are able to record one HD program while watching another and record two different shows at the same time, while watching a pre-recorded program. The DIRECTV Plus HD DVR gives the user the ability to pause and rewind live HD TV up to 90 minutes, use instant replay and watch in slow motion. The DIRECTV Plus HD DVR is able to record more than 30 hours of DIRECTV HD programming delivered in MPEG-2, or up to 50 hours of DIRECTV HD programming delivered in MPEG-4, or up to 200 hours of standard-definition programming. In addition, the DIRECTV Plus HD DVR is MPEG-4 compatible, and is the first DIRECTV HD receiver with interactive capabilities. DIRECTV plans to launch the DIRECTV Plus HD DVR at retail mid-2006.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=127160&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=799955&highlight=

I have asked atl least 5+ times for anyone to post a DirecTV statement with any other launch time - I have NEVER seen 1 reply - I have re-read all of these threads and see that all the rumor and speculation regarding this device is just that - rumor and speculation. They said mid-2006 (and that would be June-July) - so to be out on August 15th is ONLY 2 WEEKS late - and IMO that is NOT really late at all.

One has to wonder if they ever will be. Or if they will even be in the box that is sold to the rest of the country. Why would D* want their mpeg4 HDLIL PQ compared to OTA?

From the Directv HR20 Manual:
You can record up to three programs at once (two satellite and one from an off-air antenna).

To enjoy select HD programming available on off-air local channels, you will also need an off-air antenna

OFF-AIR IN – Connect an ATSC antenna to the DIRECTV Plus HD DVR using this jack.

Yeah... a company designs a box, manufactures them, advertises its OTA feature, and mentions it numerous times in the manual, and then disables it intentionally so that people won't compare their new codec?

Pass what you're smoking this way :)

Now you have me worried that my 250's are going to lose their funtionality when D* realizes how crappy their MPEG 2 feeds are... NOT!

You make a great little D* CheerLeader Scobuck... :p

But, I believe that you are in the same boat I am --- namely NOT in Los Angeles AND not in line to get a HR20 in the immediate future.

you can spew all you want - my life doesn't revolve around recording TV (unfortunately yours seems to).

BTW - I will be getting my HR20 in 3 weeks. That satisfies me. And since you spew so well, show EVERYONE here where it says ANYWHERE that the HR20 is coming out in June.

Go take a look at your HALF-EMPTY glass!

Also, it seems to me that the NFL games are in MPEG2, so use your HR10.

Well almost all HDTV's sold in the last 4 years have an ATSC tuner and that would be the easiest way to compare... according to most, the MPEG 4 locals are pretty good

And your theory is asinine... its very easy with my DTivo to see how inferior their MPEG2 locals are to their OTA counterparts... but I still don't get local PBS, CW or the other myriad of digital terrestrial shows over D* hence the need for a tuner...

When you have something relavent to add to this discussion, instead of the FUD, come back.. for now please go away.
Your theory is the asinine one. HDLIL will be Mpeg4 not mpeg2. Apples and oranges Sparky. The veiwers will also be apples and oranges. Now those that compare are despearate types that are recieving the mpeg2 HD Dns etc because they have no reception or access to cable. With HDLIL D* is going after the entire country, and competing for all customers not just a limited few who would praise absolute crap if thats all they could get. Again, I have not said that D* will not enable OTA, but it wouldnt surprise me.

Now you have me worried that my 250's are going to lose their funtionality when D* realizes how crappy their MPEG 2 feeds are... NOT!

HDLIL are not being sent out mpeg2. You are not going to get HDLIL on your 250. What part of that confuses you?

Perhaps it is simple. How much do you know about OTA tuner implementation and testing? I know that every widescreen HDTV manufacturer over 36" is capable of its implementation. But apparently, all of a sudden its too hard for D*. After all of the boxes sat companies have released in the past with all sorts of ports that were never enabled by D* and E* (for instance the USB ports on the HR10-250), I will not buy anything until every piece of the hardware works. Anything less is false advertising, IMO and buyers should beware. Again, I have not said that D* will not enable OTA. The fact is that buying the machine now is a gamble. Its not ready yet.

I know that every widescreen HDTV manufacturer over 36" is capable of its implementation. But apparently, all of a sudden its too hard for D*. After all of the boxes sat companies have released in the past with all sorts of ports that were never enabled by D* and E* (for instance the USB ports on the HR10-250), I will not buy anything until every piece of the hardware works. Anything less is false advertising, IMO and buyers should beware. Again, I have not said that D* will not enable OTA. The fact is that buying the machine now is a gamble. Its not ready yet.
We are not just talking about an ATSC tuner. We are talking about a computer running a real time OS with a gui. It not only must receive various combinations of ATSC and sat, it must record them concurrently while displaying live TV and still responding to user input. All these things must operate together seamlessly. So if if ATSC reception/recording was causing QA issues, they might have decided to disable it.

A lot more complicated than ATSC tuners found in TVs.

HDLIL are not being sent out mpeg2. You are not going to get HDLIL on your 250. What part of that confuses you?

There are already 750,000 H20s deployed with MPEG 4 LIL and OTA digitals side by side. Nothing confusing about that.

The fact is that buying the {HR20-700} machine now is a gamble. Its not ready yet.
Not only that vurbana, but as everyone is all too aware, the HR20-700 isn't even available yet either. Well, at least not for the majority of D*'s customers, and definitely not for me... I understand that I am looking at "sometime this fall"? Hmmm, I wonder if they mean the Fall of 2006 or 2007? ;)

As you correctly point out, the HR20 --- at this point --- is a "gamble" and basically still in beta. A few selected households in LA are the "unofficial beta-testers" at this time. The funniest part is that D* is trying to charge an arm and a leg for the HR20 (well, $399) and LA customers are also having to beg to get partially functional receivers and a discounted deal.

Can you even imagine someone paying $399 for one of these boxes at this point? LOL. I'm still (impatiently) withholding judgement on whether, after ten years of subscribing to their premium packages, I want to continue being a D* customer. My final decision will be based upon whether or not the HR20 receives any better than the inadequately performing H20 receiver. Sure, the alternative to D* (cable) really isn't all that attractive, but hopefully Verizon FIOS will soon be available in my neighborhood...

I would be thrilled if I could just simply watch HD programs and not have to suffer with all of the blips, bloops and blinks that I am experiencing with the H20. There's NOTHING quite like sitting on the edge of your seat during a really suspenseful moment in a program --- only to have the picture suddenly freeze up or the screen to go blank --- or for the audio to drop out. Instead of enjoying 7.1 Dolby audio, I get to listen to 0.0 audio way, way too often.

Whoops, there I go spewing again! :eek:

My apologies to all of you valiant defenders of D*. :)

My neighbor was having D*** install his system this past weekend here in Atlanta. The D*** Tech said their system showed the first shipment of the new DVR's arriving August 31st and that they were not expecting any shortages. Everybody has been quite frustrated over the arrival of the new DVR, including me, but everyone needs to chill. Also, TechnoFobe, I had problems with my H20 receiver which was out of warranty and D**** replaced it free of charge ( well I did have to pay shipping ). They did not have to do this.

DirecTV is far from providing all local digital channels (HD and SD) as LIL MPEG-4 over satellite. In Seattle, they still only have 2 of the big 4, and beyond that we have several more that we receive OTA and via cable.

