[pcguru83]

I sorta asked this question in a HDTV thread over in Happy Hour, but I figured I might have a better response here since we're all DirecTV folks over here.

The wife and I are finally making the full jump to HD--we'll be getting our HD set for the living room sometime this week hopefully. Up until now, I've just been getting OTA channels in our spare bedroom on our 26" HDTV, but we'll now actually need to look into HD programming.

Here are my choices:

1.) Stick with DTV and add HD w/HD DVR to my current package. The problem with this is that obviously this would be a non-TiVo DVR (HR20, correct?). Is this thing bearable? It can't possibly be any worse than the Scientific Atlanta unit my cable company uses... I have to admit, I'm very impressed with DTV's new HD lineup, as it actually appears better than my cable HD lineup. I would expect a superior PQ over cable as well, am I correct? How's that new MPEG4 standard working out?

or

2.) Move to cable, which would mean switching to Time Warner cable here in Charlotte. I've had their HD service in the past, and was moderately pleased with their HD channels, but the SD picture quality was horrible. The upside to this method is that I could pick up a new HD TiVo, and be all set, but that then adds and addition $13/month to our bill. Not a deal-breaker, but still a factor nonetheless.

The bottom line is that I'd really like for the DTV option to be viable. I've always gotten great PQ with satellite and sub-par PQ with cable. I don't see why this would be any different. It would pain me to lose a real TiVo, but if the HD content is of superior quality, I think it may be worth the sacrifice.

Thoughts? Ponderings? Useless ramblings? Thanks everyone...

 

[JimSpence]

This thread may help.
http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=125

 

[Bob Coxner]

2.) Move to cable, which would mean switching to Time Warner cable here in Charlotte. I've had their HD service in the past, and was moderately pleased with their HD channels, but the SD picture quality was horrible. The upside to this method is that I could pick up a new HD TiVo, and be all set, but that then adds and addition $13/month to our bill. Not a deal-breaker, but still a factor nonetheless.

Thoughts? Ponderings? Useless ramblings? Thanks everyone...

Be aware that the HD Tivo (or any other Tivo) will not work with the new switched digital video technology that all of the cable companies are rolling out. Time Warner is especially aggressive in going to it, although the timing will vary by local franchise.
Once they change, your Tivo is a nice paperweight.

 

[TonyD79]

The HR20 is fine (and has been more stable than my HR10 the last few months). The lineup DirecTV will have soon will outstrip cable for some time until cable either adds infrastructure or goes to switched video which will break the HD TiVos unless your cable company offers TiVo built into its DVR.

DirecTivos will still record SD from DirecTV and the HR10 will continue to record OTA.

 

[classicsat]

Be aware that the HD Tivo (or any other Tivo) will not work with the new switched digital video technology that all of the cable companies are rolling out.

Only the CC TiVos will not work with SDV. The Series 2 will record SDV channels fine, from a cable box that supports SDV, albeit in SD.

 

[RS4]

The HR20 is highly subjective to taste. If you love Tivo, you may or may not enjoy the HR20. Check out the DBSTalk.com forum. In particular, look at posts from Ken S.

 

[pcguru83]

Great input everyone, thanks. I was not aware of this emerging change that will render the HD TiVo's obsolete. I can't imagine TiVo is very happy about that, but that's beyond the scope of this thread, no doubt.

 

[sluciani]

The HR20 is highly subjective to taste. If you love Tivo, you may or may not enjoy the HR20. Check out the DBSTalk.com forum. In particular, look at posts from Ken S.

Or look at posts from me. It's possible to love both platforms. The four HR20's I now use work just as well as the four HR10's they replaced. Each machine has it's unique strengths and weaknesses, but both get the job done very well.

I was concerned that after using TiVo so long my non-technical wife and daughter wouldn't be able to easily adapt to a different UI, but turns out these concerns were unfounded. Everyone in the house is as happy with the HR20's as with the HR10's they replaced, especially with the MPEG-4 picture quality, which is noticeably better on the HR20 than the PQ of the HD Lite channels in the 80's on either platform. It's indistinguishable from OTA MPEG-2 HD, which I also receive. /s

 

[pcguru83]

Well, based on the rather positive input here about DTV's HD offerings, I decided to go that route.

Just spoke to a retention specialist and got an amazing deal--free HD DVR, free HD NFL Sunday Ticket, and the Premier package for only $69/month for four months. What an awesome deal! That NFL Sunday Ticket will help break in my new TV quite nicely. I'll finally get to see some Jaguar footbal. Go Jags!!

 

[TonyD79]

See you at dbstalk, then!

If you are somewhat adventurous, a bunch of us test new releases before they go national (look into the Cutting Edge forum).

 

[pcguru83]

See you at dbstalk, then!

If you are somewhat adventurous, a bunch of us test new releases before they go national (look into the Cutting Edge forum).

That sounds like something I'd definitely be interested in. I will have to check that out--thanks for the heads up.