[fdeitz]

I am getting picture breakup/ pixilization on our ABC mpeg4 station as well. They come in spurts for about 30 to 60 seconds, occuring about every 30 minutes or so. So far, my wife hasn't asked why we got the HR20, though. The unit has a lot more features than our cable HD DVR had, and we got the dish and receiver for free with free install. Our cable bill dropped ove 50 bucks a month (digital service, HDTV/DVR fees, HBO) , and directv only went up 27 (HD package, leased receiver fee, HBO, no new dvr fee since we already had an SD tivo from directv).

I notice you are also in the Washington, DC area - and I see that same problem with channel 7 (ABC) here. Every time I record a show on it - at least once during the show there is one of those occurances of breakups like that.

 

[hasan]

Well - I'm now known as the guy who threw his P.O.S. in the trash - then pulled it back out.

I have to admit a couple of things. Since OxD8 my unit has worked flawlessly.

In addition I have noticed the last week or so that all our local MPEG4 stations are now crystal damn clear - beautiful HD with NO macroblocking or low bitrate problems. Stunning PQ and finally what I've been waiting for. If this is a good example of the MPEG4 future then I can't wait.

Aside - now that the local MPEG4's look so damn good - I don't care about OTA.

GEEEEEE - suppose that might be part of D*'s plan?????

That is TERRIFIC news about your MPEG4 results. Its going to be quite a while before we get them in the Des Moines (Iowa) area, so I'm patiently waiting for OTA to be enabled. (and would really like the MPEG4 bugs to be fully worked out before my box is exposed to them anyway). It will be most interesting to look at MPEG4 vs OTA. It will be interesting as well to see if your results "spread" to others in the MPEG4 markets.

 

[Earl Bonovich]

But be careful complaining about the HR-20 on this forum, because I've done it many times so far (for exactly the reasons you outlined), and sooner or later, you'll be chastized for being a whiner who doesn't realize how good you have it because D* has given you this brilliant new piece of hardware.

Now that isn't completely fair.

There are some people that have issues with other people here on the forum.
And some have ruffled the feathers of others here.

Out of all these threads, with people post complaints... and issues about it... and very few of those get "chastized". Probably the most chastizing is when someone writes... Mine has been working flawlessly... some comes back with.. "it will"

 

[patsrule316]

This may sound nuts, but I just bought an extra R10 and an older Hughes Directv w/Tivo receiver ($50) from ebay so my wife has a good backup supply of Tivo replacements with D*. I don't have much faith in the HR-20 based on R15 forum problems a year after launch. We'll see.

Doesn't sound nuts to me. When I first signed up for directv, in summer of 2003, we got a hughes Directv Tivo (30 Hours)and a Hughes HD receiver. Last year I got the free after 100 dollar rebate Directv Tivo unit (75 Hours) to replace the 30 hour unit, which was then collecting dust. Then, last month, I got the Hr20 and dish for free, and had the installer set up the old 30 hour dish in our basement, where my wife does her crafts. The original hughes Directv is collecting dust now, but we have 3 tvs running now, 2 with directv tivo, and the third with the HR20. The other tivos are backing up anything we consider critical.

 

[patsrule316]

I notice you are also in the Washington, DC area - and I see that same problem with channel 7 (ABC) here. Every time I record a show on it - at least once during the show there is one of those occurances of breakups like that.

Yup...both Episodes of Desperate Housewives, and the Nine, it happened twice each episode. Fortunately, other than those shows and lost (which I watched live and haven't watched the recording, but I didn't see it happen live), there isn't anything on ABC I worry about anyways:lol:

 

[tstarn]

Now that isn't completely fair.

There are some people that have issues with other people here on the forum.
And some have ruffled the feathers of others here.

Out of all these threads, with people post complaints... and issues about it... and very few of those get "chastized". Probably the most chastizing is when someone writes... Mine has been working flawlessly... some comes back with.. "it will"

Earl, can clarify that last line? Unclear. And some people have taken offense with the mere act of complaining about their HR-20's performance and D*'s response to it so far. We disagree on that point.

 

[tstarn]

Well - I'm now known as the guy who threw his P.O.S. in the trash - then pulled it back out.

I have to admit a couple of things. Since OxD8 my unit has worked flawlessly.

In addition I have noticed the last week or so that all our local MPEG4 stations are now crystal damn clear - beautiful HD with NO macroblocking or low bitrate problems. Stunning PQ and finally what I've been waiting for. If this is a good example of the MPEG4 future then I can't wait.

Aside - now that the local MPEG4's look so damn good - I don't care about OTA.

