[Wolffpack]

If you're sick of polls ignore this thread. If you think this is a stupid poll, ignore this thread.

I'm posting this in both the R15 and HR20 forums specifically aimed at current customers of both of these units.

Assuming DirecTV would let you out of whatever commitment you have remaining due to your activation of your R15(s) and/or they would replace your R15(s) with R10(s), what would you do?

If you're interested, the HR20 poll is here.

 

[carl6]

As with most polls, I don't agree fully with the wording of the choices. I voted to keep my R15, although I will not say I have no problems with it. I already have an R10, and it gets much less use than my main R15. I just plain don't like the Tivo GUI, so it's not a choice I prefer to exercise at this time. Nor do I wish to cancel DirecTV.

What I do expect to do, although I may only be trading one set of problems for a different set, is eventually upgrade to hi-def and get an HR20.

Carl

 

[cybok0]

You're right I'd swap it for an R10, why wouldn't you.

• Reliability

• Dual Buffers

• Skip to tick

• skip to end

• 30 second "skip"(even though I don't use that function it's available.)

• Doesn't record repeats if you don't want it to.

• Did I mention DUAL BUFFERS

:soapbox:

The DTIVO's just :kickbutt:

 

[paulman182]

I see no features in Tivo that would make me prefer it.

No missed or unplayable recordings on my 3 R15s.

We're not power users by any means, however.

 

[tony4d]

I'd get rid of my R15 if there was any type of alternative.

They either need to partner with Tivo or Scientific Atlanta, because they're obviously not capable of writing stable software for their boxes.

 

[ApK]

I don't like any of the choices either, but I'll chime in here.


My R15 was free, so I'm keeping it. It's unplugged and sitting on a shelf (so it is currently VERY stable!) and I bought a DTivo to use instead. I will keep the R15 and try it again after a few updates and see how it does. If DTv comes out with something NEW and says "Well swap all those R15 with our shiney new Rxx", I'd happily let them. I have no love for the R15, I just like free stuff.

ApK

 

[White_Horse]

I'd keep my R15, even though it hasn't been problem free. Just not a fan of the tivo interface. Too cartoony for me.

 

[ApK]

I see no features in Tivo that would make me prefer it.

No missed or unplayable recordings on my 3 R15s.

We're not power users by any means, however.

Do you need to periodically reboot your R15 to keep them working properly?

If so, then I think 'reliablity' is a Tivo feature you should consider.

If not, then I can understand that. If one isn't already hooked on Tivo exclusives (30-sec skip, suggestions, overshoot correction, the Tivo-style guide and hackability), then if the R15 works like it's supposed to, it's a OK DVR. Mine doesn't.

 

[ApK]

I'd keep my R15, even though it hasn't been problem free. Just not a fan of the tivo interface. Too cartoony for me.

So you use a dvr with problems over one without because of the colors?

 

[paulman182]

Do you need to periodically reboot your R15 to keep them working properly?
If so, then I think 'reliablity' is a Tivo feature you should consider.
.

I would not say they have had periodic reboots, although each of them has had one or two in five months.

Even if they required rebooting weekly, as long as they did not miss or delete recordings, I wouldn't call that unreliable. I would start to worry, however!

 

[ApK]

You wouldn't call it unreliable? What would happen if it needed weekly reboots and it didn't get them? It would stop RELIABLY responding to remote commands. You would not REALIABLY be able to use prioritizer. RELIABLE doesn just mean record and play. It means RELIABLY provide all the features it's supposed to. I don't know if it's still the case, but mine would ocassionally lock up and need to be reset. If it's locked up, you can't RELY on it to play a show when you want to watch it.

ApK

 

[PlanetBill]

The choice of just swaping for another is what I would choose, but I chose to keep my R15. I have 2 of then, my R15-500 has always out performed the -300. So I would swap the -300 for a -500 FWIW.
My experience with the R15 has generally been positive over the last 6 months. I recall just as many
issues when I used to have TW DVR service.

I won't answer the HR20 poll, I've only had it a week now. Also, I don't have any TIVO experience.

 

[walters]

None of the options apply to me, either. I could swap my R15 any time I want for an inactive DSR6000 or an inactive HDVR2. I got the R15 just to see for myself how bad it was (and I wasn't disappointed).

I keep it for several reasons: 1) I don't use it very much (it's not in my primary viewing location), so the problems don't bother me very much. 2) I'm curious as to if it will get better or get new features. 3) I don't like badmouthing something without firsthand experience. 4) As a software engineer myself, I'm amused by bugs (other people's bugs, anyway).

