as it was "looking for Satt signal" on a crystal clear day, 3rd time in two days. Now my guide is shot again for the next 24 hours. I'm seriously considering dumping DTV after the new year if this piece of junk does not work right after the new year as tech support has promised and sworn. Even retention is tired of all the whining as they were very condecending the other day when my system started dumping channels during ST. Do you guys really think they will try and enforce their 2 year contract when their stuff doesn't even work if I do dump them after the new year, assuming they dont fix the mess? Why should I watch networks in 8MM? Why are they even going to MPEG4 if it sucks, MPEG2 works just fine. I mean how could they try and demand a contract termination fee with a straight face, seriously?
Missing the beggining of MNF had to re-set this stupid thing again
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I've had my frustrations with the HR20 too. Mine was constantly hanging during broadcasts. I ended up having to format the system. I haven't had any problems since. Not saying that is a cure all and believe me I wouldn't recommend it as a first attempt at fixing problems unless DTV support tells you to do so.
As for the 8MM effect, that has to do with hardware encoding issues from what I understand. We had similar issues in Charlotte with any of the MPEG4 channels that was broadcast in 1080i. As for why should they go to MPEG4, its basically compression. It has a better compression than MPEG2 and therefore DTV can add more channels to the amount of bandwidth they have, with MPEG2 it's less.
I definitely sympathize with your frustration. I was ready to dump this thing myself but honestly after I had the system formatted and then the DTV upgraded whatever hardware (or possibly firmware) that eliminated the stuttering (8MM) effect here in Charlotte, things have gone better.
As for the 8MM effect, that has to do with hardware encoding issues from what I understand. We had similar issues in Charlotte with any of the MPEG4 channels that was broadcast in 1080i. As for why should they go to MPEG4, its basically compression. It has a better compression than MPEG2 and therefore DTV can add more channels to the amount of bandwidth they have, with MPEG2 it's less.
I definitely sympathize with your frustration. I was ready to dump this thing myself but honestly after I had the system formatted and then the DTV upgraded whatever hardware (or possibly firmware) that eliminated the stuttering (8MM) effect here in Charlotte, things have gone better.
As you can see if you read many of these threads, this forum is morphing into a constant debate between the HR20 lovers (Problems, moi? No, this thing not only has never failed, it's even keeping my wife satisfied) and the haters (not of the box itself, but it's unreliability, performance issues, etc., but I don't have to tell you about that.). Tucked in between the vitriol are some interesting tips, etc., even some basic problem solving.geaux1 said:
Anyway, I also did a "reset everything" a couple of weeks ago, and things seemed to straighten out. But then I got a major freeze during the Eagles' game last week (I think the HR20 affected McNabb and their offense too), and yesterday decided to chuck the HDMI cable and used component. That's been good for 36 hours, with a minor freeze-up tonight (used channel arrow and functionality returned).
If you are among the haters (and again, I mean we hate the fact it doesn't work as advertised for us, not the box itself. The 8MM issue is another story altogether. It's downright annoying), get ready for plenty of "Gee, you mean you thought this was gonna work out of the box? This is new technology, very complex, and there's nothing you can do anyway, so why complain?" or "Relax, inhale, take several deep breaths (or some Lithium) and everything will be beautiful some day" or "It's only TV, what's the big deal?" or "Check your cabling, pull the HDMI cable, turn the DD 5.1 on and off, press every button on the remote twice, reset, reboot, re-this and re-that, yadda, yadda, yadda" or (and this is the most annoying one) "Hey, what did you expect? We have incontrovertible evidence that the ones that don't work are a teeny, weeny number of boxes, but if you got one, take it and like it, you whiny loser. Hardly any new product ever works at first. Why should D* be blamed? No one blamed Apple when it shipped 1,100 bad iPods? Get over it, grow up, be a man (or woman). Get a life."
Sorry to ramble, you get the picture (or in the case of your HR20, you don't. At least not one you recorded).
And that doesn't even cover the spectrum of responses you will read hereabouts on the HR20 threads. Those of us who express our dismay, concern and downright hostility at D* for sending us a box that hasn't consistently worked (and then run out of replacements that might work, or might not) are considered by some unreasonable, uncouth or simply people who love to complain. So get ready to hear all those condescending, patronizing, D* apologist responses to your problem.
