Not sure if this is the right place for this topic, sorry if it isn't.

I haven't been keeping up on the mpeg4 transition in New York. Basically, is it available yet?

Is the HR20 available in New York yet?

And if it is, is DirecTV doing some type of swap out, turn in your HR10-250 for a HR20? I remember talk of a free swap last year, am I nuts? :)

[EDIT Sunday morning} Not nuts at all, but D* hasn't, as a rule, been asking for your old TiVo in trade.

And since four of your stations (2, 4, 5 and 7) are also MPEG-2, you'll be able to keep getting them with your HD TiVo. DIrecTV does seem to be very short of the new HR20s, though. If you happen to have an antenna, relatively recent software fixes on the H20 allow you to use an antenna with the box, too.

Dicker with the Customer Retention folks, and if it will take too long, buy one and see if they'll give you a rebate. It may take a little CSR roulette, but you should be able to get one pretty cheaply.

Some of the sponsors of AVS (Value Electronics for one) sell the new MPEG-4 DirecTV HD DVRs.

If NYC is working at all like LA (and it is supposed to be) you'll get better local PQ on the new HD DVRs than you did on the HD TiVo.

But I think you might get more informed answers in the NYC DBS HD thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8799047#post8799047

Good luck, Mikey.

I kept my old HD Tivo when the Hr20 came and am glad I did. They charge me $5/mo for the extra box. The HR20-700 died last week, but I had the HDTivo as backup. (I'm not in NY.)

Wait, you are saying channel 11 is in HD on the mpeg2?

DirecTV is renting these HR20's?

Any word on more HD channels that won't be available on mpeg2?

To get the HR20, do you have to get into a new contract?

[EDIT] Apparently The CW, Channel 11, isn't available in HD yet via DirecTV (see post below).

DirecTV is renting the new boxes, yes.

DirecTV has said all new HD channels will be on MPEG-4.

I believe you need a new contract to get the new HR20. But it could depend on how valuable your are to D*. Some of their very good customers, I believe, have not had to sign a 2-year deal.

Because both NY and LA are used as DNS stations, at least for the forseeable future, they should be available on both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 machines.

I just decided to do the upgrade and they told me I have to turn in my Tivo box and there was no way around the 2 year contract I tried several times but they would not budge. They did give me a new dish with install and 2 HR20's for the 19.95 shipping charge so I can't complain. I was told if you want out early then it is 12.50 per month they will charge for the remaining months left on the agreement. I was very hesitant to get locked in but the only other choice I have is FIOS which seems to be months out and Comcast which I would never consider.

Channel 11 in NY is still not available in HD via MPEG2 or MPEG4. For some unknown reason, DirecTV hasn't added the station to its HD locals here even though it did make CW staions available in LA, Philadelphia and elsewhere.

Channel 11 in NY is still not available in HD via MPEG2 or MPEG4. For some unknown reason, DirecTV hasn't added the station to its HD locals here even though it did make CW staions available in LA, Philadelphia and elsewhere.


Thanks, gpg. I stand corrected.

I just decided to do the upgrade and they told me I have to turn in my Tivo box and there was no way around the 2 year contract I tried several times but they would not budge. They did give me a new dish with install and 2 H20's for the 19.95 shipping charge so I can't complain. I was told if you want out early then it is 12.50 per month they will charge for the remaining months left on the agreement. I was very hesitant to get locked in but the only other choice I have is FIOS which seems to be months out and Comcast which I would never consider.

I love the way that even what the top Customer Retention People and even the Floor Managers of the Customer Retention Reps will swear stuff is not possible and the computer will not allow it - and then another just calls and it happens.

I can't complain on the deal I set up for someone - but the hoops to get multi HR20s that they swear cannot be put on a single work order and then to just hear you called and no problem is ridiculous.

Furthermore, they said they would reinstall the HD Tivo in another room for free during the install - and specified no 24 months committment - twice.

So its comical on one side - but sad on another - as the truth eventually gets out.

steverobertson i noticed you said you got 2 H20's which are only HD receivers, if you want the HD DVR you need the HR-20!! so be sure you ordered the one you really wanted!

good catch...i didnt notice that.

