[uncrph90]

I wanted to record the 3 repeats of Hero's airing Sunday night. I have seen them and have a season pass, but have deleted them. I thought it would be neat to rewatch and look for more clues, etc. I selected the 8pm showing in the guide and to make it easier I just set it for 3 extra hours. (Two hours would have been fine to get all 3 hours of the show, but it jumps from 1.5 to 3 hours.) I recorded off of MPEG2 national NBC. No weather issues, no lost signal, no power glitches, nothing else recording, at least 30% space available.

So, why is my recording a partial that ends at 2 hours and 12 minutes? I don't want to be someone that continually bashes the HR20, but it is getting ridiculous. I can understand some/many of the issues taking time and updates to correct and implement; HDMI, channel lists, ota, MPEG4 glitches, among others.

But why release a box that doesn't correctly record what it is told to record? THAT is the primary function of a DVR. Get that right BEFORE release.

Earl, any idea WHEN the HR20 will be reliable enough for us to trust that it will do what it says it will?

 

[Marty B]

Earl, any idea WHEN the HR20 will be reliable enough for us to trust that it will do what it says it will?

All bugs both known and unknown, will be fixed by October 30, 2008 11:17am.

Now you have a time.

I am sure the one I just pulled out of the air is no less accurate than one that the lead sofware engineer from DircTV can give you.

 

[glennb]

I set my HR20 to record each one seperately on Sunday night and it worked fine.

 

[LameLefty]

I set my HR20 to record each one seperately on Sunday night and it worked fine.

I did the same for the CSI:Sundays episdodes of "CSI" and "CSI:NY" last night on Spike. All of them recorded just fine, one after another.

 

[uncrph90]

I set my HR20 to record each one seperately on Sunday night and it worked fine.

That's great--and it isn't a big deal to me, except I told the HR20 what to record and how much to add onto the end. It is unacceptable for it to not record 1 hour and 48 minutes just "because." Perhaps I should have recorded them all separately, but that doesn't change the fact that it didn't do as instructed. My point is "Why doesn't it do what it is supposed to?" rather than "What can I do to make it less likely to screw up?"

I'm not bitter or threatening to throw it in the trash, I'm just concerned that there are so many documented problems. Most of them I can accept and deal with the fact that they will eventually be fixed. It's ok with me if the My VOD list order sort options don't work yet, or if a few TV's/AV receivers aren't communicating correctly via HDMI. Those sort of things can be dealt with or worked around in the short term. I'm really able to understand and be patient about things like that. Some (BASIC DVR) functions should have been perfected before release. If that means that D* should have held the product longer, so be it. If they can't do it, maybe they should reconsider their relationship with Tivo. I'm not a Tivo fanboy, they can be slow and irritating, but at least they record what I tell them too. (I'm aware that Tivo's miss recordings too, but any unbiased comparison would show a HUGE advantage for Tivo vs. HR20 in terms of stability and operation.)

Please don't tell me to hook my HR10 back up. I'm committed to the HR20, MPEG4 is the future, I just don't understand how D* could release a product with this many problems for this many users. And I have been relatively trouble free compared to some of the posts I have been reading. I still believe D* will get it right eventually. I just want to know when I will have the same level of trust that something I want to record will actually be there the next day.

I know it is just TV (and in this case--reruns) but that is why this box exists. I don't care about active content or weather or mix channels. I just want a HD DVR that will actually do what it is supposed to do. I wonder when I will get one???

 

[uncrph90]

All bugs both known and unknown, will be fixed by October 30, 2008 11:17am.

Now you have a time.

I am sure the one I just pulled out of the air is no less accurate than one that the lead sofware engineer from DircTV can give you.

Good one!!:hurah:

 

[Earl Bonovich]

Earl, any idea WHEN the HR20 will be reliable enough for us to trust that it will do what it says it will?

Well... there really is no answer to that question.
As each person has their own level of trust.

As for me... I already trust them... I have two HR20's that account for 70% of my viewing. I have 39 Series Links accross the two units.

Other trust the HR20... and other don't...
I trusted the TiVo boxes when I had them, but I never trusted them with my recordings of 24.... I always had that double recorded else where

As for your issues with the partials....
DirecTV has all the information that everyone has posted here.... I know they are looking into it... as for a "Date" on when it will be fixed... wish I could tell yah.

