[5&counting]

Hi all...

We have a perplexing situation. We live in a rural area where you can either have satellite service or OTA. OTA quality sucks.

Hubby wants to upgrade to HDTV but doesn't want to give up our multiple (5) tivos. He has a friend at work that has a directv dvr and does nothing but complain about the user unfriendliness compared to tivo.

Has anyone else ever used a directv dvr and could give us their opinions on them. I know they aren't as good as tivo (what could be!! ). This is the only thing that is standing between us and a new 60" plasma tv !! Help!

Debbie

 

[atmuscarella]

I can not comment on Direct's HD DVR but I would like to point out that neither dish or direct has much of the major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW) content availably in HD. I don't know your viewing habits but if it's the networks I would see about getting better OTA reception (better outside antenna, at the antenna signal booster, better coax cable, etc.) and a TiVo HD unit.

Good Luck,

 

[JimSpence]

Here's the forum to find out more about the HR20 (DirecTV HD DVR).
http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=112

 

[samo]

I can not comment on Direct's HD DVR but I would like to point out that neither dish or direct has much of the major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW) content availably in HD. I don't know your viewing habits but if it's the networks I would see about getting better OTA reception (better outside antenna, at the antenna signal booster, better coax cable, etc.) and a TiVo HD unit.

That is not correct. Both Dish and DirecTV have all major networks in HD. If you want to keep TiVo interface, then DirecTV HD Tivo HR10-250 is no use to you because locals are in MPEG4 and can only be received by DirecTV HR20.
I have both Dish VIP622 HD DVR and DirecTV HR20. Although I prefer VIP622, HR20 is a very nice unit and has more features than TiVo. In addition, DirecTV will have up to 100 new HD channels by end of the year.

 

[atmuscarella]

That is not correct. Both Dish and DirecTV have all major networks in HD.

OK I see Dish has added allot of HD Locals since the last time a really took a good look, but you still have to live in a market area that Dish has them to get them right? and they are still not broadcasting the sub channels correct?

Dish Channel Line Up

Thanks,

 

[stevel]

Neither DISH nor DirecTV carry the subchannels and in many cases do not carry a HD signal for all locals in the market. For example in the Boston market, DirecTV and DISH each carriy 16 standard-def channels but only four in HD. That situation will likely improve as DirecTV gets its new satellite online. Even so, I do not expect them to carry subchannels unless Congress forces them (and cable companies) to do so.

 

[samo]

Neither DISH nor DirecTV carry the subchannels and in many cases do not carry a HD signal for all locals in the market. For example in the Boston market, DirecTV and DISH each carriy 16 standard-def channels but only four in HD. That situation will likely improve as DirecTV gets its new satellite online. Even so, I do not expect them to carry subchannels unless Congress forces them (and cable companies) to do so.

I don't get OTA signal, so I'm just curious - what do you typically get on subchannels? Considering that main network channels are for most part trash, what can they possibly have on subchannels worth watching?

 

[dnemec123]

Check this message out that I started the topic on:
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=94126 (especially post #25 in that thread)

Overall, the interface is different. Not better, not worse, just different.

Would I prefer the TiVo interface? Absolutely.

But until TiVo and DirecTV get back together with a TiVo based DVR with integrated satellite receiver, I'm having to go with their box.

Good luck!
Dale

 

[stevel]

I don't get OTA signal, so I'm just curious - what do you typically get on subchannels? Considering that main network channels are for most part trash, what can they possibly have on subchannels worth watching?

It depends. My local PBS station transmits different programming on one of the subchannels. Other stations put up weather displays. They don't have a lot of use yet.

 

[dshinnick]

I was in your exact situation. I had a Tivo Series 2 and cable, and was contemplating going to Directv with Tivo. Here are the issues as I've discovered them.

First, Directv is all digital. When I had my cable, only channels above 100 were digital, and there is a significant difference in quality compared to analog.

Second, the stand-alone Tivo compresses the data as it is written to the hard drive; that's why you specify what picture quality you want; it dictates the level of compression. And compression reduces quality. The Directivo does not compress; it just writes to the hard drive the same signal which is received at the antenna. The picture quality is so good that I've decided against HD for now. Of course it's not as good as HD, but it's easily good enough, even on my 65" Sony bigscreen (non-plasma). Even if you hook a regular Tivo to your Directv receiver the Tivo will compress the signal that it receives from the receiver.

