Alright, kinda new here posting wise but have been reading content here since I purchased my Sony HDR-HC1. Great info and great people I must say.

Anyway, I am looking to jump into the HD viewing world. I will probably be purchasing a Pioneer Kuro 60" plasma, a new Denon AVR, the 4308CI would be nice (currently own the 3805) and have D* tv service.

My problem is I have two old Replay TV's and absolutely love the multi-room viewing.

Have you guys heard if the D* TV HR series DVR's will have this function? If not what are my options for aquiring this function in a DVR.

Can't live without this. I saw on another post that Vista can be used but is this a preferred method?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12625410#post12625410

Any help would be appreciatted.

There is talk that DirecTV DVRs may receive an update with this functionality later this year.

As of today, TiVos for cable and OTA are the only standalone HDTV DVRs with high-definition multi-room functionality. Of course, you can also buy a PC solution as I discussed in the linked thread.

So...I am really itching to get with the HD content as you can see I have all my plans together. My dig is will I have to lease a D* TV box to get HD and pay them $$$ monthly and then setup a PC or TIVO (again with monthly charges...Tivo only) and then scrap the whole thing once the new HR DVR comes out?

What would you do? I may wait till June/July cuz a rumor of the new 9G Kuros will be out and that should drive the price of the 8G's down a bit but I am almost ready to pull the trigger now its just the MVR thing that's chapping my arse right now.

The TivoHD with multi-room only works with cable and OTA. It does not work with DirecTV.

If you want to go DirecTV, you would buy multiple DirecTV HDTV DVRs @ $199/ea -- you would pay $5.99/mo for the first DVR and $5/mo for every box after the first. DirecTV requires a two-year commitment with any DVR purchase.

I can't tell you what to do because you haven't said what choices you have (what market, what cable provider, etc) or what channels you watch.

I currently have Direc tv andl I'm pretty much set on Direc TV in the Chicago market, I just need to get the new 5 way dish and I'm good. Reason being is I invest a lot of time and $$$ in fantasy football and D TV is the only one that has the NFL Sunday Ticket. I also heard that D TV is the best HD programming anyway. Been very happy with the service over the past ? years.

So basically..

1. Bite the bullet and go with a regualr DVR from DTV and pay for the service and equipment and then pay extra to get a new DVR when the multi-room function comes out. Or will this be most likely a firmware fix where I wouldn't need a new box.
2. Setup a PC based system

I appreciate the kindness bfdtv.

Am I missing anything?

I currently have Direc tv andl I'm pretty much set on Direc TV in the Chicago market, I just need to get the new 5 way dish and I'm good. Reason being is I invest a lot of time and $$$ in fantasy football and D TV is the only one that has the NFL Sunday Ticket.Based on your interest in Sunday Ticket, and the complaints with the new HD channels on Comcast Chicago, I think DirecTV is your best option.

1. Bite the bullet and go with a regualr DVR from DTV and pay for the service and equipment and then pay extra to get a new DVR when the multi-room function comes out. Or will this be most likely a firmware fix where I wouldn't need a new box.Multiroom functionality is expected in a software update for the current HR20 and HR21 HDTV DVRs by mid-year. If you already have HR20 or HR21 DVRs, you shouldn't need any new equipment, although you will need to have the boxes networked with ethernet.

A PC-based system is not an option for DirecTV at this time.

10-4!

I will need to order a new dish, new HD DVR. Not a big deal. I just had no idea that the multi-room function would be a software update.

I really didn't want to soak all that cash into a dvr that would be good for 6 months and have to buy a new one all over again.

Thanks again b! I can now carry on with other things...like getting my taxes done and buying some equipment :)

Multiroom functionality is expected in a software update for the current HR20 and HR21 HDTV DVRs by mid-year. If you already have HR20 or HR21 DVRs, you shouldn't need any new equipment, although you will need to have the boxes networked with ethernet.

A PC-based system is not an option for DirecTV at this time.

bfdtv,

Do you know if multi-room viewing will work between a HR21 and a non-DVR box? If not, I guess I'll need DVRs everywhere where multi-room viewing is the goal.

Do you know if multi-room viewing will work between a HR21 and a non-DVR box?You'll need two DVRs.

Thanks for the quick reply. Two DVRs it is. I hope they can implement this this year.

Not to resurrect a dead thread, but is there any new information on this?
I'm hoping for the AT&T-like version (one "recorded" list, record 4 programs on one box and it distributes the recording duties to all boxes, streaming) rather than the TiVo version (multiple "Now Playing" lists, download, no cooperative scheduling).

Not to resurrect a dead thread, but is there any new information on this?
I'm hoping for the AT&T-like version (one "recorded" list, record 4 programs on one box and it distributes the recording duties to all boxes, streaming) rather than the TiVo version (multiple "Now Playing" lists, download, no cooperative scheduling).

It is currently testing on DIRECTV, it's called "MRV" or multi-room viewing you can search for it in the various "Cutting Edge" forums that are out there.