HD PVR -- DISH 921 OR DIRECTV HD TIVO? Which will have more HD?

[Marty M]

HD PVR -- DISH 921 OR DIRECTV HD TIVO?

I now subscribe to DISH and have the 6000. I am considering switching to DirecTV for the HD TIVO.

(1) If you had to guess and look into the future -- which provider will have the largest number of HD channels in one or two years? DirecTV or DISH? Anyone want to guess as to whether DISH lives up to its promises to double or triple its number of HD channels? Will DirecTV match that?

(2) It appears that I must decide between the 921 and the DirecTV HD TIVO before the TIVO unit becomes available -- if I plan on making use of the free Superdish offer by Jan 2004. The key question is trying to guess which provider will offer the most HD channels. Aside from that here the pros and cons as I understand it -- and I welcome any comments or observations:

(a) The DirectTV HD TIVO will be far superior as a PVR but rudimentary as a receiver (in my case I already have a stand-alone TIVO with lifetime service for SD channels);

(b) The 921 will have better receiver functions like favorites lists but in terms of programming is more like VCR with a list of programs for the next week or so;

(c) The HD TIVO will have TWO OTA tuners whereas the 921 will have only one -- a big plus for the TIVO unit;

(d) There is speculation that the company that buys Hughes and DirecTV may drop TIVO and use its own PVR.

My decision will be based on which provider appears to be better positioned for HD channels in the future -- and I'm guessing that is DISH with the new satellite and Superdish.

In my case I already have TIVO for SD. But the fact that the TIVO HD unit will have two OTA tuners is a big plus -- you could record two HD shows in the future.

[Mike Richardson]

The two OTA tuners just means you could record 2 OTA HD shows at once. The 921 still has 2 satellite tuners as well as an OTA tuner.

[Marty M]

The two OTA tuners just means you could record 2 OTA HD shows at once. The 921 still has 2 satellite tuners as well as an OTA tuner.

True, but my impression is that the greatest expansion of HD in the last two years has been with the networks -- which is strictly OTA in major urban areas. So TIVO would have a slight advantage in that regard.

DISH won't be carrying the network HD broadcasts -- that will be OTA only. So the TIVO would enable us to record two such broadcasts simultaneously.

That is a greater advantage IMHO than the fact that the 921 has firewire. The firewire connection will only be for the JVC D-VHS. And that is temporary technology. Once recordable HD DVD becomes available we'll all be buying that rather than the JVC units.

But if DISH has a greater possibility of expanding its number HD channels -- that may be the deciding factor in favor of DISH and the 921.

What really matters is the number of channels -- more so than the features of the 921 or the HD TIVO.

Again, in my humble opinion.

[bonscott87]

To be honest, nobody really knows what either provider will be doing and where we will be in a year. To be honest, you'll just have to wait.

Personally, I plan to wait until next summer. By then the following will have happened:

1) DISH will (hopefully) actually get the 921 to market and Superdish up and running. We'll see how it performs. Channels wise, we'll see if DISH can live up to their promise of dozens of HD channels.

2) HD-DirecTivo will be out for a few months (again hopefully) and prices will be coming down. Again, we'll see what direction DirecTV is taking with new channels. Also by then the buyout should be done and we may have a direction for what DirecTV will be doing with Tivo in the future.

3) VOOM will be out for a few months by then. We'll see if they are just a flash in the pan or a serious competator.

4) Cable will be offer much more HD in various areas. Many will have DVR's as well. This really depends if you have a decent cable sysetm available or not.

Competition is good! I figure by next summer we'll have a much clearer picture of what is going on.

[Jester 1]

I was reading through some of the listings because I am also interested in getting the 921 DVR and one site I came across (http://www.vssll.com/921issues.html) scared the poop out of me. Look at the list of problems that people are having with this thing. I have time and again been the guy who has to have the coolest newest stuff and last time around with a Mitsu HDTV which required many trips from the antenna guy and the mitsu repair guy who had to replace the tuner. Anyway, I think I'm going to give technology a little time to catch up with what everyone is trying to accomplish. I am tapeing shows with an off air antenna using a mitsu DVCR that has a big 3 hr taping capacity. Pain in the butt. But it will have to do for a little while. Unless anyone can convice me other wise. HD PVR -- DISH 921 OR DIRECTV HD TIVO?

I now subscribe to DISH and have the 6000. I am considering switching to DirecTV for the HD TIVO.

(1) If you had to guess and look into the future -- which provider will have the largest number of HD channels in one or two years? DirecTV or DISH? Anyone want to guess as to whether DISH lives up to its promises to double or triple its number of HD channels? Will DirecTV match that?

(2) It appears that I must decide between the 921 and the DirecTV HD TIVO before the TIVO unit becomes available -- if I plan on making use of the free Superdish offer by Jan 2004. The key question is trying to guess which provider will offer the most HD channels. Aside from that here the pros and cons as I understand it -- and I welcome any comments or observations:

(a) The DirectTV HD TIVO will be far superior as a PVR but rudimentary as a receiver (in my case I already have a stand-alone TIVO with lifetime service for SD channels);

(b) The 921 will have better receiver functions like favorites lists but in terms of programming is more like VCR with a list of programs for the next week or so;

(c) The HD TIVO will have TWO OTA tuners whereas the 921 will have only one -- a big plus for the TIVO unit;

(d) There is speculation that the company that buys Hughes and DirecTV may drop TIVO and use its own PVR.

My decision will be based on which provider appears to be better positioned for HD channels in the future -- and I'm guessing that is DISH with the new satellite and Superdish.

In my case I already have TIVO for SD. But the fact that the TIVO HD unit will have two OTA tuners is a big plus -- you could record two HD shows in the future.

[aaronwt]

I am happily enjoying my HD-TiVo!

[mini1]

wow-this is an old thread! what has Martly M. decided on?

[tds4182]

The most important and basic question you should ask yourself is this--which one works and which one doesn't?

Read all the comments about both units on this forum, Satellite Guys U.S. and Tivo Community Forum and then you'll know what the answer is.



HD PVR -- DISH 921 OR DIRECTV HD TIVO?

I now subscribe to DISH and have the 6000. I am considering switching to DirecTV for the HD TIVO.

(1) If you had to guess and look into the future -- which provider will have the largest number of HD channels in one or two years? DirecTV or DISH? Anyone want to guess as to whether DISH lives up to its promises to double or triple its number of HD channels? Will DirecTV match that?

(2) It appears that I must decide between the 921 and the DirecTV HD TIVO before the TIVO unit becomes available -- if I plan on making use of the free Superdish offer by Jan 2004. The key question is trying to guess which provider will offer the most HD channels. Aside from that here the pros and cons as I understand it -- and I welcome any comments or observations:

(a) The DirectTV HD TIVO will be far superior as a PVR but rudimentary as a receiver (in my case I already have a stand-alone TIVO with lifetime service for SD channels);

(b) The 921 will have better receiver functions like favorites lists but in terms of programming is more like VCR with a list of programs for the next week or so;

(c) The HD TIVO will have TWO OTA tuners whereas the 921 will have only one -- a big plus for the TIVO unit;

(d) There is speculation that the company that buys Hughes and DirecTV may drop TIVO and use its own PVR.

My decision will be based on which provider appears to be better positioned for HD channels in the future -- and I'm guessing that is DISH with the new satellite and Superdish.

In my case I already have TIVO for SD. But the fact that the TIVO HD unit will have two OTA tuners is a big plus -- you could record two HD shows in the future.