There are many areas of the country that have no HD LILs yet, and some that may never.

Without working OTA tuners, they stand to lose the opportunity for many customers who won't settle for just ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

After these needs are met, folks can start comparing PQ between OTA and LIL.


Why are we blaming D* for carriage agreements all of the time? Just as often they are the fault of local station ownership politics and policies. BTW, D* has publicly stated that they intend to offer HD lils in virtually EVERY DMA by end of '07. And contrary to the negatoids here, they have been pretty close to 100% in delivering on their published comittments - INCLUDING the launch of the new HD-DVR. I mean come on - it was a whole 2 weeks or so late.

Still waiting to see the remarks from the 15-20 members here who had been willing to bet the house, and so on that this device wouldn't even be out until next year. I mean those people have just begun to put down D* on other issues (they obviously HAVE to complain about something) , but NEVER acknowledge the positive steps that are on-going. DirecTV has in fact launched new HD channels and markets, as well as new HD boxes almost EVERY month in the past 3-4 months.

The fact remains that we are now seeing the HD overtakng of all competitors by DirecTV - the final chapter will be the launch of the first of the 2 new birds. Just like a skyscraper, you have to plan, dig the foundation, and begin to implement. It never gets done in a day - but anyone blind to what is continuing to roll-out is just foolish IMO.


Rest assured the OTA tuners will be activated.
Where in my post did you read that I assumed DirecTV is at fault?

I was simply stating the facts and the current status for our area as I see them.

I do understand their phased approach for HD LIL's which first goes for the big 4 in each market. But, I have yet to see a commitment for them to offer PBS or CW (or UPN or WB before) or any major independent HDTV/DTV station. We just don't know their plans for the non-big-4 stations. For me, leaving out PBS would be unaccceptable if I was not lucky enough to have excellent OTA DTV reception.

An HR20 without functional OTA reception/recording will NOT be a suitable standalone solution for someone wanting to view and record all of their OTA HDTV/DTV local channels. Once the OTA is working fully, the opportunity should be there.

If the MPEG-4 PQ is acceptable (I really don't care if it is "better" than OTA, I only care how it looks on my modest 48" HDTV), one advantage to recording the MPEG-4 LIL's is the reduced storage requirement.

FYI, I have been a satisfied DirecTV HD customer since 2000. My Limited Basic Comcast cable service is still terrible, with much noise and ghosting when connected directly to their incoming cable (i.e., no additional wiring or splitters--just a single direct connection), and they could not or would not fix it for 3 years before I switched my main service to DirecTV.

Also, TechnoFobe, I had problems with my H20 receiver which was out of warranty and D**** replaced it free of charge ( well I did have to pay shipping ). They did not have to do this.
Mine was replaced too. They HAD to do it because the first receiver totally stopped working. I appreciated the fact that they did it but I don't think they deserve any awards for giving me a warranty replacement for what I paid for in the first place... A functional receiver. But I guess I was even luckier than you because I didn't have to pay shipping... :)

I do totally agree with you about my needing to chill out, Scolo... But chilling out is really difficult for me to do when the picture I'm paying dearly for keeps jitterbugging. I hate jitterbugging signals! :D

I am also way beyond my PTL (patience-threshold-level) for waiting for a Mpeg4 DVR. I've done without a HD-DVR for many moons now and I get kinda cranky when I can't fast-forward thru commercials. :rolleyes:

I'l start repeating: "Chill out honey-bunny... Chill out honey-bunny..." Maybe that will help me. ;)

unnecessary comments removed.

Mine is scheduled for tomorrow so we will see what happens, I'll keep you posted if everything goes smoothly.

jdreif,

Did you get your HR20 installed on Saturday?

Thanks,
Paul

Whoops, there I go spewing again! :eek:

My apologies to all of you valiant defenders of D*. :)What about those of us who are simply objective, and object to your unnecessary hyperbole? We ought to get an apology too....

Funny thing. I have been and still happy with Directv! I never get dropouts or flickering or anything else out of what it should be. I keep my 2 H-20s running "slightly warm" and they have been up and running for months. In fact, have never shut them off! I do turn off plasma display during the night. And I enjoy HD programming very much. Just watched 2 HD travel programs tonight and they both played thru perfectly. I am sure most people enjoy Directv. Of course, on this forum we hear the people who want to complain. It is only natural. For most part, the people who are happy, are not here. I am happy and, also, here..the real exception. By the way, during long commercial breaks, I 'return' to XM radio for a song or 2. And, other than programming, I have paid zero to Directv for quite a few years. They even paid for my 3 dishes (receiving 3 sats) on my roof. And I have gotten receivers free for years. I lease 2 now so these will also be replaced when the time comes..and free, as well. For all of this I pay $4.99 per month (plus programming). And, right now, I am getting Showtime, etc. free for 6 months..just for being a good customer. Sorry for getting off subject. But, then, from time to time, someone has to counteract all the negative things said about Directv here on this Forum.

techno, et al., please take it to PM
jeez

techno, et al., please take it to PM
jeezOkay.

Okay.
Thanks. I'm all out of salt :D

By the way, are there any reports by REAL people in L.A. who've had a HR20 installed? Maybe I should ask: "Has anyone actually gotten one?" :rolleyes:

Thanks. I'm all out of salt :D
I would post a witty come back to your comment but it isn't allowed... :D Whoops, is this comment not allowed either?

PM it to me :D

unnecessary comments removed.

Thanks for your help.

Would someone kindly post ANY OFFICIAL DIRECTV press release from before January of this year stating a release date of the HR20.

Not rumors, speculation, copies of member posts from this or other forums, or CSR talk - but on OFFICIAL DirecTV statement.

Thank you.

"I never get dropouts or flickering or anything else out of what it should be... ...I enjoy HD programming very much. Just watched 2 HD travel programs tonight and they both played thru perfectly."

I am sure most people enjoy Directv. Of course, on this forum we hear the people who want to complain. It is only natural. For most part, the people who are happy, are not here. I am happy and, also, here..the real exception.

By the way, during long commercial breaks, I 'return' to XM radio for a song or 2. Sorry for getting off subject. But, then, from time to time, someone has to counteract all the negative things said about Directv here on this Forum.

1) Maybe you "never get dropouts or flickering or anything else" because you are only using the H20's Mpeg2 compression? My national HD channels are fine too, but unlike you, I bought the H20 especially because I wanted to watch my local channels in HD. THOSE channels are the ones that flicker & flash and have audio drop outs, etc.

2) Hey, did you ever think that just maybe at least a few of those people you hear complaining so much might have a legitimate reason to complain? Like for instance, because they can't watch their local HD channels without major disruptions in the signal? But, you wouldn't know about that because you don't use the H20 to receive Mpeg4... Just complaining because they "want to complain"? LOL. You're evidently a better judge of that than I am. I'm just one of those people who just like/b] to complain... :rolleyes:

3) In case you still don't understand, the problem that I am having (and enjoy complaiing about so much) is the way the H20 mangles Mpeg4 transmissions. Receiving XM radio doesn't have anything to do with Mpeg4 and receiving local HD channels. Understand?

