MPEG4 + D* DVRs = Bad time to buy?

[muledoggie]

I have been dying to buy an HD Direct Tivo and upgrade it via weakness.com or someshuch, but I have read where new recievers will be required for MPEG 4 capability. Plus, D* has announced their own DVRs for this year.

Is this a bad time to buy?

Jeff

[ramy]

Yes, this is kind of a bad time to buy. Especially if your in the first 12 markets or so. You might end up paying for the new unit somehow, maybe not much but just the hassle of switching wouldn't be worth it. My market is like number 62 on the list so it will be a while before they want to switch it to Mpeg4 for the local HD and even if they were ready this year there is only one station broadcasting anyway.

[MadScientist]

What are the 12 Markets?

[ramy]

Read all about it in the thread below.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=37221

[Capmeister]

I just got one a few weeks back, and I'm thrilled with it. I won't be getting HD locals over D* any time soon (I'm in the Flint-Saginaw-Baycity Michigan DMA) and for me being able to timeshift my OTA HD locals is fantastic! I feel pretty confident that when the time comes and they switch to Mpeg4, they'll either swap out my box for a 1 year committment, or for that and a nominal fee. I'm not worried.

[RAD]

All indincations so far is that D* will do a swap of your HR10-250 for a new DVR that can do MPEG4 when necessary for no charge. The question I'd ask is what impact doing a mod to the box would have on that deal, would D* only take unmodded boxes back in trade (maybe a good question for any D* folks lurking around to get an answer to).

So IMHO, except for the modding issue I'd recommend going and getting the HR10-250 now and start to enjoy the flexability of being able to timeshift HD programming and Tivo's programming ease.

[muledoggie]

Thanks all for the feedback.

Jeff