UPDATED: December 19, 2011
DirecTV HDTV HR10-250 TiVo -- April 21st, 2004
Back of HDTiVo
In April 2004, DirecTV launched the DirecTV HR10-250 DirecTV with TiVo with 250GB capacity offering ~30 hours of high definition, ~200 hours of standard definition recording, or any combination of the two. *Actual recording time will vary depending on the type of programming being recorded. [Press Release...]
[ Specifications Front ] [ Specifications Back ]
DirecTV HR10-250 TiVos contain 2 DirecTV SD/HD and Over-the-Air tuners (a total of 3 coax inputs) which can receive/record standard definition and MPEG-2 high definition programming from DirecTV as well as the unique capability to record local digital/HDTV broadcasts brought in by an antenna.
DirecTV HR10-250 TiVos were introduced with an MSRP of $999, and have been out-of-production for many years now as DirecTV switched to a leasing model in 2006. Sometimes these units can be found on eBay.
What is the future of the DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo?
The original DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo must now be viewed as a legacy device as it can only record and view the small amount of remaining MPEG-2 DirecTV programming. DirecTV now has over 100 national channels, plus the top ~50 local TV markets all presented in MPEG-4 HDTV which cannot be recorded on an HR10-250.
After the 2003 acquisition of DirecTV by Rupert Murdoch, DirecTV announced the dissolution of their partnership with TiVo and introduced their own competing DVRs developed by Murdoch's partner company NDS. The NDS-designed standard definition DirecTV DVR was released in October 2005 and the High Definition NDS DVR followed in 2006. In light of this news, TiVo invested heavily in CableCard-powered TiVos that work with all digital cable systems, as well as putting TiVo software on existing Comcast hardware. During this interim of five years, the DirecTV HR HDTV DVR models (which are not TiVo-powered) caught up with the functionality (if not the ease of user interface) of the TiVo platform.
In 2009, DirecTV renewed their partnership with TiVo and now, in 2011, have introduced a new combined TiVo® HD DirecTV product called the THR22-100. This new TiVo, which is running on the HR22-100 NDS hardware platform, became available to customers on December 8, 2011 in selected markets for $199 with 2 year contract, and is expected to go nationwide in 2012. The new unit lacks many of the new features introduced to the TiVo platform over the last 5 years including Home Media Sharing, Youtube, Netflix, Multi Room Viewing, etc.
What ports and cables does the DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo include?
DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo ports include two USB2.0 ports (reserved for future use), 1 Component (RGB) video output, 1 HDMI output, 1 S-Video output, 1 Composite video output, 1 Stereo audio output, 1 SPD/IF Optical output, and 1 Modem jack.
The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is the only digital video output on the HD TiVo. High Definition component video is also offered. An HDMI cable is included, as is a DVI-to-HDMI adapter.
NOTE: HDTVs with HDMI or DVI ports that lack HDCP chips may blank out the picture through the HDMI port during certain PPV and sports programming at the broadcaster's discretion.
What output formats/resizing does this DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo support?
The DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo always displays programming at the selected output resolution. If the TiVo is set to output 1080i, then 720p shows (from ABC or ESPN) will be converted to 1080i prior to display. If you wish, and your HDTV does a better job natively displaying 720p, then you may change the output resolution to 720p when watching 720p material (there is, unfortunately, no on-screen indication of the source material's format).
Formats: You can change the output format the TiVo is using through a Setup menu or by simply pressing the UP arrow on the remote while watching a program. The output resolutions the TiVo will toggle between are 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and all programs will then be converted to that format. There is no "native" mode where the output format is automatically switched to match the source material.
S-Video/Composite: DirecTV HR10-250 TiVos can only display a standard definition picture (over S-Video or Composite video outputs) if the TiVo is set to 480i display. DirecTV HD TiVos WILL NOT output a composite (S-Video/yellow RCA) signal simultaneously with an HD signal (Downconversion).
Stretching: DirecTV HR10-250 TiVos have Stretch Modes allowing you to display 16:9 or 4:3 material stretched to fit 16:9 Widescreen HDTVs or 4:3 digital TVs. There are no zoom/crop/justify (aka "coke bottle") modes.
Will the DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo support Home Media Option and Networking?
DirecTV HR10-250 TiVos run a variant of the same 3.1 software seen on the 2004 DirecTV standard definition TiVos. Neither version 4.0 of the software nor Home Media Option networked media features were ever released.
What hardware do I need from DirecTV?
Most DirecTV customers have a round dish with a single dual LNBF 'head'. This enables them to receive programming from DirecTV's main satellite positioned at the 101 degrees.
HDTV, Spanish, and Chinese programming all require an elliptical (oval) dish with at least 3 LNBF 'heads'. This adds the ability to receive programming from DirecTV's three MPEG-2 satellites at 101, 110, and 119 degrees. Older DirecTV elliptical dishes come with 2 LNBFs 'heads' (101 and 119) and a space in between. A 'Sat C Kit' will give your older dish the ability to see 110.