Just out of curiosity, why [b]do you feel the necessity to "counteract all the negative things said about Directv here on this Forum"? Do you work for D*? Do you seriously believe that they are doing a great job? It seems to me like much of the criticism of DirecTV that's posted here is actually justified. But then again, I don't feel the need to protect poor old D* from all of those mean customers who are unhappy with D* service.

3) In case you still don't understand, the problem that I am having (and enjoy complaiing about so much) is the way the H20 mangles Mpeg4 transmissions.

I know you were asking another member, but I also wanted to respond. I do have what are really only very occasional issues with the MPEG4 locals, frankly they work well for the most part. I also know that in some markets, more people have been complaining.

Just out of curiosity, why do you feel the necessity to "counteract all the negative things said about Directv here on this Forum"? Do you work for D*? Do you seriously believe that they are doing a great job? It seems to me like much of the criticism of DirecTV that's posted here is actually justified. But then again, I don't feel the need to protect poor old D* from all of those mean customers who are unhappy with D* service.

This also needs reply from me (in a serious manner) as you were on me about this also.

I respond generally to those members that take EVERY opportunity to ALWAYS present negative (no matter what the thread). Those that make comments way off base just to vent. Those that wouldn't acknowledge ANY positive action or step taken. Constructive criticism is VERY FAIR, constant negative comments (about everything at every chance) are juvenile. And frankly none of these really were about any comments YOU made, but rather the other well-known negatoid of DirecTV.

My answer is (and has consistently been) that there are in fact things that can be done better (who can't?). It is also rather impossible to cater to 15 million different customers and make EVERYONE happy. I wouldn't say they are doing a great job, I would say they do a better job then the competition IMO. I get my local RSNs in HD, I get my locals in HD, my service response from them has been way better than Cablevisions ever was (20+ year sub to them).

BTW, I have seen here and elsewhere other people out of the L.A. DMA arranging for the new HR20. Maybe its because they have additional markets launching in the next few weeks. Have you called to see if you can get one?

In general I am happy with DirecTV broadcast and service.
I have had the same HD- Mpeg4 issues with local channels since April. NBC and CBS were continuous. I did not have the option of OTA.
It took 6 weeks for them to take my issues seriously.
Once they realized that I was not crying wolf, they did put a team on resolving the issue. It did take another 8-10 weeks to find the problem. It was on their broadcasting end.
With the man power spent at my house and on the phone I can not imagine how much this cost D*. They were committed to finding the problem.
My other gripe is that they took out my HD-DVR in the spring with the promise that it would only be a few weeks before the replaced it with a new HD-DVR Mpeg4. Weeks turned into 4 months. Imagine how bad it is to deal with a woman without a DVR!!
Again, I would agree whole heartedly about their commitment to customer service in the field.

Just got my brother-in-law setup. He will be getting the HR20 installed this Friday (8/25).

I'll be down in Pasadena this weekend to help with the install.

I went thru two reps (via retention) to get the following:

$420 charge - $399 + $20 S/H
$250 credit
Free HD package for 12 months
Free SHO for six months.

I'm located in SF and tried to get them to set up my transition. No luck. Rep said said sometime in September. Anyone have any luck outdside the LA region?

Both of us have the HD Tivo.

marty

Techo:...My friend, you have expressed your views and I have expressed my views. So be it. And I am sorry you can not receive your local HD programming via antenna as that is always better way to go. As mentioned, I have not gone to MPEG4 system because I would gain zero. In fact, I may go to local cable as I can get everything...phone..high speed cable, and everything there is in the world of television for a lot less than having 3 separate providers as I now do. No upfront charges and $5 per mo. for HDDVR. I would change to save money and not because I do not like the services of Directv. It is all headed toward receiving all services from one provider.

BTW - if anyone wants to order a HR20 (for only $299) - here is the link. Expected delivery date nationwide is 9/18.

http://www.*********************/

By the way, are there any reports by REAL people in L.A. who've had a HR20 installed? Maybe I should ask: "Has anyone actually gotten one?" :rolleyes:
I'm Real and live in LA. Had the HR20 and 5LNB dish installed this past saturday morning and have been enjoying it sine. I love it! :D

Went through a couple of rounds with Customer retention, but it sure paid off.

I'm in Long Beach.

My current system: 3-LNB dish, 1 H20 receiver, 1 Hughes HDTV receiver, customer for 5 years, with HBO, SHowtime and HD package.

First offer: $250 credit and 'we'll let you know when it's available'

Today: I get my HR20-700 FREE (I pay $19.95 shipping charge), plus FREE install plus FREE 5-LNB dish with install.

Can't beat that with a stick!

Also: the regular CSR and the CSR in the 'High Def Team' are NOT aware of the price drop from $399 to $299 for the HR20-700.
Only the Customer Retention specialist knew about the price drop.

Your mileage may vary, but I'm one happy camper.

Hey guys,

I currently have an SD only setup in the LA area and hope to upgrade to an HDTV sometime in the next couple of months.

Do you think that I'll be able to get a free SD->HR20 upgrade out of D*? Did you all have to pay for your first HD capable boxes (above and beyond the extra $ for HD service)?

Thanks for any info you can provide.

K

I didn't get mine for free but did get them to take $200 off of it. I've only been a sd subscriber and didn't have any of the premium channels. It won't hurt to ask. Also helps if you mention switching to E*.

Yeah I'm an SD customer with premium channels and Sunday Ticket so I'm hoping that I'll be able to swing at least one free HR20 when the time comes. Especially since I'll have to shell out even more in order to get Sunday Ticket in HD.

Until the day comes that DirecTV enables either the OTA on these or has every single digital channel in my market I will not upgrade. I will wait it out and when my contract is up I will switch to Comcast. I can't believe they have not enabled the OTA capability yet. I have no PBS in MPEG4 and no way of getting it if I upgrade. Also, I cannot currently get distant stations in MPEG 4 but I can get them OTA. This is just another reason why everyone who has DirecTV should drop them if they are into HDTV. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE FROM DIRECTV AGAIN.

Until the day comes that DirecTV enables either the OTA on these or has every single digital channel in my market I will not upgrade. I will wait it out and when my contract is up I will switch to Comcast. I can't believe they have not enabled the OTA capability yet. I have no PBS in MPEG4 and no way of getting it if I upgrade. Also, I cannot currently get distant stations in MPEG 4 but I can get them OTA. This is just another reason why everyone who has DirecTV should drop them if they are into HDTV. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE FROM DIRECTV AGAIN.
the sky is falling!! the sky is falling!!!... could we just take a step back and relax?.... perhaps "D" isn't for you and others... i won't be able to get the pbs ota either, but i'll just wait. no provider is perfect, just look at the complaints they all get. relax

This is just another reason why everyone who has DirecTV should drop them if they are into HDTV. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE FROM DIRECTV AGAIN.

Really great advice :D . I fall into the category of "everyone who has DirecTV" and since I don't get OTA or cable HD, how would dropping D* benefit me?

Until the day comes that DirecTV enables either the OTA on these or has every single digital channel in my market I will not upgrade. I will wait it out and when my contract is up I will switch to Comcast. I can't believe they have not enabled the OTA capability yet. I have no PBS in MPEG4 and no way of getting it if I upgrade. Also, I cannot currently get distant stations in MPEG 4 but I can get them OTA. This is just another reason why everyone who has DirecTV should drop them if they are into HDTV. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE FROM DIRECTV AGAIN.

