Can HD & SD receivers on 1 TV record 4 shows?

[Via Cassian]

I think I read posts saying multiple receivers connected to 1 TV would record more than two shows at a time. If it is true, could one receiver be an HD receiver and one a SD receiver?

If that will work, do I need to order anything extra when I place my new customer order with DirectTV?

Thanks for your advice. :)

John
Tampa, Florida

[CCarncross]

Sure. you could have 10 dvrs hooked to one tv for that matter if you had enough inputs on the tv...as long as you have it wired so each DVR has both tuners active, you can record as many shows as you have available tuners...

[kevinturcotte]

Technically, if you wanted to spend the money for the DVRs, the cabling, and the switches and splitters, you could have a tuner for each channel.

[jdspencer]

As long as you want/need to record more than two shows at a time, why restrict one DVR to SD? Unless this is a cost factor.

I had an HR20 and HR23 connected to my TV for a while.

To simplify wiring from the dish to the DVRs you need the SWM installation.

In my above case, I had four lines from a WB68 run to the living room for the two DVRs.

If you tell DirecTV exactly what your needs are, they will install everything that's necessary.

[curt8403]

I think I read posts saying multiple receivers connected to 1 TV would record more than two shows at a time. If it is true, could one receiver be an HD receiver and one a SD receiver?

If that will work, do I need to order anything extra when I place my new customer order with DirectTV?

Thanks for your advice. :)

John
Tampa, Florida

purchase the SD DVR at a retail store and get the R22 if you can
:hurah: once you have HD up and running the R22 becomes an HD

[cartrivision]

I think I read posts saying multiple receivers connected to 1 TV would record more than two shows at a time. If it is true, could one receiver be an HD receiver and one a SD receiver?

If that will work, do I need to order anything extra when I place my new customer order with DirectTV?

Thanks for your advice. :)

John
Tampa, Florida

You don't need to order anything extra, but the installer will have to run four cables to the one location to feed all four tuners of the two DVRs (unless the SD DVR is a R22 and he does a SWM installation, in which case he will only have to run one cable to the location of the DVRs.)

[Via Cassian]

I placed the order for DirectTV today. Your advice about what to tell the DirectTV CSR about two DVRS on one TV when ordering was excellent, and I think I would have gotten off track and ended up with a big mess if I had not mentioned the things you all wrote. The DirectTV CSRs were very helpful, but it was really good I knew what to say.

I posted some of this in another thread but thought I would post it here too in case someone else has the some questions I did.

Because I was ordering 6 DVRS and needed to make sure the installer knew I need a couple of TV connected to two DVRs, I called in my order. And I had to place two orders to get the 6 DVRs, the first CSR could only take an order for 4 DVRs and she told me to call a number to add the two other DVRs. But the CSRs were great -- some of the most patience and helpful folks. My experience with the DirectTV CSRs was very good.

Two of our TVs will get an HDDVR and a SDDVR. We do not have HDTV, but want the greater capability of the HD DVR and the lower cost of the SD DVRs was why we ended up with both types of DVRs.

Again, thanks for all you guidance. :)

John
Tampa, Florida

[Via Cassian]

purchase the SD DVR at a retail store and get the R22 if you can
:hurah: once you have HD up and running the R22 becomes an HD

Thanks that is good advice. You guys know a lot :)


John
Tampa, Florida

[kevinturcotte]

I placed the order for DirectTV today. Your advice about what to tell the DirectTV CSR about two DVRS on one TV when ordering was excellent, and I think I would have gotten off track and ended up with a big mess if I had not mentioned the things you all wrote. The DirectTV CSRs were very helpful, but it was really good I knew what to say.

I posted some of this in another thread but thought I would post it here too in case someone else has the some questions I did.

Because I was ordering 6 DVRS and needed to make sure the installer knew I need a couple of TV connected to two DVRs, I called in my order. And I had to place two orders to get the 6 DVRs, the first CSR could only take an order for 4 DVRs and she told me to call a number to add the two other DVRs. But the CSRs were great -- some of the most patience and helpful folks. My experience with the DirectTV CSRs was very good.

Two of our TVs will get an HDDVR and a SDDVR. We do not have HDTV, but want the greater capability of the HD DVR and the lower cost of the SD DVRs was why we ended up with both types of DVRs.

Again, thanks for all you guidance. :)

John
Tampa, Florida

How new/old are your TVs? Do they have at least Composite and analog stereo inputs (And enough for all the receivers)? The HD receivers do NOT have analog coax outputs. If this is all your TV has, make sure you have some RF modulator BEFORE the tech gets there-they will NOT have any.

