Next up is some news on the RVU front. I spoke with staff at both the DirecTV and Samsung booths on this topic. Interestingly the expert Samsung people on RVU were not sent to CEDIA, though I was assured by the folks there that Sammy continues to develop additional RVU products. The rest of the info I gathered from the folks at the DirecTV booth.

RVU NEWS

• RVU compatibility of Samsung televisions is not limited to the 6000 series, though it is the only line with RVU enabled. Owners of other Samsung SMART TV's may see the RVU related menu options but are unable to access them at this time.
• Enabling RVU on other Samsung SMART TV's only requires a firmware update yet to be released by Samsung. Decision on when to release such a firmware update for other models is up to Samsung, DirecTV is not a limiting factor here.
• RVU clients (think dumb terminals, and Sammy SMART TV's) will only be able to see DVR content from the HR34 with which they are registered. They will not be able to see DVR content from other networked HR boxes.
• A maximum of 8 RVU clients can be registered per HR34.

 

Plenty of good information regarding the "soon" :lol: to be released HR34. I was given a 4th quarter 2011 release date for the box, though the way it was said came off as the staff couldn't directly reveal a more specific date and that I should continue asking in other ways to get a better answer. So, I kept digging and was also told that the HR34 will not ship with the HD GUI at release, but that it will receive it via software update at the same time the existing models receive theirs. Put two and two together and that would suggest that the HR34 is already in production and on its way to release in time for installers to get at least some units in the hands of fortunate D* subs before the October/November release of the HD GUI. Topping my visit off, I got a nice demonstration and hands-on with what looked to be a finalized HR34 product in the booth.

HR34 NEWS

• Now 5 PIP menu display options, additional option to show sources side-by-side
• 1TB hard drive
• 5 tuners - maximum of 3 simultaneous streams (live-tv or DVR content) among any combination of directly connected tv and RVU clients.
• PIP is limited to the TV which the HR34 is directly connected
• HR34 is MRV compatible - HR34 and tv directly connected to it will be able to see DVR content from other HR boxes.
• 3D capable and compatible
• No fees based on number of tuners used, though it sounds like there will be some sort of fee structure. My guess is that fees will be tied to registered RVU clients (i.e. no escaping additonal leased box fees by having an RVU client instead of a set-top box).
• Maximum of 8 RVU clients registered per HR34
• 100 Series List limit (corrected previous statement of 50 series limit)

On a side note I inquired as to why the D* boxes only have 1 HDMI output on them, explaining that this complicates setups for folks with A/V receivers connected to their tv systems which only want to have their A/V receiver turned on for certain content (i.e. movies, sporting events). I was told that the reason for this is that D* has to acquire a HDCP license per HDMI output on a box. Adding a 2nd HDMI output would require them to acquire and pay for an additional license on every box. D* doesn't see the demand from customers to justify going to this expense. Once again we get hosed by DRM, makes me long for the old days of analogue.

 

Thanks Vlad.

I can't wait for the HR34. I'll definitely get one when available.

 

Thanks for the info and posting, it is appreciated.

Based on what you found out about the HDGUI and the 1.5 hour window it will still show just like now, I'm no longer anticipating it so much. The HR24s that I have don't really need the performance boost that is supposedly there.

To be honest, I never saw the need and still don't, for an HDGUI to being with. Getting a 3 hour window to me is more important. All the rest is just fluff.

 

Here are a few other D* tidbits I picked up info on:

General News

• A company named Extra Vegetables developed a driver (SHEF) for D* to enable Home Automation/Control Systems to communicate with and control D* set-top boxes (including the HR34). So far AMX, Crestron, and Control4 have use the SHEF driver to create interfaces between their systems and D* boxes. There were LCD touchscreens from each company tied into boxes at the booth. They all were capable of acting as remote controls, displaying guide information, changing channels within the guide, and interacting with the systems' macros.
• No new info on coming HD channel additions
• No Nomad box on display
• Nomad details weren't available

 

Nice job YakeVlad!

I'm really surprised the HR34 still has the 50 SL limit, especially if this is to be a single DVR solution for homes.

 

Nice job YakeVlad can't wait to see some pictures

 

HR34 NEWS

• Now 5 PIP menu display options, additional option to show sources side-by-side
  
• No fees based on number of tuners used, though it sounds like there will be some sort of fee structure. My guess is that fees will be tied to registered RVU clients (i.e. no escaping additonal leased box fees by having an RVU client instead of a set-top box).
  

D* better look out on that as if cable all vid plan drops the outlet / mirroring fees then D* will end likely losing subs over that.

 

HR34 NEWS

• 5 tuners - maximum of 3 simultaneous streams (live-tv or DVR content) among any combination of directly connected tv and RVU clients.
  
• Maximum of 8 RVU clients registered per HR34
  

Does anyone else see the discrepancy here or am I missing something? If you have 5 tuners, I would assume 5 TVs would be the max even with the max streams being 3. But why would you have a max of 8 RVU clients registered?

