I find it amazing that nearly 10 years later HDTV recording remains an infantile exercise of little choice and failing products.
In 1955 I joined NBC Hollywood as a Kinescope Recording Engineer. We tried very hard to make the best quality black and white pictures and you could usually see who the faces were if it were up close. We tried.
Videotape arrived. Many of the old TV sets would just shake since the horizontal frequency was way out of FCC spec. We tried.
Color came and the only way we could delay the West Coast was the use of lenticular film. Three black and white picture tubes mirrored into a black and white film then played back with a filter to make
I own an H10-250 (purchased before the turn back in rule) and appreciate the heads up on the HD20. My only issue with the H10-250 is with OTA channels. Periodically, I will get the symptom of no recording with immediate "Do you want to delete". DirecTV programs recorded at the same time are ok. This must be a OTA decoder problem. When I have found this happening on a live OTA program with heavy artifacts, a reboot will clear it up. I am tempted to put it on a timer to force a reboot every afternoon prior to prime time to help my odds on a clean record.
As a side note, my H10-250 has been upgraded to 83 hours for HD. I have 7 Tivos, 2 series-1, 2 Series 2, 2 DirecTV Tivos and the H10-250 Tivo. I don't want any DirecTV versions on DVR. I currently record all HD programs on SD as a backup.
A related question I have is will the HD10-250 be able to use the 5LNB to receive all the new HD channels coming or will I need the dreaded HD-20.
The HR10-250 doesn't have a mpeg4 decoder so it can't receive any of the new local channels or future mpeg4 HD channels. You'll have to upgrade to the HR20-700. It's not ideal but now that it seems stable you can live with it. Or maybe by then the Tivo series 4 will be out supporting DirecTV, Dish and Cablecard (yes, I'm dreaming - maybe).
I'm on my third HR20 DVR after a totally unacceptable experience(s) with the first 2. I also had 5 different H10-250's which were a total piece of crap. The latest HR20 is working perfectly now. Always records what I want and all of the features work as specified, even the 30 sec FF and 6 sec repeat. OTA is working fine also. I think that they really did listen to the customers, especially since it was totally wrong to make us all Beta test sites. Direct did make it right though - many discounts, total system reinstall at no charge. They actually owed me money for a while. I can really empathize with those of you who have had problems, especially with the early boxes - there were software and hardware bugs but they have replaced most of them and they seem to be working all right now.
But being an early adopter, that's just the way it has been.
Even Logitech 880 support has the latest command sets so you don't have to use the supplied remote.
I had my first HD DVR HR20 from Direc TV for only 6 weeks until it died!
04-13-07
Directv sent me a refurbished replacement that was HD DVR 20 ( #2 ) that was confirmed "defective" or "DOA" by the onsight Directv Technician. 04-18-07.
I am now awaiting my Third HD DVR HR20-700 in just 6 weeks!
I am new to Directv and disappointed that this HR20 is so unstable.... and that "Tech support" via telephone leads me on "wild goose chases" when it comes to resolving any technical issues.
When I called into DirecTV tech support on April 19,2007 The supposedly "Senior Technician" told me that she could NOT help me configure or boot-up the second replacement HD DVR 20 because my remote control was not compatable with the new or refurbished HD DVR 20.
This is NOT true I ended up configuring the unit myself via the actual panel buttons on the receiver. I was told that this is NOT possible by the Senior Tech.
For future help to others who may be having this same problem.... Yes, you can input your Zip Code via the receiver panel buttons to boot-up your HD DVR 20, even though the Senior Tech from Directv told me it was NOT possible.
I have seen where problems are reported that programs show recorded but can at any time stop playback and ask if you want to keep or delete. I spoke with Directv and they seem to think this in a new problem. The programs are there but it seems you have to shut the unit off for 30 minutes or so or view another recording before it will allow you to view the "missing" progam. Any fix for this?
I have had my HR20-700 for about 3 weeks now. No problems, but it would not turn on once after being off all night, so I had to reset. Maybe they have finally gotten the bugs out? I have kept my HR10-250 as a backup. No problems with that unit also.
Step wrote:I have seen where problems are reported that programs show recorded but can at any time stop playback and ask if you want to keep or delete. I spoke with Directv and they seem to think this in a new problem. The programs are there but it seems you have to shut the unit off for 30 minutes or so or view another recording before it will allow you to view the "missing" progam. Any fix for this?
This is a known bug that disappeared for me with the Feb. code update. Check the dbstalk forums for current info.
What reputable company sells a product that hasn't been tested/perfected before its released for sale? I guess we should all feel grateful the DirecTV isn't in the aircraft or drug industry. Christ!
[email protected] wrote:What reputable company sells a product that hasn't been tested/perfected before its released for sale?
Microsoft?
I think it's a combination of marketing pushing the product out before it was ready (I'm sure they were losing customers to cable and Dish) and the developers getting in over their heads with HD and mpeg4. If it retained more customers than it lost then marketing will probably declare it a positive decision.
I'm still hoping the series4 Tivo will be Dish and DirecTV compatible along with cablecard. They can pay Tivo $3/month/subscriber (it used to be $1) and charge $5/month premium for Tivo service. Everyone would be happy.
