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post #31 of 4542
8/2/06 at 12:20pm
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?

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post #32 of 4542
8/2/06 at 1:47pm
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.
post #33 of 4542
8/2/06 at 4:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mx6bfast View Post

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.
post #34 of 4542
8/6/06 at 9:22am
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/featur...ck=1&cset=true

Hope that applies to the HR250 units too . . .

Justin
post #35 of 4542
8/6/06 at 3:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin_Thyme View Post

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/featur...ck=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!
post #36 of 4542
8/6/06 at 3:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SamwisetheBrave View Post

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.

Quote:
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."
post #37 of 4542
8/6/06 at 4:27pm
I'm pretty sure Mr. Mercer is only talking about the H20/AT9 swapout here.
post #38 of 4542
8/6/06 at 4:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin_Thyme View Post

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.

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...
post #39 of 4542
8/7/06 at 12:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Justin_Thyme View Post

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/featur...ck=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.
post #40 of 4542
8/8/06 at 10:45am
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.
post #41 of 4542
8/8/06 at 12:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by drgolf View Post

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.
post #42 of 4542
8/8/06 at 12:39pm
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.
post #43 of 4542
8/8/06 at 12:51pm
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*.
post #44 of 4542
8/8/06 at 1:04pm
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.
post #45 of 4542
8/8/06 at 6:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScoBuck View Post

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?
post #46 of 4542
8/8/06 at 7:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by VAHDFan View Post

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

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....&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.
post #47 of 4542
8/8/06 at 7:51pm
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!"
post #48 of 4542
8/9/06 at 11:30am
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.
post #49 of 4542
8/9/06 at 12:07pm
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?
post #50 of 4542
8/9/06 at 12:25pm
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?"
post #51 of 4542
8/9/06 at 6:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by arxaw View Post

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?
post #52 of 4542
8/9/06 at 7:01pm
Yes.
post #53 of 4542
8/10/06 at 5:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by VAHDFan View Post

Have you had a CSR answer your questions correctly?

Quote:
Originally Posted by arxaw View Post

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...
post #54 of 4542
8/10/06 at 7:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TechoFobe View Post

When?

Last week.


.
post #55 of 4542
8/10/06 at 7:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TechoFobe View Post


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...

It's supposed to be an HD version of the SD DVR, the R15..? I have no idea how well the R15 works though.
post #56 of 4542
8/10/06 at 10:12am
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?
post #57 of 4542
8/10/06 at 11:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by uvamack View Post

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*.
post #58 of 4542
8/10/06 at 1:07pm
I think you got a great deal, uvamack.
Of course, just getting rid of adelphia is a great deal ;-)
post #59 of 4542
8/11/06 at 5:20am
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.
post #60 of 4542
8/11/06 at 5:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jediphish View Post

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.
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