DirecTV's New HD-DVR 80
Earl Bonovich writes to tell us that he recently had a chance to take a look at DirecTV's new HD-DVR, the HR20-700. His results are posted over at DBSTalk including several pictures and videos. Some of the features include high definition output, dual SAT tuners, dual ATSC tuners, wired RJ-45 ethernet port, external SATA connection, and a 300GB SATA internal hard drive that can hold 30 hours of MPEG-2 HD, 50 hours of MPEG-4 HD, or 200 hours of standard definition video.
Bettuh be careful DirecTV (Score:2, Informative)
DirectTV has nothing to fear from TiVo (Score:5, Informative)
So DirectTV won't suffer the same fate as Dish.
it's a good start, (Score:5, Insightful)
It's a good start to get a peek at this new DVR. Unfortunately, if consumers were to base their choice on listed features, capacities, and pictures of the unit (they already barely do that, the DirectTV would be another DVR with really beefy meaty specs... and would be a top candidate for a great addition to the Home Entertainment Center. But, this isn't really the review I'm looking for.
I want to know (after using TiVo now for almost ten years, happily ever after):
This is just a partial list... but virtually none of which are really covered by the review in enough depth... too much to ask of one reviewer. I've been burned by the "wow" factor of a Comcast box (from a review), and now would wait for more concensus.
And, as an aside, does anyone else find it really annoying technology is going the way of PVR's becoming the providers' commodities rather than manufacturers? Assuming this new PVR is the greatest thing since sliced bread, it still wouldn't be enough of a draw to switch providers -- it's more than a little annoying to find that if you like x, y, or z about some PVR, you have to switch to that provider? WTF?
Interoperability with EVERYTHING (including over the air (OTA)) broadcast has been and continues to be one of the biggest draws for me with TiVo, though there's many indications of providers trying to shut TiVo out. Sigh.
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I have the HR15 recorder and like it a lot. Never had TiVo so I can't answer your questions. The reviewer does give some encouragement about the UI and the lag-time improvement and some of the other UI features/improvements.
There's no reason to be overly critical of new hardware like... TiVo is the best... Myth TV is DaBomb, etc. I'll admit it's my first DVR but what that thing can do is outstanding. I'll never watch broadcsat TV the same again! Put me down in the I like what it does category PERIOD.
I w
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However I haven't heard of one person that had a DirecTivo that "upgraded" to the new DirecTV DVRs that was happy with it, and I've heard of more then a few that dropped DirecTV altogether because of it.
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how responsive is the interface?
A little slow.
how ergonomic? (TiVo's a hard act to follow on this one)
Fine by my standards.
how often does the machine crash and burn, or just plain lock up? (any comcast DVR users out there?)
Never locked up yet (almost a year now).
how well does it handle season passes with options of first showing, multiple channel, etc. (once again, TiVo is a hard act to follow on this one)
Don't know.
how well does it do video? any mosaics?, dropped frames?
Almost as cle
Re:it's a good start, (Score:4, Insightful)
Don't know.
Are there things like "wish lists"? (TiVo does this wonderfully)
Whatever those are?
These are the things that TiVo users have a very hard time giving up, simply because they work so beautifully. "Season Passes" allow you to set the device to record any showing of a show (or specific ones if you want), with control over whether it records first airings and/or reruns and how it deals with shows that air on multiple channels. "Wish Lists" are search/record filters that you can set based on title, actor, director, genre, etc. So you can say "Record any Kubrick movie" simply by adding a director wishlist for Kubrick. On top of this, many users (though not all) also enjoy the "Suggestions" feature, whereby the TiVo autorecords shows and movies that it thinks you'd enjoy based on your previous recording/rating history. Of course, these recordings are the lowest priority and roll off the savelist in case it needs the space for something you've specifically requested it record. This feature is great on DirecTiVos because of the dual-tuner feature--it can almost always go off and record something else, even when you're watching something on the first tuner.
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From your description the HR15 has "season passes" down.
For instance, I am able to record any show I choose either first-run or even repeats. I can have it "Keep till I delete" or set it so it overwrites the oldest item in the list. I don't typically use it for repeat shows, but I have used it for series like "24" and "House" where I just want the first run showings. Though one time I did something stupid and chose to record "Seinfeld" (any showings) as a test and my recorder was filled up in about 2 weeks
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Let's see if I can answer your points
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Not true. Three days ago my new HR10-250 DirecTiVo was installed. It is just as much of a Tivo as my old SD DirecTivo (an HDVR2).
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Yes, my comment was technically off topic, but it was modded up for a reason. I wrote it for a reason.
I like my DirecTiVo and I am really ticked off at them for ditching TiVo. My comment was written to remind people that DirecTV used to have TiVos which they abandoned sale of (they still support them, thankfully), that nothing is as good as a TiVo (not that I've seen yet, most have been laughably bad), and that DVR things for DirecTV users have gotten worse since you can't get a true TiVo (unless you are w
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You can still get a DirecTiVo from DirecTV (Score:2, Informative)
Isn't the fantastic interface a TiVo thing and not DirecTV?