Why are you assuming OTA is disabled on the HR20? If you download the owners manual which was in the link to value electronics posted a page back, you will see that the HR20 includes an OTA input and states that you can record up to 3 programs simultaneously; 2 off of the Sats and 1 OTA. I doubt they would put this information in the manual if they weren't going to enable OTA. Disabling OTA would make no sense anyway.

Why are you assuming OTA is disabled on the HR20? If you download the owners manual which was in the link to value electronics posted a page back, you will see that the HR20 includes an OTA input and states that you can record up to 3 programs simultaneously; 2 off of the Sats and 1 OTA. I doubt they would put this information in the manual if they weren't going to enable OTA. Disabling OTA would make no sense anyway.

No one is assuming anything. As of today the OTA input is disabled.

I am a current D* customer who is considering my first HDTV purchase. I have been following some 200 pages of threads on the Sony A2000 / XBR2 over the past several months. One of the show stoppers for me is the lack of outputs (firewire) on any of the new HDTVs. Id like to be able to archive OTA HD broadcasts - to either a high def (D-VHS) or low def (mini DV or standard DVD recorder) - but appear to be 'dead in the water' without any outputs.

My questions:

1. If I upgraded my D* service to include HD (with either HR 10 now or HR 20 when availalble) could I download

a) high def content from the HR 20 hard drive to a D-VHS recorder through the component connections (assuming the D-VHS recorder had component inputs - I believe most use firewire inputs)

b) high def content from the HR 20 hard drive that is 'downrezzed' to a DVD recorder through the RCA video or S Video outputs (ignoring 16:9 4:3 issues)

c) std def content from the HR-20 hard drive to a DVD recorder through the RCA video output

Basically I'm asking if I use the HR-20 hard drive to record high or low def programming acquired either OTA or with the STB can I archive those programs through the outputs of the HR-20 to any high or low def medium?

I guess if the answer is YES, I could dismiss my reluctance to buy a HDTV that didn't have the capabiltly to output any signal including one acquired with the OTA tuner. Thanks for any ideas on this issue.

highheater -

You would be able to record 480i video only. DVHS machines can't encode HD from analog sources.

So the short answers are: A. NO B. Yes and C. Yes

No one is assuming anything. As of today the OTA input is disabled.

Yes ... and when the very first DirecTiVo's hit the market, only one of the two included tuners was enabled.

Remember that the first round of HR20 customers only "need" them because:

a) "OTA doesn't work for them at all and they need the HD-LiL's"
b) "OTA would work for them, but they can't deal with an antenna."

Everybody else that "needs" OTA recording can get by just fine with the HR10 for now ...

I'm just not getting why all the histrionics are required here. :)

It IS big and it weighs 45lbs the tech told me. I had to get a new mount to put on the roof of our apt bldg. I got really lucky and the tech waited while I ran down the street to buy a new place to mount it.

It's not that much bigger than the Phase 3 dish, and it weighs about 32 lbs.

No one is assuming anything. As of today the OTA input is disabled.


Probably a stupid question, but if and when they enable the OTA input, will it be a hardware upgrade or a software upgrade?

In other words, if I get an early model, will I then need to get a new, OTA-enabled box down the road?

highheater -

You would be able to record 480i video only. DVHS machines can't encode HD from analog sources.

So the short answers are: A. NO B. Yes and C. Yes
Thanks for the reply ... sounds like the archive of SD and downrezzed HD is covered with the outputs from the D* HD recievers. I wasn't aware that the D-VHS recorders only used digital inputs but I guess I could have guessed that since most of those I have seen used firewire inputs. Am I correct that the only options for archiving HD content at high def resolution (for now to D-VHS) is to:

1) find a TV with an included OTA tuner with a firewire output
2) buy a separate OTA tuner (are these still available ?) that has a firewire output (even harder to find?)
3) Use a D-VHS recorder that has HDMI inputs (don't all current ones use firewire only?)
4) wait for a HD-DVD or Blue Ray recorder that either has an included OTA tuner or some as-of-yet undefined connection standard (HDMI or firewire input?) to recieve a signal from the HDTV

Once again thanks for your patience with the uninformed

Probably a stupid question, but if and when they enable the OTA input, will it be a hardware upgrade or a software upgrade?

In other words, if I get an early model, will I then need to get a new, OTA-enabled box down the road?
The guy that did the review on DBSTalk opened up his unit and says the OTA tuners are in there, and that the set up menu shows them, but they are grayed out.

So when they are enabled, it will be through a software upgrade.

At this point, I'm willing to take the word of someone who actually has one and has opened it up and looked inside it over posters who have yet to see the unit.

Why are you assuming OTA is disabled on the HR20? If you download the owners manual which was in the link to value electronics posted a page back, you will see that the HR20 includes an OTA input and states that you can record up to 3 programs simultaneously; 2 off of the Sats and 1 OTA. I doubt they would put this information in the manual if they weren't going to enable OTA. Disabling OTA would make no sense anyway.

General consensus at dbstalk (100's of posts on the HR20) is:
1) Manual is incorrect. You will only be able to record off 2 tuners at once. Same combinations as currntly exist on the HR10.
2) OTA tuners will be enabled (via software upgrade) at the same time the HR20 goes national (expected to be October). There is no doubt that the OTA tuners will be enabled. D* is very aware of the requirement. Additionally, the tuners are state of the art and definitely superior to those in the HR10.

Thanks for the reply ...


If you want to archive HD from the new HR20 you will only be able to do it as SD 480i.

Other devices will allow you to archive in HD to some extent but they need to either have fire-wire or be hacked in some way to allow access to what is stored on the hard drive.

HDMI is used to transfer un-compressed data so the only devices with HDMI inputs are going to be display devices. You can't record from HDMI.

Just an update for others looking to upgrade. I was SD subscriber with HBO, two tuners (one SD DVR) and called retention about upgrading to HD with my new TV purchase. After a bit of hagling I got the HR20 free, shipping waived and the new 5lnb dish installed with no money out of pocket. Only cost to me was the $9.99 monthly increase for HD programming. I did have to renew my contract but that was fine since I never planned on leaving anways.

I stressed that this was the same deal I could get from my cable company (no equiment costs) and they should offer a comprable deal. Install date is Sept. 17th.

I think D* is smart enough to realize keeping existing users is worth the cost vs. trying to get new ones. Now I hope the install goes well.

I called retention today and they said the HR20-250's will be rolling out end of September.

DirecTV is sponsoring an official sign-up list for the HR20. It is hosted on DBSTalk (which is part of the AVS Family)

http://hr20-offer.dbstalk.com/

If you signup... your information will be sent to DirecTV, and they will be contacting you (via email), as soon as the unit is available in your area.

I just got my new HR20 - im in the LA market

my initial impressions are that I prefer it to all my other receivers (I have 4 other receivers, including the HD tivo recorder one)

the receiver is much faster and much more responsive than the Tivo units

locals in HD is cool too

I'm happy

so far been messing with it for 48 hrs and no weirdness that I can see

I can report the same thing here. My HR20 was installed yesterday and I haven't had any issues with it yet. Managed to record and playback several programs without video or audio issues. The guide in this DVR is faster than in the HR 10. It's a steep learning curve for me since this is my first DVR. I'll report my experiences more fully the more I use the machine....

