Difference between R15 and DishPlayer DVR?

[djbrown]

My grandparents are looking to switch over to either DirecTv or DishNetwork from cable. My uncle has E*, and we have DirecTv. Since they'll be getting the R15, I am curious as to what the current differences between the R15 and whatever the standard DishPlayer DVR is.

Their main points of interest are:

1) 2 tuners per DVR
2) Ability to set "season passes" based on show titles and not just time-based recording (basically how the older DTivos do things).

thanks

[stevel]

Neither is a TiVo, so I'm not sure why you're asking here. Try www.dbstalk.com

[JimSpence]

Specifically the R15 discussion is here. http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=106
And Dish Network DVRs are here. http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=72

[Rowsdower]

Don't allow your grandparents to get stuck with a non-TiVo DVR!

Here's what you should do (as I did for my grandmother a couple of months ago):

1. Buy a DirecTV TiVo box via eBay. (They're available new or used. The used ones cost less, but they require the $20 purchase of a new access card from DirecTV.)

2. Call DirecTV (or a service reseller) to set up the new account and installation. (If your grandparents subscribe to voice or DSL service from Verizon, BellSouth or Qwest, they might be able to save money by going through one of them instead.) Request the R15 DVR. Your credit card will be charged just over $100.

3. On the day of installation, inform the installer(s) that you don't need the R15 because your grandparents have their own receiver. Make sure that the R15 leaves with the installer(s).

4. Call DirecTV's installation department, ask to speak to a supervisor, and explain the situation to him/her. The aforementioned credit card charge will be reversed.

Alternatively, model HR10-250 (the TiVo-based DirecTV HD DVR) can now be had brand new for as little as $225, and it qualifies for DirecTV's $100 mail-in rebate. Again, check eBay.

[Dkerr24]

If your relative has never used a Tivo unit, will they really miss it? I think a normal DVR would function fine for anyone not used to the Tivo features.

[Rowsdower]

If your relative has never used a Tivo unit, will they really miss it? I think a normal DVR would function fine for anyone not used to the Tivo features.I've never tried any of Dish Network's DVRs, but my opinion of the R15 is that it's rubbish. Someone with no prior TiVo experience might use an R15 without realizing that a vastly superior alternative exists, but so what?

[DTVPro]

R15 > Dish's DVR

although DISH's DVR remote >> the White universal garbage

[tech4105]

If you have the tech come out to do the install with an R15 on the work order, and then tell them that they aren't going to be installing it, there will be "custom charges." If you tell them AFTER they run the lines then they HAVE to install the R15 otherwise they won't get paid for the lines that they ran, therefore you will be faced with "custom charges." The best thing to do is to tell the CSR at DTV that you have your own receiver which is a TiVo based unit that you want installed, they will work around that for you. Don't try to "fanagle" your way into getting your TiVo based unit installed cause someone will end up unhappy. Thanks.

Mike G.

[Rowsdower]

If you have the tech come out to do the install with an R15 on the work order, and then tell them that they aren't going to be installing it, there will be "custom charges." If you tell them AFTER they run the lines then they HAVE to install the R15 otherwise they won't get paid for the lines that they ran, therefore you will be faced with "custom charges." The best thing to do is to tell the CSR at DTV that you have your own receiver which is a TiVo based unit that you want installed, they will work around that for you. Don't try to "fanagle" your way into getting your TiVo based unit installed cause someone will end up unhappy. Thanks.I did no finagling. The instructions that I provided are the same as those given to me by a CSR from DirecTV's installation department when I set up my grandmother's account.

I told her that we had purchased our own TiVo-based DirecTV DVR and wanted to use it instead of leasing an R15. She informed me that the computer system didn't allow her to set up the free installation without ordering the receiver, but I would have the option of sending it back with the installer and requesting a refund.

I informed the installer of this immediately upon his arrival. There were no complaints or "custom charges." Aside from confirming that the access card had never been activated, he expressed absolutely no concerns.

Upon speaking to a supervisor (as instructed), I received a full refund of the R15’s cost.

It certainly is possible that the CSR was mistaken regarding her inability to set up the free installation without ordering the receiver, but her advice proved sound. We experienced absolutely no difficulties, and my grandmother loves her new TiVo box.

[HiDefGator]

Why limit them to the obsolete and stagnant feature set of the DTivo? At some point in the future they will switch to the R15 or its offspring. Either when the DTivo dies or DirecTV offers features or channels they can't get. Why make people that are already grandparents eventually learn 2 dvr interfaces just because you are a Tivo bigot. I've used both and for my parents and grandparents I have no problem recommending the R15. I suspect your grandparents realize its just TV.

[Rowsdower]

Why limit them to the obsolete and stagnant feature set of the DTivo?I can't argue with the "stagnant" part, but "obsolete"? When the first-generation DirecTV TiVo recorders received dual-tuner activation in 2001, they became technologically superior to the R15s available today.

At some point in the future they will switch to the R15 or its offspring.Not necessarily. I'm a television enthusiast, and I have no intention of doing so. I'd sooner drop DirecTV than drop TiVo.

Either when the DTivo dies or DirecTV offers features or channels they can't get.Secondhand TiVo-based DirecTV DVRs will be available and fully functional for years to come. The R15's interactive features are mere novelties (at best), and some people care more about having a good DVR than about receiving every available channel (especially when it comes to HD). DirecTV isn't going to switch the main programming to MPEG-4/Ka-band (which, of course, is where the R15 "offspring" would come in) for a very long time.

I do care about HD, but not as much as I care about retaining the TiVo interface.

Why make people that are already grandparents eventually learn 2 dvr interfaces just because you are a Tivo bigot.Why force them to eventually switch to the horrid NDS software?

I've used both and for my parents and grandparents I have no problem recommending the R15.I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone other than enemies and masochists.

[HiDefGator]

Not necessarily. I'm a television enthusiast, and I have no intention of doing so. I'd sooner drop DirecTV than drop TiVo.


I believe the original poster said his grandparents were switching to either DirecTv or Dish from cable. That would lead me to believe that having a name brand Tivo rather than a generic Tivo is not important to them. Since neither of those two choices are Tivo friendly.

[Rowsdower]

I believe the original poster said his grandparents were switching to either DirecTv or Dish from cable. That would lead me to believe that having a name brand Tivo rather than a generic Tivo is not important to them. Since neither of those two choices are Tivo friendly.What do you mean?