Can the HR10-250 record a local channels in HD?

[Skrill]

I called D today as I moving my service and I wanted to see about upgrading to HD + Tivo. I currently own my 1st Gen Hughes DirecTivo box.

I was told by the CS Rep that the current HR10-250 costs $500 to lease (what!!!) and that the current model does not record Locals in HD due to lack of MPEG4 capability. But she said a new model (HR20) would be coming out in late summer -- and that model would have the ability to record locals in HD. I said -- since I am leasing the HR10, I would be able to upgrade to the HR20 when it comes out right. She said -- no decisions have been made as to an upgrade policy.

Hmmm ... now I am thinking of jumping ship to Dish -- can any shed some light on this. I certainly want the ability to record my local channels in HD (and they are offered in HD according to the website).

[RAD]

I called D today as I moving my service and I wanted to see about upgrading to HD + Tivo. I currently own my 1st Gen Hughes DirecTivo box.

I was told by the CS Rep that the current HR10-250 costs $500 to lease (what!!!) and that the current model does not record Locals in HD due to lack of MPEG4 capability. But she said a new model (HR20) would be coming out in late summer -- and that model would have the ability to record locals in HD. I said -- since I am leasing the HR10, I would be able to upgrade to the HR20 when it comes out right. She said -- no decisions have been made as to an upgrade policy.

Hmmm ... now I am thinking of jumping ship to Dish -- can any shed some light on this. I certainly want the ability to record my local channels in HD (and they are offered in HD according to the website).


The HR10-250 will record all ATSC over the air local channels (SD and HD channels). What it won't record is the local HD channels via the KA/KU dish. So if you can put up an OTA antenna and have reception of your local ATSC channels then the HR10-250 will work for you until the new MPEG4 HD DVR comes out sometime in the future.

[Skrill]

The HR10-250 will record all ATSC over the air local channels (SD and HD channels). What it won't record is the local HD channels via the KA/KU dish. So if you can put up an OTA antenna and have reception of your local ATSC channels then the HR10-250 will work for you until the new MPEG4 HD DVR comes out sometime in the future.

What about upgrade paths?? Will they swap out the HR20 for my HR10 with minimal cost?

[RAD]

What about upgrade paths?? Will they swap out the HR20 for my HR10 with minimal cost?
Unknown, nothing has been officially published at this time, so you're taking a chance.

[Skrill]

Boy -- after looking at the HD DVR products offered by DISH -- I am thinking that I should take the oppurtunity to dump DirecTV. Sad -- I love by SD 1st Gen DirecTivo.

[Earl Bonovich]

Boy -- after looking at the HD DVR products offered by DISH -- I am thinking that I should take the oppurtunity to dump DirecTV. Sad -- I love by SD 1st Gen DirecTivo.


Why do you say that?
What is so earth shattering with their product line? (I will be the first to admit that I don't spend much time on the other side of the "pond")

[cabanaboy1977]

Skrill, if you don't want to lease on from D* you can get one off Ebay for 500 or less and that way it will be owned not leased. Also if you have or get the D* replacement plan they will replace the unit if it fails, that way you don't have to worry. I got both of my UTV's of ebay and had them each replaced 2 or 3 times. It's a nice peace of mind, more so because you never know what (if any) issues the one you get off of ebay might have.

[RAD]

Boy -- after looking at the HD DVR products offered by DISH -- I am thinking that I should take the oppurtunity to dump DirecTV. Sad -- I love by SD 1st Gen DirecTivo.

While E*'s hardware usually has more features/bells & whistles they also tend to have a number of problems and aren't as reliable as the HR10-250. I've had mine for 2 years now, always records what it's supposed to. It did have a few days where it rebooted on it's own, a reset/clear fixed that problem.

If you don't mind having the box freeze up, missed recordings, switch errors, etc then E*, IMHO, is a better bet for HD at this point in time. It will be interesting to see if the same hold true a year from now or not.

[Chris Blount]

I called D today as I moving my service and I wanted to see about upgrading to HD + Tivo. I currently own my 1st Gen Hughes DirecTivo box.

I was told by the CS Rep that the current HR10-250 costs $500 to lease (what!!!) and that the current model does not record Locals in HD due to lack of MPEG4 capability. But she said a new model (HR20) would be coming out in late summer -- and that model would have the ability to record locals in HD. I said -- since I am leasing the HR10, I would be able to upgrade to the HR20 when it comes out right. She said -- no decisions have been made as to an upgrade policy.

Hmmm ... now I am thinking of jumping ship to Dish -- can any shed some light on this. I certainly want the ability to record my local channels in HD (and they are offered in HD according to the website).

Welcome to DBSTalk! :welcome_s

It sounds like the CSR was being a bit misleading. The HR10-250 DOES record HD local programming if you can receive them over the air. If you bought one now and you are able to get OTA locals, you will be fine.

As far as an upgrade path to the HR20, it's hard to say. My guess is that DirecTV will offer a pretty good package. Heck, maybe even free but I'm sure the programing commitment would be quite substantial.