 

[uncrph90]

Well... there really is no answer to that question.
As each person has their own level of trust.

As for me... I already trust them... I have two HR20's that account for 70% of my viewing. I have 39 Series Links accross the two units.

Other trust the HR20... and other don't...
I trusted the TiVo boxes when I had them, but I never trusted them with my recordings of 24.... I always had that double recorded else where

As for your issues with the partials....
DirecTV has all the information that everyone has posted here.... I know they are looking into it... as for a "Date" on when it will be fixed... wish I could tell yah.

Thanks Earl,

I appreciate the response. I just can't understand the issues with basic functionality. I also understand differing levels of trust. I'm glad you trust yours--I've got my "important" Series Links on all three of mine just in case. Just too many missed recordings for me (with no good explanation--I can rationalize a lot--really I can!) Maybe when/if they add more information in the history about what may have happened, that would help me.

Anyway, I'm trying not to lose faith and whine too much--I have this secret fear that everyone will see my avatar (Go Heels--basketball season is coming--football season stinks for us!) and just roll their eyes.

 

[1Indy79]

That's great--and it isn't a big deal to me, except I told the HR20 what to record and how much to add onto the end. It is unacceptable for it to not record 1 hour and 48 minutes just "because." Perhaps I should have recorded them all separately, but that doesn't change the fact that it didn't do as instructed. My point is "Why doesn't it do what it is supposed to?" rather than "What can I do to make it less likely to screw up?"

I'm not bitter or threatening to throw it in the trash, I'm just concerned that there are so many documented problems. Most of them I can accept and deal with the fact that they will eventually be fixed. It's ok with me if the My VOD list order sort options don't work yet, or if a few TV's/AV receivers aren't communicating correctly via HDMI. Those sort of things can be dealt with or worked around in the short term. I'm really able to understand and be patient about things like that. Some (BASIC DVR) functions should have been perfected before release. If that means that D* should have held the product longer, so be it. If they can't do it, maybe they should reconsider their relationship with Tivo. I'm not a Tivo fanboy, they can be slow and irritating, but at least they record what I tell them too. (I'm aware that Tivo's miss recordings too, but any unbiased comparison would show a HUGE advantage for Tivo vs. HR20 in terms of stability and operation.)

Please don't tell me to hook my HR10 back up. I'm committed to the HR20, MPEG4 is the future, I just don't understand how D* could release a product with this many problems for this many users. And I have been relatively trouble free compared to some of the posts I have been reading. I still believe D* will get it right eventually. I just want to know when I will have the same level of trust that something I want to record will actually be there the next day.

I know it is just TV (and in this case--reruns) but that is why this box exists. I don't care about active content or weather or mix channels. I just want a HD DVR that will actually do what it is supposed to do. I wonder when I will get one???

I agree with you Bill. Bells and whistles are one thing......we can wait for that. But if the box can't reliably do what it's intended to do, then you really have to wonder if it's ready for release.

 

[glennb]

That's great--and it isn't a big deal to me, except I told the HR20 what to record and how much to add onto the end. It is unacceptable for it to not record 1 hour and 48 minutes just "because." Perhaps I should have recorded them all separately, but that doesn't change the fact that it didn't do as instructed. My point is "Why doesn't it do what it is supposed to?" rather than "What can I do to make it less likely to screw up?"

I'm not bitter or threatening to throw it in the trash, I'm just concerned that there are so many documented problems. Most of them I can accept and deal with the fact that they will eventually be fixed. It's ok with me if the My VOD list order sort options don't work yet, or if a few TV's/AV receivers aren't communicating correctly via HDMI. Those sort of things can be dealt with or worked around in the short term. I'm really able to understand and be patient about things like that. Some (BASIC DVR) functions should have been perfected before release. If that means that D* should have held the product longer, so be it. If they can't do it, maybe they should reconsider their relationship with Tivo. I'm not a Tivo fanboy, they can be slow and irritating, but at least they record what I tell them too. (I'm aware that Tivo's miss recordings too, but any unbiased comparison would show a HUGE advantage for Tivo vs. HR20 in terms of stability and operation.)

