DirecTV HR20 HD DVR

thehaens@cox.net

Just received the latest and greatest that DirecTV has to offer.

This new HD DVR was to replace my HR-10 w/ Tivo HD DVR. I could not receive local channels over satellite without the new system so I pulled the trigger on it.

I received all of the Los Angeles local affiliates over the air with the Tivo system but couldn't pull in the San Diego affiliates without another eyesore on my house. So I was planning on getting all the Los Angeles stations over the air, and using the new system to get the San Diego stations (HD) over satellite.

First problem. The off air antenna port on the new HR20 is not active. In other words no tuning at all of any over the air channels. A quick call to directv to activate my HR10 was in order, and to boot, they have no real timeline as to when the port will be active. So basically I gained 4 HD Local Channels w/ the Satellite, but lost about 15 Digital Channels in the process.

I hooked up the HR10 to be used as a Over the Air tuner....got the best of both worlds now.

Except...from day one been having a host of issues with the HR20. All of these problems are not a one time thing. I have been able to repeat the problems at will when I talked to an "engineer" at DirecTV

First Problem - NO off air capability right now. This really pisses me off..the fact that they can turn off and turn off ports with a software push.

Second-When you are recording two HD programs. The box will freeze when attempting to flip between the two, or when you try to access another program that is recorded. Re-booting sometimes will fix the problem, but it will do it again and again. Another thing, I have did searches on these problems and others have had them as well on other forums.

Third - If there isn't any "tag" information in a program that you are trying to record manually, it will not place the program in the To do list. Example. I record The O'Reilly Factor every night on the FNC at 5-6. I put in a manual recording to record M-F at the prescribed time (and it is priority 1), The recorder doesn't recognize the program as there isn't anything in the description. Just the title. The work around this is to just make a series link on the program in the guide. But when you do this it will record all 3 of the shows throughout the day.

Fourth - When you are watching a HD program, and you are recording another program on the 2nd tuner, the program you are watching will "skip" about every 30-45 seconds momentarily. Annoying to say the least.

I can't really say much good about this box as of yet. I feel like a Beta Tester for this thing. If you are having luck with it chime in, if you are having problems like I am, then call them and let them know. They are sending me a new box FedEx, I asked them to run a disk checker on it, as well as reformat, and reload the software. The engineer told me he would personnally do this (HMM I have my doubts). OH, for you savvy computer types. The USB port isn't active on the box either. I tried to hook it up to my computer to see if I could somehow tag any bad sectors on the drive. The engineer told me that the port is software driven as well.

So in the end, if you are happy with your HR10, keep it. Don't jump on the HR20 yet until they work out all the bugs, and/or at least get the damn off air port working............

Scott

One good thing about the box. The guide is fast, you can scroll through a lot faster than the Tivo Box. However, if you are one of those that have received the new 6.3 load on the HR10 then you will notice that your guide is fast anyway..........

billbillw

I could have directed you to the lenghty discussions over at DBStalk.com

I was all excited when I heard it was out, but then I read Earl B's review and found out the OTA was not active, I said "screw that!" Then all the bugs started surfacing and it reinforced my contentness with my HR10.

Let them work out the bugs, activate the OTA tuners, and maybe, then I'll upgrade. MPEG4 national stations are probably 9 months away at least. Until then, there is no benefit to the HR20 for me. My OTA is rock solid!

disneyjoe7

It been known for a long time the HR10 was what you needed for HD locals, as the HR20 wouldn't do it. I also think HR20 is not TiVo based.

billbillw

disneyjoe7 wrote:

It been known for a long time the HR10 was what you needed for HD locals, as the HR20 wouldn't do it. I also think HR20 is not TiVo based.

Not quite sure what you mean by that. The HR20 is the BRAND NEW HD-DVR that is capable of getting spot beamed HD signals (in MPEG4). For anyone that is not within OTA antenna distance for locals, the HR20 is THE ONLY* way to receive and record HD locals via satellite (with Directv).

*The H20 is a non-DVR MPEG4 box that can receive, but obviously not record, HD locals via satellite.

The HR20 is not Tivo based, which is a letdown for many TIVO faithfuls, but the hardware in the new box is at least 2 years newer in design. Think about how fast computers evolve in 2 years. Think about how HDTVs have advanced in the last 2 years. 2 years has taken us from progressive scan DVD players to BlueRay/HDDVD.