I can report the same thing here. My HR20 was installed yesterday and I haven't had any issues with it yet. Managed to record and playback several programs without video or audio issues. The guide in this DVR is faster than in the HR 10. It's a steep learning curve for me since this is my first DVR. I'll report my experiences more fully the more I use the machine....

Dean, do you mean it's faster than the H10 or HR10, since you said this is your first DVR?

I ask because the H10 is pretty fast, while the HR10 is slow.

Just an update for others looking to upgrade. I was SD subscriber with HBO, two tuners (one SD DVR) and called retention about upgrading to HD with my new TV purchase. After a bit of hagling I got the HR20 free, shipping waived and the new 5lnb dish installed with no money out of pocket. Only cost to me was the $9.99 monthly increase for HD programming. I did have to renew my contract but that was fine since I never planned on leaving anways.

I stressed that this was the same deal I could get from my cable company (no equiment costs) and they should offer a comprable deal. Install date is Sept. 17th.

I think D* is smart enough to realize keeping existing users is worth the cost vs. trying to get new ones. Now I hope the install goes well.

Starting 3rd yr. HD, 5th yr. ST, HBO-only sub w/ no 10-250 swap and 2 Sammy Tivo-SDs + Hughes HD bought via D* credit. With virtually no haggling:

HR20 + 5LNB dish + install @ $19.99 total.
Showtime Free for 6 mos.
Encore/Starz Free 3mos.

Just got my two HR20's installed yesterday.

I think that the picture overall is sharper and better than the H10-250..

Only 2 slight problems/weirdness..

1.) Scheduled a recording on a channel I didn't realize I didn't get (Sprout).... when I went to play it, the rec gave me a message that my card was no longer autorized and it was searching for authorization... screen colors inverted, was slow to respond, but then was able to get out by pushing exit and erasing the programs... weird one...

2.) More pressing issue... when I turn my tv off and back on later, I get no picture on the set unless I toggle resolutions on the box... HDMI connection.

Hope they change the guide button to directly take you to the guide (having to push it twice is pretty stupid IMO)... and I miss the Tivo style guide, but I am so much happier with the speed of the box... I hope they will consider dual buffers...

But so far, a much better box, picture and speed wise, than the Tivo...

PS.. a note to those OTA doubters.. there is a sticker, obviously added later, on the box that say "Coming Later 2006 OTA functionality".. I am paraphrasing, but thats the gist.

Just an update for others looking to upgrade. I was SD subscriber with HBO, two tuners (one SD DVR) and called retention about upgrading to HD with my new TV purchase. After a bit of hagling I got the HR20 free, shipping waived and the new 5lnb dish installed with no money out of pocket. Only cost to me was the $9.99 monthly increase for HD programming. I did have to renew my contract but that was fine since I never planned on leaving anways.I called customer retention to order an HR20. They told me it wasn't available in my area, and that it costs $299. After some haggling, I was able to get the unit for free, plus a free meal at Ruth's Chris one night a week for 2 straight years, the Titanium package for free for life, and a 125% of appraised value mortgage on my home for %2.75 APR with no fees or points.

BEAT THAT!

^^ Jeeze, I hadn't realized that D* was so customer friendly! :rolleyes:

I'll give them a call just before I order a Dish VIP 622 :o

Jason,

Perhaps if you had been more patient and called yet another CSR you could have improved on your deal. I suspect they still had more to offer, but now we will never know. :)

I called customer retention to order an HR20. They told me it wasn't available in my area, and that it costs $299. After some haggling, I was able to get the unit for free, plus a free meal at Ruth's Chris one night a week for 2 straight years, the Titanium package for free for life, and a 125% of appraised value mortgage on my home for %2.75 APR with no fees or points.

BEAT THAT!

You should have held out for the steak knives!

Taz291819:

Sorry for the confusion....I meant to say that the Program Guide on the HR20 is faster than the one on the H20 - D*s MPEG 4 compatible receiver (no DVR). With the H20 I gave up on the slow Program Guide and used the single-line quick guide to find programs. The HR20 improves upon this greatly.

After a second night using this new DVR, I can only report positive results with what I have watched and recorded. I set up "Reno 911" to record as a Series Link recording and it did it. We watched the Emmy's "live" at 8:00 PM PDT, gave up at 9:30, hit the record button and it started recording it - from 8:00 PM! We then watched the recording of "Reno 911" I scheduled earlier. We will watch the second half of the Emmy's tonight. I have also set up Series Links for "The Dog Whisperer" - found about 8 episodes - and scheduled them, "Vanished" and "Stargate Atlantis" but this series may be ending/over soon? So far, so good.

For someone who has never had a DVR before, I find the interface rather easy to use. I haven't had a single recording, audio, or video issue with the HR20 since installation. But I'm not recording off any of the local MPEG 4 stations (at least not yet) and that is where some of the issues crop up that others have described on another board.

I plan on giving a more definitive "first-users" report to the Forum later on after I have had a few more days using the machine. So far, it's been a lot of fun, and I can see how this thing is going to change how we watch T.V. forever.

You should have held out for the steak knives!


Not sure about the steak or the knives. I prefer Tex-Mex anyway. All I wanted was a free HD DVR in the DFW area for the start of football season.

I just called CR to get the "HR10-250 free deal". I told them that I was tired of waiting for the HR20 MPEG4 DVR. They gave me the free deal immediately and set an "install" date of September 8th. They mentioned that the HR20 might be available for the DFW area by then and if it is the DVR I get will be the HR20 instead instead of the HR10-250. The point is that for ST and SF subscribers you can get either the HR10-250 or the HR20 free. You just have to be nice and negotiate a little.

Anyone noticing better picture quality in HD and SD with the 5LNB over the 3LNB using the new boxes, the 20s?

I'm guessing that the SF stands for San Francisco. How does one living in the bay area go about getting either of the receivers for "free"?

I'm guessing that the SF stands for San Francisco. How does one living in the bay area go about getting either of the receivers for "free"?

Actually i think they are talking about superfan for NFL sunday ticket..

Does anyone know whether the output from HDMI, component, S-Video. or RCA on the D* HR20 is user selectable between 16:9 or 4:3 format. Or are the outputs from HDMI and componet (16:9) and S-Video and RCA (4:3) already defined by default. Earlier posts in the DVD Recorder section implied that the output from the HR10-250 could be selected between the two to help address format issues when copying material using a DVD Recorder.

There were also other comments that the D* Tivo recorder did not pass a widescreen flag along with its anamorphic output requiring the use of a DVD recorder that manually forced the flag.

1) Does the D* HR 20 allow one to select the format (16:9 4:3) of the output for each type of connection?

2) Does the D* HR 20 paas the widescreen flag with its anamorphic output?

I'm planning to pull the trigger on an HR-20 and have been following this thread in ernest as owners have been reporting in on their new units. The biggest shortfall seems the absence of the double-buffer functionality. I have read about the "work-arounds" but they don't seem compatible with my viewing habits. Double-buffer is critical to NFL, multi-game viewing.

Is the double-buffer a software issue that might be resolved at a later time? Any plausible rationale for leaving it out of the initial release of this unit? Any insight on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Maybe I'm not understanding the whole "double buffer" concept, but when I want to watch two NFL games I simply record both and toggle back and forth between them. This stops where I'm watching the one game while I keep watching the other and vice versa.

