What is the best DirecTV HD DVR?

[Bilbrey]

If I stay with DirecTV, it seems my HD DVR needs to be a DirecTV model (not a TiVo) :(

So, after reading many of the posts on HR20-100, HR20-700, HR21... I'm still confused as to what is the 'best' choice. And I understand that is subjective based on what is important to the user.

If I don't have OTA, it sounds like HR21 is best. Yes?

My situation is that I currently have 5 DirecTV receivers in my house.

HR10-250 in living room
SD DVR receiver in boys room
SD DVR receiver in girls room 1
SD DVR receiver in girls room 2
HR10-250 in bedroom (need a replacement HR10-250 as cannon fodder, see separate post (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=378885))


I want to replace the HD DVRs with DirecTV HD DVRs.
I think I want to leave the SD receivers as they are (unless DirecTV is in a giving mood and will upgrade them to HD DVRs as well).


Does anyone have any better advice for me?
Thanks,
Brett

[Mark Lopez]

If I don't have OTA, it sounds like HR21 is best. Yes?


Probably since it is the newest model. Although the software may be a bit behind the other models, it will catch up quickly. And since there is 'supposed' to be some sort of OTA solution soon, lack of OTA now may not be that big of a deal..

[stevel]

Either the HR21-700 or the HR20-100 would be my picks because they both have coaxial digital audio out. The HR21 has an added feature of a builtin two-port Ethernet switch, allowing you to connect another device by Ethernet to the HR21's second port. (The HR20-100 has two ports but one is inactive.)

Some people pick by color - the HR21-700 and HR20-700 are black, the HR20-100 is silver.

I'd agree with Mark that the HR21 is the newest design, though functionally it is pretty much the same as the others. Some people say that the HR21 "feels faster". I have an HR21-700, HR20-100 and HR10-250.

[dfergie]

Be aware that the HR21 does not come with an OTA tuner... DirecTV is working to provide these only to those who do not receive OTA...I have a silver HR20-700, it is my understanding that only the HR21 is black.

[Bilbrey]

I only get ABC and CBS locals in HD currently. NBC and Fox are still SD.

Hmmm, OTA is a hassle for me. But unless the new DirecTV MPEG4 service includes all the HD locals, I may have to consider OTA...

Hmmm...

[TonyD79]

You can keep your HR10 until you get an OTA solution if you wind up with an HR21.

However, unless you go get the box at a store, DirecTV will give you what they give you. The differences are meager among the models with the OTA difference being the biggest.

[TyroneShoes]

I only get ABC and CBS locals in HD currently. NBC and Fox are still SD.

Hmmm, OTA is a hassle for me. But unless the new DirecTV MPEG4 service includes all the HD locals, I may have to consider OTA...

Hmmm...

Hmmm... indeed.

To help a bit with the clarity, the "-100" and "-700" suffixes are merely to indicate which plant the boxes were built in. So a HR20-100 and a HR20-700 are technically identical.

If some of your local market stations do not broadcast in HD, then even if you got those stations local into local (MPEG4 over the sat) they would not be in HD. On the other hand, if they do broadcast in HD but you can't get them, OTA from the HR20 won't help.

Generally speaking, the CW, MyTV, PBS, and independent local stations are not carried on sat unless they have a big-league sports team franchise contract. Currently just the big 4, but that will change eventually.

[Bilbrey]

You can keep your HR10 until you get an OTA solution if you wind up with an HR21.

However, unless you go get the box at a store, DirecTV will give you what they give you. The differences are meager among the models with the OTA difference being the biggest.

I won't accept anything less that what I agree to with DirecTV. But the problem is, what should I get them to agree to?

I'm leaning towards the HR21...

I do have basic cable (but just use Comcast for their internet access). Perhaps if needed I could get the basic HD package from them, but that would be a bit of a hassle...

[terpfan1980]

Either the HR21-700 or the HR20-100 would be my picks because they both have coaxial digital audio out. The HR21 has an added feature of a builtin two-port Ethernet switch, allowing you to connect another device by Ethernet to the HR21's second port. (The HR20-100 has two ports but one is inactive.)

Some people pick by color - the HR21-700 and HR20-700 are black, the HR20-100 is silver.

I'd agree with Mark that the HR21 is the newest design, though functionally it is pretty much the same as the others. Some people say that the HR21 "feels faster". I have an HR21-700, HR20-100 and HR10-250.

HR20-700 is silver (at least mine is). HR20-100 is black (by memory). I believe HR21-700 is silver also, but could be wrong.

[Bilbrey]

Not too worried about color, more worried about functionality.

[videojanitor]

I only get ABC and CBS locals in HD currently. NBC and Fox are still SD.

