Tivo, Directv, HD - how to?

"HD-ready" is sort of a nebulous term. What you need to record HD from DTV is two things:

A TV that accepts either HDMI, or component inputs that accept HD-SDI baseband HD video. To view the HD channels in true HD, the set must also be able to display in a native resolution of either 1280x720, 1920x1080, or something in between, such as 1366x756 (check the manual).

There are only two HD DVRs, the HR10-250, which is a Tivo DVR, or the HR20-xxx, which is not. The HR10 is not capable of receiving the HD channels launched recently, but both are capable of the legacy HD channels, OTA HD reception, and regular SD sat channels. It must be authorized for DVR service and HD service through DTV. Obviously, you would need an OTA antenna also for OTA reception.

 

The choice you really need to make is this:

Either Tivo and not get all the New HD Channels from Directv

OR

Get all the HD Channels from Directv and drop Tivo.

Those are your only Two Choices.

 

Hardly.

There is cable, and DISH, and FIOS, and a large number of DTV subs who have both HR10s and HR20s living in relative harmony, all in the same room.

 

With the Philips DTiVo, SD is all you get.

 

Many people such as the OP do not have Cable as an option. Sat Tv covers a far greater area than Cable ever will. In fact, there are many smaller Towns who still do not have access to Cable.

DISH: Dishnetworks is in a worse off spot than Directv is. You either have the Dish DVR for HD, or a Series 1 or 2 Tivo unit (Analog only no Digital). Dish has never had anything close to a Directv/Tivo unit to compare to the HR10 Series.

FIOS is only an option for a small percentage of people. Maybe in Years to come that may be a option.

But, the OP wants to stay with Directv, so only has the Two options.

And yes, currently the HR10's and HR20's live in relative Harmony. But once Directv pulls the plug on all MPeg2 Channels, then the HR10 will lose all its HD options.

 

stevel is correct. With your old Philips unit, SD is all you can get. There are no SD to HD converters.

 

As a wise man recently said, "hardly".

For it to lose all HD options, DTV would also have to stop providing Tivo service to the HR10, as it will still get OTA, which is 95% of what I record. And the HR10's will all be old and grey museum pieces before that can ever happen.

I think you might have an argument on your hands with some DISH subs, as they have a wide selection of HD channels and a HD DVR that runs rings around the HR20 (I'd be forced to agree with the statement "never had anything close to...the HR10..."). I do see them falling behind in HD channels in the next year unless they can mount a push.

And thanks again for pointing out to us how satellite covers more area than cable or FIOS. Thanks to that explanation, now we know how the world works, finally.

 

Newbie question.... If I get an HR10-250 and receive my local channels via DTV, aren't these local channels in HD or would I need an OTA antenna? I'm in Phoenix.

I would like to be able to receive and record local channels and the Mpeg 2 channels from DTV. My wife is a Tivo fanatic and doesn't care about the new Mpeg4 channels.

 

The local channels you get from DirecTV on an HR10-250 are standard-def only. The HD versions of these channels are provided from the MPEG4 satellites only and require an HR20/HR21. If you don't mind SD-only, you can use the HR10, or use an antenna with the HR10 to get the HD locals.