Last, the current Directv DVR, the R15, is NOT Tivo-based. Avoid it at all cost. But the previous box, the R10, IS Tivo-based. I have 3 of them in use and 2 more in the garage as stand-bys. You can get them on Ebay or Weaknees. Directv won't sell them any more, but they will activate it if you find a used one.

So, if I were you I'd find an R10, activate it, and live happily ever after!

dave

 

[stevel]

I will point out that "digital", by itself, does not ensure good quality. It all depends on the amount of compression used to create the digital signal. If it's a lot of compression, then the digital signal can look awful in comparison to a good analog signal. Cable and satellite companies vary the amount of digital compression they do, and cable companies can also offer poor-quality analog signals.

There are potential weaknesses all along the signal chain. That said, I find the standard-def signal on many DirecTV channels to be quite good, but some are not.

Don't let the "all-digital" hype suck you in.

 

[Hexerott]

So, if I were you I'd find an R10, activate it, and live happily ever after!

dave

.......until DTV upgrades to MPEG4 (~Feb) and you can't get any more HD channels.

 

[stevel]

Well, you won't get any fewer HD channels either - can't go lower than zero. The R10 is a standard-def box and is unaffected (for the foreseeable future) by MPEG4 changes.

 

[1003]

DirecTV DVR = lousy imitation of TiVo functionality
Replacing our DirecTV HD TiVo receiver with the DirecTV HD unit got us to move to Dish Network. If you are tolerant of inferior DVR interfaces, try the DirecTV but the 2 year commitment period would weigh heavily in any decision...

 

[5&counting]

Thanks for the info...I guess those on these boards are true-blue to the core Tivo owners-as are we...wouldn't own 5 if we weren't.

I looked at the links that were posted and appreciate the help.

I guess JJ summed it up as what we suspected. How do you like the DishTV service and their dvr?

We've had directv since it's inception when it was directv and ussb...don't really have a choice where we live. Cable is a mile and a half from our house and the cable company refuses to bring it to our 'hood. We are the last neighborhood (very small-15 houses) in the area, and according to them, it would cost more than it would be worth to run the cable.

OTA stinks...no amount of antenna and amplification helps. We get one channel halfway decently and the rest look like the Great North during a January blizzard.

I guess we will have to grin and bear it w/o the HD...

 

[dstoffa]

Hi all...

We have a perplexing situation. We live in a rural area where you can either have satellite service or OTA. OTA quality sucks.

Hubby wants to upgrade to HDTV but doesn't want to give up our multiple (5) tivos.

Debbie

FIVE Tivos on FIVE sat-tuners? Wow.

 

[dstoffa]

I don't get OTA signal, so I'm just curious - what do you typically get on subchannels? Considering that main network channels are for most part trash, what can they possibly have on subchannels worth watching?

My cable company offers the subchannels on the digital tier (iO Cablevision, Long Island). As posted earlier, I have multi-PBS, multi-ABC, and multi-NBC right now. The multi-channels show:

1. News
2. Weather
3. Public Service Programming.

However, I would compare multi-channel PBS to multi-channel HBO.
The commercial multis aren't airing repeats of other programs... probably because they'd have to pay royalties to the actors and producers again?

 

[wolflord11]

If anyone had bothered to read what the Op posted you would see they live in the Country where they have Two Options: Sat or OTA.

Since the OP wants HD, they have no option but to go with Sat either Directv or Dish Network. All this talk of Cable is just a waste of time.

The HR20 from Directv is a good Unit. Yes it is not a Tivo, but as Directv upgrades from Mpeg2 to Mpeg4 you will have no option to drop Tivo and use the HR20 and future units (HR21's are in testing).

As for the toss up between Directv and Dish Network, Dish just does not come close.

 

[1003]

I guess JJ summed it up as what we suspected. How do you like the DishTV service and their dvr?

Dish VIP622
is similar to TiVo (hence the lawsuits) and fairly mature. Recent additions like USB2 storage support and communication over ethernet (so long Vonage) makes up for the loss of the TiVo elegance and simplicity. TiVoPrincess is happy and that is what counts in the end.

View from back when we were a happy nine TiVo household...
TiVo Plantation

 

[stevel]

I have three TiVo and two non-TiVo DirecTV DVRs. There are things I like about both, things I dislike about both.