GEEEEEE - suppose that might be part of D*'s plan?????

Could be. Glad it's working. I was in the same boat as of last night (no issues for 4-5 days), but alas, MNF locked up and the BSOD took over.

 

[fdeitz]

Yup...both Episodes of Desperate Housewives, and the Nine, it happened twice each episode. Fortunately, other than those shows and lost (which I watched live and haven't watched the recording, but I didn't see it happen live), there isn't anything on ABC I worry about anyways:lol:

Interesting, I saw it last week on Lost - but watched it recorded. The pixelation/loss of picture for roughly 30 seconds happened about halfway into it. I wonder then if it is something while recording that is causing this problem. I pick up my wife at 9 PM on Wednesdays from school so I never get to watch Lost live.

 

[tstarn]

Well, people can call me a whiner all the want, but the reality of the situation is, the HR20 has issues. I can understand this, and I'm being patient waiting for fixes. However, it gets difficult to be patient when my wife is complaining nightly about the new unit. :/

There are legitimate issues with the HR20, and I just hope D* is aware of them and fixing them. For those out there with the "freeze" at the start of the program complaining about that, I would HAPPILY live with that if it were the only problem. But a complete lockup of the box, coupled with the loss of the guide data and 10 minutes of the show(s) being recorded is just absurd.

I don't get freezing that can be unstuck. I get the black screen and 0:00 timer, with no show at all, even though it lists on MyVOD. So it's worthless as a recording. I too could live with a momentary freeze that can be unfrozen.

 

[hadji]

Excuse me, but at what point did men need their wives input when it comes to home theater/pc/electronics issues? I don't care if you are a stay at home dad or head of GE, those are your domain and in such are not up for negotiation or discussion. Did I miss a meeting in the last few years or something? Reading from the MANual, page 16, rule 5, article 2 I will give you the appropriate canned response in this situation... "(add endearing nickname here), I'm workin' on it." NOTES: Keep the conversation brief and to the point to avoid straying into other areas that are considered the wife's domain. Once you enter that realm, your MAN powers will begin losing effect and the situation will spiral out of control resulting in either shopping, a visit to in-laws or worst case scenario removal of MAN privileges to spend more quality time with the family.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED


PS: There will be an emergency meeting of the board on Super Bowl Sunday. We are looking for a host to provide a home as our wives have already said no. All intetrested parties please reply.

 

[tstarn]

Excuse me, but at what point did men need their wives input when it comes to home theater/pc/electronics issues? I don't care if you are a stay at home dad or head of GE, those are your domain and in such are not up for negotiation or discussion. Did I miss a meeting in the last few years or something? Reading from the MANual, page 16, rule 5, article 2 I will give you the appropriate canned response in this situation... "(add endearing nickname here), I'm workin' on it." NOTES: Keep the conversation brief and to the point to avoid straying into other areas that are considered the wife's domain. Once you enter that realm, your MAN powers will begin losing effect and the situation will spiral out of control resulting in either shopping, a visit to in-laws or worst case scenario removal of MAN privileges to spend more quality time with the family.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

PS: There will be an emergency meeting of the board on Super Bowl Sunday. We are looking for a host to provide a home as our wives have already said no. All intetrested parties please reply.

Funny stuff, but you aren't married to a lawyer. They win every argument, home theater or otherwise. On the other hand, you are right. It was a major mistake to even expose wives to Tivo.Because it worked so well, anything less than perfection is now cause for derision (or worse). And some of we HR-20 users have been getting plenty of derision (or worse) from our better halves for the past month.

 

[WANDERER]

Could be. Glad it's working. I was in the same boat as of last night (no issues for 4-5 days), but alas, MNF locked up and the BSOD took over.

Go Broncos! That was a great game eh? I time shifted that with the HR20 and tortured the box throughout the game - no problems flawless perfomance. Can't imagine why?

 

[Earl Bonovich]

Earl, can clarify that last line? Unclear. And some people have taken offense with the mere act of complaining about their HR-20's performance and D*'s response to it so far. We disagree on that point.

Sure...

There are people that open a thread, with a complaint about the box...
Some one later posts... Well mine has been working fine...

then someone (Be it the OP) or someone else, will come back with a "well it will"

So even those people that post they have NO issues, get chastized... just like the ones that post they DO have issues... it is an equal opportunity chastizing forum....

So long as you don't bring it down to the personal level.

Bottom line is... The forums are here to discuss the issues, state your opinions, but those that post (on either side of the fence) will have someone barking at them from the other side.... just the nature of the beast right now.