Yes, they can order multiple H20s on the same workorder - I have 2 on mine. They claim they can only put 1 HR20 on a workorder now and the computer will not allow them to put more on the workorder.

I just decided to do the upgrade and they told me I have to turn in my Tivo box and there was no way around the 2 year contract I tried several times but they would not budge. They did give me a new dish with install and 2 H20's for the 19.95 shipping charge so I can't complain. I was told if you want out early then it is 12.50 per month they will charge for the remaining months left on the agreement. I was very hesitant to get locked in but the only other choice I have is FIOS which seems to be months out and Comcast which I would never consider.

Yeah, FIOS is not coming to me probably until november, so I can't get locked in, because I'm dropping DirecTV as soon as it comes out.

Now, I assume if you have to trade in your old box, that you own the new box, not a rental, right? Because I own my old box. Ideally I would like to rent the new box for 8-9 months, sell me old box on ebay, not get a contract, and get FIOS in november. I guess that's a lot to ask.

Now, my next question, being I'm in NY, I won't get more HD channels, but from what I have read the PQ is much better on the mpeg4, correct? How does it compare to FIOS and OTA?

thanks

Channel 11 in NY is still not available in HD via MPEG2 or MPEG4. For some unknown reason, DirecTV hasn't added the station to its HD locals here even though it did make CW staions available in LA, Philadelphia and elsewhere.

Do you need the new MPEG-4 equipment to get the CW in HD?

steverobertson i noticed you said you got 2 H20's which are only HD receivers, if you want the HD DVR you need the HR-20!! so be sure you ordered the one you really wanted!

They are the DVR'S I guess my typing wasn't right this AM to many beers last night LOL

Yeah, FIOS is not coming to me probably until november, so I can't get locked in, because I'm dropping DirecTV as soon as it comes out.

Now, I assume if you have to trade in your old box, that you own the new box, not a rental, right? Because I own my old box. Ideally I would like to rent the new box for 8-9 months, sell me old box on ebay, not get a contract, and get FIOS in november. I guess that's a lot to ask.

Now, my next question, being I'm in NY, I won't get more HD channels, but from what I have read the PQ is much better on the mpeg4, correct? How does it compare to FIOS and OTA?

thanks

No they said I have to turn the TIVO box in which is no big deal and I will not own the new box it will be leased. I have read mixed signals on the PQ it seems to depend on what city you are in. I know Boston has had some issues but the reason I am changing is the OTA is not very stable for me and I want NESN HD for the Sox games as my wife is a huge fan and I can tolerate it but much easier in HD.

Yeah, FIOS is not coming to me probably until november, so I can't get locked in, because I'm dropping DirecTV as soon as it comes out.

Now, I assume if you have to trade in your old box, that you own the new box, not a rental, right? Because I own my old box. Ideally I would like to rent the new box for 8-9 months, sell me old box on ebay, not get a contract, and get FIOS in november. I guess that's a lot to ask.

Now, my next question, being I'm in NY, I won't get more HD channels, but from what I have read the PQ is much better on the mpeg4, correct? How does it compare to FIOS and OTA?

thanks


All the boxes are leased at this point.


The Customer Retention CSR's line on that was priceless.

"We are having a bunch of issues with the HR20 software and they are updating the codes sometimes every night. If you owned it and it was this flakley - or the new code broke it - you would have no recourse. But if you lease it, then we will swap it out. So right now, its safer to lease anyway until they get the bugs worked out". ;)

All the boxes are leased at this point.

odd that they would make you trade in the old box though, some have paid over 600 dollars for it.

odd that they would make you trade in the old box though, some have paid over 600 dollars for it.

I agree I don't know why they want it back but this my 3rd one after purchasing the 1st one so if they want it they can have it as I really won't have any use for it.

I have to admit though I am nervous about the HR 20's and hope I get a good one that is why I asked for 2 of them in case one dies I will have a backup as I really don't need 2 HD DVR'S. I am replacinf an old DST 3000 that has a bad power supply and never will record on that tv anyways.

Think of a car lease....there is always money up front in the lease. The old unit is that money.

However, its very bizarre because they don't always say they want them back - and depending on the installer - he probably won't ask for it.

In my case they said they would hook it up in another location in the house free of charge. I believe Fredfa had the same experience.