purchase an HR-20?

[akron05]

Crutchfield used to sell D* recievers, including the HR-20, which are now no longer available. However, other places still sell them. Can I buy one of these and then call D* for an install or will they give me problems for buying it myself?

[Sharkie_Fan]

You can "buy" them from other places and activate them just fine.

In all liklihood, you are leasing the unit, just like if you bought from DirecTV... The ads and/or displays aren't always clear on that point.

I just purchased a second HR20 from Costco, since we don't have LiL here, so I wanted to be sure I got a 20 and not a 21. I called in to activate and spend a whopping 4.5 minutes on the phone. And that included removing the old Tivo which had previously been my primary box, then activating this new Hr20. It couldn't have been easier.

[Earl Bonovich]

If you purchase them from third parties.

Then you most likely will have to pay for the installation, if you want DirecTV to install it.

As Sharkie Fan...

Even though you are purchasing it from someone else, you are only leasing it from an authorized vendor... unless they specifically state that you are buying it, and the price is around $499

[akron05]

Another couple questions:

A. When did the HR-20 finally become able to recieve OTA broadcasts? I know it took much longer than D* originally promised.

B. When was the HR-21 released?

[litzdog911]

Another couple questions:

A. When did the HR-20 finally become able to recieve OTA broadcasts? I know it took much longer than D* originally promised.

B. When was the HR-21 released?

A. Around December 2006, which was about 3 months after the HR20 become widely available.

B. Middle of 2007.

[randyk47]

Correct me if I'm wrong as I got my HR-20 after the OTA was enabled but with the HR-20 it was a software fix whereas with the HR-21 it's going to have to be some kind of add-on hardware and software. Right?

[Richierich]

The AM21 ($60) will be an add-on ATSC OTA unit about 1" high that can sit on top of the HR21. You then connect a USB Cable to it and then connect to the back of the HR21 and you should then be able to have your OTA local channels.