Which HD-DVR for new customer?

[steve230323]

Hi Folks,

I just signed up for DTV and my install is next Wednesday. This question has probably been asked a hundred times but here goes anyway.

Which HD-DVR model number is the best to get? I have read a few posts about calling the installation company and demanding a HR-20-100 or 700. Is this still the best model?

Thanks for your help.
Steve

[Rhoq]

I'd ask the installer to check to see if there is an HR23-700 on the truck.

[say-what]

The HR20 is the original DVR that came out in August of 2006. It has internal OTA tuners.

The HR21, 22 and 23 followed and do not have internal OTA tuners, they need the AM21 add-on.

The HR20 and 21 record up to 50 hours mpeg-4 HD.
The HR22 and 23 record up to 100 hours mpeg-4 HD.

The HR20, 21 and 22 need bbc's attached for the mpeg-4 HD.
The HR23 has a wide-band tuner and does not need the bbc's.

Chances are if you get an HR20 or 21, it's a refurb.

All perform the same functions and have the same features. I have an HR20, 21 and 23.

[evan_s]

Hi Folks,

I just signed up for DTV and my install is next Wednesday. This question has probably been asked a hundred times but here goes anyway.

Which HD-DVR model number is the best to get? I have read a few posts about calling the installation company and demanding a HR-20-100 or 700. Is this still the best model?

Thanks for your help.
Steve

As far as direcTV is concerned they are all functionally equivalent. The HR20 models were popular because they had built in OTA tuners and there was no solution for the other models but the AM21 now allows all the different models to access OTA signals if needed. Some people say one model is faster or slower than the others or is more reliable etc but I have never seen anything consistent or hard evidence of any of it.

HR20 has built in OTA tuners and most are silver.

HR21 has no OTA tuners and are black.

HR22 is an HR 21 with a 500gb hd instead of 320. Allows ~100 hours of hd recording instead of 50.

HR23 uses a wide band tuner so BBCs are not needed anymore and also has a 500gb hd.

Really the hr22 or 23 are better for most people now with the larger Hard drive since you can get an AM21 if you need the OTA.

If you are lucky the installer might let you pick from what ever they have on hand but ultimately you'll get what you get and trying to get something specific is just going to be frustrating since the system isn't setup that way.

[Mertzen]

Ask the tech what models he has on the truck, it can be any of the ones mentioned above. I place bets on a HR22-100. they were made by the boat load.

[Mike Bertelson]

Here's some receiver info.

Model Manufacturer HDD(GB) OTA Color BBC
HR20
-700 300 Yes S Yes
-100 300/320 Yes B/S Yes
HR21
-700 300/320 No B Yes
-200 300/320 No B Yes
-200Pro 500 No B Yes
-100 300/320 No B Yes
HR22
-100 500 No B Yes
HR23
-700 500 No B No

Notes:
1. BBC-Broad Band Converter are required in non-SWM configurations
with the exception of the HR23 which has Wide Band tuners.
2. Colors: B-Black, S-Silver
3. Manufacturers:
-100 = Thomson/Audiovox
-200 = Samsung
-300 = Philips
-400 = Hughes
-500 = Humax
-600 = LG
-700 = Pace Micro Technology
-800 = NEC
4. The HR21/HR22/HR23 require the AM21 to receive OTA.
5. The HR20-100 needs an external antenna to operate in RF mode.
All other HR2x receivers currently manufactured have internal
antennas.

[dreadlk]

IMO the older the receiver the better made it was. I have a HR20-100 and I find it to be much more stable than the HR23-700 that I own. With that said, I also must admit that the HR23 has a slightly better Picture quality in HD than the HR20 but if I had a choice I would still go with the HR20 just based on less rebooting problems.

[WestDC]

You will get what ever falls off the truck!! That's all you deserve. Enjoy and welcome to D*

[blueman2]

Is the AM21 a no cost option, or do I have to pay to get it? The reason I like it is that I find OTA HD much better quality that the compressed MPG4.

[say-what]

The AM21 costs $50 and has to be ordered through DirecTV, the installers do not have these. People who can only get their local channels via OTA have received an AM21 free, but if DirecTV provides these channels via Sat, chances are you'll have to pay or it will be harder to convince a CSR that there is some vital, in-market, OTA channel you must get that DirecTV doesn't provide.

[evan_s]

the suggested price from DirecTV is 49. You may be able to talk someone into giving it to you for free but it's not likely if you can receive locals from directv.

[MartyS]

Is the AM21 a no cost option, or do I have to pay to get it? The reason I like it is that I find OTA HD much better quality that the compressed MPG4.


AM 21 is a $50 upgrade, and I'm pretty sure you have to order it from D*. Most installers that I've seen don't have them on the truck.

Before you comment about the cost, the HR20 had OTA built it and cost $299 intially. When D* decided to not include OTA on the unit (since most people weren't using it) they offered the AM21 for $50 but dropped the initial cost of the HR series to $199.

[blueman2]

Thanks for the quick replies. Actually, I find the $50 price tag very reasonable. One more question, if I can. Does the HR22/23 with the AM21 record the AM21 channels to disk? I am guessing to but wanted to confirm. Since low compressed MPG2, I am guessing it will take a lot more space, though.

[say-what]

The AM21 integrates your OTA into the HR21, 22 and 23's guide and dvr functions - yes, you can record 2 OTA channels at once, or 1 OTA and 1 SAT, or 2 SAT. Being mpeg-2, the OTA recordings take roughly twice the space of a mpeg-4 recording.

[steve230323]

Thanks for the feedback

Steve