How are you currently receiving ABC and CBS locals in HD? Are you getting them from L.A. (ie: the channels in the 80s)? If you're in Sunnyvale, I would assume that's considered part of the S.F. market -- if so, DirecTV is currently providing MPEG-4 HD feeds of channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, and 44.

[Mark Lopez]

HR20-700 is silver (at least mine is). HR20-100 is black (by memory). I believe HR21-700 is silver also, but could be wrong.

The HR21 is definitely black and the HR20-700 is definitely silver. Not sure on the HR20-100.

[bigpuma]

I only get ABC and CBS locals in HD currently. NBC and Fox are still SD.

Hmmm, OTA is a hassle for me. But unless the new DirecTV MPEG4 service includes all the HD locals, I may have to consider OTA...

Hmmm...

Here in the bay area you will get the local Fox, ABC , CBS and NBC channels in HD via satelite with any of the new HD DVRs and 5LNB dish.

I have both an HR20 and an HR21 and I really can't tell the difference other than the color.

[codespy]

The HR21 is definitely black and the HR20-700 is definitely silver. Not sure on the HR20-100.

My HR20-100 is definitely Silver.

[sjberra]

The HR21 is definitely black and the HR20-700 is definitely silver. Not sure on the HR20-100.

There where only a few HR20-100 that where black, the majority are silver

[tfederov]

It boils down to if you want an OTA port on your receiver. They both function the same, have the same features (or will very soon, HR21 is almost there), and receive the same channels. I have an antenna in my attic, have it hooked up to my HR20s but rarely use them except when the weather is so bad outside I need OTA to see the weather radar. It pretty much comes down to what you want the most and if DIRECTV can deliver it for you. I have both and after using them don't have a preference of one over the other.

[stevel]

To help a bit with the clarity, the "-100" and "-700" suffixes are merely to indicate which plant the boxes were built in. So a HR20-100 and a HR20-700 are technically identical.

No, they aren't. You're correct that the suffix indicates the actual manufacturer (100 = Thompson, 700 = Pace), but these two boxes are not "technically identical". The user-visible differences are that the -100 has a coaxial digital audio out where the -700 doesn't, and the -700 has an internal antenna for the RF remote control (and some report it works better for that) where the -100 has a whip antenna that plugs in the back. The venting is also different.

The internal differences are significant - the -100 is a newer and "cleaner" board design.

It is true that some HR20-100s were black, but the vast majority are silver. As far as I know, all the HR20-700s are black as are the HR21-700s.

[seedcar]

It is true that some HR20-100s were black, but the vast majority are silver. As far as I know, all the HR20-700s are black as are the HR21-700s.

My HR20-700 is silver.

[Bilbrey]

How are you currently receiving ABC and CBS locals in HD? Are you getting them from L.A. (ie: the channels in the 80s)? If you're in Sunnyvale, I would assume that's considered part of the S.F. market -- if so, DirecTV is currently providing MPEG-4 HD feeds of channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, and 44.
You are correct, I misspoke. I have locals in SD, and LA ABC and CBS in HD.
Sorry. Just tired...

[Bilbrey]

No, they aren't. You're correct that the suffix indicates the actual manufacturer (100 = Thompson, 700 = Pace), but these two boxes are not "technically identical". The user-visible differences are that the -100 has a coaxial digital audio out where the -700 doesn't, and the -700 has an internal antenna for the RF remote control (and some report it works better for that) where the -100 has a whip antenna that plugs in the back. The venting is also different.

The internal differences are significant - the -100 is a newer and "cleaner" board design.

So the real difference between the HR20 and HR21 is the just OTA?

[RS4]

So the real difference between the HR20 and HR21 is the just OTA?

I don't believe the HR21 has vod yet. Maybe that's almost ready like the single wire switch that I first read about over a year ago that was going to ready at the end of 2006 - oh well, it's only about 12 months late - not bad for D*:p

[stevel]

The real HARDWARE difference between the HR21 and HR20 is OTA. Some software features are currently enabled on some models and not others, but this will even itself out over time. My HR21 now has a menu entry for DOD and a message that it is "coming soon".

[michaelp95]

I won't accept anything less that what I agree to with DirecTV. But the problem is, what should I get them to agree to?

I'm leaning towards the HR21...

I do have basic cable (but just use Comcast for their internet access). Perhaps if needed I could get the basic HD package from them, but that would be a bit of a hassle...


I also have Comcast for internet access and get the limited basic. Let your TV do a scan of the QAM channels and you will find you get the HD locals as well as a few of unscrambled cable channels. I am not paying extra for those.