Once they get the bugs out, it should be a much better all around unit, but right now, its basically in extended public BETA testing.

Frank Z

I've read nothing but bad comments about the HR20.

disneyjoe7

Bill,

What I meant was OTA signal local HD. I thought that my wording for HD locals was clear sorry if it was not.

disneyjoe7 wrote:

It been known for a long time the HR10 was what you needed for HD locals, as the HR20 wouldn't do it. I also think HR20 is not TiVo based.

billbillw

Once the OTA tuners are activated in the HR20 (should be later this month), the HR20 will have far superior ability to get Locals by antenna. The tuners in the HR20 are the newest generation (5th if IIRC) with advanced multipath rejection and much greater sensitivity. Most people have always complained that the HR10 tuners were not quite up to the standards found in the non-DVR boxes.

I still feel that anyone who is looking right now should wait until all the bugs are worked out. If you have a HR10, just wait a month or two. I just got the 6.3 upgrade on my HR10 and its like a new machine (speed wise), so I'm content for the time being.

disneyjoe7 wrote:

Bill,

What I meant was OTA signal local HD. I thought that my wording for HD locals was clear sorry if it was not.

Schwingding

Hey Billbillw (one day at a time?)..nevermind.. anyway you mentioned that you just got a 6.3 upgrade on your HR10. That caught my eye. I'm just about to reach 300 days without a phone line connection/call, mainly because last time I checked there were no further upgrades planned for the HR10 beyond 6.2.

What did I miss? Any new features in the 6.3?

disneyjoe7

Mine is HR10-250 software 3.1.5f-01-2-237. I did restart it yesterday nothing different, and my phone line works. Last call was Saturday Sept 30 at 5:56pm / Status Succeeded.

Schwingding

I just did a lot of reading up on the 6.3 and 6.3a upgrades on TIVO community forums. I think I'll continue to NOT connect my units to phone lines, lots of problems with those upgrades it seems.

billbillw

Schwingding,
My upgrade just came through last night, so I can't really comment on whether there are any problems or not, but in the limited experience this monring, it seems to work very well.

Disneyjoe,
You will probably see it in the next few days. Tell your TIVO to "make daily call now". They are heavily rolling it out this week. Don't restart until you see "pending restart" in the status line of the phone settings.

oregoncalfroper

I like the HR20 but it has froze on em about 3 times in the 2 weeks I have had it usually when recording 2 shows at once adn watchign a third :-) or recording 2 hd shows at same time.

KLD2246

thehaens@cox.ne wrote:

Just received the latest and greatest that DirecTV has to offer.

This new HD DVR was to replace my HR-10 w/ Tivo HD DVR. I could not receive local channels over satellite without the new system so I pulled the trigger on it.

I received all of the Los Angeles local affiliates over the air with the Tivo system but couldn't pull in the San Diego affiliates without another eyesore on my house. So I was planning on getting all the Los Angeles stations over the air, and using the new system to get the San Diego stations (HD) over satellite.

First problem. The off air antenna port on the new HR20 is not active. In other words no tuning at all of any over the air channels. A quick call to directv to activate my HR10 was in order, and to boot, they have no real timeline as to when the port will be active. So basically I gained 4 HD Local Channels w/ the Satellite, but lost about 15 Digital Channels in the process.

I hooked up the HR10 to be used as a Over the Air tuner....got the best of both worlds now.

Except...from day one been having a host of issues with the HR20. All of these problems are not a one time thing. I have been able to repeat the problems at will when I talked to an "engineer" at DirecTV

First Problem - NO off air capability right now. This really pisses me off..the fact that they can turn off and turn off ports with a software push.

Second-When you are recording two HD programs. The box will freeze when attempting to flip between the two, or when you try to access another program that is recorded. Re-booting sometimes will fix the problem, but it will do it again and again. Another thing, I have did searches on these problems and others have had them as well on other forums.

Third - If there isn't any "tag" information in a program that you are trying to record manually, it will not place the program in the To do list. Example. I record The O'Reilly Factor every night on the FNC at 5-6. I put in a manual recording to record M-F at the prescribed time (and it is priority 1), The recorder doesn't recognize the program as there isn't anything in the description. Just the title. The work around this is to just make a series link on the program in the guide. But when you do this it will record all 3 of the shows throughout the day.

