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Direct TV HD DVR Owners?

Pliablemoose

Pliablemoose

Lifer
I've had an offer to get upgraded, free DVR, Free install...

Looked at some reviews, and they're not very good, how do you like your Direct TV + HD DVR?
 
Compared to the DirecTIVO it kind of sucks but since it is really the only game in town for DirecTV customers to DVR HD at the moment it will do.

Good points:
- Can be networked in to my home LAN so I can access music and pictures (no video yet) from my PC and play it through my home theater system.
- I can hit record on a program that has already ended as long as it is still buffered and it will save it.
- Has an "On Demand" feature that downloads programming from the net and saves it in my play list.
- ESata drive can be plugged into it.

Bad points:
- This is the big one for me No dual live buffer!
- Basic functions like jump, FF, FR etc are dodgy compared to the smooth way they work with a TIVO
- No wish list type capability
 
I switched from cable and couldn't be happier.

Better picture, better HDDVR, 10 times more HD channels and it was cheaper. I still haven't found a negative.

Don't let anyone tell you that DTV down ress their HD signal. They do for a handful of channels but the last 70+ HD channels they have added are MPEG4.

From AVSForums

Current HD Channels by DirecTV Channel Number
70 - HBO HD East
71 - Showtime HD East
72 - ESPN2 HD
73 - ESPN HD
74 - Universal HD
75 - TNT HD
76 - HD Theater
78 - HDNet Movies
79 - HDNet
80 - CBS East - WCBS New York, NY
81 - CBS West - KCBS Los Angeles, CA
82 - NBC East - WNBC New York, NY
83 - NBC West - KNBC Los Angeles, CA
86 - ABC East - WABC New York, NY
87 - ABC West - KABC Los Angeles, CA
88 - FOX East - WNYW New York, NY
89 - FOX West - KTTV Los Angeles, CA
95 - Miscellaneous HD Events Channel
98 - PPV Events
99 - PPV Movies
101 - CD USA
135 - PPV Movies
136 - PPV Movies
137 - PPV Movies
138 - PPV Movies
145 - PPV Movies
146 - PPV Movies
147 - PPV Movies
202 - CNN HD
206 - ESPN HD
209 - ESPN2 HD
212 - NFL Network HD
215 - NHL Network HD
218-1 - Big Ten Network HD (Alternate)
219-1 - Big Ten Network HD (Alternate)
220 - Big Ten Network HD
229-1 - HGTV HD
231-1 - FOOD HD
242 - USA Network HD
244 - Sci Fi HD
245 - TNT HD
247 - TBS HD
248 - FX HD
255 - MGM HD
265 - A&E HD
266 - Biography HD
267 - Smithsonian HD
269 - History Channel HD
273 - Bravo HD
276 - National Geographic HD
278 - Discovery HD
280 - TLC HD
282 - Animal Planet HD
284 - Science Channel HD
296 - The Cartoon Network HD
299 - Nickelodeon HD East
325 - Spike HD
327 - CMT HD
331 - MTV HD
332 - MHD
335 - VH1 HD
355 - CNBC HD+
359 - FOX Business HD
362 - Weather Channel HD
501 - HBO HD East
504 - HBO HD West
509 - HBO HD East
512 - Cinemax HD East
514 - Cinemax HD West
518 - Starz Kids and Family HD
519 - Starz Comedy HD
520 - Starz HD East
521 - Starz HD West
522 - Starz Edge HD
537 - Showtime HD East
538 - SHO TOO HD East
540 - Showtime HD West
543 - Showtime HD East
544 - The Movie Channel HD East
601 - NBA HD
604 - Versus HD / Golf Channel HD
607 - SPEED HD
612 - FUEL HD
620-1 - Comcast SportsNet New England
622 - YES
623 - New England Sports Network
625 - SportsNet New York
628-1 - FSN Pittsburgh
629 - Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
630-1 - FSN South
631-1 - SportSouth
632-1 - Sunshine Sports
634-1 - FSN Florida
635-1 - FSN Florida/Sunshine Sports Alternate
636 - FSN Detroit
637-1 - FSN Ohio
638-1 - FSN Cincinnati
639-1 - FSN Houston Alternate
639-1 - FSN Southwest Alternate
640 - Comcast SportsNet Chicago
641-1 - FSN North
642-1 - FSN Wisconsin Alternate
643 - FSN Southwest
644-1 - Altitude
645-1 - FSN Rocky Mountain
646-1 - FSN Utah
647-1 - FSN Midwest
648-1 - FSN Midwest Alternate
649-1 - FSN Arizona
651-1 - FSN Northwest
652 - FSN West
653 - FSN Prime Ticket
654-1 - FSN Bay Area
669-1 - FSN Detroit Alternate
 
