Directv will release their new HR-20 DVR this fall for sure...It has been postponed twice but will make it's debut this fall in time for NFL football. The unit will sport 200 hours of SD and 30 hours of HD comprised of MPEG-2 as well as MPEG-4. The unit will be able to pause live tv for 90 minutes. Details for swapping out from HR10-250's are unclear right now...(threatening always works good for me)...
Oh, forgot to mention the best part!...The units will output DD+ as well as DTS-HD....(not sure about TrueHD)
DD+ is being used on HD-DVD's and also on Blu-Ray DVD
Dish network as well as Directv will have these new audio formats...Directv will be the first...(as usual).
Directv will release their new HD-2250 DVR this fall for sure...It has been postponed twice but will make it's debut this fall in time for NFL football. The unit will sport 200 hours of SD and 30 hours of HD comprised of MPEG-2 as well as MPEG-4. The unit will be able to pause live tv for 90 minutes. Details for swapping out from HR10-250's are unclear right now...(threatening always works good for me)...
Oh, forgot to mention the best part!...The units will output DD+ as well as DTS-HD....(not sure about TrueHD)
I don't have high hopes of them getting this one right. No TiVo on the new one, right? That's a negative, and seeing as how they never did get the old one right I might wait a few generations down the road to buy the new one. I'm currently on my 4th 250 and now this one is starting to echo and freeze up. The only bright spot is that they keep sending me $100 rebate cupons, which they cash without me filling them out, so at least I make some money on the deal. 6 more machines and I'll break even.
It's funny how different impressions form over different experiences with the same equipment. I got my first 10-250 about a week after they came out. The HDMI did not work so I got another. I have had this one now for about 20 months, and it has worked flawlessly. Next to my display, I think it is about the best electronic box I have ever had. I have never moved it or turned it off.
Anyway, just thought I'd throw this out, that some of the stuff works as advertised.
I too have had very little trouble with the 3 units I own...If you freeze the hard drive it's usually from storing too much. I just make a habit of deleting material I know I don't want to keep and that seems to keep things in check.
This new receiver is gonna be the bomb!...I've heard from my little birdie...
Just as the new H20 is better picture quality than the HR10-250, the new HD DVR from directv is gonna be even better!...I can't wait.
No actual release date as of yet, all they say is 4th quarter...but they are really pushing to get it out before regular football season starts in a month or so...I'm being told that at the very latest, it will be out before christmas...
Damn straight it will be ready before Xmas, bugs or not.
I hate that it won't have the TiVo brand. Probably have a different user interface which will create havoc with my speed FF'ing during sporting events. Hey, it's very delicate thing to hit the buttons just right to ff btw pitches or football plays and not lose any action. It's a skill I've honed through the years. Change the buttons and I'll be all screwed up. Besides, who knows how sensitive the new functions will be in the time slip area?
Tombanjo...You do have the option to hang on to your HR10-250. You don't "have" to switch. So if you're happy with the TiVo brand, (and it sounds like you are)...then heck, just keep it. I myself am looking forward to the new Directv model. It will have the same menu and channel screens as the H20 (which to me is just 1 of several improvements over the HR10-250)...I hadn't realized how much better the H20 delivered standard def than the HR10-250 until I recently did a comparison...like night and day. If the new unit isn't up to my standard, I will send it back to them...(no problem)...
Just last night I purchased a DirecTV H2O HD receiver for our bedroom. I am anxious to see it in action. My wife and I are expecting delivery of a Panasonic Plasma TV Model # 42PX60U this Monday. I am very excited about playing with my new toy.
HighDeffJeff, Thanks for the info on the standard def picture that is really good to hear. The old DirecTV receiver was just so-so with stand def.
You will love the H20...It's got a small picture of the channel you're on in the upper right corner of the channel menu so you can see whats on as you scroll through programs. It also has a red dot / green dot buttons to click forward 12 hours or backwards 12 hours...It automatically switches to the best scan rate depending on the delivery...some movies it will switch to 1080i and some movies and sports it will switch to 720P...And the same with SD it will kick down to 480P or stay on 720P accordingly...The internal scaler blows away the HR10-250. Some of the SD programs on the MPEG 4 channels look as good as upscaled dvds. And local HD channels ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, well, they look JAW DROPPING GOOD!...I was actually pissed off at my HR10-250's after the side by side comparisons...(but, at least the HR10-250 records)...This is why I can't wait for the new HD-DVR to arrive!...Best of both worlds)...
Also forgot to add...The channel switching response of the remote is fast and can be set for IR or RF frequencies...Enjoy!...
HDJ,
What size TV screen do you have that you use the DirecTV H2O receiver with? I was just curious since I have a 53 inch Hitachi RPTV in the living room and soon I am going to switch out my receiver for the H2O and get the 5LNB dish so I can get the MPEG4 HD locals.