Please don't tell me to hook my HR10 back up. I'm committed to the HR20, MPEG4 is the future, I just don't understand how D* could release a product with this many problems for this many users. And I have been relatively trouble free compared to some of the posts I have been reading. I still believe D* will get it right eventually. I just want to know when I will have the same level of trust that something I want to record will actually be there the next day.

I know it is just TV (and in this case--reruns) but that is why this box exists. I don't care about active content or weather or mix channels. I just want a HD DVR that will actually do what it is supposed to do. I wonder when I will get one???

"Why doesn't it do what it is supposed to?" - It's a software bug.

"What can I do to make it less likely to screw up?" - Set it to record each program seperately now since the 2 hour after padding didn't work or for some reason this time.

These sort of things can be dealt with or worked around in the short term.

I'm not a Tivo fanboy - Why did you even mention TiVo then ? I'm sure the same could be said about the Motorola cabletv DVR.

 

[Marty B]

"Why doesn't it do what it is supposed to?" - It's a software bug.

"What can I do to make it less likely to screw up?" - Set it to record each program seperately now since the 2 hour after padding didn't work or for some reason this time.

These sort of things can be dealt with or worked around in the short term.

I'm not a Tivo fanboy - Why did you even mention TiVo then ? I'm sure the same could be said about the Motorola cabletv DVR.

You dont really think those are good excuses do you Glenn? What if our car engine managment computer worked only 90% of the time. Would you accept an answer like "its a bug. Sorry" How about if your TV only worked 70% of the time. I mean Come ON... They simply released this box too early. People have the right to comlain, especially when their 5 old box was a Tivo, was much more reliable and had 3 times as many features. And if you havnt guessed I AM a Tivo fan. Its a great piece of gear.

 

[uncrph90]

"Why doesn't it do what it is supposed to?" - It's a software bug.

"What can I do to make it less likely to screw up?" - Set it to record each program seperately now since the 2 hour after padding didn't work or for some reason this time.

These sort of things can be dealt with or worked around in the short term.

I'm not a Tivo fanboy - Why did you even mention TiVo then ? I'm sure the same could be said about the Motorola cabletv DVR.

Glennb--thanks for your input.
But please quote me correctly. I said My point is "Why doesn't it do what it is supposed to?" rather than "What can I do to make it less likely to screw up?" Splitting my sentence into two rhetorical questions, then answering them wasn't what I was looking for. I knew those answers already.

As far as Tivo fanboyishness--I mention them because they are the generally acknowledged leader in name recognition and innovation in the DVR field--as well as the fact that they are the only DVR that I have firsthand experience with. (2 HR10-250's and 3 Series2 DirecTivo's) Your assertion that a Motorola cabletv DVR can record what it is supposed to without deleted/partial recording type errors only makes the HR20's problems seem worse. It's one thing if your product isn't as good as the market leader, it's another if it isn't as good as a mediocre competitor.

 

[glennb]

You dont really think those are good excuses do you Glenn? What if our car engine managment computer worked only 90% of the time. Would you accept an answer like "its a bug. Sorry" How about if your TV only worked 70% of the time. I mean Come ON... They simply released this box too early. People have the right to comlain, especially when their 5 old box was a Tivo, was much more reliable and had 3 times as many features. And if you havnt guessed I AM a Tivo fan. Its a great piece of gear.

It's not a car engine management computer. It's a DVR. I mean Come ON....There's a big difference. I'm surprised you didn't say something else ridiculous like - What if a heart pacemaker only worked 90% of the time?


I never "comlain".

 

[matto]

whats the difference exactly?

 

[mocciat]

You know I can live with some "bugs", but what I cannot live with is the issue of deleteing sports off the sports subscriptions when the feed is cut. It happened the last 3 weeks of the baseball season, it is happening with the Sunday Ticket, and from what I have heard it is happening with Center Ice. I subscribe to the NFL ST, MLB Extra Innings and College Basketball Full Court. This comes to about $550 from an east coast sports fan living on the west coast which is why I bought a DVR five years ago (the time difference is crappy). So with all the revenue from the sports subs you would think D* could get the software to work on those instances.

Being patient but it's getting old!!!