[dwcolvin]

Now that the HR34 has been released, if using RVU I assume you need to connect it directly to the TV. What about if you want to use a sound system with an RVU capable TV. Is there a way to currently do that and still use the HR34?

The TV could have a digital audio output.

 

[dwcolvin]

The Samsung RVU TV is available now but as for the standalone boxes... it will be a while yet. It's way too soon to say "soon."

Just curious... it the RVU standard a work-in-progress? And is the HR34 availability an answer to a "chicken and egg" problem?

I ask because it would seem the release of the HR34 is premature. From DirecTV's standpoint it is great with RVU... install a SWiM LNB, one HR34 and a bunch of RVU clients and a customer is set, and the monthy charge is the same as a houseful of DVRs and receivers.

But, as it stands, many ordering the HR34 are requiring significant infrastructure upgrades... SL3/SL5 LNBs, SWiM-16s, etc., with significant installation cost to DirecTV. And the telling thing is the HR34 is in abundant supply.

So, is today just a stopover in a massive paradigm shift?

 

[dwcolvin]

Only to existing customers which in reality this system was not designed specifically for. When setup from scratch and RVU clients are available it will be cheaper overall for SAC purposes once the initial R&D costs are covered.

That's what I was saying... why was the HR34 even released without RVU client availability?

 

[dwcolvin]

Because it's still a great 5-tuner DVR.

Absolutely! A marvelous piece of technology.

But current upgrades that will exceed 8 tuners force replacing LNB, running 4-coaxes (and associated grounding) and SWiM-16. That's a lot of installation cost and complexity.

(In my case, the infrastructure was already there, so it was plug and play )

I think what I'm saying is, rather than (maybe) giving discounts to existing customers or having one install fee for <= and > 8 tuners, if I were DirecTV I would make an existing customer pay for that extra infrastructure that will eventually be unnecessary (in many cases).

p.s. But now that I think of it, the current feeding frenzy may only be in our little world, and be insignificant in the larger DirecTV picture.

 

[dwcolvin]

There are probably more TVs that don't forward surround sound than those that do so that's probably not a viable option.

Even my cheapest TV with an HDMI in has a digital audio out (if for no other reason than to feed audio from broadcast/cable somewhere)