Dish Network does offer a pretty good HD-DVR such as the DVR-622 but for some the deal breaker is that the 622 only has ONE OTA tuner. One tuner would only allow you to record one local HD broadcast at a time. Of course, if local HD channels are available in your area via satellite, that limitation is taken away. As a matter of fact, the 622 can record 3 things at one (1 OTA and 2 Satellite) but that functionality isn't officially supported which could lead to issues.

Also, keep in mind that local HD via satellite MAY not look as good as receiving it OTA. I was talking to a local TV station engineer a few months back and he told me that the MPEG 4 transmissions coming from satellite will not look as good as receiving it directly from the station transmitter. Of course, I have no proof of that since he couldn't show me at the time but it's something to think about.

It's really up to you. You can jump ship but you are also taking the chance that the 622 may not live up to your expectations. My advice would be to visit our Dish Network forums to see the sort of changes you will be facing.

[yiannis]

Why do you say that?
What is so earth shattering with their product line? (I will be the first to admit that I don't spend much time on the other side of the "pond")
Switched to DTV last Tuesday, from Dish.
Some of the hundreds of reasons to switch back to Dish.
1 Receivers. The 250 is the extremely slow. The guide is atrocious, only one
favorite channel list, remote cannot control nothing else but the Tv and this not well,
channel line up not logical (not grouped well),HD programming inferior to Dish, basic
receivers of DTV a joke at best. The DTV menu is archaic and convaluted. Nothing is
logical. The remotes ? Are you kidding me. DTV has no idea about ergonomics. I can go on and on. I swiched for the Setanta Sports. Have already regreted it.

[jonaswan2]

Switched to DTV last Tuesday, from Dish.
Some of the hundreds of reasons to switch back to Dish.
1 Receivers. The 250 is the extremely slow. The guide is atrocious, only one
favorite channel list, remote cannot control nothing else but the Tv and this not well,
channel line up not logical (not grouped well),HD programming inferior to Dish, basic
receivers of DTV a joke at best. The DTV menu is archaic and convaluted. Nothing is
logical. The remotes ? Are you kidding me. DTV has no idea about ergonomics. I can go on and on. I swiched for the Setanta Sports. Have already regreted it.

So I get the feeling that you don't like Tivo? Yeah, if you upgrade to the HR20, you're going to have to deal with the same "archaic and convaluted" menu system the D10 and D11s have.

I think the SD channel line up is grouped pretty well, but... And yes, the white DirecTV remotes SUCK But those are getting replaced soon. I've heard nothing but good things about the Tivo's remote.

I'm afraid that DirecTV and Dish Network are so different, that you'll be very overwhelmed if you switch. You may just want to switch back unless you really, really love HD.

[Earl Bonovich]

1) The TiVo remote can also control a reciever if you program it correctly... but other then that... it isn't a universal remote.

2) If you don't like the menu structure you are seeing on the current DTV receivers (D10,D11, R15) (as jonaswan2 stated)... you might as well switch back now. As that is the foundation GUI for all the current and next generation DirecTV recievers to come out.

The HD programming is inferior to Dish today... but over the next 6 - 12 months, DirecTV will catchup very rapidly as it completes it MPEG-4 rollout.

yes the HR10-250 is extremely slow. It is also a 3 year old product. It is soon to be "replaced" by the HR20.

[yiannis]

So I get the feeling that you don't like Tivo? Yeah, if you upgrade to the HR20, you're going to have to deal with the same "archaic and convaluted" menu system the D10 and D11s have.

I think the SD channel line up is grouped pretty well, but... And yes, the white DirecTV remotes SUCK But those are getting replaced soon. I've heard nothing but good things about the Tivo's remote.

I'm afraid that DirecTV and Dish Network are so different, that you'll be very overwhelmed if you switch. You may just want to switch back unless you really, really love HD.
You are right. The SD line up is ok, but Dish has more HD channels. I am talking
about the SD channel line up, ie CNN 202 and FOX 360. I am talking about the lack of
favorite channel lists ( Only one ), but in all this gloom, what makes me smile is that
I switched only 7 days ago so I can cancel everything.
Tomorrow I will ga back to Dish. Honestly there is NO cmparison.

[jonaswan2]

You are right. The SD line up is ok, but Dish has more HD channels. I am talking
about the SD channel line up, ie CNN 202 and FOX 360. I am talking about the lack of
favorite channel lists ( Only one ), but in all this gloom, what makes me smile is that
I switched only 7 days ago so I can cancel everything.
Tomorrow I will ga back to Dish. Honestly there is NO cmparison.

That's why there is News Mix! No really, it seems that Fox News is with the news channels and CNN is with the Turner news channels, because they are obviously special.

[Earl Bonovich]

Tomorrow I will ga back to Dish. Honestly there is NO cmparison.

And that is why there is more then one provider out there.

There is.... and never will be... one solution that satisfies everyone.

Good luck to you.