Originally posted by: SpunkyJones
Bad points:
- This is the big one for me No dual live buffer!
Click to expand...

AARRGGHHH! I'm getting ready to replace my Directivo for the new one, the buffer thing blows. 🙁
Click to expand...

It's a trade-off. No dual live buffer but the buffer is now 90 minutes for the DirecTV HD DVR instead of 30 minutes for the DirecTivo. You can do a work-around by recording one channel and watching another. Then it is the same as a dual-live buffer.

Ultimately, I think the DirecTV HD DVR is worth it just for all the channels you get. There are some things it does better than the DirecTivo and some thing it doesn't though.
 
I haven't missed my hr10-250 which was a tivo. The HR20 is faster, more reliable. The only thing that i miss is the dual live buffers and that only affects you if you are watching sports.

Not to mention that the HR20 supports the new directv on demand capability. On demand far outweighs any advantage a directivo had.
 
I just got four of the HR21-700s...I like them...but not as much as my old DirecTivo. HR21 has no tuner though, so no off air antenna, and not yet ready for on demand.
 
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
<---Feels kind of stupid for ordering all the stuff to build a HD HTPC now 🙁
Click to expand...

Nah that will be the perfect accessory the system. I have both my DirecTV HD DVR and DirecTIVO connected to my PC so I can save programs I want to keep and burn them to DVD. Once someone finally comes out with a component video in card so I can actually dump down HD I will be a happy camper. There is 1 card out now that has component in but my understanding is it downgrades it.
 
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Do the locals come across in SD with the DTV HD setup?
Click to expand...

If your locals are being broadcast in HD, you will get them in HD as well. For every HD channel there is a SD channel too.
 
I have directivos at home, my friend has the directv HD DVR.... and I must say, every time I come home after visiting, I hug my directivo. Yes, it's wonderful to get lots of HD channels..... but the DVR is complete crap compared to the tivo. Nothing works as well, it doesn't have as many features, no 30 second skip functionality, no dual buffer etc etc. Basically, even though I can get all the HD DVR etc free from directv (for re-upping my 2 year deal of course), I'm not doing it.
 
Originally posted by: PokerGuy
I have directivos at home, my friend has the directv HD DVR.... and I must say, every time I come home after visiting, I hug my directivo. Yes, it's wonderful to get lots of HD channels..... but the DVR is complete crap compared to the tivo. Nothing works as well, it doesn't have as many features, no 30 second skip functionality, no dual buffer etc etc. Basically, even though I can get all the HD DVR etc free from directv (for re-upping my 2 year deal of course), I'm not doing it.
Click to expand...

HR20 Tips & Tricks - There is a 30 second skip.
 
I really like my HR20 so far, but I never owned a Tivo. The one thing that annoys me though is how long the box takes to reboot. I put the thing on a UPS immediately.
 
Originally posted by: aldamon
I really like my HR20 so far, but I never owned a Tivo. The one thing that annoys me though is how long the box takes to reboot. I put the thing on a UPS immediately.
Click to expand...

That seems to be a problem with all DirecTV DVR receivers...including the DirecTivo. I don't know about DiSH. I guess they don't expect customers to reboot their receivers much because they seem to have made no effort it to make it faster over the past few years.
 
Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: PokerGuy
I have directivos at home, my friend has the directv HD DVR.... and I must say, every time I come home after visiting, I hug my directivo. Yes, it's wonderful to get lots of HD channels..... but the DVR is complete crap compared to the tivo. Nothing works as well, it doesn't have as many features, no 30 second skip functionality, no dual buffer etc etc. Basically, even though I can get all the HD DVR etc free from directv (for re-upping my 2 year deal of course), I'm not doing it.
Click to expand...

HR20 Tips & Tricks - There is a 30 second skip.
Click to expand...
Hmm... didn't know that. That reduces my list of reasons to prefer Tivo by 1 and brings it down to 30 😉

 
Originally posted by: aldamon
I really like my HR20 so far, but I never owned a Tivo. The one thing that annoys me though is how long the box takes to reboot. I put the thing on a UPS immediately.
Click to expand...

How did you decide what capacity UPS to use with your home theater setup? Right now I have a 62" DLP, the DirecTV HD DVR and a DirecTIVO that I would like to hook up to a UPS but I can't really find any good guidlines for how to calculate the capacity necessary. I just want to be able to turn off the DLP gracefully when the power drops.
 
Originally posted by: Linflas
Originally posted by: aldamon
I really like my HR20 so far, but I never owned a Tivo. The one thing that annoys me though is how long the box takes to reboot. I put the thing on a UPS immediately.
Click to expand...

How did you decide what capacity UPS to use with your home theater setup? Right now I have a 62" DLP, the DirecTV HD DVR and a DirecTIVO that I would like to hook up to a UPS but I can't really find any good guidlines for how to calculate the capacity necessary. I just want to be able to turn off the DLP gracefully when the power drops.
Click to expand...

I only have my HR20 and PS3 on battery backup. The rest is surge only. I didn't see the need to put the TV, receiver, ect on battery backup so a small UPS sufficed. I actually bought a 340W Belkin unit to backup both machines, but the HR20 froze with Belkin's battery power, so I'm using the 340W with the PS3 and a cheap 200W APC unit with the HR20. The HR20 only pulls around 40W so the 200W unit is sufficient. The PS3 pulls over 200W when folding.
 
Originally posted by: Linflas
Originally posted by: aldamon
I really like my HR20 so far, but I never owned a Tivo. The one thing that annoys me though is how long the box takes to reboot. I put the thing on a UPS immediately.
Click to expand...

How did you decide what capacity UPS to use with your home theater setup? Right now I have a 62" DLP, the DirecTV HD DVR and a DirecTIVO that I would like to hook up to a UPS but I can't really find any good guidlines for how to calculate the capacity necessary. I just want to be able to turn off the DLP gracefully when the power drops.
Click to expand...

You could get this and measure the wattage your system uses. You could also look for reviews such as on CNET that list the amount of wattage different components use. It is a good idea to use a UPS with a DLP because it will allow the fan to run for a minute after you turn it off.
 
Originally posted by: Rage187
I switched from cable and couldn't be happier.

Better picture, better HDDVR, 10 times more HD channels and it was cheaper. I still haven't found a negative.

Don't let anyone tell you that DTV down ress their HD signal. They do for a handful of channels but the last 70+ HD channels they have added are MPEG4.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for showing me that HD lineup, now I have hardon. 🙂

But anyway, I used to have DirecTV 2-3 years ago, but switched to local cable when I got tired of the crappy HD resolution. Switching to cable was like night and day, and my local cable co still delivers the most crisp HD picture around. However, I've been thinking of switching to DirecTV again for their HD lineup.

How qualified are you to say that DirecTV's channels look full res? Because if I switched, and most of the HD channels didn't look as good as what I have now, then I'll very disappointed. I'd rather have the 10 HD channels I have right now and stick with cable rather than switch to satellite with 70 HD channels with a lesser resolution.
 
I just switched over to DirectTV and, tbh, while their HD picture is nice it is not the equal of cable, or at least not the equal of what I was getting through Brighthouse. Maybe it has to do with the MPEG4 compression, I dunno, but it just doesn't seem as crispy as cable.

That said, there are so many more HD channels available that I didn't get via cable that it makes up for the sight reduction in PQ, imo. I'd rather be able to watch those other channels in HD through DirectTV than watch them in SD over cable.
 
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