Fourth - When you are watching a HD program, and you are recording another program on the 2nd tuner, the program you are watching will "skip" about every 30-45 seconds momentarily. Annoying to say the least.

I can't really say much good about this box as of yet. I feel like a Beta Tester for this thing. If you are having luck with it chime in, if you are having problems like I am, then call them and let them know. They are sending me a new box FedEx, I asked them to run a disk checker on it, as well as reformat, and reload the software. The engineer told me he would personnally do this (HMM I have my doubts). OH, for you savvy computer types. The USB port isn't active on the box either. I tried to hook it up to my computer to see if I could somehow tag any bad sectors on the drive. The engineer told me that the port is software driven as well.

So in the end, if you are happy with your HR10, keep it. Don't jump on the HR20 yet until they work out all the bugs, and/or at least get the damn off air port working............

Scott

One good thing about the box. The guide is fast, you can scroll through a lot faster than the Tivo Box. However, if you are one of those that have received the new 6.3 load on the HR10 then you will notice that your guide is fast anyway..........

I have the hr10 and love o'reilly however I have the problem your talking about as well. Also Hannity and other news shows. They record 3 times a day so not sure this is just the hr20 but both players.

disneyjoe7

Give it a down thumb so TiVo will know you don't like it.


BTW still no update software yet... tried 3 times nothing new.

polkatese

Any update on where things are and DTV plan for this year?

Is it still make sense to buy HR10-250 knowing that the MPEG4 roll-out is imminent?

read-alot

I was with Direct TV for 11 years, always had higher end subs with the few Hi Def channels from the start so I see that the H20 was out and I give them a call about getting one...they told me to go to Best Buy and pay $400. After several calls to many different retention and upper level people I finally switched to Dish who offered me a free recorder plus a deal on the Hi Def recorder and free installation and hook up 3 TVs. Now Direct is on the phone every week offering free recorders and months of free programming for me to come back, my wife just tells them we are happy where we are now and please don't call after 5:30 unless they want a verbal beating.

jeremie

i am in the same boat. I sold my HR10-250 so that i could get a HR20 and after reading about all the bugs i ended up with a Dish 622 and in my opinion much better than the HR20 and i am just as happy with it if not happier than my HD tivo/

disneyjoe7

If you could get a local Antenna for local HD channels then I would buy a HR10-250 used / or new.

polkatese

The current market price of the HR10-250 is ridiculously high. I bought mine from DTV for $199 (incl. $100 rebate). I should have bought a couple. Switching to Dish, while appealing, is not practical. I have 3 boxes, 2 HDs. Thanks for the feedback, though. I am sticking with HR10 for the time being, until I hear a better story on the latest HR20.

jeremie

I just recently like 2 weeks ago sold my HR10-250 for 375 on ebay and i only paid 99 with 100 rebate. Covered my cost for the Dish 622 and then some.

polkatese

So, I bought a used HR10 over the bay, and start thinking about how long before it becomes obsolete, as far as receiving the HD-package. Any thoughts (and realistic timeline) on when D* going to pull the plug and migrate HD channels to the new format?

billbillw

They won't even start broadcasting HD national channels in MPEG4 until Fall this year (if everything goes smooth with the summer satellite launch. I'd say you got a good year left at least, maybe longer. You might not get all the new HD channels that are supposed to come on board later this year, but you should get the stuff that is already there. There hasn't been anything firm on when they might stop broadcasting HD in MPEG2. If/when they do, the HR10 will still work with OTA HD signals and of course, non HD material off the satellite.

polkatese

Thanks, Bill..do you have any information on the NEW HD channels line-up? So far, I care only HBO-HD and Discovery HD, the rest are nice to have.

billbillw

polkatese wrote: »

Thanks, Bill..do you have any information on the NEW HD channels line-up? So far, I care only HBO-HD and Discovery HD, the rest are nice to have.

See this thread.
Its speculation right now, but most of these have been announced as having a deal with Directv. Given the fact that Directv will have room for more than 50 HD channels after they launch just one satellite, I suspect they will cary almost every HD channel available by early next year.


http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=87235

In addition, Discover just announced that it will add 4 more HD channels from their group of networks. I think this includes TLC, regular Discovery, Animal planet and the Science Channel. I've also read about History Channel coming in HD as well as the Weather channel. 2008 will really be the year when HD content starts to blossom.