[nate513]

A couple of weeks ago, I made the jump from Directv to Verizon FIOS, mainly so that I could record HD without dropping $300 - $400 on a new receiver, plus the $10/month HD programming package with Directv. So now, I'm thrilled to be able to record HD, but not happy with the new DVRs interface & features (although On Demand is a nice plus for the kids shows). I thought it would be an easier adjustment from Tivo to something else. Namely, I mostly miss dual live buffers, 30-sec skip, and FF/RW overshoot compensation, in that order. Wife flat out hates the new DVR.

So I go to cancel Directv after 4+ years and was surprised to hear the retention guy offer a $250 credit towards an HR20, plus a year's worth of free HD programming. Was a good enough offer to make me not cancel just yet. But I'm hearing that the new HR20's interface and features sound a lot like what I have with FIOS now.

Wanted to check with the experts here to find out more info. Of course the retention guy went on & on about soon Directv will have more HD content than anyone else, and new features are being added to the HR20 very often, etc. So how true is this? What new features will be added? Anyone else had experience with FIOS and the HR20 that can offer pros / cons?

Thanks.

 

[islesfan]

Wow, add in randomly canceling your scheduled recordings and the occasional lockup, and you would have the exact same thing as an HR20!

 

[munangst]

A couple of weeks ago, I made the jump from Directv to Verizon FIOS, mainly so that I could record HD without dropping $300 - $400 on a new receiver, plus the $10/month HD programming package with Directv. So now, I'm thrilled to be able to record HD, but not happy with the new DVRs interface & features (although On Demand is a nice plus for the kids shows). I thought it would be an easier adjustment from Tivo to something else. Namely, I mostly miss dual live buffers, 30-sec skip, and FF/RW overshoot compensation, in that order. Wife flat out hates the new DVR.

If you read around in this forum you can probably find comparisons between the HR20 & cable DVRs. You might also look at the FIOS forums over at AVSForum. In short:

dual live buffers: probably not happening for a long time, if ever

30 sec skip: the HR20 has 30 sec "slip" instead (FF in 30 sec increments), which works pretty well now that they have increased the FF speed

FF/RW overshoot compensation: like dual live buffers, probably not happening ever (this one due to the fact that TiVo owns the patent on it)

Which DVR is Verizon using? The Motorola 6412?

 

[nate513]

Which DVR is Verizon using? The Motorola 6412?

I actually have the 6416. Thanks for the info. Another question: how big is the HR20's hard drive? The Motorola 6416 is only 160GM (I think)--I run out of space after about 18 hrs of HD content. Every Sunday, I basically max out the drive with football. But Verizon does say that we'll soon be able to hook up external storage via the firewire or USB ports. We'll see about that. . .

 

[Earl Bonovich]

I actually have the 6416. Thanks for the info. Another question: how big is the HR20's hard drive? The Motorola 6416 is only 160GM (I think)--I run out of space after about 18 hrs of HD content. Every Sunday, I basically max out the drive with football. But Verizon does say that we'll soon be able to hook up external storage via the firewire or USB ports. We'll see about that. . .

250GB of usable space.

You can now hookup at least 1.5 TB of space via eSATA (two 750s in a RAID solution)

 

[DJConan]

New features...Earl would probably know more about that than most of us here would. And for that matter, probably more than the CSR. My guess as to what the CSR may have meant was, features that aren't currently/generally available but should be. It is my understanding that the e-SATA port is not official yet, but it's there to be used now for additional HD space. The networking is going to be there for national release this week. The USB ports are not active yet.

Dual live buffers is what I would call a "new" feature if it ever gets implimented.

No 30-second skip like Tivo, but the 30-second slip isn't so bad now that they sped it up. A 30-second slip is maybe 2-3 seconds.

I have bought into the new HD content next year thing. Based on what DTV is saying, they will be the leader in HD content.

No FF/RW overshoot compensation, however, when you FF, you can hit the replay to come out and it tends to back it up a little bit. If you're unusally slow, hit it 2 or 3 times. It's a good replacement in my opinion. I wasn't a fan of the compensation feature in Tivo, so I'm glad they patented it. lol

 

[nate513]

You might also look at the FIOS forums over at AVSForum.

I couldn't find any FIOS-specific forums over at AVSForum. Anyone have a link? Thanks.

 

[mikeny]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=617635

I couldn't find any FIOS-specific forums over at AVSForum. Anyone have a link? Thanks.

 

[nate513]

Thanks, Mike. I did find that thread earlier, but I thought it was mentioned that there was a specific forum as opposed to a 1000+ post thread. Guess I'll start reading :lol: .

 

[nate513]

BTW, if any of you Directv folks are considering switching to Verizon FIOS and have questions about their current offerings & equipment, feel free to ask--I'll do my best to answer with what I know. Still pretty new to the FIOS service though.

 

[flipper2006]

250GB of usable space.

You can now hookup at least 1.5 TB of space via eSATA (two 750s in a RAID solution)

Earl, or someone else please let me know this. I have 750g eSATA now, if I get another 750g drive and put it into Raid config will it be able to see what is currently on the 750g or will I lose all the information. Just something I would like to know for planning purposes.:nono2:

 

[Jomanscool2]

Earl, or someone else please let me know this. I have 750g eSATA now, if I get another 750g drive and put it into Raid config will it be able to see what is currently on the 750g or will I lose all the information. Just something I would like to know for planning purposes.:nono2:

You cannot even do this on a PC without reformatting both drives. (Or at least you couldn't a year ago, or maybe im just dumb, one or the other :grin

If you can find a bit to bit eSATA backup device, then you could buy 2 new 750's, and return one of em in like 2 days, but I have no idea how the HR20 would handle it, considering it would now have the same data but on twice as much space, without it doing anything.

 

[flipper2006]

You cannot even do this on a PC without reformatting both drives. (Or at least you couldn't a year ago, or maybe im just dumb, one or the other :grin

If you can find a bit to bit eSATA backup device, then you could buy 2 new 750's, and return one of em in like 2 days, but I have no idea how the HR20 would handle it, considering it would now have the same data but on twice as much space, without it doing anything.

Hmm, then i guess when the time comes, I need to make sure anything I want on the drive, i cant really have and deicde this beforehand...