Is that something I'm not going to be able to do with the D* DVR?

Paul

1) Does the D* HR 20 allow one to select the format (16:9 4:3) of the output for each type of connection?

2) Does the D* HR 20 paas the widescreen flag with its anamorphic output?

You have to select the aspect ratio in the video setup menu. If you have 16:9 selected, and you use s-video or composite to a 4:3 screen, the picture will be "squished" horizontally.

I don't know about the widescreen flag.

Does the HR20 allow for output resolution change(480i-480p-720p-1080i) with a remote button push like the HR10-250 does?

gp4rts and others......

Regarding the output screen ratio when archiving to DVD....I have the same question as others in regards to the HR20. I have 16:9 selected in the video setup menu on the HR20 and am using an s-video connection to my Sony DVD recorder (also set at 16x9).

In the past, with my old Sony HD-100, the receiver downrezzed HD content to 480i, passed it to the DVD recorder via s-video, and the DVD recorder recorded a letter-boxed (could have been anamorphic) image in the correct proportions. Using the exact same connection with the HR20, HD content is recording vertically stretched on the DVD without black bars on the top or bottom of the image. What am I doing wrong?

This is important to me because I plan on archiving materials from the HR20, and want the source of the programming to be HD in order to get a really good 480i DVD recording. I thought about just pressing the format button on the HR20 remote while watching the resulting picture on the DVD recorder but haven't attempted this yet. Any advice would be appreciated.

gp4rts and others......

Regarding the output screen ratio when archiving to DVD....I have the same question as others in regards to the HR20. I have 16:9 selected in the video setup menu on the HR20 and am using an s-video connection to my Sony DVD recorder (also set at 16x9).

In the past, with my old Sony HD-100, the receiver downrezzed HD content to 480i, passed it to the DVD recorder via s-video, and the DVD recorder recorded a letter-boxed (could have been anamorphic) image in the correct proportions. Using the exact same connection with the HR20, HD content is recording vertically stretched on the DVD without black bars on the top or bottom of the image. What am I doing wrong?

This is important to me because I plan on archiving materials from the HR20, and want the source of the programming to be HD in order to get a really good 480i DVD recording. I thought about just pressing the format button on the HR20 remote while watching the resulting picture on the DVD recorder but haven't attempted this yet. Any advice would be appreciated.

Which Sony DVD Recorder are you using and are you trying to view the recorded image on a widescreen or 4:3 TV?

Posts in the DVD recorder forum (top sticky) seemed to indicate that setting the HR 10-250 output to 16:9 and a Sony GX 300 (and other later models with a selectable input) to 16:9 enabled anamorphic recording. One could view HD content as widescreen on a HDTV and unsquished with sidebars on 4:3 monitor.

This suggested that the recording could be anamorphic EVEN through a composite S-VHS connection. One issue that was unresolved was whether various set-top boxes including the HR 10-250 passed the widescreen flag so that if you viewed the recording on a 4:3 TV you would automatically get letterbox rather than a squished image.

gp4rt stated that any output from the S-VHS from the HR 20 would be compressed. If so, this would be a downgrade from the observations about the HR10-250 in the DVD recorder forum. Can anyone else confirm this observation?

DeanS does your Sony DVD recorder allow you to set the input to 16:9? I believe most of the newer ones do (unlike the Panasonics which I just bought and will return shortly)?

There is some excellent discussion regarding this subject in the top sticky in the DVD Recorder forum but I was trying to get some specific information as it relates to the HR 20. Thanks.

Does the HR20 allow for output resolution change(480i-480p-720p-1080i) with a remote button push like the HR10-250 does?

Yes...

And Earl, if you are reading this and can pass this along to your peeps :)

I am still unable to get a picture via HDMI when I turn on my set... I have to go up to the unit and toggle the resolutions using the front panel button.. the remote resolution button doesn't do anything until there is a picture using the above method....

Also, I have diabled all but 1080i on the HR 20, but using the front button still cycles through all resolutions...

Maybe I'm not understanding the whole "double buffer" concept, but when I want to watch two NFL games I simply record both and toggle back and forth between them. This stops where I'm watching the one game while I keep watching the other and vice versa.

Is that something I'm not going to be able to do with the D* DVR?

Paul

I think some people are talking about watching 4-5 games at the same time on Sunday. While they can only watch two at a time, each time they chanege to a new game on a tuner, they want that game buffered automatically.

Watch game A on tuner 1, and also buffering game B on tuner 2.
Change from game A to game C on tuner 1, still buffering game B on tuner 2.
Switch to tuner 2 to watch game B starting back in the buffer, still buffering C on tuner 1.
Change from game B to game D, still buffering game C on tuner 1.
Switch to tuner 1 to watch game C back in the buffer, still buffering D on tuner 2.
Change from game C back to A, start buffering A again, still buffering D on tuner 2.
....

One can still record each game each time you switch to it (start new buffer), but it's quite an PITA.

Yes...

And Earl, if you are reading this and can pass this along to your peeps :)

I am still unable to get a picture via HDMI when I turn on my set... I have to go up to the unit and toggle the resolutions using the front panel button.. the remote resolution button doesn't do anything until there is a picture using the above method....

Also, I have diabled all but 1080i on the HR 20, but using the front button still cycles through all resolutions...
Thanks, I find that very handy when switching between viewing HD and SD material as I use a DVDO VP30 to adjust the image size and quality. What would be even better would be a native output function.

Thanks, I find that very handy when switching between viewing HD and SD material as I use a DVDO VP30 to adjust the image size and quality. What would be even better would be a native output function.

You have that too :)

grabbed this from Earls review on dbstalk....

EDIT: I know it's not a "TiVo" screen shot.... old habits die hard :) I'll have to rename the picture when I am able...

Highheater.....

Thanks for responding to my inquiry.

My DVD recorder is a Sony RDRGX7. I have set the recording options (rec screen size) on this recorder to 16x9. The documentation that comes with the recorder states that the rec screen size "function works with DVD-R's and DVD-RWs (video mode) when the recording mode is set to HQ, HSP or SP. For all other recording modes, the screen size is fixed at 4:3. For DVD-RWs (VR Mode), the actual picture size is recorded regardlesss of the setting. For instance, if a 16:9 size picutre is received the disc records the picture as 16:9 even if "Rec Streen Size" is set to 4:3. For DVD+Rs, th screen size is fixed at 4:3."

My monitor is an older 4:3 Sony HDTV that displays 1080i and 480p in a 16x9 frame. I have the HR20 set up as follows:

T.V. Type: Widescreen 16:9
T.V. Resolution:
480i checked
480p checked
1080i checked
Native: On
Screen Format: stretch

What settings or adjustments do I have to make (either to the DVD recorder or the HR20) to get HD material (downrezzed to 480i) and inputed into the s-video connection of the RDRGX7 to get a propertly adjusted image?

Maybe this message should be posted in the DVD Recorder forum......thanks.

I think some people are talking about watching 4-5 games at the same time on Sunday. While they can only watch two at a time, each time they chanege to a new game on a tuner, they want that game buffered automatically.

