HR10-250 Upgrade to HR2x

[TJNM]

I am in the process of doing the "Free HD Swap" for my two HR10-250s, and I would like some advice and your insights. Installer is coming on Wed 10/22.

I have read thru many posts and I have concerns about having a problem reliably recording shows on the HR2x. I record many shows and typically watch them days later. I don't want to have to worry that the show doesn't get recorded, or is just a black screen. I can adjust to the different GUI (though I love the TIVO interface), I most worried about reliability.

It seems like I have a couple of options:
1. Replace both HR10s with the HR2xs. One of my HR10s is owned (the other is leased), so they said that I can keep the owned one to watch my previously recorded shows (no new recordings). This would give me all of the HD channels on both TVs.

2. Replace only the leased HR10 with an HR2x. This would be good in case the HR2x has problems recording since I would have a reliable backup on the HR10. But, I would only have HD on one TV (once the MPEG2 HD channels go away). This is not my ideal choice, but seems to be the safest.

I'm I just being overly paranoid? It seems like many people have problems with the HR2xs, but is it most people, or just the vocal minority?

Thanks for any help you can give me, I am struggling with what to do.

[69hokie]

Go on and bite the bullet. Always remember that the vast majority of people on this forum do no post that "they have no problems". It is in the nature of a forum that people are talking about problems and not lack of problems. I have 4 HRxx's and can only remember once when a program did not record.

And ps...welcome to DBSTalk!!:welcome_s

[RunnerFL]

When making your decision keep in mind that you only see posts from people who have problems. Very rarely do you see a post from someone saying they have no problems at all.

The amount of people with problems are in the minority. If all of your cabling is fine, including multiswitch, and your dish is aimed correctly you shouldn't have a problem. Unless, in the rare case, you get a defective HR2X which does happen but not very often.

[RACJ2]

2. Replace only the leased HR10 with an HR2x. This would be good in case the HR2x has problems recording since I would have a reliable backup on the HR10. But, I would only have HD on one TV (once the MPEG2 HD channels go away). This is not my ideal choice, but seems to be the safest.

I'm I just being overly paranoid? It seems like many people have problems with the HR2xs, but is it most people, or just the vocal minority?

Thanks for any help you can give me, I am struggling with what to do.I was very concerned about the HD DVR’s and delayed my switch to D* by 9 months. The conclusion I came to after reading numerous posts is that most of the time the problem with recordings is caused by bad power, loose cable connections, bad BBC's, etc. I have 2 hr22's, one on a UPS that has never failed to record. A second, which was not on a UPS and it had 4 grey or blank recordings. Added a UPS, tightened cable connections and had no issues since then.

I would swap both, but if you want to play it safe, go with your choice 2. If all goes well for a month, swap the other one. The only disadvantage is your 24 month commitment will start over when you get the second one installed.

[MX727]

You can keep both of the HR-10s as long as you keep them active. The installer doesn't want them anyway.

Cabling for them will be your only issue.

[David MacLeod]

fwiw, I have never yet had a blank/grey recording on any of my 3 units. I have had a missed recording, after some investigating I did find out it was my fault.
I did have a tuner die on an hr 20, signals swinging back and forth 80 points, but D* replaced it for free even though it was 8 months after I got it and I do NOT have protection plan.
they're not perfect by any means, but they work for me.

[TJNM]

Thanks to everybody for the advice.

I'm going to upgrade both HR10s and hopefully keep one of them active as a backup just in case.

Installer is coming on Wed, I'll let you know how it turns out.

[pcnerdman]

I'm going to upgrade both HR10s and hopefully keep one of them active as a backup just in case.

Installer is coming on Wed, I'll let you know how it turns out.[/QUOTE]

Is your other HR10-250 for sale.

[TJNM]

Here's an update.

On Wed I got two HR22-100s and a new dish, all appear to be new. The install seemed to go smoothly and worked right out of the box. I've since been using both units to record a variety of shows with no problems. I've tried two shows at once, several back to back, I tried deleting a show while another was being recorded on the same channel...all with no problems.

I did keep the non-leased HR10-250, but unfortunately something happened to it during the switch. It looks like the power supply went bad (no lights on the front panel, drives don't power-up...but the fan does work). This unit had about 60 hours of shows, so I'm hoping to get it working again. I ordered a new power supply ($70, yikes) and hope that will fix it (it did the last time this happened a few years ago).

All in all this was a good experience (except for the HR10 breaking) and I would not hesitate to do the same thing again.

Thanks again for everybody's input, it was very helpful.

[Tybee Bill]

You can keep both of the HR-10s as long as you keep them active. The installer doesn't want them anyway.

Cabling for them will be your only issue.

They make great SD DVRs as the HD content will probably go away soon. OK for OTA's because they will go away with an HR22.
The tech will deactivate but you can always reactivate if you have a need in another location and are willing to pay the monthly $'s.