Considering A Switch To HD - Several Q's

[priapos]

I have been a happy Directivo customer for 5+ years. I have for sd directivo boxes that all continue to work well. I also have a lifetime subscription I paid for years back that allows me to avoid monthly fees.

I am contemplating my HD choices and have a few concerns, and was hoping the good people who reside in this community might offer some insight.

My main draw to directv is their tivo service and ability to 'move' as they allow me to receive the ny channels (gotta have my yes network). As I understand it, the hd directivo boxes wont be fully compatible with local hd channels. This is where the problem arises. It seems I cant utilize directv + tivo + hd channels. If I switch to comcast, I lose the ability to 'move' and essentially will have 4 useless directivo boxes.

At this point I am contemplating simply keeping my existing sd boxes, and being forced to use the garbage hd solution directv came up with on one television.

Do I have any other options? Why is HD entry on directv such a pain in the butt. I cant give up my tivo completely.

[hoopsrgreat]

If you can not receive the locals OTA, then no, the HR10-250 can not get the HD networks from D*, only from an Antenna can the HR10-250 get HD locals.



At this point I am contemplating simply keeping my existing sd boxes, and being forced to use the garbage hd solution directv came up with on one television.


Which "garbage hd solution" are you talking about from D*?

I am amazed at how many people dismiss the D* HD DVR that has yet to be released. Until I use it, how can I possibly say it is a piece of crap?

[priapos]

Anything non-tivo is 'garbage' in my book. That may seem a bit harsh, but I am a tivo devotee for life and like many here, am very upset I don't have a viable directv + Tivo + HD solution.

[gfb107]

If you've 'moved' to NY, then you should get the NY locals, and the NY HD locals (which are still MPEG-2) from DirecTV. You may also be able to get your actual local HD channels OTA (we can't tell, because we don't know where you are).

[priapos]

But for how long? I don't want to invest in an hd directivo that will be outmoded in the coming months once they switch to mpeg4. I am in the philadelphia area.

[gfb107]

I don't have a crystal ball, or any knowledge of DirecTV's plans, but since the NY locals are also the non-local networks for those who are eligible, I wouldn't expect the NY HD-locals to switch to MPEG-4 until they're about done adding HD to other markets. I'd guess that's at least 2 years from now.

Also, your investment wouldn't be lost, because DirecTV has said they will swap out the HR10-250 for the new MPEG-4 DVR.

[Adam1115]

I have been a happy Directivo customer for 5+ years. I have for sd directivo boxes that all continue to work well. I also have a lifetime subscription I paid for years back that allows me to avoid monthly fees.

I am contemplating my HD choices and have a few concerns, and was hoping the good people who reside in this community might offer some insight.

My main draw to directv is their tivo service and ability to 'move' as they allow me to receive the ny channels (gotta have my yes network). As I understand it, the hd directivo boxes wont be fully compatible with local hd channels. This is where the problem arises. It seems I cant utilize directv + tivo + hd channels. If I switch to comcast, I lose the ability to 'move' and essentially will have 4 useless directivo boxes.

At this point I am contemplating simply keeping my existing sd boxes, and being forced to use the garbage hd solution directv came up with on one television.

Do I have any other options? Why is HD entry on directv such a pain in the butt. I cant give up my tivo completely.

Why can't you get your locals OTA??

[priapos]

Why can't you get your locals OTA??


I probably can. I prefer to have full tivo functionality on all channels and not have to switch between tuners. The hd directivo wont be able to record hd content in the future apparently, and I don't want to invest money in something that is going to be useless.

[rlj5242]

I probably can. I prefer to have full tivo functionality on all channels and not have to switch between tuners. What switching. I can go from Discovery HD to local CBS HD (OTA) just by pressing "3" plus "-" and letting it automatically append the "1". It's been stated here hundreds of times that OTA digital channels are seamlessly integrated into the guide.

The hd directivo wont be able to record hd content in the future apparently, and I don't want to invest money in something that is going to be useless. It will always be able to record OTA digital signals.