Re:it's a good start, (Score:4, Interesting)
I guess you haven't gotten the TiVo KidZone update yet. I have a branded Series 2 unit that got updated like a week ago. Response time has been thoroughly shot to hell after this update. It has taken as long as five seconds to pull up the program guide. Sometimes hitting the TiVo button with hang the unit for about 30 seconds before I'll finally get a "action could not be completed" error. At least the TV pass-through still works, so it's not like it freezes up the display. I've also had two spontaneous reboots since the update.
I've also noticed a variety of small bugs. For example, if a show has been previously unrated, the first Thumbs Up works, but instead of the normal Thumbs Up sound, it sounds a "Not Allowed" sound.
I'm just hoping they roll out fixes soon.
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Once a month or so, my Tivo locks up for about half an hour. The LED flash shows its getting the signal, just not doing anything with it. After the half-hour or so, everything returns.
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You said:
Well, from the article:
Looks to me like you might not have any problem getting at least local HD, OTA broadcasts if you live in America, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan or South Korea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATSC [wikipedia.org]
Re:it's a good start, (Score:5, Informative)
So far the interface is just as responsive, if not better in some areas, then any of my DTivo units
If you are comming from a long time experience with the TiVo interface, it is going to take some time to get used to. It took me about a month to get used to the new GUI (on the R15 which is the same core GUI)... now that I am used to it.... If find both's systems interface very easy to use.
Several weeks into it now... have not had a sigle crash, burn, or lockup... I have yet to have to reset the unit for any "negative" reasons.
So far... so good.... I have only had one repeat record and that was an episode of Stargate yesterday... which just happened to be the 100th episode, which was the foundation for the 200th episode... so I am not sure if Sci-Fi tweaked with the data a bit, and the HR20 simply identified it as a first run. I have several of the popular shows that are on all over teh place... Stargate, CSI, Law&Order... so everything has been exactly as I have expected it to be.
I am not seeing any mosaics, drop frames, or anything wrong with the HD video... granted I haven't been counting the frames or anything like that.
Yes and No... there are keyword searchs available.. but they are definently not as powerfull or the same as wishlists.
As a few others have noted, they re-upped the contract for a few more years, that specifically included patent discussion.
For some more discussion and answers to your questions... come on down to www.dbstalk.com that is where I have been living for the last few days....
lawsuits? (Score:1)
I think the more important question here is, are there any impending lawsuits from DirecTV against their own customers (or just anyone, actually) who happen to own something that DirecTV considers to be "pirate access devices"?
Hell, an HD-PVR with an ethernet jack could ITSELF be considered a piracy device. Better watch for the MPAA
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I have the dual tuner motorola HD box provided by Comcast. S'posedly, it's the best they have to offer. I had the cable guy out a few times with the following complaints, and he gave me these answers: 1) Occasionally, I'll turn the machine on and there will be no sound or picture. The menus will still work and come on screen, but nothing else. Answer: Activate a prerecorded video and then exit. Sometimes the tuner locks up, and you have to do this. Actually, to me, it
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In a word, TWC DVR's suck big time, especially compared to Tivo. The first units (we have two, both made by Scientific Atlantic) crashed frequently. When they weren't crashing, the sound would be frequently out of sync with the picture of a records show. After two weeks of that, we took the units ba
comcast DVR comments (Score:2)
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Maybe TiVo is shutting themselves out?
The first thing I noticed when using TiVo in late 2001 was that it needed dual-tuners. That only took 5 years.
Meanwhile, I first saw an HD DirecTivo over 2 years ago. Can you get an HD Tivo right now? Nope. Not out yet.
And when the series3 does come
TiVo'ed? (Score:2, Interesting)
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It's a Sony, so whatever you do don't plug it into your computer.
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On my series2, selecting "Keep until I delete" keeps it forever. So I'm not sure what you mean.
Directv doesn't have to worry about Tivo (Score:1)
Do the outputs work?` (Score:1)
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Let's hope the interface is better (Score:2, Informative)
Looking better all the time... (Score:2)
Tivo or DirecTV (Score:2, Interesting)
1) Switch to cable and *HAVE* a choice of series 3 Tivo / build a Myth, etc....
or
2) Stick with DirecTV on hardware that's dictated to the customer, offered by a company with a less than stellar reputation for customer satisfaction.
Hmm is it any surprise that #1 seems to be the popular choice?
Looking at it deeper, when customers of DirecTV who have Tivo syst
Maybe they will get it right this time, maybe not (Score:2, Informative)
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No you can't. Not if you want to follow your favorite out-of-market NFL team. DirecTV has the exclusive NFL license. To watch my Chicago Bears I am stuck with DirecTV. They know this and it is why they pay oodles of money for the license.
Ethernet port? (Score:3, Insightful)
How about:
- Content sharing to other DirecTV devices. My primary TV is downstairs, I would like a small satellite HD playback unit that can access content on the main DVR (don't the Moxi DVRs do this?).
- PC integration, access music and photos from my PC for display/playback through my HDTV+Stereo.
