Bye Bye Tivo

[ST8FAN]

Newbie here and I need help. I own the HR 10-250 and love it. However, I understand by reading this thread that it is not capable of receiving Mpeg4 HD signals. If I keep the HR10 and do not upgrade to HR20, what HD programming will I miss out on? I hope not ESPN or the NY network channels.

[gquiring]

I don't get all this "Tivo is great" crap. Read the threads in this forum and it's loaded with audio dropout threads, reboots and other issues. I have had audio dropouts well before the 6.3 upgrade, just recently had it go nuts and not record a Xmas special on TNT and lost a couple of other shows. And the dual buffer issue is a non issue for me. And starting this week my NY OTA guide is weird and confirmed by others on this forum. So again I don't see what this fuss over this Tivo is.....

I for one look forward to something else, Tivo is overrated.

[Sir_winealot]

Originally Posted by marklopez

Maybe it's because they figured normal people only watch one show at a time.

Personally flipping back in forth would drive me nuts and would be grounds for divorce.

Ya know, since you've mentioned this I would agree, and I've slapped her around a little bit and filed with my attorney to dump her. No way I'm living with someone that 'flips back and forth...' so, as always I truly appreciate your input.

Originally Posted by gquiring

I for one look forward to something else, Tivo is overrated.

For me, I've had no problems with my HR10's....and none of them have ever missed a recording. If that's 'over rated,' so be it; but they do exactly what I ask of them.

If the HR20 (or anything else for that matter) did the same, I would be content...but it has not...and missed recordings are inexcusable.

An opinion.

[jcricket]

Ah, welcome to 2006, the year when DVRs went completely to hell. What are our choices?

* HR10? Dead-end product that seems increasingly unstable with each release
* HR20? Less stable than the HR10 for many after 13 software releases in 3 months
* SciAm/Moto? Crappy UI, limited HD space, etc.
* Series 3? Seems good, but costs a bundle and doesn't have some of the famous Tivo features (MRV, TTG). Oh, and cable companies will make the CC 1.0 slots obsolete in a year or so.

Are there any choices that actually feel like an upgrade anymore? I can't see any

The HR10 isn't perfect, but until very, very recently, it was a reliable & functional HD DVR. Now my HR10 reboots at least once/week, and I know from reading here it's unlikely that it's a hard drive issue. If you call DirecTV they'll give you the runaround, or try to make you "upgrade" to the HR20. Or I switch to cable, with any of the options (build my own box, Series 3, Motorola box) I get at best a sideways trade in features and a big increase in cost.

It sounds like out of the frying pan and into the fire, no matter what you do.

[jcricket]

Originally Posted by ST8FAN

Newbie here and I need help. I own the HR 10-250 and love it. However, I understand by reading this thread that it is not capable of receiving Mpeg4 HD signals. If I keep the HR10 and do not upgrade to HR20, what HD programming will I miss out on? I hope not ESPN or the NY network channels.

For the next year or so the only thing you're only missing on the HR10 is the ability to get the MPEG4 version of HD local network channels via satellite. Sometime in late 2007 or 2008 (I'm estimating here) DirecTV will shut off the MPEG2 feeds of the NY and LA HD locals and convert existing national HD channels (including ESPN) to MPEG4. Also, any new national HD channels will only be broadcast in MPEG4, so you won't be able to get those (there isn't any schedule for which new national HD channels will be available and when).

Your HR10 will still get all the SD channels via satellite and any HD locals you get OTA, indefinitely.

[Mythica]

Once my HR10-250 isn't usable anymore, I'm going to stick with my Series 3. My husband and I use the dual live buffers all of the time (mostly for sporting events) and according to D*, they can't put it into their DVRs because it is a patented process from TiVo. That's why Dish had to recall some of their DVRs that had this feature because it was a patent infringement from TiVo. I'll just have to deal with the sucky quality of cable when I have to, but with all of the problems that I've been having with the HR10-250, I may be switching pretty soon. Most of the stuff I record is OTA anyway.

[jfh3]

Originally Posted by Mythica

b That's why Dish had to recall some of their DVRs that had this feature because it was a patent infringement from TiVo.

Just to be clear, Dish did not recall any DVRs because of patent infringement. They were ordered to disable all DVRs that infringed (almost all of the active ones), but that order was stayed, pending Echostar's federal appeal.

[jfh3]

Originally Posted by jcricket

* Series 3? Seems good, but costs a bundle and doesn't have some of the famous Tivo features (MRV, TTG). Oh, and cable companies will make the CC 1.0 slots obsolete in a year or so.

Where in the world did you get the idea that CableCARD 1.0 devices won't work in a year or so? I can't disagree with most of your list, but this statement is just silly.