BTW: I got my 42 inch Panasonic plasma for the bedroom and late tonight got it hooked up and activated the H2O DirecTV receiver but only got to watch it a few minutes because my wife wanted to go to bed. From the few minutes I got to watch it you are correct the SDTV picture does look very good. Of course the HDTV feed looks better but the SDTV picture is certainly better IMO on this plasma with the H2O as compared to my old RCA tube TV with the first gen HD DirecTV receiver that was built into it.
Also do you have any advice on how best to set up the H2O receiver for optimum viewing?
I am using my H20 with a Panasonic HD projector on a 133" screen. As far as optimum viewing, Your H20 will do everything for you. It will switch automatically to the best scan rate. As you surf channels you will see that it automatically switches from 720P (ESPN...etc.) to 480P (SD channels)...Hook it up via HDMI of course...
BTW, you need that 5LNB dish hooked up to see how awesome the HD as well as SD is on the local network channels. MPEG4 rules!...
Your H20 will do everything for you. It will switch automatically to the best scan rate.
So, a DirecTV receiver that supports pass-thru, finally! I hope they do this with the new HD-DVR too. I'm hate that my HR10-250 and DST3000 don't pass-thru!
They "will" have pass through on the new HD-DVR also the SD channels are amazing!...When you get the new one, do some comparison tests between it and your old HR10-250...You will be amazed!...The scaler is so much better on the new one...When I bought my H20 I freaked out at the difference in color and contrast compared to the HR10-250...Heck, call Directv and have them send you an H20 and then just picture it with the DVR built in...(then you'll be like me chomping on the bit for the new HD-DVR...
Everytime there is a live HD sporting event on local channels I go upstairs and steal the H20 from my daughters room and hook it up to my projector... ....I only wish it had a DVR then she would be the owner of my old HR10-250..soon....very soon!
Jeff- I am thinking of getting the h20 to replace my hr10-250. Do I also need to change the dish on the roof for the new mpeg4 broadcasts, or will my picture be automatically better just by upgrading the receiver? I do have the standard elliptical HD dish now. thanks.
As Jeff said, you'll eventually need the 5lnb dish, as next year content (other than the HD locals) will be added/moved to MPEG4.
Do I also need to change the dish on the roof for the new mpeg4 broadcasts, or will my picture be automatically better just by upgrading the receiver?
You're picure won't be any better or worse by going to the new receiver. There's no change in pic quality and all channels (except for the HD locals) are still MPEG2.
I went online to Best Buy.COM today late this afternoon. It had the option to buy the new HR 20-700. I added it to cart and figured it would tell me not available at this time in my area like it did when I tried to buy it on BB.COM last week. This time, for local pick-up, it listed two stores in Fort Lauderdale area. I was shocked. The man in Magnolia Dept of Best Buy told me they became available for sale at noon today. Anyway, I have a 10-250 that I bought 28 days ago and have been using in one room and a HD 20 in the other. The reception on HD 20 is much better than the 10-250. Anyway, because less than 30 days, I am exchanging my 10-250 for the new DirecTv unit for FREE. Not only that, but I used a 12% coupon they sent me and got an extra $50 dollars off...YAHOO. I haven't hooked it up yet but originally someone told me it would record 250 hrs of SD programming and 50 hrs of HD programming. The box says 200/30. Anyway, when I called DirecTv after buying unit online, they didn't know anything about when it would be available and just told me it was only available in Los Angeles at this time...NOT. I'll hook it up tomorrow and let you know what it looks like. Also, I think I may hook up an OTA antenna tomorrow directly to my Samsung LCD (4051) just in case there's a storm and my dish isn't receiving...for backup. I haven't opened the box yet but someone said they're isn't a jack on receiver for OTA antenna. I think I can hook it up to my LCD Tv directly as it has a built in HD Tuner.
Hopefully you mean component cables, three wires, RGB, you are getting HD... composite, one cable for video, may use the same type of cable but they are two very different connection schemes and performance envelopes.
Yep. I meant component cables...not composite. Could it be the HDMI jack isn't working properly on the new HR 20? Has anybody had an experience where the HDMI didn't work properly? I heard the HD 20 had some software glitches when it was first released.
Glad I bought my HR 20 last Friday for $399. They are showing up today on Best Buy's site for $299...time to break out the receipt and head back to Best Buy!
Just got off the phone with DirecTV and they are going to install my HR20(HDDVR plus) next Friday (9/22/06). They are also going to install the new AT9 MPEG4 dish so I can pickup the local HD channels from DirecTV.
I can't wait for my new HD DVR!!!!!!!!!!
I am really looking forward to it. Now I can watch TV on my own time and not the network schedules.
They're hitting the stores here now, too. HR20-700 for $299 at Best Buy. In stock. I guess I will have to decide if I want a trade out for my 10-250, or just get the new one and have both. But then I would need another HDTV.....................
I don't know if it's for new customers only or not but I was talking to a tier 2 tech at Directv yesterday and he told me that if you order the HR20 online instead of with a live operator, they will sell you the HR 20 for $199. Sounds pretty cheap !!! The only problem with the new HR 20 is that they have the jack on back for OTA antenna but software for it not on units yet. They are supposed to download it to units sometime in October.
