Here is my situation. I have a home, that is in a rural area, in northern Arizona. The only way I can get HD, is through DirecTV, and using an HR10-250 Directivo.

I don't know how long it will be, if ever, before I am able to get the mpeg4 HD feed from D*, so the HR10-250 is my best solution for watching, and recording HD.

I am considering ordering a second one, as a backup,since they are getting scarce, but they are pricey, especially since they are getting scarce. I am wondering how long it will be, before D* switches entirely to Mpeg4, and my HR10-250 becomes a door stop?

If it is 5 years, I will order another one. If it is less than a year or two, I probably would not.

Any thoughts??

My understanding is that when the switch happens D* will provide tha new hardware free or for a small nominal fee.

When they make that switch, will guarantee coverage for the entire country, or will they provide HD only in the cities, and disconnect rural residents HD capabilities, without a solution.

How much are the HR10-250's going for? I've got four of them, and was planning soon to upgrade to the next box for at least some.

Hi Steve, I just bought a new one, and the standard capacity is going for around $1200 (if you can believe it) due to the scarcity. I don't know how much they would be worth used.

Hi Steve, I just bought a new one, and the standard capacity is going for around $1200 (if you can believe it) due to the scarcity. I don't know how much they would be worth used.

Darn, I'll get a few of the newer HD DVRs and sell a few of the HD TIVOs.

How long? Its been a doorstop since day1, DVR without firewire or archive ability? Yawn, next please.

That was constructive. :rolleyes:

The HR20 should work just as well for you in Northern Arizona as anywhere else.

It will still receive the MPEG-2 signals and can receive any MPEG-4 signals that are available.

At this time, I believe that the only MPEG-4 signals are local channels that are spot beamed to a specific area.

Sometime during 2007, DirecTV is scheduled to launch two additional satellites that are supposed to be used to carry additional national HD channels to the whole country.

When they make that switch, will guarantee coverage for the entire country, or will they provide HD only in the cities, and disconnect rural residents HD capabilities, without a solution.


No-one knows, but my guess is they will move the "national" HD feeds to a CONUS beam on DirecTV 10 or 11, and so those people who are legally entitled to out-of-area feeds will still get them, but in MPEG-4 instead of MPEG-2. Or they could keep them on the existing satellite in MPEG-2 "for ever", there's nothing preventing them from doing this....

How long? Its been a doorstop since day1, DVR without firewire or archive ability? Yawn, next please.

Hardly, I have firewire capable STB's and the Motorolla DCT6412III and for recording and watching, the HR10-250 is far and away the best solution and is used far more than any other option. For archiving to a PC or D-VHS, I am sure the TiVo is a pain. Extraction and recording to a PC may be possible with the TiVo, but I haven't ever read about it. Archiving is far from the most important use for most people. Pretty silly conclusion on your part. Reliable software and good performance is way more important to most who don't care about archiving.

Chris