Which is better hr10-250 or hr20-700

[zx6r99]

I just bought another tv and I love it. I have the hr10 and it has works great I love it. I get the local with ota picture is great. Can I cant justifie paying $300 dollars for something that I am renting and have to give it back. Why are the hr10s going for more money also? Any help would be great.

[Earl Bonovich]

The HR10's have not been made in over a year now... so their stock is very very low.

Also with some of the issues that the HR20 has had in it's early months so far, has caused some people to start to "hord" to a degree the HR10's that are out there.... Also it is TiVo based, and some people just preferr it to the new systems.

Two things to note... the HR10 has about 12 - 18 months (IMHO) until the SAT based MPEG-2 HD channels will no longer be available.

Also all the "announced" HD channels comming this year, will be in MPEG-4, which the HR10 can not handle.

As for being "Better" all depends on you what your key features are.. about the units... their are arguments for both side.

[zx6r99]

So dtv wont have a flash update for the hr10 we spent a lot of money for this box to turn into a large paper weight. I am still on hold with dtv about the hr20.

[monetnj]

So dtv wont have a flash update for the hr10 we spent a lot of money for this box to turn into a large paper weight. I am still on hold with dtv about the hr20.

Nope, no flash update. I don't think the hardware can do the MPEG4 decoding. So, yes, it will be an expensive paperweight, although it will still continue to record OTA. However, HR10s are going for a good chunk of change on eBay right now. I'm considering selling both of mine in the near future and then getting two HR20s.

[Earl Bonovich]

So dtv wont have a flash update for the hr10 we spent a lot of money for this box to turn into a large paper weight. I am still on hold with dtv about the hr20.

It is so much more then just a "flash" update that would be necessary.

The physical SAT tuners in the system are not capable of tuning in the Ku band, that the MPEG-4 stream will be comming in on.

And the reason why these units can decode the compressed video formats as fast as they can, is dedicated hardware.

And the HR10 does not have a decoding chipset for the MPEG-4 stream.
And you have to remember... that the HR10 was designed over 3+ years ago..

So at that time, even if the plans where known about the MPEG-4... who is to say the chipsets and the tuners where ready at that time to go into the hardware.

So yes... a lot of people paid a lot of money (I spent the nearl $1,000 on mine) on them.

[zx6r99]

I jsut got off the phone with dtv and they told me that I was eligable for an $99 upgrade but then I would have to give them my hr10 that i spend over $600 on it. Even if it is a paper weight it is mine and I should be able to do what ever I want with it. I just found out that I am no longer in a contract with dtv. Does anyone know where to find hr20 that arent leased please pm me. If I cand find legit hr20 that I can buy and keep then I will most likely go to cable. All help is great.

[Earl Bonovich]

Does anyone know where to find hr20 that arent leased please pm me. If I cand find legit hr20 that I can buy and keep then I will most likely go to cable. All help is great.

Unless you are willing to pay $800+ for the HR20... they will all be leased.

As for the HR10... you should have been able to keep the HR10... I would just call back at a later time.

[zx6r99]

I have been using the ota and getting local channels. When they switch to mpeg4 the box will still work with sd channels and still do ota channels with no problem right.

[wilbur_the_goose]

zx6r99,
Chase Carey, the CEO of DirecTV said that the upgrade path would be essentially free of charge. (He said this in a speach at the CES last week)

Sounds like you may have gotten a CSR that didn't hear his/her boss's statement, OR (more likely), his messages hasn't become official policy yet.

Be patient - I'm not thrilled with DirecTV right now, but I do think they'll do us right in this area. Heck - I have 2 HR10's - and I spent $999 for each - how do you think I feel? :)

[Car1181]

I jsut got off the phone with dtv and they told me that I was eligable for an $99 upgrade but then I would have to give them my hr10 that i spend over $600 on it. Even if it is a paper weight it is mine and I should be able to do what ever I want with it. I just found out that I am no longer in a contract with dtv. Does anyone know where to find hr20 that arent leased please pm me. If I cand find legit hr20 that I can buy and keep then I will most likely go to cable. All help is great.

I litterally just got off the phone with D* and am getting the HR20 and new sat dish installed Feb 2nd for no charge and I keep the HR10 that I spent $720.00 on in Nov 95. It started out at $199.00, I got switched to a supervisor and it immediately went to $99.00 and after about a few minutes of me politely explaining my displeasure that I paid over $700.00 for a box that D* told me was top of the line but will soon be obsolete, it went to FREE and keep the HR10 because it belonged to me. I also let them know that I didn't appreciate that I have been paying the same price as my neighbor for HD and MLB Extra Innings yet he got Met and Yankee games in HD last year (SNY and YES went HD late in the season for games only) and I did not. He gets Ranger games in HD and I cannot. The supervisor was easy to deal with and very polite. My suggestion is try again and ask for a supervisor. Be polite and explain as much as you can. It worked for me and it was not difficult. And by keeping the HR10 you don't have to be overly concerned about any problems the HR20 might have. Good luck.

