How Do I Get a HR10-250 Without Lease/Renewal?

[boltjames]

For the past 10 years, I get the NY locals out-of-state on my beloved T-60's and the time has come to make the jump to HD on my primary TV.

Before I plunk down $4k on the Sony XBR2 panel of my dreams, just want to make sure that I can get a HR10-250 and continue to get my out-of-state NY locals. When I visited Circuit City and Tweeter, the salesmen both told me that I couldn't just buy one and walk out; needed to give them my address, renew a contract, etc.

Anyone know if what these salespeople are telling me is true, and if so, how I can get a HR10-250, call DTV and just avoid the whole address risk issue?

TIA

[myboyblue]

For the past 10 years, I get the NY locals out-of-state on my beloved T-60's and the time has come to make the jump to HD on my primary TV.

Before I plunk down $4k on the Sony XBR2 panel of my dreams, just want to make sure that I can get a HR10-250 and continue to get my out-of-state NY locals. When I visited Circuit City and Tweeter, the salesmen both told me that I couldn't just buy one and walk out; needed to give them my address, renew a contract, etc.

Anyone know if what these salespeople are telling me is true, and if so, how I can get a HR10-250, call DTV and just avoid the whole address risk issue?

TIA


As far as I know any HR10 bought from a store or DTV has to come with a 2 year lease agreement. I think DTV started the policy in early '06. You might be able to get 1 for free by calling DTV retention, but you still have to do the 2 year commit. Ebay might be another possibility.

[stim]

I got mine from newegg and they didn't change any information on my account. They requsted an address for shipping, but I don't think that they forwarded the information to DirecTV. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16882150003

DirecTV activated it as a leased receiver. I'd rather have a lifetime warranty than "own" equipment that I won't be able to use if I disconnect.

I've seen posts from other people who have activated the HD DVR purchased from newegg as an owned receiver, so you could probably argue with then and get them to change the status if you really wanted to.

[mr.unnatural]

You can buy new ones on ebay for about $340. When you call DTV to activate it just make sure you tell them you own the unit and are not leasing it. You may still see it show up on your bill as leased so you'll have to call them back and have them correct it.

[boltjames]

Thanks everyone! I'm about to purchase the new Sony 46" XBR2 that is native 1080p. Anything I need to know about compression or resolution from DTV or the HR10-250 that might impact that purchase?

BJ

[mr.unnatural]

DTV compresses the mpeg2 HD channels to something like 1280 X 1080 so they're not full HD. If you can get OTA HD locals then you WILL get full HD resolution from ABC, CBS, and NBC at 1920 X 1080. I believe most of the Fox affiliates are broadcasting in 1280 X 720 but some may be at 1920 X 1080. I'm not sure if the lower resolution is coming from Fox directly or just some of their affiliates. It may also depend on the program being broadcast as to what resolution it will be in. 1280 X 720 is still considered HD but not it'squite the same as full HD resolution.

[boltjames]

DTV compresses the mpeg2 HD channels to something like 1280 X 1080 so they're not full HD. If you can get OTA HD locals then you WILL get full HD resolution from ABC, CBS, and NBC at 1920 X 1080. I believe most of the Fox affiliates are broadcasting in 1280 X 720 but some may be at 1920 X 1080. I'm not sure if the lower resolution is coming from Fox directly or just some of their affiliates. It may also depend on the program being broadcast as to what resolution it will be in. 1280 X 720 is still considered HD but not it'squite the same as full HD resolution.

Thanks. The new H20 box that is MPEG4, is that full 1920 x 1080? I'd hate to buy a 1080p panel and not have the best resolution. Should I get the new box or the old one? Or do both the new H20 box and the old H10 box both compress to 1280 x 1080?

I'm not going to use OTA HD as I'm in New England and I get the NY locals.....don't like New England local TV.

BJ

[T1V0]

Thanks. The new H20 box that is MPEG4, is that full 1920 x 1080? I'd hate to buy a 1080p panel and not have the best resolution. Should I get the new box or the old one? Or do both the new H20 box and the old H10 box both compress to 1280 x 1080?

I'm not going to use OTA HD as I'm in New England and I get the NY locals.....don't like New England local TV.

BJ

It's not the receiver thats compressing the signal, it's D*. So you'll get the same basic pq on any D* receiver.

[boltjames]

It's not the receiver thats compressing the signal, it's D*. So you'll get the same basic pq on any D* receiver.

Thank you! So the only difference between the H20 and the H10 is that it can receive MPEG4 signals from the satellite but that's just 'technology' and not an increase in picture quality? I would have thought that the jump from MPEG2 to MPEG4 would make the picture better.

BJ

[vikingguy]

Thank you! So the only difference between the H20 and the H10 is that it can receive MPEG4 signals from the satellite but that's just 'technology' and not an increase in picture quality? I would have thought that the jump from MPEG2 to MPEG4 would make the picture better.

BJ

When they convert the HD channels to mpeg 4 some time in the next 18 months I am sure the picture quality will go up. From what I understand once the second 2 sats are launched direct tv will have the bandwith for 150 national HD stations at a high bit rate and resolution. Right now since I get my local HD from an antenna I see no reason to get a new HR20. I would get no extra channels and would be bug testing a new box. I will use my hd-tivo for this fall TV season if direct tv adds some compelling mpeg 4 content then I will lease a HR20 but keep my HD-tivo for my most important recordings like lost and 24.

[boltjames]

When they convert the HD channels to mpeg 4 some time in the next 18 months I am sure the picture quality will go up. From what I understand once the second 2 sats are launched direct tv will have the bandwith for 150 national HD stations at a high bit rate and resolution. Right now since I get my local HD from an antenna I see no reason to get a new HR20. I would get no extra channels and would be bug testing a new box. I will use my hd-tivo for this fall TV season if direct tv adds some compelling mpeg 4 content then I will lease a HR20 but keep my HD-tivo for my most important recordings like lost and 24.

Are they going to convert all the HD locals to MPEG4? What about the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers with HR10's running HD in New York? Will they all get HR20's or will they continue to support MPEG2 under the radar?

BJ

[stevel]

The only NYC locals in HD that are in MPEG2 are the four major networks - NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX. Other HD locals for NY are on the MPEG4 satellites. I doubt that DirecTV will shut off the current MPEG2 HD channels any time in the forseeable future.

[mr.unnatural]

It's not the receiver thats compressing the signal, it's D*. So you'll get the same basic pq on any D* receiver.
Maybe, maybe not. It all depends on whether they downrez the mpeg4 signals. I'm hoping they won't do it as much as they do with mpeg2 but I haven't heard anything solid about this yet.