-Robert

[priapos]

What switching. I can go from Discovery HD to local CBS HD (OTA) just by pressing "3" plus "-" and letting it automatically append the "1". It's been stated here hundreds of times that OTA digital channels are seamlessly integrated into the guide.

It will always be able to record OTA digital signals.

-Robert


Thats good to know. What about the other HD channels? Will I be able to record them indefinitely with the HD Directivo unit? I have read several threads indicating this is a crapshoot at best.

[BBURNES]

Priapos,

I wouldn't wait. Get the HD TiVo. Hopefully this will answer your questions:

1) As long as you are within approximately 60 miles of your Philly broadcast towers -- everything else equal -- you'll get seamlessly integrated HD locals OTA. You don't have to change input buttons or tuners. The HDTiVo does it automatically. Most likely, picture resolution will be superior to DTV's sat broadcast anyway.

2) DTV's HD Package channels (ESPNHD, ESPN2HD, TNT, etc.) and Premium Movie HD Channels (HBO, Showtime, etc) are broadcast in mpeg 2, ARE received by the HDTiVo and likely will continue to be broadcast in that format for at least a couple of years if not many more. At some point, DTV may convert their entire system to mpeg4. But that will be extremely costly for them.

3) As mentioned, DTV announced that they will upgrade current HD mpeg2 customers to mpeg4 receivers/DVRs at little or small cost in the future.

4) The HDTiVo can be hacked, just like SD TiVos. If you have plans to upgrade them and/or network them, your SD and HD TiVos can be part of same network.

So...as long as you can get OTA, you're good to go. Little risk.
Good luck.

[priapos]

Bburnes,

Thanks for the informative post. I think I am gonna do just that, and try to get a receiver at little to no cost through the retention hotline/sports package deal. Just one thing. I currently live in the philly area but receive ny local. How would it work in this scenario. Would I continue to have the ny channels as this is my service address, but recieve philly OTA.

Further, could you point me in the right direction on how to set up my receiver to get OTA channels. Currently I pay extra for locals.

Thanks

[gfb107]

The first thing to do is to go to www.antennaweb.org, plug in your address information, and figure out what OTA digital stations are available, and what kind of antenna you need.

Setting up your HR10-250 to get OTA channels is simple, it's part of going through Guided Setup (where you tell it what kind of dish you have, if you have both tuners connected, etc). Just make sure at that point to choose Satellite and antenna.

Also, remember that the HR10-250 can only tune digital OTA channels. If you want to continue using your SD-DTiVos, and recording the SD locals, you'll want to continue subscribing to the locals from DirecTV.

[BBURNES]

One other thing to add...

gfb107 is correct about keeping your dtv locals if you wish to continue to record them on your sd tivos.

also, by continuing your dtv locals, you may also be able to get the national east coast feeds of network local stations in HD in mpeg2 (HDTiVo receives these).

unless something has changed, if you live in a city where the locals are owned by the network (O/O stations), you should be able to get the national HD feed of those stations. I don't live on the east coast and haven't closely followed this issue. perhaps other NY or Philly people can advise as to what HD locals you likely will receive in mpeg2.

but you may be lucky ... you'll may get OTA HD from philly and DTV HD locals on the HDTiVo.

can anyone else advise?

[BBURNES]

Here's a thread on the subject I refer to above:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=307346

[priapos]

I really appreciate the help.

[Adam1115]

The first thing to do is to go to www.antennaweb.org, plug in your address information, and figure out what OTA digital stations are available, and what kind of antenna you need.

Setting up your HR10-250 to get OTA channels is simple, it's part of going through Guided Setup (where you tell it what kind of dish you have, if you have both tuners connected, etc). Just make sure at that point to choose Satellite and antenna.

Also, remember that the HR10-250 can only tune digital OTA channels. If you want to continue using your SD-DTiVos, and recording the SD locals, you'll want to continue subscribing to the locals from DirecTV.

Antennaweb has been completely inaccurate for me.