Possible HR20 Release Date

[10336417]

Hey guys,
First post here, but I've read for quite awhile. Anyway, I just got back from Las Vegas where I attended a convention where DirecTV was one of the vendor sponsors. I was inquiring about the release date of the HR20 with one of their people, and she said September 12th was the date. She herself was a beta tester of the unit and said that it was going very well, and they were going to move it up.

I'd say take this with a grain of salt, because DirecTV people are usually pretty bad with information, but she really sounded sure of herself and seemed to know what she was talking about...

[Doaner]

did she tell you what kind of launch its going to be???

[RunnerFL]

Hey guys,
First post here, but I've read for quite awhile. Anyway, I just got back from Las Vegas where I attended a convention where DirecTV was one of the vendor sponsors. I was inquiring about the release date of the HR20 with one of their people, and she said September 12th was the date. She herself was a beta tester of the unit and said that it was going very well, and they were going to move it up.

I'd say take this with a grain of salt, because DirecTV people are usually pretty bad with information, but she really sounded sure of herself and seemed to know what she was talking about...


Considering it was released, albeit to a selected area, on August 16th I'd say her information was just a bit off.

[Clint Lamor]

:lol: ya I was think the same thing RunnerFL

[bonscott87]

Considering it was released, albeit to a selected area, on August 16th I'd say her information was just a bit off.


Well, Sept 12th sound about right for a national release outside of L.A. :)

[nullrider]

I live in the Dallas/Ft Worth area and I have just completed my appointment for installation for Sept 2. I made sure that this is the HR20 and the 5 lnb dish.

[AstroDad]

I live in the Dallas/Ft Worth area and I have just completed my appointment for installation for Sept 2. I made sure that this is the HR20 and the 5 lnb dish.

how did you schedule this? Phone? Website?

[pdawg17]

I live in the Dallas/Ft Worth area and I have just completed my appointment for installation for Sept 2. I made sure that this is the HR20 and the 5 lnb dish.

What kind of deal did you get for the HR20?

[pappys]

hmmm...this appears to be the first sightings out of LA besides the lucky few who were in the D* website at EXACTLY the right minute when it was on there (i.e. colorado ppl)

[nullrider]

What kind of deal did you get for the HR20?

It was $300 (lease) with a 2 year commitment, and they install with new 5 lnb dish.

[nullrider]

how did you schedule this? Phone? Website?

I called them on the phone to check on release date. The CSR told me that it was available to me now.

[bersrker]

I live in Keller, Tx and the CSR told me that it would be available in my area in late August. I told him that this is late August, and he told me to call back in September. Gotta love that CSR roulette!

[edtex]

I live in Dallas, just got off the phone, and had no luck. They did say it was "just around the corner", and that they were about to publish a specific date on their website.

[Rockywwf]

I got this reply from DTV after asking when the HR20 will be available in Connecticut:

DIRECTV Customer Service wrote:



SUBJECT
HR20 available in CT

DISCUSSION THREAD
RESPONSE (CHRISTINE) 08/21/2006 02:00 PM
Dear Mr. xxxxxx,

Thanks for your interest in a high definition DVR. As you know, we currently offer an HD DVR that can record programming off of our national HD stations like TNT HD, HBO HD or Discovery HD that are broadcast in MPEG-2 format. However, judging from your email, it sounds like you’re more interested in one that can record off of your local channels, which are broadcast in MPEG 4 format.

We’re in the testing stages for our new HD DVR that can record programming broadcast in both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 format, but I don’t expect it to be available until fall. I’m sorry I don’t have any more specific information right now, but stay tuned to directv.com for the latest news about new equipment.

In addition you can learn more about D****TV equipment by signing up for our technical newsletter. Just respond to this message and we’ll make sure you get the all of the latest equipment news.

Thanks again for writing.

Sincerely,

Christine
D****V Customer Service
CUSTOMER 08/21/2006 09:56 AM
D****TV FEEDBACK MESSAGE


Testing??? LA is a test market??? I doubt it. Anyway I guess I'll just wait to hear the official announcement.

BTW - My 1st post

[nullrider]

I live in Dallas, just got off the phone, and had no luck. They did say it was "just around the corner", and that they were about to publish a specific date on their website.

Give it another try. You might get someone who knows what they are talking about. If not, ask to talk to the supervisor.

[Jeremy W]

Testing??? LA is a test market???
Basically, yes.

[gregftlaud]

why are any of you paying 300 bucks for this upgrade???

i refused to give in and called retention like 5 times and finally got a guy to note my account that when i upgrade i am to get all of my new hardware for free...including the hr20....AND i get to keep my hr10 250. also getting free installation and the dish for free.

dont pay!

[bocasierra]

D* took away my distant HD channels in early July, saying that the Sacramento locals HD's are now available, so I need to switch to them. They agreed to give me an H20 so I could pick up the Sac HD locals and swap up to the HR20 when it's available. (I was also told two years ago when I got my HR10 that they would upgrade to the HR20 for free when available.)

