DTV Question

[timjet]

I have been a long term DirecTv customer and recently purchased a HD TV. In order to receive HD content I understand I must purchase a HD DirecTV receiver. I ordered a DirecTV HD DVR receiver from DirecTV but have not received it yet. They will install it later this month. After visiting the DirecTV forums I'm having second thoughts about their HD DVR receiver.
If I decide to cancel the DVR receiver/recorder from DirecTV and go with a TiVo unit what hardware must I purchase and what are the costs for the hardware and the service? Is it possible to get a TiVo unit with the DirecTV HD receiver in it or will I need to purchase a separate HD receiver from DirecTV.
To help get information here basically are my needs.
I want to watch HD and std def TV.
I want to record on to a hard drive selected programs
I would like to have a way of transfering the recorded program from the unit so I can view on my laptop. Perferably thru a USB port onto a USB memory stick.
I would like to record HD programs, but I believe TiVo units that do this are very expensive. This is not a requirement.
Where do I purchase a DirecTV HD receiver with TiVo and is it even possible or are 2 units necessary, one HD receiver from Directv and a separate TiVo recorder.
Thanks so much for your help.
Tim

[ebonovic]

DirecTV themselves are no longer offering TiVo powered units.

You would need to obtain a DTivo unit from Ebay or other third party vendors.

If you want HD, then the only option is the HR10-250; which goes for between $250 and $1500 between ebay and the third party vendors.

You would have to then HACK your HR10-250 to get stransfers to your laptop, and then convert the program so some other format to make it fit on your USB memory stick

[John T Smith]

DTivo HD - the HR10-250 Forum
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=36

DTivo Hacking, Networking, etc
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=24

[classicsat]

You can get the DirecTV HR10-250. It won't record the latest MPEG4 HD, and requires hacking to extract video, but will be Tivo and record the HD you can get with it.

You can get the HR20, not have TiVo or extraction, but get all the latest MPEG4 HD.

You can get the non DVR H20 and a Standalone Series 2, get TiVo and transfers (without hacking the box), and the latest HD channels in MPEG4, but not record HD, and have to pay the standlone subscription fee, and get single tuner with a D-A-D conversion (the other two providing direct digital and dual tuner).