Watch game A on tuner 1, and also buffering game B on tuner 2.
Change from game A to game C on tuner 1, still buffering game B on tuner 2.
Switch to tuner 2 to watch game B starting back in the buffer, still buffering C on tuner 1.
Change from game B to game D, still buffering game C on tuner 1.
Switch to tuner 1 to watch game C back in the buffer, still buffering D on tuner 2.
Change from game C back to A, start buffering A again, still buffering D on tuner 2.
....

One can still record each game each time you switch to it (start new buffer), but it's quite an PITA.I'm sorry, but someone who needs to watch 4 football games simultaneously REALLy needs to pick a team and stop being such a bandwagoner.

Personally, I have 1 overall favorite team (AFC) and an NFC favorite team, whom I root for except when playing my overall favorite team. Doing the dual recording thing would work fine in that case.

I can POSSIBLY see having a #3 favorite team, but in such a case, the team should take a distant third to the 2 favorites, and should only be watched in the event that BOTH team #1 and team #2 are at commercial break/halftime OR you see from the ticker that team #3 is all tied up in OT.

To put it short... if you're trying to watch 4 games at once, you need to become a real fan and pick a team!

Fantasy Football.

I'm sorry, but someone who needs to watch 4 football games simultaneously REALLy needs to pick a team and stop being such a bandwagoner.

Personally, I have 1 overall favorite team (AFC) and an NFC favorite team, whom I root for except when playing my overall favorite team. Doing the dual recording thing would work fine in that case.

I can POSSIBLY see having a #3 favorite team, but in such a case, the team should take a distant third to the 2 favorites, and should only be watched in the event that BOTH team #1 and team #2 are at commercial break/halftime OR you see from the ticker that team #3 is all tied up in OT.

To put it short... if you're trying to watch 4 games at once, you need to become a real fan and pick a team!

You have that too :)

grabbed this from Earls review on dbstalk....
Excellent, now if DirecTV gets their MPEG4 issues resolved up here I'll be very tempted to get a HR20 when it's available in this market. Hopefully the OTA tuners will be active by then as well. :)

You have that too :)

grabbed this from Earls review on dbstalk....

"TiVo Native Screen.jpg?"

That does not look like any of my DirecTV TiVo screens.

I'm sorry, but someone who needs to watch 4 football games simultaneously REALLy needs to pick a team and stop being such a bandwagoner.

Personally, I have 1 overall favorite team (AFC) and an NFC favorite team, whom I root for except when playing my overall favorite team. Doing the dual recording thing would work fine in that case.

I can POSSIBLY see having a #3 favorite team, but in such a case, the team should take a distant third to the 2 favorites, and should only be watched in the event that BOTH team #1 and team #2 are at commercial break/halftime OR you see from the ticker that team #3 is all tied up in OT.

To put it short... if you're trying to watch 4 games at once, you need to become a real fan and pick a team!

There are two time slots for multiple games on Sundays, and your favorite team can only play in one of them. Watching four games during the other is called getting your money's worth.

I'm sorry, but someone who needs to watch 4 football games simultaneously REALLy needs to pick a team and stop being such a bandwagoner.I'm sorry too, but there are other reasons to watch football than rooting for a single team. Living in the Detroit area, I gave up on the Lions years ago. I've been watching football for years just to see good teams and good games, regardless of who is playing.

Amen, Ken.

Highheater.....

Thanks for responding to my inquiry.

My DVD recorder is a Sony RDRGX7. I have set the recording options (rec screen size) on this recorder to 16x9. The documentation that comes with the recorder states that the rec screen size "function works with DVD-R's and DVD-RWs (video mode) when the recording mode is set to HQ, HSP or SP. For all other recording modes, the screen size is fixed at 4:3. For DVD-RWs (VR Mode), the actual picture size is recorded regardlesss of the setting. For instance, if a 16:9 size picutre is received the disc records the picture as 16:9 even if "Rec Streen Size" is set to 4:3. For DVD+Rs, th screen size is fixed at 4:3."

My monitor is an older 4:3 Sony HDTV that displays 1080i and 480p in a 16x9 frame. I have the HR20 set up as follows:

T.V. Type: Widescreen 16:9
T.V. Resolution:
480i checked
480p checked
1080i checked
Native: On
Screen Format: stretch

What settings or adjustments do I have to make (either to the DVD recorder or the HR20) to get HD material (downrezzed to 480i) and inputed into the s-video connection of the RDRGX7 to get a propertly adjusted image?

Maybe this message should be posted in the DVD Recorder forum......thanks.

There is an excellent post in the DVD Recorder forum under the top sticky - message # 13-Recording help for 16:9 4:3 format. The post basically covers every combination of inputs for both a Sony GX 300 recorder and a HR 10-250 and viewing on 16:9 or 4:3 displays. The author also goes on to say that the Sony GX 7 performs identically as the GX 300 in allowing, as you have observed, anamorphic recording and playback from the HR 10-250.

Perhaps the problem is that you have an HDTV with a 4:3 format. I'm sure others more qualified could answer that question in the DVD Recorder forum. I also recall something about scheduled recording in 16:9 is limited to a certain time length (2 hours) and that exceeding that time length will cause a default to 4:3.

My major concern is whether the HR 20 will perform in the same manner as the HR10 with regards to passing a widescreen picture through all of its ports (including S-VHS composite) when the 16:9 is selected in the HR 20 setup. If not, one would need a DVD recorder with component inputs (few available) to use with the HR 20. Besides just passing the widescreen image, it would be nice if the HR 20 also passed the flag that would allow later displays on 4:3 TVs to appear properly letterboxed.

Your observations and earlier comments by gp4rts have me concerned.

I'll check the sticky on the DVD recorder forum. But thinking about it last night, I think I just have the settings wrong on the HR 20 and that is the cause of my problem. There would be no need, for instance, to have "stretch" enabled for my Sony monitor, I believe since I'm not seeking to stretch a 4x3 image to fill a 16x9 frame. This is what I prefer (and have it set that way) for my 16x9 LCD in the bedroom. I plan on changing the settings this evening and doing a little experimenting. I don't think there is really a call for alarm at this juncture. Surely this new DVR can send a downrezzed 16x9 signal to a DVD recorder and have it display properly on either a 16x9 or 4:3 display......

I'm sorry too, but there are other reasons to watch football than rooting for a single team.What would be the point of sports (and competition in general), if not to root for a particular party to be victorious over another? Love of flashy colors? You can watch the Teletubbies and get that. Love of Matt Millen's moustache? You can watch Magnum PI.

Is the double buffer feature a software issue that could be activated at a later date? I was unsuccessful in searching the forum for an answer to this so if anyone has insight please let me know.

We can debate the double buffer's usefulness (beyond bandwagon NFL fans who watch 5 games simultaneously) but I'm more interested in learning if the current machine has the ability to add this feature at a later date.

