HR20 - The Review Discussion Thread

[Gotchaa]

If there is content in the buffer for that show... it will take it... and just it... it won't take the earlier part of the buffer. (I am 100% sure on the first half of that statement and 99% sure on the 2nd... I'll have to test it)

That has been my experience as well. After coming back from watching a recording, I hit record on the live buffer and it started from just the beginning.

[jimmyt]

earl - I havent seen this asked in the 30 plus pages so far.. so .. how is the noise on the unit.. the hr10-250 was / is a little louder than my htpc - so when the two are combined I can slightly hear them from 10 feet away.. but if I shut off the tivo I can barley hear the htpc - meaning the bulk of the noise is the tivo

thanks
jim

[Earl Bonovich]

earl - I havent seen this asked in the 30 plus pages so far.. so .. how is the noise on the unit.. the hr10-250 was / is a little louder than my htpc - so when the two are combined I can slightly hear them from 10 feet away.. but if I shut off the tivo I can barley hear the htpc - meaning the bulk of the noise is the tivo

thanks
jim


Someone did ask... way back when.. .but it has been a while.. :D

I can barely hear the HR20 when I am standing right next to it....
But it is possible the HR10 and the DSR704 that it sits on top of, are drowning out it's noise.

[davidord]

My HR20 was installed yesterday. The first unit was DOA, but the second unit they tried worked. The total install for the dish and HR20 took over five hours.

I was using an H10 receiver. On the guides on the H10 the resolution, or the size of the type changed to a smaller cleaner font, when the input was changed to 720p or 1080i. On the HR20, the guides stay large. Am I missing something? Is there an upgrade coming to fix this problem?

First impressions:

1. Picture quality much better than H10
2. Faster than my Hughes Tivo (standard def)
3. Fairly plain, but easy interface
4. Some audio issues with dolby digital (no sound for a few seconds)
5. Some pixelization, freeze ups (although I need to check transponder signals)

Any help or ideas on the display size would be appreciated. I'm not sure how the H20 or R15 function. I hope this isn't by design. Display guides way too big.

[Earl Bonovich]

My HR20 was installed yesterday. The first unit was DOA, but the second unit they tried worked. The total install for the dish and HR20 took over five hours.

I was using an H10 receiver. On the guides on the H10 the resolution, or the size of the type changed to a smaller cleaner font, when the input was changed to 720p or 1080i. On the HR20, the guides stay large. Am I missing something? Is there an upgrade coming to fix this problem?

First impressions:

1. Picture quality much better than H10
2. Faster than my Hughes Tivo (standard def)
3. Fairly plain, but easy interface
4. Some audio issues with dolby digital (no sound for a few seconds)
5. Some pixelization, freeze ups (although I need to check transponder signals)

Any help or ideas on the display size would be appreciated. I'm not sure how the H20 or R15 function. I hope this isn't by design. Display guides way too big.

The Guide display size is going to be worked on... not sure when, but they are planning to "update" that guide to make better usage of the HD resolution and the larger screens they are on.

[davidord]

The Guide display size is going to be worked on... not sure when, but they are planning to "update" that guide to make better usage of the HD resolution and the larger screens they are on.

Thanks for the quick response. I was surprised to see the guides didn't respond like the H10, since my H10 has been out for some time. I guess, being an early adopter has its pluses and minuses.

[Jeremy W]

The Guide display size is going to be worked on... not sure when, but they are planning to "update" that guide to make better usage of the HD resolution and the larger screens they are on.
Any idea if those enhancements will be coming to the H20 as well?

[Earl Bonovich]

Any idea if those enhancements will be coming to the H20 as well?


The HR20 and the H20 are independent software platforms.
If it works out well on the HR20....then it is possible it will also be put into different systems... but no guarantees.

[Jeremy W]

The HR20 and the H20 are independent software platforms.
It seems like such a waste to have two independent software platforms for two receivers that are so similar. I figured they'd at least have the same code base.

[Earl Bonovich]

It seems like such a waste to have two independent software platforms for two receivers that are so similar. I figured they'd at least have the same code base.

"Seem Similar" on a common UI look...
They are VERY different underneath the covers

[Jeremy W]

"Seem Similar" on a common UI look...
They are VERY different underneath the covers
I know they're different, but I don't see a need for that. The HR20 is, essentially, an H20 with DVR features. Why does that necessitate a completely different code base? It just seems like a waste of time and money to me.

[walters]

I know they're different, but I don't see a need for that. The HR20 is, essentially, an H20 with DVR features. Why does that necessitate a completely different code base? It just seems like a waste of time and money to me.

Those I can sort of understand. What I don't understand is there is apparently nothing common between the R15 and the HR20.

A DTiVo is very different under the covers from a standalone which is very different under the covers from a Humax with DVD recording, but they still share as much as they can. It just makes maintenance so much easier.

[Capmeister]

"Seem Similar" on a common UI look...
They are VERY different underneath the covers

I hope the OTA tuners are the same. I love how much better than the HR10 my H20's tuner is.