[Via Cassian]

How new/old are your TVs? Do they have at least Composite and analog stereo inputs (And enough for all the receivers)? The HD receivers do NOT have analog coax outputs. If this is all your TV has, make sure you have some RF modulator BEFORE the tech gets there-they will NOT have any.

Our TVs range from 6 to 12 years old -- all non-HD. Many thanks, I am sure at least some of them will need the devices you described. I really appreciate the advice. :)

John
Tampa. Florida

[Beerstalker]

Wow, 6 DVRs. Do you ever need to record 12 things at the same time? If you do that is fine, but if not you may be getting more equipment than you really need. Did you realize that DirecTV now offers MRV which allows you to hook your HD-DVRs together and watch the recodings from one HD-DVR on any other HD-DVR that is attached to it? You no longer need to have the same show recorded in different rooms so you can watch it wherever you want. Actually MRV even allows you to watch content from the HD-DVR on any HD receiver that is hooked up. So if you only really need to be able to record 4 things at one time you could get away with 2 HD-DVRs and multiple HD receivers and still watch all your recordings wherever you want.

[Hutchinshouse]

Technically, if you wanted to spend the money for the DVRs, the cabling, and the switches and splitters, you could have a tuner for each channel.

If ya did that you’d no longer need to heat your house. :lol:

My one HR20 gets pretty hot. I imagine a room full of them will be quite toasty.

[spartanstew]

Our TVs range from 6 to 12 years old -- all non-HD. Many thanks, I am sure at least some of them will need the devices you described. I really appreciate the advice. :)

John
Tampa. Florida

You realize you'll have to pay the HD access fee ($10), right?

Also, I've heard that installers won't install an HD-DVR unless it's on an HDTV, but not sure if that's totally accurate.

[Via Cassian]

Wow, 6 DVRs. Do you ever need to record 12 things at the same time? If you do that is fine, but if not you may be getting more equipment than you really need. Did you realize that DirecTV now offers MRV which allows you to hook your HD-DVRs together and watch the recodings from one HD-DVR on any other HD-DVR that is attached to it? You no longer need to have the same show recorded in different rooms so you can watch it wherever you want. Actually MRV even allows you to watch content from the HD-DVR on any HD receiver that is hooked up. So if you only really need to be able to record 4 things at one time you could get away with 2 HD-DVRs and multiple HD receivers and still watch all your recordings wherever you want.

Thank you for the advice about the MRV, I didn't know that.

And you are right, I hope we made the right choices considering all the factors. :)

John
Tampa

[Via Cassian]

You realize you'll have to pay the HD access fee ($10), right?

Also, I've heard that installers won't install an HD-DVR unless it's on an HDTV, but not sure if that's totally accurate.

Yes, we are paying the HD access. The installer comes on Friday. Thanks for the advice. I will call DirectTV and make sure. :)

John
Tampa

[carl6]

Installing HD without an HD tv is more a local HSP policy than a DirecTV policy (as far as I know). That is to eliminate the risk of the customer putting an HDTV in a week or two later, having some (any) type of problem doing so, and calling the problem into DirecTV. That typically results in a charge back to the installer even though he did nothing wrong.

Calling DirecTV may or may not get you any information on that particular topic.

[Via Cassian]

You realize you'll have to pay the HD access fee ($10), right?

Also, I've heard that installers won't install an HD-DVR unless it's on an HDTV, but not sure if that's totally accurate.

Yes, you are correct. I called DirectTV today and they said, "No HD DVR for you."

They suggested I buy an R22 from Best Buy, but when I looked at the reviews for that DVR there were too many complaints about the things we were trying to improve by switching to DirectTV.

I reluctantly canceled the order. With "check DirectTV when and if the partner with TiVo" on my calendar for later in the year.

Hmm, I am back to square one. We really do not like Brighhouse's new interface and it seems will see little if any improvement by switching. One review of the R22 said it was noisy when the room was quiet. Very bad for our house.

You guys really have been great with your advice and good experience. Much appreciated. :)

John
Tampa

[Beerstalker]

I would call back and ask again. I really can't believe they won't install a HD-DVR just because you don't have an HDTV, it was probably just another CSR that isn't properly trained. In my area everyone has to have HD receivers and DVRs no matter what kind of TV you hook it up to (out local channels are only available on the HD boxes).

Of course you may want to wait a while longer and see what kind of deals they come out with one MRV gets out of Beta testing. They will probably have some kind of deal where they will install all HD equipment and network everything together for you.

