Direct TV HD and TiVo?

[fellspointraven]

Hi - this has likely been brought up numerous times here before but I've just registered so go easy on me.

I just got a new HD TV. As a Direct TV customer I obviously also needed to upgrade to an HD receiver. For the past three years we've had regular/analog Direct TV with TiVo receiver and have loved it. On Saturday the guy came out and installed the new receiver, which is Direct TV HD DVR.

My question is - do TiVo have a receiver that is compatable with Direct TV HD? If so how much is it and how do I get one? Direct TV DVR appears to SUCK - with no way of flipping between tuners while watching two different shows. Seems difficult to sort out favorites (if possible at all) or have it randomly record shows that you like based on previous viewing habits.

The wife and I have decided we can't live without TiVo and are prepared to do anything to get it back! So any advice would be welcome.

[rlj5242]

Originally Posted by fellspointraven

For the past three years we've had regular/analog Direct TV with TiVo receiver and have loved it.

DirecTV has always been 100% digital transmission. It is just standard definition (or less) digital.

Originally Posted by fellspointraven

On Saturday the guy came out and installed the new receiver, which is Direct TV HD DVR.

You got the HR21. I've been using the earlier model HR20 along with my HR10-250 (HD DirecTivo) and GXCEBOT (series 1 standard def DirecTivo).

Originally Posted by fellspointraven

My question is - do TiVo have a receiver that is compatable with Direct TV HD?

No. The HR10-250 will work work with MPEG2 DirecTV HD but that is very limited since all of DirecTV's new HD channels are MPEG4.

Originally Posted by fellspointraven

Direct TV DVR appears to SUCK - with no way of flipping between tuners while watching two different shows.

Yes, this is the only complaint that I have. I've just learned not to watch any live TV. Record everything.

Originally Posted by fellspointraven

Seems difficult to sort out favorites (if possible at all)

The Prioritizer under Manage My Recordings is GREAT. Change the order and it takes effect almost immediately. No waiting 10 to 20 minutes like on the DirecTivos.

Originally Posted by fellspointraven

or have it randomly record shows that you like based on previous viewing habits.

Never used that feature with the Tivo software so I don't miss it.

Originally Posted by fellspointraven

The wife and I have decided we can't live without TiVo and are prepared to do anything to get it back! So any advice would be welcome.

Switch to cable and buy an HD Tivo. That's your only option if you want to keep the Tivo interface.

I've seen some great progress with the HR2x series software since I upgraded last Oct. At first it was difficult to navigate a new interface. As soon as I added the HR20 to my Harmony remote, it became much simpler. Most of the buttons for the HR20 on the Harmony have the same function as the DirecTivos. As soon as the Harmony was programmed the wife started using the HR20 as much as the DirecTivos. Now it's not a big deal. The only reason I keep three DVRs running is that I have that many shows to watch.

-Robert

[fellspointraven]

Robert - thanks for the response. I guess we'll just make do with what we have!

[Budget_HT]

We are keeping our DirecTV HD TiVo units (HR10-250) and not getting the DirecTV-made units. Our TiVo units will record the OTA local channels for a long time because the OTA channels are MPEG-2.

We recently dropped any satellite HD channels from DirecTV because they would not reduce the charges for HD channels that we cannot receive, nor did they make us a reasonable offer for an MPEG-4-capable HD DVR (which we would have refused anyway).

If you could live with OTA channels in HD and satellite channels in SD, you can use the discontinued HR10-250. Or, as suggested above, you could switch to cable and use a standalone TiVo HD unit.

[TivoQuestions]

Hi,

I am also considering the jump to HDTV for my primary TV.

Although I have access to FIOS, I would like to continue to use my 3 current DirecTv SD Tivo boxes, which are connected through a Dual LNB satellite dish via a 4x8 multiswitch.

As a result, I am planning to do the following:

1) Replace existing satellite dish with new 5LNB Slimline model
2) Update multiswitch?
3) Add a DirecTv Plus HD DVR (HR20 [OTA] or HR21)

Does anyone know of any reasons why this configuration might not work (1 HDTV DVR & 3 SD Tivos) or other issues I might face?

Thanks,
TQ

[rlj5242]

Originally Posted by TivoQuestions

Does anyone know of any reasons why this configuration might not work (1 HDTV DVR & 3 SD Tivos) or other issues I might face?

With a proper install, you will face no issues. The SD DirecTivos will function exactly as before. Your new HR21 (the HR20 isn't available any more) will get you all of the standard def channels that you get on the SD DirecTivos as well as the HD channels that are available to you based on the packages you subscribe to.

I have an HR20, an HD DirecTivo and an SD Directivo all in the same room connected to the same TV (projector) and all controled with a Harmony 880 remote control.

-Robert

[TivoQuestions]

Originally Posted by rlj5242

With a proper install, you will face no issues. The SD DirecTivos will function exactly as before. Your new HR21 (the HR20 isn't available any more) will get you all of the standard def channels that you get on the SD DirecTivos as well as the HD channels that are available to you based on the packages you subscribe to.

I have an HR20, an HD DirecTivo and an SD Directivo all in the same room connected to the same TV (projector) and all controled with a Harmony 880 remote control.

-Robert

Thanks Robert

That is exactly what I wanted to hear

I am in the process of re-evaluating my current TV, Internet & Phone services. Unfortunately there isn't one provider that can provide the best 'bang for the buck' for all three.

As a result in the end, I will probably end up with the following (once I finish negotiating):

TV -> DirecTv (upgrade to HDTV)
Internet -> Verizon FIOS (upgrade from Comcast cable)
Phone -> Independent VOIP (no change)

Given that I have access to Satellite, Cable and FIOS, I should hopefully be able to swing some reasonable deals by playing them off against one another .

-TQ

[kaszeta]

Originally Posted by rlj5242

With a proper install, you will face no issues. The SD DirecTivos will function exactly as before. Your new HR21 (the HR20 isn't available any more)

At least around here, there are still a lot of HR20s in the supply chain. D* installed one for me in April, and just today came and replaced that one with an identical (and also buggy ) HR20-100.