You can have 8 TVs, but only three of them can watch TV at any specific time?

 

Ack, the 50 limit really changes things for me...I was hoping for one DVR to manage. I actually was expecting a bigger hard drive.

On the HDGUI, so to confirm, it will be on HR20, just not H20? I'm good with that, I got rid of mine when MRV came out.

 

Does anyone else see the discrepancy here or am I missing something? If you have 5 tuners, I would assume 5 TVs would be the max even with the max streams being 3. But why would you have a max of 8 RVU clients registered?

You can have 8 TVs, but only three of them can watch TV at any specific time?

The active client limitation is based upon the performance of the system as a whole, not the number of tuners. Three active clients plus the HR34 itself plus one recording in the background uses up all the tuners very nicely. And is about the maximum the hard drive technology likely can handle.

The model is based on the concept that you may have 9 TVs (8 clients plus the HR34) but only 4 active at any one time.

Of course, the big question mark is how all this is billed.

Cheers,
Tom

 

The active client limitation is based upon the performance of the system as a whole, not the number of tuners. Three active clients plus the HR34 itself plus one recording in the background uses up all the tuners very nicely. And is about the maximum the hard drive technology likely can handle.

The model is based on the concept that you may have 9 TVs (8 clients plus the HR34) but only 4 active at any one time.

Of course, the big question mark is how all this is billed.

Cheers,
Tom

Yep, the billing is a big question.

I had considered waiting for the HR34 and/or Dish's upcoming MRV stuff, but went ahead and made the switch to D*. After reading this and watching comments made on a few other sites about both central units, I'm glad I didn't wait.

Frankly, if D* put a unified (or even remotely viewable) to-do list in the current HDDVR/MRV setup, it would be more than good enough, imo. I love the idea of controlling the non-viewable HDDVR with my iPad, but without being able to see the todo list and/or series manager for it, it isn't all that handy.

 

The active client limitation is based upon the performance of the system as a whole, not the number of tuners. Three active clients plus the HR34 itself plus one recording in the background uses up all the tuners very nicely. And is about the maximum the hard drive technology likely can handle.

The model is based on the concept that you may have 9 TVs (8 clients plus the HR34) but only 4 active at any one time.

I feel like I am being dense, but I swear that I am tech savvy.
So you can have three simultaneous streams of RVU PLUS a TV hooked up via HDMI? and that can watch something completely different than the three streams and one tuner dedicated to recording?

If you can have 9 TVs, Does anyone know what happens when the 7th or 8th TV turns on? does it just have to watch something that another TV is watching? is there an error message?

 

HR34 News

... HR34 is MRV compatible - HR34 and tv directly connected to it will be able to see DVR content from other HR boxes.

Any mention of how many simultaneous MRV streams are allowed between the HR34 and H/HR2X receivers over WHDVR service?

Very nice work though YakeVlad ...

 

I am very interested in one of these HR-34 boxes, cant wait.

 

[*]Same 50 series limit as existing HR2x units. I was told this restriction is in place to ensure a level of performance for other features (i.e. program guide)

I do not believe this.

I'm not doubting you were told this, but I have to say, this would be a huge handicap with what is essentially a whole home DVR.

~Alan

 

I do not believe this.

I'm not doubting you were told this, but I have to say, this would be a huge handicap with what is essentially a whole home DVR.

~Alan

Yeah this would be a serious handicap

 

Three active clients is the number I'd expect for five tuners. Bear in mind that, on the main TV, two tuners may be in use simultaneously if PIP is active. That would leave three tuners for use by the client devices. There is no PIP capability on the RVU clients.

 

Ack, the 50 limit really changes things for me...I was hoping for one DVR to manage. I actually was expecting a bigger hard drive.

On the HDGUI, so to confirm, it will be on HR20, just not H20? I'm good with that, I got rid of mine when MRV came out.

Yeah, I would like to know about this as well. Please confirm or deny HR20 HDGUI compatibility if you know.

 

. . . .
RVU NEWS

• RVU clients (think dumb terminals, and Sammy SMART TV's) will only be able to see DVR content from the HR34
  . . ..

That's a killer.

 

The amount of people that complain about the 50 SL limit is significantly smaller than those who don't.

 

The amount of people that complain about the 50 SL limit is significantly smaller than those who don't.

The ones who complain are probably all dbstalk members. :lol:

 

The amount of people that complain about the 50 SL limit is significantly smaller than those who don't.

I may have questioned that in the past, but I'm sure that's true.

However, a central DVR feeding multiple clients for multiple people NEEDS more than 50. That's why I don't think it's true...

~Alan

 

I have 130+ series spread across six tuners. This 50 series limit leaves me going nuts if I try to retire two HR21s to get one HR34.

So it is down to the HR34 PIP feature and cost.

 

The ones who complain are probably all dbstalk members. :lol:

Not all of them. I have a friend that complained about it less than two weeks after he switched, and e makes fun of me for hanging around here. I think the primary market for an HR34 are power users, not really casual users. I think they'll have more problems with the limit than the average DVR user.