Also, I went and checked out a bunch of the reviews at Best Buy .com and you really should ignore most of them. Most of them are people that don't know what they are talking about, or didn't pay attention to what they were told when they leased the box from Best Buy (It is still a lease, you will have to return it to D*, etc.).

[Via Cassian]

I would call back and ask again. I really can't believe they won't install a HD-DVR just because you don't have an HDTV, it was probably just another CSR that isn't properly trained. In my area everyone has to have HD receivers and DVRs no matter what kind of TV you hook it up to (out local channels are only available on the HD boxes).

Of course you may want to wait a while longer and see what kind of deals they come out with one MRV gets out of Beta testing. They will probably have some kind of deal where they will install all HD equipment and network everything together for you.

Also, I went and checked out a bunch of the reviews at Best Buy .com and you really should ignore most of them. Most of them are people that don't know what they are talking about, or didn't pay attention to what they were told when they leased the box from Best Buy (It is still a lease, you will have to return it to D*, etc.).


Excellent advice. Thank you.

I did call DirectTV Customer Service back after I canceled my order. I asked if it was true that I must have an HD TV to get an HD DVR. The CSR said absolutley that was the case, without an HD TV the installer would not install an HD DVR.

Interestingly, the CSR then asked why I wanted the HD DVR, I said because of its greater recording functionality and capability -- I am not interested in watching shows in HD. She said that the HD DVRs and the SD DVRs are exactly the same – no difference (other than the HD reception). I said I had read that the HD DVRs have higher storage capacity than the SD DVRs. She said, no both the HD DVRs and the SD DVRs record up to 200 hours of shows.

Her statement seems to be false based on the information on this DirectTV page (http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/equipment/receivers?footernavtype=-1) which states that HD DVRs can record up to 400 hours of SD and the SD DVR can records only up to 100 hours in SD. She even said that her supervisor who was listening on the conversation said that both the HD DVRs and the SD DVRs record up to 200 hours. So, the CSR and supervisor seem to be making statements contrary to the DirectTV web site. But maybe I am missing some distinction.

My conclusion from this episode is that you all on this forum are the clearly the best source of information about DirectTV for someone like me -- you write answers that are clear and understandable. :)

John

[spartanstew]

Were you getting a discount on the HD-DVR's?

You could always just place your order for the SD-DVR's and then purchase HD-DVR's at BB or Costco or somewhere else and hook them up yourself.

[Via Cassian]

Were you getting a discount on the HD-DVR's?

You could always just place your order for the SD-DVR's and then purchase HD-DVR's at BB or Costco or somewhere else and hook them up yourself.

Yes, before the order was canceled, the order showed that I (if I remember correctly) that one was free and one was less money. I was ordering three HD DVRs. But you made a good point. :)

Thank you.

John
Tampa, Florida

[kevinturcotte]

You may want to play CSR Roulette. Just because one CSR telling you something, that doesn't necessarily mean it's right. You could hang up, call back, and get a CSR that will do exactly what you want.
I'm not about the whole "You MUST have an HDTV to gt a HD DVR" thing. Granted policies to change over time, but I've had HD DVRs installed for me 2006, I believe, but didn't get an HDTV until last year.

[MrShowtime]

what kind of nonsense is going on with the CSRs. I've done HD insalls for customers that don't currently have HDTVs but are signing up to directv and getting one in the near future. Just don't mention not having an HDTV and if the installer says something just tell them that you are getting one delivered next month or whatever. You could also try to use the line that you want it for free now because if you order standard and upgrade later you will get charged for it

edit: most recent one was 2 weeks ago. 1 box HD/DVR SWM attached to SD TV cuz they were buying their HDTV next week. Left customer an HDMI cable and my phone number

[kevinturcotte]

If it absolutely comes down to it, tell them that even though you do have an SDTV, you want to be able to watch the "Smithsonian" channel, or HD-Net.
However, from pics and information seen by the guys at CES, wasn't the only way to connect the new HD receivers to the TV by Component or HDMI?
*PROBABLY* just another mistake of a CSR not knowing what their doing. Be really cool if they actually *DID* know what they're talking about, and the receivers (H24, HR24, whatever you want to call them) are in the system, and that's why it's saying "No Go" for somebody with just SDTV!

[Beerstalker]

However, from pics and information seen by the guys at CES, wasn't the only way to connect the new HD reviver, and HD receivers to the TV by Component or HDMI?

If I remember correctly the new boxes that aren't out yet still had HDMI, Component, and Composite outputs. They just dropped S-video.