 

[tstarn]

Go Broncos! That was a great game eh? I time shifted that with the HR20 and tortured the box throughout the game - no problems flawless perfomance. Can't imagine why?

LOL. Broncos-Eagles Super Bowl? That'd be my choice. But too early to tell. Funny, but it's really spooky when the HR-20 really works, huh? You keep expecting the worst.

 

[WANDERER]

Sure...

There are people that open a thread, with a complaint about the box...
Some one later posts... Well mine has been working fine...

then someone (Be it the OP) or someone else, will come back with a "well it will"

So even those people that post they have NO issues, get chastized... just like the ones that post they DO have issues... it is an equal opportunity chastizing forum....

So long as you don't bring it down to the personal level.

Bottom line is... The forums are here to discuss the issues, state your opinions, but those that post (on either side of the fence) will have someone barking at them from the other side.... just the nature of the beast right now.

Earl - I'm just curious. How old are you? Are you a child prodigy?

 

[tstarn]

Sure...

There are people that open a thread, with a complaint about the box...
Some one later posts... Well mine has been working fine...

then someone (Be it the OP) or someone else, will come back with a "well it will"

So even those people that post they have NO issues, get chastized... just like the ones that post they DO have issues... it is an equal opportunity chastizing forum....

So long as you don't bring it down to the personal level.

Bottom line is... The forums are here to discuss the issues, state your opinions, but those that post (on either side of the fence) will have someone barking at them from the other side.... just the nature of the beast right now.

Got ya. Just wanted clarification. Nature of the beast makes sense.

 

[patsrule316]

Interesting, I saw it last week on Lost - but watched it recorded. The pixelation/loss of picture for roughly 30 seconds happened about halfway into it. I wonder then if it is something while recording that is causing this problem. I pick up my wife at 9 PM on Wednesdays from school so I never get to watch Lost live.

Its possible it happened and I forgot...Lost is pretty much the only show I watch live these days. I'll try to pay extra attention this week.

 

[DCSholtis]

Excuse me, but at what point did men need their wives input when it comes to home theater/pc/electronics issues? I don't care if you are a stay at home dad or head of GE, those are your domain and in such are not up for negotiation or discussion. Did I miss a meeting in the last few years or something? Reading from the MANual, page 16, rule 5, article 2 I will give you the appropriate canned response in this situation... "(add endearing nickname here), I'm workin' on it." NOTES: Keep the conversation brief and to the point to avoid straying into other areas that are considered the wife's domain. Once you enter that realm, your MAN powers will begin losing effect and the situation will spiral out of control resulting in either shopping, a visit to in-laws or worst case scenario removal of MAN privileges to spend more quality time with the family.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

PS: There will be an emergency meeting of the board on Super Bowl Sunday. We are looking for a host to provide a home as our wives have already said no. All intetrested parties please reply.

Man Law!!!!! :lol:

 

[deddleman]

I took the easy way out and left the DirecTivo SD unit to my wife, she really doesn't care as much about picture quality as she does reliability. Typical female perspective for more things than just HD

I look at it as a chance to get my own PVR. She has filled the DirecTivo up to about 95% capacity with Dr. Phil, Oprah, and cooking shows. She won't delete the Dr. Phil episodes because she thinks the parenting advice will be handy as the kids get older. Whenever I try to set up a recording it says there is not enough space and I have to spend 10 minutes trying to find something to delete (Dr. Phil is off limits, although I have snuck a couple of deletes in there when my Battlestar Gallactica was threatened ).

So her plan is to store the Tivo up with old episodes for 5 to 10 years and be constantly having to make space for new recordings I got her a DVD-R to archive the stuff but the thought of making 100 hours of recordings real-time doesn't sound too fun and with two small children we really don't have the time for this undertaking. I had thought about hacking the Tivo so I could archive the recordings using the PC, but it would not help for already recorded shows.

Now, she can deal with the full hard drive herself and I can have a HR20 with complete control what is recorded on it.

Eventually, when the HR20 becomes stable, I'll replace her Tivo with another HR20. Believe or not, she actually prefers the HR20 to the Tivo, except for the lack of auto-correction when FF through commercials. When she gets her own HR20, I'll probaby set up a 750GB eSata for her and she can store a decade's worth of Dr. Phils on it if she wants. I just hope Dr. Phil and Oprah never go HD, the 750GB won't be enough then :nono2:


Doug

 

[Earl Bonovich]

Earl - I'm just curious. How old are you? Are you a child prodigy?

32... and sure I was a child who had Prodigy... 2400 Baud combo back from Sears...