Nervous about HR20/21

[mikej27]

I have been a long time Directv customer and recently got an HD TV - so I'm weighing my options (cable, used HR10-250, HR20/21). Through this site, I'm pretty well versed on the trade-offs of each option.

I have been using the non-HD DirecTivo for several years and love it. About a year ago, my receiver broke and I started using a Directv DVR as a replacement. I tried it for a month and hated it. I ended up buying a DirecTivo from ebay and sending the Directv DVR back.

So, I'm a little bit reluctant to upgrade to the HR20/21. Is the HR20/21 different/better than the earlier non-HD Directv DVRs?

My main problems with the non-HD Directv DVR that I tried was the following:


FF compensation was non-existant or didn't work well
8 second rewind functionality was non-existant (I use that all the time on my Tivo)
Season Pass (Series?) was difficult to setup and modify
There was no auto-recording of "suggested shows" (not a huge issue, but I have found some good shows this way)


Are these items a problem with the HR20/21?

Thanks in advance for the help!
Mike

[bigpuma]

FF compensation was non-existant or didn't work well


I believe they added FF compensation but I always use multiple 30 second slips and the jump back button.


8 second rewind functionality was non-existant (I use that all the time on my Tivo)

The HR20 has this, although I am not sure if it is 8 seconds exactly.

Season Pass (Series?) was difficult to setup and modify


This is one thing I like more about the HR20. It is extremely fast at modifying season passes (called series link on HR20). Also from the guide you can set up a series link by pressing record twice.

There was no auto-recording of "suggested shows" (not a huge issue, but I have found some good shows this way)


This doesn't exist on the HR20

[slydog75]

here's the thing,.. With the SD versions, there was no benefit to giving up the Tivo. None. But with the HD versions, if you go with a used HR10-250 you won't be getting the vast majority of the directv HiDef channels. Only the newere HR20-21 can recieve them. I personally do not like the HR20 but it's worth dealing with it to me to get all the channels.

On a side note, how can you modify a season pass on the HR20? I've seen no way to do so. NOr do I even see where to view all the ones I have set up.

[badmonkey]

...

On a side note, how can you modify a season pass on the HR20? I've seen no way to do so. NOr do I even see where to view all the ones I have set up.


Go to To Do List --> Prioritizer and you will see all of your series links.

[TonyD79]

Go to To Do List --> Prioritizer and you will see all of your series links.

On the National Release, there is no way to modify a series link that has no episodes planned (only reruns coming up on a Series Link that is set to New only). The only way is to delete it and re-add it.

That should be corrected on the next National Release.

[JohnB1000]

Don't be nervous. Providing you get a fully working unit (if you don't then don't hesitate to return it) then the value of the HD channels far outweighs the negatives. After a year with an HR20 and 3 months with another I actually prefer the UI and operation of the HR20 with only the missing Tivo Style Guide being a problem for me.

[scottjf8]

On the National Release, there is no way to modify a series link that has no episodes planned (only reruns coming up on a Series Link that is set to New only). The only way is to delete it and re-add it.

That should be corrected on the next National Release.

CE's are your friend.. they fixed this

[mikej27]

Don't be nervous. Providing you get a fully working unit (if you don't then don't hesitate to return it) then the value of the HD channels far outweighs the negatives. After a year with an HR20 and 3 months with another I actually prefer the UI and operation of the HR20 with only the missing Tivo Style Guide being a problem for me.

How is the HR20 guide different than the Tivo guide?

[scottjf8]

How is the HR20 guide different than the Tivo guide?

I wonder if he means the guide that lists each's channels shows on the one side... You can actually do this on the HR20, but it's a bit undocumented.

Use the directional pad to highlight the channel - then hit INFO and it will bring up all the shows upcoming on that channel.. it's nifty.

[Scott D]

How is the HR20 guide different than the Tivo guide?

On the TiVo guide, split the screen in half. You get 8 or so channels on the left side of the screen and on the right side, all the shows that are on that channel highlighted on the left. You can even go back 2 days ago to view past shows. Obviously you can't record them!:D

HR20 guide is so bad that you have your channels along the far left side of the screen. On the top is the time bar. It can only show you 1 hour and you have to scroll to the right to see what is on next. This style of grid has been around since the inception of cable TV. It's that old. You can look at only one channel at a time and the screen setup is somewhat similar to the TiVo. I guess that's a plus.