Phase III DirecTV elliptical dishes have the circuitry necessary to receive all 3 satellites sealed inside the 'arm' of the dish. DirecTV enthusiasts have also been known to use 3 separate round dishes, each pointed at 101, 110, and 119 degree positions!
You can also use the new 5LNB Ka/Ku 'superdish' from DirecTV with the HR10-250 HD TiVo, but you will not be able to record any high definition channels which are in MPEG-4 format (local-into-local channels and nearly the entire lineup of HDTV programming on DirecTV).
DirecTV HDTV programming at 110:
ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Discovery HD, HDNet Movies, Showtime HD
DirecTV HDTV programming at 119:
HDNet, HBO HD, HD Pay-per-view
All elliptical dishes either have a 4x4 multiswitch bolted onto the back of the dish (101/119), or integrated into the arm of the dish (Phase III).
The FOUR wires that come out of the dish are all "switched" outputs which means that any of the 4 wires can see either side of any of the 3 satellites.
This is why you cannot use a splitter, because signal tones and voltages are sent up the wire FROM the DirecTV receiver TO the dish (or multiswitch) asking for the satellite feed they need to display the requested channel.
To take full advantage of a DirecTV with TiVo or DirecTV HD TiVo receiver/recorder, you must have TWO wires from the dish/multiswitch connected to them. Ordinary DirecTV receivers each require ONE wire from the dish/multiswitch.
All rooms wired for HD (future proof)
Using a cascading 4x8 multiswitch to provide 8 outputs which can see all 3 satellites (101/110/119).
What DirecTV HDTV packages are available?
DirecTV now offers well over 100 national HDTV channels, as well as HDTV local-into-local channels, all of which require either a DirecTV HR20, 21, 22 or other NDS-designed DVR (further discussion of these models can be found at DBSTalk.com) or the newly introduced DirecTV THR22 TiVo that supports the new MPEG-4 HDTV signals available from DirecTV.
The HR10-250 can only record MPEG-2 HDTV channels, including HBO HD, Showtime HD, ESPN HD, Discovery HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, and NFL Sunday Ticket Superfan HDTV, NBA HDTV, Pay Per View, New York and Los Angeles versions of ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS, and finally Spice TV. These channels may transition to MPEG-4 at any time as bandwidth is needed on DirecTV satellites.
DirecTV HDTV HR10-250 TiVo -- April 21st, 2004
Back of HDTiVo
In April 2004, DirecTV launched the DirecTV HR10-250 DirecTV with TiVo with 250GB capacity offering ~30 hours of high definition, ~200 hours of standard definition recording, or any combination of the two. *Actual recording time will vary depending on the type of programming being recorded. [Press Release...]
[ Specifications Front ] [ Specifications Back ]
DirecTV HR10-250 TiVos contain 2 DirecTV SD/HD and Over-the-Air tuners (a total of 3 coax inputs) which can receive/record standard definition and MPEG-2 high definition programming from DirecTV as well as the unique capability to record local digital/HDTV broadcasts brought in by an antenna.
DirecTV HR10-250 TiVos were introduced with an MSRP of $999, and have been out-of-production for many years now as DirecTV switched to a leasing model in 2006. Sometimes these units can be found on eBay.
What is the future of the DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo?
The original DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo must now be viewed as a legacy device as it can only record and view the small amount of remaining MPEG-2 DirecTV programming. DirecTV now has over 100 national channels, plus the top ~50 local TV markets all presented in MPEG-4 HDTV which cannot be recorded on an HR10-250.
After the 2003 acquisition of DirecTV by Rupert Murdoch, DirecTV announced the dissolution of their partnership with TiVo and introduced their own competing DVRs developed by Murdoch's partner company NDS. The NDS-designed standard definition DirecTV DVR was released in October 2005 and the High Definition NDS DVR followed in 2006. In light of this news, TiVo invested heavily in CableCard-powered TiVos that work with all digital cable systems, as well as putting TiVo software on existing Comcast hardware. During this interim of five years, the DirecTV HR HDTV DVR models (which are not TiVo-powered) caught up with the functionality (if not the ease of user interface) of the TiVo platform.
In 2009, DirecTV renewed their partnership with TiVo and now, in 2011, have introduced a new combined TiVo® HD DirecTV product called the THR22-100. This new TiVo, which is running on the HR22-100 NDS hardware platform, became available to customers on December 8, 2011 in selected markets for $199 with 2 year contract, and is expected to go nationwide in 2012. The new unit lacks many of the new features introduced to the TiVo platform over the last 5 years including Home Media Sharing, Youtube, Netflix, Multi Room Viewing, etc.
What ports and cables does the DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo include?
DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo ports include two USB2.0 ports (reserved for future use), 1 Component (RGB) video output, 1 HDMI output, 1 S-Video output, 1 Composite video output, 1 Stereo audio output, 1 SPD/IF Optical output, and 1 Modem jack.
The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is the only digital video output on the HD TiVo. High Definition component video is also offered. An HDMI cable is included, as is a DVI-to-HDMI adapter.
NOTE: HDTVs with HDMI or DVI ports that lack HDCP chips may blank out the picture through the HDMI port during certain PPV and sports programming at the broadcaster's discretion.
What output formats/resizing does this DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo support?
The DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo always displays programming at the selected output resolution. If the TiVo is set to output 1080i, then 720p shows (from ABC or ESPN) will be converted to 1080i prior to display. If you wish, and your HDTV does a better job natively displaying 720p, then you may change the output resolution to 720p when watching 720p material (there is, unfortunately, no on-screen indication of the source material's format).
Formats: You can change the output format the TiVo is using through a Setup menu or by simply pressing the UP arrow on the remote while watching a program. The output resolutions the TiVo will toggle between are 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and all programs will then be converted to that format. There is no "native" mode where the output format is automatically switched to match the source material.
S-Video/Composite: DirecTV HR10-250 TiVos can only display a standard definition picture (over S-Video or Composite video outputs) if the TiVo is set to 480i display. DirecTV HD TiVos WILL NOT output a composite (S-Video/yellow RCA) signal simultaneously with an HD signal (Downconversion).
Stretching: DirecTV HR10-250 TiVos have Stretch Modes allowing you to display 16:9 or 4:3 material stretched to fit 16:9 Widescreen HDTVs or 4:3 digital TVs. There are no zoom/crop/justify (aka "coke bottle") modes.
Will the DirecTV HR10-250 TiVo support Home Media Option and Networking?
DirecTV HR10-250 TiVos run a variant of the same 3.1 software seen on the 2004 DirecTV standard definition TiVos. Neither version 4.0 of the software nor Home Media Option networked media features were ever released.
What hardware do I need from DirecTV?
Most DirecTV customers have a round dish with a single dual LNBF 'head'. This enables them to receive programming from DirecTV's main satellite positioned at the 101 degrees.
HDTV, Spanish, and Chinese programming all require an elliptical (oval) dish with at least 3 LNBF 'heads'. This adds the ability to receive programming from DirecTV's three MPEG-2 satellites at 101, 110, and 119 degrees. Older DirecTV elliptical dishes come with 2 LNBFs 'heads' (101 and 119) and a space in between. A 'Sat C Kit' will give your older dish the ability to see 110.
Phase III DirecTV elliptical dishes have the circuitry necessary to receive all 3 satellites sealed inside the 'arm' of the dish. DirecTV enthusiasts have also been known to use 3 separate round dishes, each pointed at 101, 110, and 119 degree positions!
You can also use the new 5LNB Ka/Ku 'superdish' from DirecTV with the HR10-250 HD TiVo, but you will not be able to record any high definition channels which are in MPEG-4 format (local-into-local channels and nearly the entire lineup of HDTV programming on DirecTV).
DirecTV HDTV programming at 110:
ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Discovery HD, HDNet Movies, Showtime HD
DirecTV HDTV programming at 119:
HDNet, HBO HD, HD Pay-per-view
All elliptical dishes either have a 4x4 multiswitch bolted onto the back of the dish (101/119), or integrated into the arm of the dish (Phase III).
The FOUR wires that come out of the dish are all "switched" outputs which means that any of the 4 wires can see either side of any of the 3 satellites.
This is why you cannot use a splitter, because signal tones and voltages are sent up the wire FROM the DirecTV receiver TO the dish (or multiswitch) asking for the satellite feed they need to display the requested channel.
To take full advantage of a DirecTV with TiVo or DirecTV HD TiVo receiver/recorder, you must have TWO wires from the dish/multiswitch connected to them. Ordinary DirecTV receivers each require ONE wire from the dish/multiswitch.
All rooms wired for HD (future proof)
Using a cascading 4x8 multiswitch to provide 8 outputs which can see all 3 satellites (101/110/119).
What DirecTV HDTV packages are available?
DirecTV now offers well over 100 national HDTV channels, as well as HDTV local-into-local channels, all of which require either a DirecTV HR20, 21, 22 or other NDS-designed DVR (further discussion of these models can be found at DBSTalk.com) or the newly introduced DirecTV THR22 TiVo that supports the new MPEG-4 HDTV signals available from DirecTV.
The HR10-250 can only record MPEG-2 HDTV channels, including HBO HD, Showtime HD, ESPN HD, Discovery HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies, and NFL Sunday Ticket Superfan HDTV, NBA HDTV, Pay Per View, New York and Los Angeles versions of ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS, and finally Spice TV. These channels may transition to MPEG-4 at any time as bandwidth is needed on DirecTV satellites.