Want to get DTV/Tivo but confused...

[kuykendc]

I am going to be switching from Time Warner to DirecTV. I currently use the HD DVR from Time Warner on one TV and Tivo on another. I really like the Tivo software much better than the TW DVR. I am going to switch to DirecTV and will be needing 3 SD DVR's and 1 HD DVR. Right now I can receive and record all of my HD channels through the TW DVR (including locals). Will this be the case with the HD DVR from DirecTV? I've read conflicting reports with some saying this will work and others saying that the HD DVR from DirecTV won't receive/record locals in HD and that I'll have to use a separate antenna to receive/record those locals. Also, I've read conflicting reports on whether or not the HD DVR from DirecTV is running Tivo or some home-cooked software. I'm really hoping for Tivo. Basically I'm hoping someone here can give me some straightforward advice on what the best setup would be for me given the following scenario as I'm new to the whole satellite setup.

4 Televisions
DVR for 3 of those
HD DVR for 1 (with ability to receive/record all HD sources including local channels)

Thanks in advance for any/all help and advice.

Cheers!
Kirk

[Dkerr24]

Good luck getting Directv receivers with Tivo. They use the NDS branded units now for DVR's. Might be able to find used ones or maybe a few stray ones if you search.

[JimSpence]

You need to tell us your location because not all locales have their local stations available from DirecTV. If your's aren't available then you need an outside OTA antenna.

Currently, the HR10-250 DirecTV HD DVR is running TiVo software. However, if your locals are on DirecTV using the KA band sats, then you'll need the new DirecTV HD DVR which won't be using TiVo software.

Review the various other forums here for info about this. Especially, the HDTiVo forum.

[ebonovic]

Currently there is only one HD-DVR for DirecTV:
That is the HR10-250... and it is a TiVo powered unit.

However, if you want your "locals" in HD, it would need to be via OTA.
DirecTV does not provider HD-Locals in a format that is understood by the HR10-250

DirecTV is working on a new HD-DVR, however it will not be tivo powered.

As for the SD-Units
If you purchase through DirecTV, you most cetertainly will probably get the R15, which is NOT a TiVo powered unit.
If you want to get a TiVo powered DVRs for DirecTV, you will have to work with some of the vendors out there to get them specifically, and or maybe ebay.

For more information about the R15 see www.dbstalk.com
The new HD-DVR is the HR20 and will be very similar to the R15

[kuykendc]

Thank you much for the replies. So if I get the Tivo powered HR10-250 I could view/record the DTV HD signals but not the locals. Could I hook up an OTA antenna directly to that unit to view/record the HD locals? Would those OTA locals show up in the Tivo guide? How does the R15 functionality compare to Tivo? Also, are the HR10-250 and the R15 both multi-tuner so that I could record multiple channels or watch something while recording something else? If it were you would you go ahead and get the Tivo-powered HD receiver or wait for the new HD DVR powered by DTV? Sorry for all of the questions.... just kind of confused about the whole DTV/HD/DVR/Tivo situation right now. On a whole other thread... any thoughts about the HD DVR situation at Dish Network or is that a topic for another forum?

Thanks again for all of your help.

Kirk

[phox_mulder]

Thank you much for the replies. So if I get the Tivo powered HR10-250 I could view/record the DTV HD signals but not the locals. Could I hook up an OTA antenna directly to that unit to view/record the HD locals? Would those OTA locals show up in the Tivo guide? How does the R15 functionality compare to Tivo? Also, are the HR10-250 and the R15 both multi-tuner so that I could record multiple channels or watch something while recording something else? If it were you would you go ahead and get the Tivo-powered HD receiver or wait for the new HD DVR powered by DTV? Sorry for all of the questions.... just kind of confused about the whole DTV/HD/DVR/Tivo situation right now. On a whole other thread... any thoughts about the HD DVR situation at Dish Network or is that a topic for another forum?

Thanks again for all of your help.

Kirk

Yes, current DTV HD content (except local channels) can be viewed and recorded on the HR10-250
HBO HD (if you subscribe to HBO), SHO HD (if you subscribe to Showtime), ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Universal HD, HDNET, HDNET Movies, Discovery HD, TNT HD (ha), HD PPV, and NFL Sunday Ticket (yet another extra fee).

If you can get HD locals via antenna, it can record/view them and they do show up in the guide.

Yes, the HR10-250 is 2 tuner (actually 4, 2 OTA and 2 Satellite, but only can record 2 things at once).

I know nothing of the R15, and hope I never will.
I do have the R10, which is TiVo powered-2 tuner-DirecTV content only.

I also know nothing of DishNetwork HD, but I used to have Dish and their 501 DVR, which was only 1 tuner, and the interface/functionality was seriously lacking compared to the TiVo interface/functionality.


phox

[kuykendc]

Thanks again. So... sounds like I want an HR10-250 (plus an OTA antenna for locals) and then perhaps just get 3 of the R10 boxes off of Ebay... I would then have HD Tivo functionality on my main set and SD Tivo functionality on the other 3. Am I correct there? Any problem with the R10 boxes working with a new setup?

BTW... if I purchase the HD DVR from the DirecTV website is that the HR10-250 or should I buy one of those off of Ebay also to make sure I'm getting that one. Didn't see any model number on their website for that DVR.

Thanks again... I think I'm almost there :)

Cheers!
Kirk

[ebonovic]

If you want to know more about the R15

Head over to www.dbstalk.com there is a dedicated forum for the R15