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Let me preface my comments by first saying that I really do like DirecTV and think that their customer service is very good. But, I had my HR20 installed on Oct 28th and it failed yesterday, the 30th. They are sending me a replacement, which is supposed to arrive on Wednesday.
Before I received my HR20, I really did think that the amount of people who received problematic units was a small minority. I figured if the majority of units were working well, that it would be a safe bet that I would receive a unit that worked pretty well. Instead, my unit worked half of one day after numerous resets and then, not at all.
It's incredibly frustrating to be in a situation where you struggle to make something work because you really want to like it. From the very little time that I used my HR20, I saw a lot of really neat features and I was excited to use them. Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity. Now, I'm just hoping that the replacement they send works properly.
But, as an aside, I'm wondering more and more if defective and/or problematic units are more than just a small minority of all HR20 units out there. As the tech person I spoke to on the phone told me, he has had a multitude of calls about the HR20. Obviously, I don't know definitively one way or the other. All I can say is that I received a faulty unit and, as cliche as it might sound, I didn't think it would happen to me.
Before I received my HR20, I really did think that the amount of people who received problematic units was a small minority. I figured if the majority of units were working well, that it would be a safe bet that I would receive a unit that worked pretty well. Instead, my unit worked half of one day after numerous resets and then, not at all.
It's incredibly frustrating to be in a situation where you struggle to make something work because you really want to like it. From the very little time that I used my HR20, I saw a lot of really neat features and I was excited to use them. Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity. Now, I'm just hoping that the replacement they send works properly.
But, as an aside, I'm wondering more and more if defective and/or problematic units are more than just a small minority of all HR20 units out there. As the tech person I spoke to on the phone told me, he has had a multitude of calls about the HR20. Obviously, I don't know definitively one way or the other. All I can say is that I received a faulty unit and, as cliche as it might sound, I didn't think it would happen to me.
If it's such a piece of junk maybe you should get rid of it and quit coming here to b*itch about it.
I'm gonna cut back to looking around here about once a week or so since it's been full of complainers lately coming here every time it misses a recording and posting a bunch of these
.
I'm gonna cut back to looking around here about once a week or so since it's been full of complainers lately coming here every time it misses a recording and posting a bunch of these
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What "symptoms" did the HR20 have, to make you think it is a faulty unit?iheartroscoe said:
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After Sunday afternoon it would not get past the "Almost There" screen.Earl Bonovich said:
Good idea, but something in the back of my head knew this company had crossed over into crapville when they asked for a 2 year service commitment all of a sudden after over ten years with them at the highest level to get their newest gizmo. WHy do that unless it's garbage? Why not stand behind your product? Guess I should have known and the obvious was correct.glennb said:If it's such a piece of junk maybe you should get rid of it and quit coming here to b*itch about it.
I'm gonna cut back to looking around here about once a week or so since it's been full of complainers lately coming here every time it misses a recording and posting a bunch of these
I have always liked DTV so I thopught it was no big deal, did not give it a second thought. Bad move on my part.
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Oh... I'm sure they'll make their demands, and probably do so with a straight face. You've talked to CSRs before. Half of them don't admit to problems with the box...geaux1 said:
That being said, if it doesn't work, I don't know how much arm twisting will really be involved should you decide to go another route.
If the box continues to have it's issues and leads to any kind of exodus, they'd be foolish to try and milk more money out of you for termination... If a fair number are abandoning for greener pastures, I would hope that D* would get the picture and let you go.
That is asking a lot of them though.
You didn't agree to 2 year committment to the HR20, just 2 year committment to the basic DIRECTV programming package. You can call and arrange to send back the HR20 if your having such a hissy fit about it.geaux1 said:
All the other service companies(cellphone, cable TV, TiVo, etc..) nowadays want 1-2 year agreements. Directv decided to do the same thing. It's dumb to say - "WHy do that unless it's garbage?"
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And I thought I was a little rough around the edges :eek2:glennb said:If it's such a piece of junk maybe you should get rid of it and quit coming here to b*itch about it.
I'm gonna cut back to looking around here about once a week or so since it's been full of complainers lately coming here every time it misses a recording and posting a bunch of these
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Folks... Let's stay civil here.
Given the direction this thread is headed.... I am going to close the thread.
Given the direction this thread is headed.... I am going to close the thread.
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