[phebner]

We've previously had the R15 -- HATED it. We ended up going back to our Old Reliable R10 with Tivo. Now, though, we're contemplating an HDTV -- whoooo whoo! BUT, I can't part with my DVR. I see that the HR20 has lots of bad reviews. I know it's all DTV has to offer... If I spring for the $299 of the HR20 will it just be the nightmare of my R15 all over again?

My main problems with the R15 were: lag time/slow on the remote. You'd hit a command on the remote, wait, then hit it again, only to realize you had gone too far -- it's just that it took the R15 awhile to "figure it out." Also had problems with it stopping recording before it was supposed to -- kept having to reboot the thing several times a week, then several times a day. Not very user friendly either. Ok, so Tivo spoiled me, but I understand that there new series3 (at $1000) won't even work with Direct TV.

If I want an HDTV, looks like HR20 is all I can get?????

 

[Meklos]

Me personally, I adapted to the D* DVR menu structure relatively quickly... although there are some really stupid menu placements on this box. The wife took to it after two+ years on S2 DTivos, especially since we never viewed suggestions.

The major bugs of this box seem to be worked out, and the only place you'll find the HR10-250 is from resellers/individuals. D* has basically said that the HR20 is where it's at, and all others are going to be left behind. The HR20 is the only MPEG4 capable HD DVR they've put out, and and all the new HD channels will be MPEG4.

"Writing on the wall"

There seems to be very few situations of lag / slow remote response, and that's usually when you do something like hit info on a channel title to bring up a single-channel time based guide. That takes a few seconds, but it shows you a 'working' type menu - not just nothingness.

Is it bulletproof like a S2 Tivo yet? No... but it's close. Read previous release threads and you'll see that they've (hopefully) squashed all the feature-breaking bugs (features like "recording a show) <grin> - and they're now moving on to adding functionality and features. Still a couple of bugs, but nothing earthshattering so far...

 

[islesfan]

Unfortunately, HR20 is your only choice. Get used to the letdown from TiVo, and learn to embrace imperfection.

 

[jheda]

We've previously had the R15 -- HATED it. We ended up going back to our Old Reliable R10 with Tivo. Now, though, we're contemplating an HDTV -- whoooo whoo! BUT, I can't part with my DVR. I see that the HR20 has lots of bad reviews. I know it's all DTV has to offer... If I spring for the $299 of the HR20 will it just be the nightmare of my R15 all over again?

My main problems with the R15 were: lag time/slow on the remote. You'd hit a command on the remote, wait, then hit it again, only to realize you had gone too far -- it's just that it took the R15 awhile to "figure it out." Also had problems with it stopping recording before it was supposed to -- kept having to reboot the thing several times a week, then several times a day. Not very user friendly either. Ok, so Tivo spoiled me, but I understand that there new series3 (at $1000) won't even work with Direct TV.

If I want an HDTV, looks like HR20 is all I can get?????

I too gave my R10 which i loved to the kids and have acclamated to the hr20, which has improved as its developed...2 months ago i would tell you to run not walk awaqy, but now we are close to a solid machine...

 

[DblD_Indy]

We've previously had the R15 -- HATED it. We ended up going back to our Old Reliable R10 with Tivo. Now, though, we're contemplating an HDTV -- whoooo whoo! BUT, I can't part with my DVR. I see that the HR20 has lots of bad reviews. I know it's all DTV has to offer... If I spring for the $299 of the HR20 will it just be the nightmare of my R15 all over again?

My main problems with the R15 were: lag time/slow on the remote. You'd hit a command on the remote, wait, then hit it again, only to realize you had gone too far -- it's just that it took the R15 awhile to "figure it out." Also had problems with it stopping recording before it was supposed to -- kept having to reboot the thing several times a week, then several times a day. Not very user friendly either. Ok, so Tivo spoiled me, but I understand that there new series3 (at $1000) won't even work with Direct TV.

If I want an HDTV, looks like HR20 is all I can get?????

Be an informed consumer and then you will know what you are getting. This forum is the only resource for real and true info on what you are getting and what to expect.

Many have both positive and negative posts on this unit. Me mostly on the negative side. I would suggest looking over the HR-wishlist and you will see what we hope to have so you understand that it is not in there yet.

http://www.redh.com/hr20/index.php?module=wishlist&op=_list

Good luck and keep watching for Santa, I hear he works here... I can hear the bell can you?

 

[feldon30]

The TiVo series 3 is $799 or less and is specifically designed for cable. Check the TiVoCommunity.com forum for details.

I'm in the same boat as you, considering the HR20 but hesitating for many reasons.

 

[nocaster]

My main problems with the R15 were: lag time/slow on the remote. You'd hit a command on the remote, wait, then hit it again, only to realize you had gone too far -- it's just that it took the R15 awhile to "figure it out." Also had problems with it stopping recording before it was supposed to -- kept having to reboot the thing several times a week, then several times a day. Not very user friendly either. Ok, so Tivo spoiled me, but I understand that there new series3 (at $1000) won't even work with Direct TV.

If I want an HDTV, looks like HR20 is all I can get?????

My wife HATES our R15 and I never have liked it either. We had an R10 TiVo before the R15 and it was not an easy transition. While the HR-20 has more or less the same interface it seems to behave better than the R15. The repsonse time from hitting a button and something happening onscreen does not seem to be anything like the horrible lag on the R15.

 

[Sheryl Rose]

I've been very happy with my HR20-700 DVR.

 

[Camelot_One]

The HR20 isn't a bad box, certainly not as bad as the R15 anyway. The software is far from perfect, but DTV has been pretty regular about rolling out new versions. Think of it as a beta...that you pay for.
A few months into having it, I don't miss the options, screens, anything about the HR10-250 other than it's reliabillity. I don't think it missed a single recording in the time I had it. The HR20 thus far has been horribly unreliable, and I've yet to nail down the issue to hardware or software. (I'm now on my 3rd box)

But all in all, it's getting better. Each software update reduces the number of bugs (well, kinda) and now they are venturing into adding new features as well.

 

[dvrblogger]

My wife HATES our R15 and I never have liked it either. We had an R10 TiVo before the R15 and it was not an easy transition. While the HR-20 has more or less the same interface it seems to behave better than the R15. The repsonse time from hitting a button and something happening onscreen does not seem to be anything like the horrible lag on the R15.

HR20 blows Tivo away on the breadth of features (minus dual beffers) and speed of menus. Where it needs work is how intuitive the menus are and how to find things. The latest release improved some of the recording options but for example how are you to know to hit Record twice for a series without reading the manual. The record defualts are not under setup, show up in the quick menu but only when you are in a screen setting the reccord paramters for a series or a recording. They should be in one or more places and always accessible.
Tivo has no picture in guide, single button record (twice for series), one line mini guide,120 X FF and REW but Tivo is well thought out and easy to grasp without learning or reading the manual.
If it never messed up or deleted recordings it would be the best DVR on the market (cable/satellite/telco) I haven't tried a S3 Tivo. ANd I still love my Ultimate TV (>:

 

[laxcoach]

for example how are you to know to hit Record twice for a series without reading the manual. ....ANd I still love my Ultimate TV (>:

If you had a UTV, the double touch for a series record would be obvious. In fact, when I got the R15 (similar interface), the first thing I did was hit record in guide, and notice the red circle. I decided to try clicking again, and low-and-behold, a triple red circle. UTV redux.