[bobnielsen]

Those I can sort of understand. What I don't understand is there is apparently nothing common between the R15 and the HR20.

A DTiVo is very different under the covers from a standalone which is very different under the covers from a Humax with DVD recording, but they still share as much as they can. It just makes maintenance so much easier.

I suspect that the R15 and HR20 have a completely different hardware base (possibly different CPUs and maybe even OS). What is somewhat common is the user interface, which is also common to the D10 and H20. It may look the same, but how they get there is quite different.

[Jeremy W]

I hope the OTA tuners are the same. I love how much better than the HR10 my H20's tuner is.
It has been said that the HR20's tuners are even better than the H20's.

[twaller]

Well, we will find out when they are actually enabled.

[KTHD Images]

I hope the OTA tuners are the same. I love how much better than the HR10 my H20's tuner is.

I also have found that the H20 tuner is better. I am in the San Jose area and NBC -11.1 is often disrupted on the HR10 DVR but not on the H20.

KT

[Jeremy W]

I also have found that the HR20 tuner is better. I am in the San Jose area and NBC -11.1 is often disrupted on the HR10 DVR but not on the HR20.
The OTA tuner is not active on the HR20. Are you talking about the H20?

[dvrblogger]

I group the MPEG4 RSNs along with the big 4 as they are local to a specific area. And many have noticed that the MPEG4 HD locals have had similar motion problems that the MPEG4 RSNs have had. Sorry if I offended you even though I see you quickly edited your post.

THis seems to be an encode rproblem as it happens on H20 bxoes. It is most apparent when viewing upconverted SD on shows that have a tcijker like the morning news shows. I assume it'll get fixed in a software release at teh encoders. The MPEG2 HD feeds of the same station dont have the problem.

[dvrblogger]

I was wondering if you can have multiple HR20's in the same room, with separate IR control of each?
you can set one to use RF and one to use IR

[Earl Bonovich]

you can set one to use RF and one to use IR

The HR20's support TWO IR code sets.
You can control TWO HR20's via IR from one remote.

[dvrblogger]

"Seem Similar" on a common UI look...
They are VERY different underneath the covers
At some point the H20s will have access to applications and share more features with the HR20.Similar ot D10 boxes that got upgraded to support Mosaic channels etc.

[gregftlaud]

just out of curiosity.....

can the hr20 be connected to the 3lnb dish?

i was just wondering for future reference if i just happen to get the hr20 before i have the 5lnb dish installed.

i am not worried about getting the mpeg4 hd locals via the 5lnb dish since i could hook my ota antenna into the hr20 and get my local hds

but like i said...just curious ......would it work with the 3lnb dish? and when u go thru the hr20 setup does it ask what kind of dish setup u have?

thanks
greg

[bigredexpy]

No you can't... And it is not because of the HR20.
The MPEG-4 signal is going to be carried in the frequency range that the diplexors use to carry the OTA signal.

However, there is some technology in the works that will allow you to only use 1 cable to feed the SAT tuners. Not sure when it is going to be released, or all the details on it though.

Thanks for the review Earl. If I'm reading this correctly then I cannot use the same cable to carry both sat and ota from my 5x8 powered multiswitch? Would this apply to ALL of my receivers? My current setup is Phase III and OTA antenna to powered 5x8 to 6 different boxes then diplexor to separate the OTA. That would be a pain, meaning I would need to run ota to each of my locations. Please say it ain't so.

[Spinner]

That's correct. Only the HR20 (and H20) will receive RSNs in HD.

Thanks for the reply.

I guess I will be going with the HR20. Can't tell you how much I will miss Tivo. Like saying goodbye to an old friend.

Has anyone heard if there's a way around the 1 DVR per 6 months rule that Directv now has?

[KTHD Images]

The OTA tuner is not active on the HR20. Are you talking about the H20?

Yes I am. I edited my typo this evening. H20 is correct.

Thanks

KT

[Wally of Escondido]

I live within Los Angeles County and called Retention to see about swapping out our current HR10 for the HR20 but was told that it is only available to new DirecTV customers currently. There is no program yet for current HD DVR customers who want to exchange their receiver for the new one. Can this be true? Has anyone else experienced this?

Also, Retention gave me the HR10 at no charge a few months ago as a long-time customer and told me that when the HR20 was released I would be able to swap it out at no or minimal charge. Now the folks at Retention I spoke with said that I "used up" my 1 free receiver option and I have to pay $400 if I want the HR20. I am not being greedy, and I do appreciate the receiver I was given, but I probably would have waited for the HR20 had I known that I only had 1 silver bullet to use toward a free receiver. Any info or advice that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Drew


Call back again and tell them you would like to upgrade to the HR20. I had to call three times until I got someone that knew what was what. I was told that the reason I had to pay the $400 was that my HD reciever did not have the hard drive it would be free if I did but because I was a long time user they would give me $150 off so it should be installed Tuesday, it would have been installed today but the installer [Ironwood Communications] ran out of HR20s and they let me sit here at home all day--- lost out on a great lunch.

