HD Hardware Upgrade

[PhxGuy520]

I have directv coming out in "upgrade" my existing HD hardware today.

Can anyone tell me if this will provide any immediate differences in picture or channels? I am told by Directv that this will allow for more HD channels but they never said when?

Any other known benefits/issues?

[Earl Bonovich]

The upgrade is probably to the H20.. with the AT9

The new box will give you access to the MPEG-4 streams, which will give you access to your Locals in HD via SAT.

Also pretty much all future HD channels are going to be in MPEG-4, as well as those that we currently have will be converted to MPEG4.

2007 is when we are expecting to see growth in the number of HD channels.

[PhxGuy520]

The upgrade is probably to the H20.. with the AT9

The new box will give you access to the MPEG-4 streams, which will give you access to your Locals in HD via SAT.

Also pretty much all future HD channels are going to be in MPEG-4, as well as those that we currently have will be converted to MPEG4.

2007 is when we are expecting to see growth in the number of HD channels.


Really appreciate the responce. Greatly enjoyed your reviews BTW...So is the H20 the box. And the AT9 the dish?

What the new HD DVR reciver called? Is that just and DVR-H20?

Also I seem to see conflicting reports. Is there a HD DVR that will work with the new dish or is that still yet to be released?

[Earl Bonovich]

Really appreciate the responce. Greatly enjoyed your reviews BTW...So is the H20 the box. And the AT9 the dish?

What the new HD DVR reciver called? Is that just and DVR-H20?

Also I seem to see conflicting reports. Is there a HD DVR that will work with the new dish or is that still yet to be released?


Thank you.

Yes H20 is the receiver and the AT9 is the dish

The official product name is: DirecTV Plus HD DVR... HR20-700

Both the HR10-250 (TiVo powered) and HR20-700 will work with the AT9 (and so will any of the previous SD DVRs as well).

The HR20-700 however is the only one that is capabale of recrording the MPEG-4 offerings.

[PhxGuy520]

Thank you.

Yes H20 is the receiver and the AT9 is the dish

The official product name is: DirecTV Plus HD DVR... HR20-700

Both the HR10-250 (TiVo powered) and HR20-700 will work with the AT9 (and so will any of the previous SD DVRs as well).

The HR20-700 however is the only one that is capabale of recrording the MPEG-4 offerings.

Ok let me run this by you...I have HD Receiver in my living room (no Tivo).
I also have a SD Tivo in my bedroom. Both TV's are HD though.

They said they are going to replace my HD receiver in the living room. I told them I was looking at replacing both units with HD DVR Tivo's.

They stated that the existing HD DVR will not work with the new dish. True?

They said there is one coming out that will. I assume that is the HR20-700? So is that actually out yet? (I'm in Phoenix)

I am a Sunday ticket customer and I have their largest package. If I am gonna be stuck on a 2 year agreement, they better be providing the HD DVR if its out, or I am off to cable.

[Earl Bonovich]

:(

You have some very un-informed people you are talking to.
The new AT9 dish works with ALL existing receivers, and that includes the HR20.

I have had the AT9 dish since January.
All my existing DTivo DVRs, the R15's, the HR20, and the Flip top (which is a D10), all work perfectly fine.

The HR20-700 is out, but only in the LA market (see the dedicated forum and review thread for it)... it should spread out to the rest of the country in the comming weeks. (it was "released" last week)

[PhxGuy520]

:(

You have some very un-informed people you are talking to.
The new AT9 dish works with ALL existing receivers, and that includes the HR20.

I have had the AT9 dish since January.
All my existing DTivo DVRs, the R15's, the HR20, and the Flip top (which is a D10), all work perfectly fine.

The HR20-700 is out, but only in the LA market (see the dedicated forum and review thread for it)... it should spread out to the rest of the country in the comming weeks. (it was "released" last week)

That is what I thought. I am fine not having the newest HD DVR reciever, but its messed up that they lie to me. There exact words were "even if we replaced you existing SD DVR with the EXISTING HD DVR, it would stop working once we replaced the dish. I would suggest just waiting."

Yeah I bet...waiting until I have the new standard upgrade equipment and 2 year agreement, so when I call they simply say I am under contact and the price is 399.99 to upgrade.

[Slim_dtv]

Apologies in advance for the newbie question.

I have been a DTV subscriber for a while, and I got the letter and the phone call the other day telling me I am being "forced" to upgrade my HD hardware (box and dish). The letter states I have to upgrade to continue to get my local channels in HD.

As part of the upgrade, if I agree to give DTV my old equipment, which consists of the original dish, and a Sony SAT-HD300 receiver that I purchased on my own, then I will get the replacement equipment free of charge, with no renewal of my equipment. Is that a pretty standard deal? Anything I should be wary of here?

Also, does anyone know if I will "own" this new equipment or if I have to "lease" it from DTV. I saw a few threads on this, but I haven't been able to make sense of what DTV is doing these days.

Thanks in advance!

[PhxGuy520]

Apologies in advance for the newbie question.

I have been a DTV subscriber for a while, and I got the letter and the phone call the other day telling me I am being "forced" to upgrade my HD hardware (box and dish). The letter states I have to upgrade to continue to get my local channels in HD.

As part of the upgrade, if I agree to give DTV my old equipment, which consists of the original dish, and a Sony SAT-HD300 receiver that I purchased on my own, then I will get the replacement equipment free of charge, with no renewal of my equipment. Is that a pretty standard deal? Anything I should be wary of here?

Also, does anyone know if I will "own" this new equipment or if I have to "lease" it from DTV. I saw a few threads on this, but I haven't been able to make sense of what DTV is doing these days.

Thanks in advance!

I had to upgrade done yesterday.

They didnt take my old receiver.

The lady on the phone said there would be a new 2 year agreement, and the equipment is leased, not owned.

I called them and said if they want me to sign a new 2 year they need to provide me with more or else they can forget about any upgrades, and I would leave for cable. I told them I was upset that any of the 3 people I had to speak to in order to schedule the upgrade even mentioned a new agreement. I was able to get a deal of ...

Free upgrade for my SD Tivo in the bedroom, to a HD Tivo.
$20 off per month for 6 months.
When the new HD DVR hits Phoenix they will replace the HD Tivo in the bedroom with it.

I do have SUnday ticket and the biggest package. The lady said that is what allowed me to swing such a good deal. Not sure if that is the case since I have seen better. But I was happy.