Today, the tech came out to install the AT9 dish and H20 and told me they were told today that the HR20 would be arriving at their office (Sacramento) early next week. So it sounds like, at least for northern California, we are close.

[nullrider]

why are any of you paying 300 bucks for this upgrade???

i refused to give in and called retention like 5 times and finally got a guy to note my account that when i upgrade i am to get all of my new hardware for free...including the hr20....AND i get to keep my hr10 250. also getting free installation and the dish for free.

dont pay!

Because I don't have an HD dvr. I held out for one with no Tivo. I had UltimateTV and after it lost a receiver I had to get Tivo. That was about 2 steps down.

[grgcombs]

I had a similar conversation a couple of weeks ago nullrider, and I'm in Dallas. I got a "deal" on a HR20 for $299 at $100 off the normal price. Please note I was speaking to a tier-1 sales person. He silently didn't know there was such a thing as an HR20 ... he thought I was talking about an HR10, which I already own, but he failed to notice that.

I denied the deal and called CRS, complaining that I'd just spent $1000 on the HR10 less than a year ago. The customer retention center knew what an HR20 was and said basically the old sales guy was an idiot trying to sell me something I already owned. She said the HR20's would likely be available in September, but they don't have any other information or even pricing at this point for folks in our area.

So long story short, make sure you're getting the HR20 on Sept 2 (I doubt it) and not the HR10 (likely).

[nullrider]

I had a similar conversation a couple of weeks ago nullrider, and I'm in Dallas. I got a "deal" on a HR20 for $299 at $100 off the normal price. Please note I was speaking to a tier-1 sales person. He silently didn't know there was such a thing as an HR20 ... he thought I was talking about an HR10, which I already own, but he failed to notice that.

I denied the deal and called CRS, complaining that I'd just spent $1000 on the HR10 less than a year ago. The customer retention center knew what an HR20 was and said basically the old sales guy was an idiot trying to sell me something I already owned. She said the HR20's would likely be available in September, but they don't have any other information or even pricing at this point for folks in our area.

So long story short, make sure you're getting the HR20 on Sept 2 (I doubt it) and not the HR10 (likely).

I made very sure of what I was getting. The person that I talked to knew about the HR20, and he made sure that I was getting it. He also knew about the testing in LA and said that the Dallas market was right behind it, so it was available to me. We talked about the 5 lnb dish, and the mix channels. I am confident that I am getting the HR20.

[vrmerlin]

I made very sure of what I was getting. The person that I talked to knew about the HR20, and he made sure that I was getting it. He also knew about the testing in LA and said that the Dallas market was right behind it, so it was available to me. We talked about the 5 lnb dish, and the mix channels. I am confident that I am getting the HR20.


Yea, I went through the same conversation with the sales lady regarding getting an HR20 (she even put me on hold to check that my area (in CA but outside LA) was able to get HR20s.

When the installer showed up, he had an HR10 and had no idea when the HR20s would be available. So, I have a new dish, but no HD yet...

[goldwing]

This is my first post here so now sure if in correct place but here it goes anyway. I called dtv about getting a HR20 here in sw ohio. It took 4 phone calls before i got anyone who had a clue about anything. Yesterday they told me that there not even on the market yet (still waiting on fcc go ahead) but today i spoke to a guy named Rodney and he told me there will be an installer coming out next tuesday to install one for me :) He also comfirmed that the ota tuners will be enabled in Oct along with a few other bug fixes.( digital audio bug fix etc) Looks like i might be the first in Ohio to get this new box but keep in mind that i don't have anything yet. I sure hope i don't get a phone call monday telling me "not yet fella" I also have no way to use the 5 lnb dish (trees) so i am going to have to stick with 101/110/119 for now with my multiswitch. I don't need locals through sat anyway because i have ota antenna. Looks like i will still need my sony ota hd dvr for a few months yet. I just hope i can use the rg6 feeds i have with 1 feed using a diplextor since i won't be getting any mpg4 hd. When the time comes that i need mpg4 to get espn and espn2 in hd i will need to get my chainsaw back out again. Anyway i just wanted to let everyone know that there is a chance that you can get one even if not in cal or chicago, just might take more then 1 or 3 calls. I guess i will find out tuesday.

[roykeane]

Does anybody know the difference between the two? I ask b/c there is a thread on avsforum entitled HR20-250. Thanks!

[Jeremy W]

The HR20-250 doesn't exist. The HR10-250 does, but that's the HD Tivo.

[Earl Bonovich]

The HR20-250 doesn't exist. The HR10-250 does, but that's the HD Tivo.

Correct.

The HR20-250 was the name people where calling it following the nomenclature of teh HR10-250

In the HR10-250 the 250 denoted teh size of the hard drive.

DirecTV doesn't use that nomenclature anymore.

The -700 refers to the manufacturer of the box