[Earl Bonovich]

.... I keep the HR10 that I spent $720.00 on in Nov 95.

Nov 95 ?

[Car1181]

Nov 95 ?

Sorry. 2005. I'm still living in the past!!

[LoweBoy]

Is the OTA recording function working yet? I am wanting to upgrade my HR10-250 and a SD tivo for the HR20-700. Maybe I will just upgrade the SD and move the HR-250 to the bedroom. I am going to call and see what they will do for me. I installed my own Slimline by myself with the meter on my unit with no problems. I paid $100 for the dish. I am going to see if they will comp me back on that too.

[redfiver]

Is the OTA recording function working yet? I am wanting to upgrade my HR10-250 and a SD tivo for the HR20-700. Maybe I will just upgrade the SD and move the HR-250 to the bedroom. I am going to call and see what they will do for me. I installed my own Slimline by myself with the meter on my unit with no problems. I paid $100 for the dish. I am going to see if they will comp me back on that too.

Yes, OTA recording on the HR20 works.

[Groundhog45]

Is the OTA recording function working yet? I am wanting to upgrade my HR10-250 and a SD tivo for the HR20-700. Maybe I will just upgrade the SD and move the HR-250 to the bedroom. I am going to call and see what they will do for me. I installed my own Slimline by myself with the meter on my unit with no problems. I paid $100 for the dish. I am going to see if they will comp me back on that too.

The OTA tuners have been activated, along with the networking functions to be able to see and play photos and MP3s on a PC.

GH

[zx6r99]

I litterally just got off the phone with D* and am getting the HR20 and new sat dish installed Feb 2nd for no charge and I keep the HR10 that I spent $720.00 on in Nov 95. It started out at $199.00, I got switched to a supervisor and it immediately went to $99.00 and after about a few minutes of me politely explaining my displeasure that I paid over $700.00 for a box that D* told me was top of the line but will soon be obsolete, it went to FREE and keep the HR10 because it belonged to me. I also let them know that I didn't appreciate that I have been paying the same price as my neighbor for HD and MLB Extra Innings yet he got Met and Yankee games in HD last year (SNY and YES went HD late in the season for games only) and I did not. He gets Ranger games in HD and I cannot. The supervisor was easy to deal with and very polite. My suggestion is try again and ask for a supervisor. Be polite and explain as much as you can. It worked for me and it was not difficult. And by keeping the HR10 you don't have to be overly concerned about any problems the HR20 might have. Good luck.

I just got off the phone with dtv and got someone that knew what was going on I am getting 2 hr20's for under $200 with shipping included and installed with a new dish. MOST of all I am keeping the hr10. I was scared for a while I thought that I might have to leave them over this. But after 3-4 calls in the last two days and on the phone or around 45 min each time i am now happy. JUst not with the install date of March 13 but what are you going to do. I was also told that the charge for the lease also cover the new dish wiring and box so if any thing goes wrong they fix for free.

[Tom Robertson]

I just got off the phone with dtv and got someone that knew what was going on I am getting 2 hr20's for under $200 with shipping included and installed with a new dish. MOST of all I am keeping the hr10. I was scared for a while I thought that I might have to leave them over this. But after 3-4 calls in the last two days and on the phone or around 45 min each time i am now happy. JUst not with the install date of March 13 but what are you going to do. I was also told that the charge for the lease also cover the new dish wiring and box so if any thing goes wrong they fix for free.

Awesome. Now, go to your directv.com online account and view your orders, and push the install date up. If you are lucky, you might get it installed before the SB. Or valentines. Or March madness starts.

Good luck,
Tom

[Crimson]

Well lets see.. -250 versus -700.. clearly the HR-20 is better its got 450 more 'whatevers' after the dash!

[LoweBoy]

What is a good number to call for the upgrades? I called the regular number and they transfered me to the tech support dept. At tech support the ole boy said I should already be receiving the HD locals on my HR10 as long as I have the 5 lnb dish. They have got some serious problems there with the knowledge base.

[wilbur_the_goose]

LoweBoy,
I sent D* a very nice e-mail thru their website and their retention department called me on the weekend. I've been busy with work, but I'll call them back tonite.

[zx6r99]

I just called the 800 number and asked for the install deptment and told them how I fell about the charges and wanting to take the hr10 from me. Told them I would leave dtv before I gave something up that I paid so much for. And they took care of it install deptment can do better then the csr's can.