- Basic internet access via unit, WWW browser for display on HDTV.. sometimes this could be handy.
- Access guide data, firmware updates, PPV requests, and other DirecTV content via the Internet. This could eliminate the need for a phone connection to the unit.
- Additional storage on network (NFS, SMB) drives. Store content encrypted.
Somehow, I doubt they will be as aggressive as I'm hoping.
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PPV via remote still needs the phone, but you can also purbahse via the website. (and if you do that you can watch the PPV on any of your receivers)
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I realize DTv claims weather has no effect on the signal, but in Cleveland we can get some pretty good snow storms, have you ever had any problems?
Good review, I started looking at DTv when Adelphia got bought out and they took away my NFL network. Thanks for
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Snow build up on the dish can be a problem, especially wet snow. Personally, I keep a spare ice scraper around in the winter although I'm sure you can buy a heater or rig something up with heat tape if you want.
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The phone is used by DirecTV to validate location of the box (making sure it is on the phone line as your main box, for mirroring requirements... however as far as I know... it has been a LONG time since they have regularly done that).
Weather does have an issue... but in "general" non-freakish storms should little to no effect on your signal.
In Chicago during the winter we occasionally get that "wet slush" snow, t
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Weather should not be an issue at all with your satellite reception, provided the installation was done correctly. Here in Texas, we call some of our storms "Texas Turd Floaters", since some downpours will pretty much float your car down the street to the nearest gutter drain. I have to wear my shades at night while watching TV sometimes as the lightning flashes around the uncovered window edges. And I've never lost my sat reception.
More than likely, your dish was never peaked properly to the number
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Thanks.
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Re:Ethernet port? (Score:5, Interesting)
* VOD via Internet (handy since it's pretty hard to implement through Sats)
* There is PC integration planned with Windows Media Center and Vista
* There is a content sharing schema in the works. It's called the HMC (Home Media Center). It will consist of a server device which is connected to the phone line. All of the receiver nodes will communicate with the server to access stored content. All the receivers will also only need 1 coax connection to the server.
Re:AC because of slashdot anti-disabled policy (Score:4, Funny)
Nothing New (Score:2)
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Tivo Series 3 won't be able to work with Directv (Score:1)
nice jpeg (Score:1)
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DirectTV just lost my business because of this (Score:4, Interesting)
I would LOVE to have stayed with DirectTV, but the fact that they severed their deal with TIVO and will NEVER upgrade their current HD/TIVO box killed the deal. I honestly don't care what this guys says in his review, the difference is significant and it is like comparing a Honda to a BMW. Yes they both have similar features, but you are either a Honda guy or not. The Honda guys will say all day long that their car is feature for feature as good, but they don't own a BMW.
So that left me with Cable and their DVR; in hopes that the Series 3 will be out soon. After working with this giant piece of crap for a month now, I can say that I am counting the days until the new Tivo series 3 comes out.
Now as far a cable VS sat goes, I can say that even Digital cable isn't near the quality of signal that my DirectTV signal was. The cable "fans" seem to disagree saying that "digital is digital" but that isn't the case for me. In my opinion, and I am willing to show just about anyone this; the quality kind of breaks down like this. (10 being the best).
1080P signal with BluRay input = 10
1080i or 720p signal input = 7
HD station on cable in standard format, normal DirectTV signal or good DVD (LOTR) = 6
Digital Cable = 4
Standard Cable = 3
Again, this is my opinion, but EVERYONE I have had over to look at this tends to agree. I still have my old TIVO and some stuff on it to compare so it makes it somewhat easy to compare the signals. What would have made me happy and I would have paid far more money for it would have been if DirectTV would not have killed their deal with TIVO. Also, it would have been great if they would have started to offer more HD content. But for some reason they decided to partner with Microsoft... I hope that works out for them as well as it has for every other company that has partnered with Microsoft...
Lastly, I don't want to hear how this "new" device is "just like or better" than a TIVO. That is your opinion, and if so then that is great for you. DirectTV just lost me as a customer for it, and everyone I can influence will never use them for service again.
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Yes, I'd have to hear raves from rea
Directv HD can't match cable or OTA HD (Score:2)
Still missing the most needed feature... (Score:1, Informative)
What good is a 500? or whatever GB box when the only way to add new content to it is delete old recordings.
What if you want to save a show, the only choice is analog (SD) output, what a waste.
No Wishlist functionality no PIP (Score:1)
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Best thing I like about Tivo is being able to get at the data I'm recording. Not to sound like an open source zealot (it pains me to agree with them), but a closed system will just make me feel locked in and limited.
I would like multiple outputs like some of the DishPVRs have. Although if HMO is quic
LA only? (Score:2)
Capacity upgrades (Score:2)
Obligatory MythTV post (Score:1)
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Its comparing apples to... um... a loaf of bread. Both might be food, but not even close to the same thing.
Its just like everyone who mentions MythTV when Tivo S3 comes up -- not applicable. MythTV is great if you live in a city, have limited channels you watch or don't own an HD set. But its pretty much worthless if you need digital cable, satellite o