Just receved a new AM21, can I record 4 programs at a time now?

[pshivers]

Just joined up on this forum, so this is my first post. I've been doing a lot of reading and learning!

I hooked up my DOD a couple of weeks ago (On my own, before I found this forum) on my HR21-100 and am very pleased with that option, lots of good Old movies!

I ordered a AM21 yesterday afternoon from D* and my Son reports it arrived early this morning.

My question is can I record 4 programs at a time now? (2 using the HR21 tuners and 2 using the AM21 tuners).

I guess that might actually be 5 programs if you include the DOD downloads...

I also have a WD 1TB WD1001FALS HDD and a ANTEC MX-1 on order from Newegg that should be here in a couple of days to increase my recording capacity.

I will also be be trying out the DirecTV2PC program to see how well that works on my Vista 64-bit laptop tonight.

I've had my HR21 for almost a year now, I did not realize I had all these options till I started reading through this forum! (You guys have cost me at least $200! :lol:)

Thanks for all the great information!

[Michael D'Angelo]

:welcome_s to DBSTalk!

You can only record two programs at one time. Either two SAT, two OTA, or one of each.

Also you eSATA drive will replace the internal drive, not add on to it.

[dodge boy]

If you hook it up to a network you can actually download 1 show and record 2 shows (as noted above) at the same time. If you use Directv2PC you can watch a previously recorded show on a computer on your network and watch another pre recorded show on your Tv all while downloading 1 show and recording 2. This can be a "busy little box".

And by the way, Welcome!!!

[pshivers]

Thanks for the welcome Guys!

The AM21 install went almost flawlessly, forgot to plug the USB into the HR21 the first time (Trying to get back to the Lakers game too quickly!). Works great. Yep, recording capacity as far as concurrent sessions did not change, oh well,... :icon_stup read too much "Between the lines"!

Picture is great, 70+ DTV OTA channels here in Los Angeles area.

My 1tb external drive will be here tonight, thanks for the warning on it replacing the current drive and not adding to the capacity, I figure 1TB should be plenty!

I did not get to the DirecTV2PC program yet, will try that tonight before I install the external hard drive.

Still have lots of reading to pour over in this forum!

Thanks Again!

[hasan]

Thanks for the welcome Guys!

The AM21 install went almost flawlessly, forgot to plug the USB into the HR21 the first time (Trying to get back to the Lakers game too quickly!). Works great. Yep, recording capacity as far as concurrent sessions did not change, oh well,... :icon_stup read too much "Between the lines"!

Picture is great, 70+ DTV OTA channels here in Los Angeles area.

My 1tb external drive will be here tonight, thanks for the warning on it replacing the current drive and not adding to the capacity, I figure 1TB should be plenty!

I did not get to the DirecTV2PC program yet, will try that tonight before I install the external hard drive.

Still have lots of reading to pour over in this forum!

Thanks Again!

You're going to have a LOT of fun! Reading, testing and playing, as well as every so often actually watching something is endlessly entertaining. Welcome to the madness.:)

[pshivers]

Installed the WD 1TB WD1001FALS HDD and a ANTEC MX-1 box last night. Plugged it in, turned the HR21 back on, took a few seconds to format the Hard drive and has been working flawlessly for the past 24 hours.! Cool!

Looks like all my listing are back now and have reprogrammed for all the recording I want. DOD came back on its own, no intervention on my part.

I tried DirecTV2PC last night and it could not find a Server. Thought about it today, plugged my laptop into the same router as my HR21, (I have two routers in my house), and it started immediately connecting to the server with zero delay. DirecTV2PC works pretty well, not 100% (Problems with sound drivers on some movies), but pretty good playback for the most part...

Changed my phone system around a little so now I am getting Caller ID on my TV screen, that is a very convenient option, should have changed things a long time ago!

Anybody remember the TV ad campaign "Answer the TV"? :lol:

[Wisegoat]

When using your OTA, record from the satellite feeds if they exist. They will take up half the space of the OTA version.

The only thing you get besides the subchannels are KOCE50 (PBS from Orange County) and KDOC56 (which doesn't show anything in HD). I use my OTA strictly for TV tuners and the occasional subchannel for news/weather.

[wmj5]

If I get the h21-xxx receiver do they charge you for the AM21?

[pshivers]

THe AM21 is an extra cost item,($50 from D*). I have read about instances where the device was provided free of charge because of D* inability to provide the customer local OTA programming via the satellite, but this is case by case and not normal procedure for D*.

[dennisj00]

I tried DirecTV2PC last night and it could not find a Server. Thought about it today, plugged my laptop into the same router as my HR21, (I have two routers in my house), and it started immediately connecting to the server with zero delay. DirecTV2PC works pretty well, not 100% (Problems with sound drivers on some movies), but pretty good playback for the most part...



Do you have two Internet Providers? If not, you probably don't need two routers unless you're trying to isolate office / home machines.

In general, if you just need the ports, you can daisy chain from the main router (with the WAN connection) to a Lan port, turn off DHCP on the second, and don't use the WAN port on the second router.

Or buy a 10/100 or 1000 switch for $12-50 bucks.

Enjoy your setup and reading - - and SPEND that money!

[pshivers]

I have two routers because one is from Vonage for VoIP (Not wireless) and the other is my wireless router where I have everything plugged into except the HR21, (Ran out of ports), which is plugged into the Vonage router. The HR21 didn't need to be on the same subnet as my Home Office equipment when I first started using it, so I didn't give it a 2nd thought.

I have been using Vonage VoIP for 5 years now and have decided to eliminate it. Seems Vonage can not resolve a ongoing "One way Dropped Call" problem, they like to point fingers at Charter and Charter claims "No problems", very frustrating to keep losing half the conversation every 4-5 minutes especially when talking on International Long Distance. This also causes problem with my Internet connection to the point I have to power down both routers and the Charter "Modem" for about 15 minutes then bring them back up sequentially so that I have a reliable connection again, this can be a real PITA!

I have 10,751 kb/s download and 994 kb/s upload with Charter (tested using http://www.speedtest.net/ ),

http://www.speedtest.net/result/430167816.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

when I am using Vonage VoIP the download speed is cut in half and the upload is pretty much zeroed out. Running a big download and making a phone call simultaneously almost guarantees the internet connection will drop out completely and I will have to go through a restart procedure of the Modem and routers.

So I ramped up my existing "Land Line" from AT&T (use to be for D* dialup and my House Alarm only) to full service (Found a good Asia/Philippines Long Distance rate) added all the "bells and whistles" services and forwarded all my Vonage calls to my AT&T number this past Friday. Sound quality is much improved to the PI and the "voice delay" is completely gone.

I'll drop Vonage in June when my annual service plan runs out and transfer that phone number to my current AT&T line. I've had the same phone number since 1947 that is currently being used on the Vonage line, kind of a "Family heirloom" I inherited from my parents when I bought my house from my Dad 20 years ago.

Long story made even longer... The Vonage router will be eliminated and I will just add a simple 8 port switch to make up for the lack of ports... seems like I'm going to need them, I keep finding more toys to "Plug In"! At least the HR21 comes with a "Pass Through" 2 port hub. I can plug the Wii into it as the Wii wireless connection is a bit laggy for games... :)

[Paul E Fox II]

THe AM21 is an extra cost item,($50 from D*). I have read about instances where the device was provided free of charge because of D* inability to provide the customer local OTA programming via the satellite, but this is case by case and not normal procedure for D*.

I have two AM21s...managed to get the first one for free...not so lucky with number 2 though I didn't really try very hard.