For those of you unfamiliar with the DB feature here is a scenario for the average channel surfer:

Turn on the live TV with the intent of surfing for something interesting:
1. Start surfing with Tuner 1 and find something mildly interesting on Channel A. At this point I don't know if I am going to watch Channel A so I don't want to hassel with starting a recording. Tuner 1 has automatically started building a 30-min recording buffer so I can simply press pause to "freeze time" on Channel A.
2. I now switch to Tuner 2 and start surfing, ultimately deciding on Channel B. Tuner 2 now starts it's own 30-min buffer automatically. I press pause and switch back to Tuner 1 on Channel A that is now 10 minutes "in the past".
3. I now decided I don't really want to watch Channel A so I continue surfing with Tuner 1. Notice I didn't have to cancel recording and delete partial recording. I land on Channel C and start a new 30-min buffer on Tuner 1.
4. Repeat these steps until your wife leaves room or you ultimately find something watchable on at least one tuner.

Does anyone remember when DB was introduced on the Series 1 machines? There was an outrage at a nuance of this feature that if you scroll through Channel A with Tuner 2 (in the above example) it blew out your buffer on Channel A. Similarly there was a lot of debate on whether the 30-min buffer should be variable, allowing users to set the buffer for different lengths (I think Replay TV had a 1-hr buffer). Are we now simply doing away with this feature?

I've read about the work-around but I would rather not have to manually start/stop/delete recordings on a channel each time I change a tuner. While this feature is not a deal-killer, in an era of hundreds of channels with nothing on, and the proliferation of ADD, DB is a channel surfers' most powerful tool.

Excellent, now if DirecTV gets their MPEG4 issues resolved up here I'll be very tempted to get a HR20 when it's available in this market. Hopefully the OTA tuners will be active by then as well. :)

What MPEG4 issues do they have in the SF Bay Area?

What MPEG4 issues do they have in the SF Bay Area?
From what I've read they've been having stuttering video and audio-sync problems, not on all channels and not all the time either. Very similar to the sort of problems Dish was having although Dish appears to have overcome the issues, maybe DirecTV has as well, you would have to ask someone who has the H20 in the bay area.

What would be the point of sports (and competition in general), if not to root for a particular party to be victorious over another? Love of flashy colors? You can watch the Teletubbies and get that. Love of Matt Millen's moustache? You can watch Magnum PI.
Assuming you read beyond the sentence you quoted, Ken says his reason is to watch games that are well played. He records several games in hopes of finding at least one worth watching.

I need help from some of the other 'beta testers' out here.
I had a Hughes 360 receiver hooked up to my Denon 3803 via component video and Toslink digital audio.
All DirecTV channels broadcasting Dolby Dital automatically showed up on my receiver as such.

Yetserday evening, I hooked up my new HR20-700 in exactly the same way and made sure to turn Dolby Digital on the Hr20 to 'ON'.
Yet, I still get regular stereo, even on the High Def channels (HBO, SHO, HDNet, etc.)

Any ideas / tips / clues?

thanks.

What would be the point of sports (and competition in general), if not to root for a particular party to be victorious over another? Love of flashy colors? You can watch the Teletubbies and get that. Love of Matt Millen's moustache? You can watch Magnum PI.


I watch the games of teams that are in the same division as my favorite team, in hopes of them losing.

From what I've read they've been having stuttering video and audio-sync problems, not on all channels and not all the time either. Very similar to the sort of problems Dish was having although Dish appears to have overcome the issues, maybe DirecTV has as well, you would have to ask someone who has the H20 in the bay area.

I am in the SF area and D* has improved the sound sync issues but the FOX feed in particular still has problems with pixelization. I have cable as well and the picture from Comcast is superb. OTA, although intermittent, also looks better than what D* feeds.

I am in the SF area and D* has improved the sound sync issues but the FOX feed in particular still has problems with pixelization. I have cable as well and the picture from Comcast is superb. OTA, although intermittent, also looks better than what D* feeds.
Thanks for the info, so it seems they are still having some issues. Dish was bad when they first lit up the locals but have improved tremendously, even to the point of being more than acceptable IMO. Hopefully DirecTV will as well, although, DirecTV has had SF locals for over 9 mos, you'd think they would have squared it away by now, Dish has only been up for about 5 mos.

I need help from some of the other 'beta testers' out here.
I had a Hughes 360 receiver hooked up to my Denon 3803 via component video and Toslink digital audio.
All DirecTV channels broadcasting Dolby Dital automatically showed up on my receiver as such.

Yetserday evening, I hooked up my new HR20-700 in exactly the same way and made sure to turn Dolby Digital on the Hr20 to 'ON'.
Yet, I still get regular stereo, even on the High Def channels (HBO, SHO, HDNet, etc.)

Any ideas / tips / clues?

thanks.

pvanosta,

I believe H20 owners (non DVR) reported a similar issue in that forum. Apparently, the H20 needs RCA cables plugged into one of the analog sound jacks to enable the dolby digital out. the RCA cables don't even need to be hooked to anything. Might be the same issue with the HR20. Give it a try and see if it works.

Chris

Not sure if this question was addressed in this thread, I didn't read the whole thing. When I got my mpeg2 HD-DVR last year, I really pushed them hard and got it for 200 bucks with a boatload of free channel packages. At that time I was told that when the mpeg4 HD-DVR was released it would either be a free upgrade to the box and the dish or a very cheap one?

Sounded impossible to believe, is it true?

thanks

CHDinCT: Thanks for the tip. I'll try that tomorrow and report back.

Hey folks - looking for some advice - I had the HD10-250 installed a few months ago knowing this was gonna come out "sometime" this year maybe - DTV promised they'd do a upgrade for me at a reasonable price (or even free) at the time - My question is, 1st, should I do this now or wait a little while (maybe they fix the bugs etc) or if I do it now, should I call retention or the main # and what should I say - I live in LA by the way - thanks.

This is my first post here. long looker at the AVS forum

Miked2303, looking for some advice.

In my humble opinion. Directv is evolving its equipment as soon as they possibly can to supply its customer base. From what I gather they ( Directv ) will be replacing (swapping at no charge) the HR10-250's on a swap out basis after the first of this coming new year.

Just enjoy the unit you have now and be patient. There is actually no need to really demand this product until they get get the bugs worked out although they have done a wonderful job with HR20 so far. with the new satellites going up in March or April of 2007. Directv has placed itself well in the marketplace.

The "I want it NOW!" will just not work, unless you want to be the first kid on the block with the new toy. If that is the case then you will have to pay for it .

Those that are patient will get the swap out for free.

I like free so I will patiently wait.

Looking at the guide and at some HD content (HBO, SHO, DiscoveryHD, HDNet), it feels like the HR20 is a little softer than my Hughes 360, which was crisp as a fresh dollar bill.

Has anyone else noticed this?
I have the receiver set to 'Native off' and 1080i output.

CHDinCT:
You are da man!
All it took, was to plug in a set of freebie RCA cables in one of the audio outs, and the sound switched to Dolby Digital as soon as I power her up.

Amazing!
Thanks for your help. I never would have found that and I'm sure the DirecTV support staff would never have known either.
Without your tip, I'd be 'cycling' my receiver until kingdom come...

Thanks for the info, so it seems they are still having some issues. Dish was bad when they first lit up the locals but have improved tremendously, even to the point of being more than acceptable IMO. Hopefully DirecTV will as well, although, DirecTV has had SF locals for over 9 mos, you'd think they would have squared it away by now, Dish has only been up for about 5 mos.

Is it possible that D*'s issue with LiL picture quality is because of the use of lower resolution than E*? I'm not sure if the numbers but have read on other threads that E* sends higher resolution HD than D*. Is it that or just the different compression being used?