 

[carl6]

Do you need to periodically reboot your R15 to keep them working properly?

If so, then I think 'reliablity' is a Tivo feature you should consider.

If not, then I can understand that. If one isn't already hooked on Tivo exclusives (30-sec skip, suggestions, overshoot correction, the Tivo-style guide and hackability), then if the R15 works like it's supposed to, it's a OK DVR. Mine doesn't.

No, I do not reset (or need to reset) my R15's periodically. I use my R15-500 as my primary DVR and it has only required intervention once in the past 13 months of use. I consider it to be reliable.

As to the Tivo exclusives, 30 second slip is perfectly okay, I would never use suggestions (they are turned off on my R10), the Tivo overshoot correction absolutely drives me mad - I want the control not the machine, the R15 guide is far superior to the Tivo guide IMHO, and I don't hack.

Carl

 

[Mark20]

Though I voted to keep it I would have liked a 4th choice, keep it but have had some problems. One recording decided to say it was done in the middle of it. Two days later I watched the program through to the end. One of my two said the DVR wasn't activated and it took them two levels of CSR to get it authorized.

I see D*'s main focus on the here and now trasnmissions and the guide. But since they provide the support and not the manufacturers they take the brunt of every issue.

 

[Clint Lamor]

Do you need to periodically reboot your R15 to keep them working properly?

If so, then I think 'reliablity' is a Tivo feature you should consider.

If not, then I can understand that. If one isn't already hooked on Tivo exclusives (30-sec skip, suggestions, overshoot correction, the Tivo-style guide and hackability), then if the R15 works like it's supposed to, it's a OK DVR. Mine doesn't.

Ok I have seen so many of these things it gets old. Not being a mod here just a user of this forum.

I have had to reboot my SA Tivos I see people talking about rebooting their DTivo so they are so much more stable how?

30-sec skip while nice is no huge to deal to me, I prefer the slip version as I actually see some of whats going on. I actually stopped using on my SA Tivos so because of missing things like new movie commercials and things of this nature.

I hate suggestions and turn them off on every Tivo I own, have owned or will ever own.

overshoot correction is annoying to no end, I seriously have always wished I could turn it off.

Tivo style guide was cool I will give that one to you. I do miss that layout as I liked being able to see all the shows coming up on a channel very easily.

Hackability, can't speak on that as I never found a need to hack mine.

My R15 works just fine and always has. I will say there are things that annoy me like that it still records too much but I have noticed that the First Run/Repeats have gotten better as of late. No clue why I just know that I have to delete much less. I have rarely ever had it miss a program, honestly I would say probably about as many times as my Tivo does.

Yes there are things I would like to see added, changed or fixed.

Ok sorry for the rant.

 

[cybok0]

I wouldn't call that unreliable. I would start to worry, however!

Are you kidding? That's like putting a new battery in you're car every week, you know what the problem is so you can fix it every week.

 

[bww]

I voted to keep my R15, although I will not say I have no problems with it.Carl

I agree with Carl, I voted to keep my R15 but I have had problems, it is just that it works good for a bedroom DVR that has RF, and I have tivos in my attic that I can activate.

 

[paulman182]

You wouldn't call it unreliable? What would happen if it needed weekly reboots and it didn't get them? It would stop RELIABLY responding to remote commands. You would not REALIABLY be able to use prioritizer. RELIABLE doesn just mean record and play. It means RELIABLY provide all the features it's supposed to. I don't know if it's still the case, but mine would ocassionally lock up and need to be reset. If it's locked up, you can't RELY on it to play a show when you want to watch it.ApK

No, but I could watch it just a few minutes later, after the reboot.

I don't use or need all the features. I was speaking for myself in answering, which I assume is the proper way to answer a poll.

It never occurred to me that people would characterize these units as "unreliable" if the only problem is locking up occasionally when trying to watch TV.

This means that there must be a lot fewer problems with them than most people think, if that is all it takes to make some call them "unreliable."

 

[dodge boy]

I put return and cancel account..... well I did sort of, I just threw mine in the garbage and went to cable (Thank God!) I have 13 months in commitment left so I suspended my account until next Aug. for NFLST (yeah right) I'll probably just keep suspending it as l can to keep from paying the $175.00 in cancelation fees. Anybody else gonna jump ship??? It's sinking fast.