The TiVo guide wins.

[nrc]

The TiVo guide wins.Careful. You'll get labelled a troublemaker. ;)

[rminsk]

Use the directional pad to highlight the channel - then hit INFO and it will bring up all the shows upcoming on that channel.. it's nifty.and very very slow...

[jimb726]

On the TiVo guide, split the screen in half. You get 8 or so channels on the left side of the screen and on the right side, all the shows that are on that channel highlighted on the left. You can even go back 2 days ago to view past shows. Obviously you can't record them!:D

HR20 guide is so bad that you have your channels along the far left side of the screen. On the top is the time bar. It can only show you 1 hour and you have to scroll to the right to see what is on next. This style of grid has been around since the inception of cable TV. It's that old. You can look at only one channel at a time and the screen setup is somewhat similar to the TiVo. I guess that's a plus.

The TiVo guide wins.

Mine shows 3 1/2 hour blocks, not just two. Its funny I had my HR10 for three years and I never knew there was a different guide than the grid style. I guess not ever having used it I am glad that I never did. I guess my question and this is serious, why do you like the TiVo style better. It seems to me that having the channels to the left and the shows to the right makes sense, how was the other style laid out?

[JohnB1000]

That "press Info" solution is just not the same as the TIVO Guide.

I agree with Jim that if you haven't used it then you don't miss the TIVO Guide.

Tivo Guide clearly wins but I believe TIVO has that approach patented so it's not really DTV's fault that they can't copy it.

I would not describe HR2x as "so bad" It's pretty much the same as every other guide on every other system.

This has helped me cut down on the amount of TV I watch since I would often browse through channels such as VH1 classic looking for shows to record. Now I have more time for the more important things in life :)

[JohnB1000]

Here's a pic of the HR2x guide data

http://hr20.dbstalk.com/images/ota/18-guide_favorites.jpg

and the Tivo style, see how much easier it is to see a list of shows and switch from channel to channel.

http://www.iwantptv.com/images/tivo/TiVO_Guide.jpg

[ebonovic]

Here's a pic of the HR2x guide data

Highlight your channel number... Hit INFO..

And post a screen shot of that please....
(Aka... you get a similar list style that you see with the TiVo... not the same, but similar).

[rminsk]

Highlight your channel number... Hit INFO..

And post a screen shot of that please....
(Aka... you get a similar list style that you see with the TiVo... not the same, but similar).After about waiting 5-10 seconds after hitting INFO. It really needs to be much faster to be usable.

[JohnB1000]

I got these from the web not from my own system, couldn't find that one. I love my HR20 but I don't find that hit "info" solution to even remotely resemble the TIVO guide. It's not bad for one channel but you can't switch channels and I don't think the show descriptions show.

[scottjf8]

After about waiting 5-10 seconds after hitting INFO. It really needs to be much faster to be usable.

much faster than a few seconds?

[ebonovic]

After about waiting 5-10 seconds after hitting INFO. It really needs to be much faster to be usable.

Is that in the current releases? or older ones.
I know when I used it over the past weekend, it was less then 5 seconds...

[ebonovic]

I got these from the web not from my own system, couldn't find that one. I love my HR20 but I don't find that hit "info" solution to even remotely resemble the TIVO guide. It's not bad for one channel but you can't switch channels and I don't think the show descriptions show.

Hence why I said similar... not the same. ;)

[JohnB1000]

My response was, as a HR20 supporter (HR20 ARMY RA RA RA) that the INFO "workaround" is not remotely close to the same thing. It's the one thing I really miss.

[rminsk]

Is that in the current releases? or older ones.
I know when I used it over the past weekend, it was less then 5 seconds...The current CE.

[dishrich]

So, I'm a little bit reluctant to upgrade to the HR20/21. Is the HR20/21 different/better than the earlier non-HD Directv DVRs?

I know you didn't specifically ask about this, but do be aware that while the HR20 DOES have a digital OTA tuners (just like the HD Tivo does), the HR21 does NOT. So, if this might be important to you, (like if D* does NOT offer your locals, or not all of them in HD) you may want to consider this.
Fortunately, I got 2 of the HR20 before they were all gone, as not having OTA tuners is NOT at all accepatable to me. :mad: (although others on the satguys board claim D* WILL still be making more HR20-100's - I just didn't want to chance it )

[madbeachcat]

I personally prefer the grid style guide. To each his own, I guess.:):)