[Earl Bonovich]

I moved some of the RSN discussion to this thread:
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=62645

[Earl Bonovich]

Thanks for the review Earl. If I'm reading this correctly then I cannot use the same cable to carry both sat and ota from my 5x8 powered multiswitch? Would this apply to ALL of my receivers? My current setup is Phase III and OTA antenna to powered 5x8 to 6 different boxes then diplexor to separate the OTA. That would be a pain, meaning I would need to run ota to each of my locations. Please say it ain't so.

This will only be the case when you upgrade to the AT9 Dish...

One way would be to do what I do:

AT-9 > Zinwel WB68 multiswitch
4 outputs of the Zinwell to your existing 5x8

To your MPEG-4 enabled box, connect directly to the zinwell... and use a dedicated OTA line.

For any of your others, use it the way you have it hooked up now.


The OTA diplexing shifts into a frequency range that part of the MPEG-4 sat signal runs.

In the semi-near future, new technology should be comming to only have to have 1 cable for DVRs (FTM)... at that point, you will already have that 2nd wire for the OTA runs.

[davidord]

I've noticed since my install of the HR20 on Wednesday, the MPEG-4 channels have trouble picking up the dolby digital signal. I would say 25 % of the time, my receiver will not pick up the DD signal. The only sure way of getting the audio is to turn to an MPEG-2 hi-def channel, and then turn back to the MPEG-4 HD channel. This may not be the fault of the HR20, because I've tried recording the MPEG-4 HD channels when I did not hear audio and upon playback their is sound. Any thoughts on the cause would be appreciated. My receiver is a Yamaha RXV-995.

Thx.

[Earl Bonovich]

I've noticed since my install of the HR20 on Wednesday, the MPEG-4 channels have trouble picking up the dolby digital signal. I would say 25 % of the time, my receiver will not pick up the DD signal. The only sure way of getting the audio is to turn to an MPEG-2 hi-def channel, and then turn back to the MPEG-4 HD channel. This may not be the fault of the HR20, because I've tried recording the MPEG-4 HD channels when I did not hear audio and upon playback their is sound. Any thoughts on the cause would be appreciated. My receiver is a Yamaha RXV-995.

Thx.

It's not your receiver.... there is just something Odd going on with the MPEG-4 DD audio streams.... They are "there" and are being recorded, but sometimes the just don't output when you tune the channel.

DirecTV knows about the issue, and they are working on correcting.
The work aroudn you listed... is the same one I use (73 then back to the MPEG-4)

Normally this only happens when I first tune in the channel... I haven't lost the audio once I was there.

[davidord]

It's not your receiver.... there is just something Odd going on with the MPEG-4 DD audio streams.... They are "there" and are being recorded, but sometimes the just don't output when you tune the channel.

DirecTV knows about the issue, and they are working on correcting.
The work aroudn you listed... is the same one I use (73 then back to the MPEG-4)

Normally this only happens when I first tune in the channel... I haven't lost the audio once I was there.

Exactly. Once the audio is working, it works.

[smb3d]

It's not your receiver.... there is just something Odd going on with the MPEG-4 DD audio streams.... They are "there" and are being recorded, but sometimes the just don't output when you tune the channel.

DirecTV knows about the issue, and they are working on correcting.
The work aroudn you listed... is the same one I use (73 then back to the MPEG-4)

Normally this only happens when I first tune in the channel... I haven't lost the audio once I was there.

It does that on mine too. If you hit pause then play it will also fix it.

scott

[greywolf]

I just had that happen on MPEG2 recordings. Pause then play makes it work. FF or RWD makes it work too.

[michael reinhart]

Earl - what are the dimensions of the unit?

[pappys]

Earl - what are the dimensions of the unit?


That is in the first 10 pages of this thread

[Earl Bonovich]

Earl - what are the dimensions of the unit?

That is in the first 10 pages of this thread

Page 13 actually

http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=630240&postcount=317

[Wolffpack]

So would now be a time to put this "general discussion" thread to bed and start up individual discussions? Maybe the three topic threads we use on the R15 side along with the software version #s. No one is going to read 32 pages of posts, they will only post their question again.

[davidord]

It does that on mine too. If you hit pause then play it will also fix it.

scott

I tried the "pause then play" and that doesn't work with mine. I need to switch to an MPEG-2 HD channel first, and then switch to the MPEG-4 broadcast to guarantee sound on DD. This is even the case for the recorded content on the hard drive.

[Earl Bonovich]

I tried the "pause then play" and that doesn't work with mine. I need to switch to an MPEG-2 HD channel first, and then switch to the MPEG-4 broadcast to guarantee sound on DD. This is even the case for the recorded content on the hard drive.

I do know they are working on correcting the issue....

[Earl Bonovich]

So would now be a time to put this "general discussion" thread to bed and start up individual discussions? Maybe the three topic threads we use on the R15 side along with the software version #s. No one is going to read 32 pages of posts, they will only post their question again.

I agree...

So with that said...

This discussion on the "Review" is now closed.
Let's continue in the base forum... feel free to link back to this thread.. .and continue any of the discussions..

Create new topics if there isn't one there... and basically... Forum usage as normal.