Thinking of buying HR20-700

886 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by peano, Oct 13, 2008

peano

Discussion Starter · Oct 10, 2008

I am currently with Dish and thinking of switching back to Directv. I have a chance to buy an HR20-700 brand new for around $100. I do not want to sign a contract or lease a receiver.

Is this a good choice for an HD PVR? Pardon my ignorance, but what are BBCs and do I need them? Which dish should I buy for this receiver? I still have a triple LNB dish from when I last had Directv about 2 years ago. Does the HR20-700 have UHF capabilities so I can locate it in another room? My experience with Directv in the past is their DVRs were noisy as heck.

Thanks in advance.

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jodyguercio

· #2 · Oct 10, 2008

peano said:
I am currently with Dish and thinking of switching back to Directv. I have a chance to buy an HR20-700 brand new for around $100. I do not want to sign a contract or lease a receiver.

Is this a good choice for an HD PVR? Pardon my ignorance, but what are BBCs and do I need them? Which dish should I buy for this receiver? I still have a triple LNB dish from when I last had Directv about 2 years ago. Does the HR20-700 have UHF capabilities so I can locate it in another room? My experience with Directv in the past is their DVRs were noisy as heck.

Thanks in advance.

1) I dont think $100 for a HR20-700 would be a purchased unit

2) BBCs (B Band Converters) are devices that you do need to watch the newer MPEG-4 HD channels

3) The dish will be a 5 LNB type

4) UHF capabilities? If you mean for OTA reception yes it has an OTA tuner built in. If you mean can you locate the unit in one room and watch something in another, yes you can. All the outputs on the back of the unit are active.

If you do a little lurking you will see things mentioned about SWM and SWMLine dishes that could also change the equation. If youre confused =, keep posting and we'll all keep answering.

jimb726

· #3 · Oct 10, 2008

You will be leasing the unit regardless of where you get it unless you pay full retail price for the DVR, currently around 470 dollars. The current model DVR is an HR22-100 which has a 500 gb hard drive, roughly twice the capacity of the HR20, however the HR20 has an onboard OTA hookup. The BBC are what enables the box to decode the MPEG4 signals which is all the new HD content. You will need the 5LNB dish for the reception. Since you can get the reciever for a max of 199 with the dish and installation, it would be better just to enroll as a new customer and get it done by them, plus there are some additional bennies as far as new customers that may bring the whole deal close to or below the 100 dollars you are considering spending ont he box alone.

tkrandall

· #4 · Oct 10, 2008

DirecTV does not sell receivers unless you pay like $700. All new receivers obtained for the past couple years are considered leased, and a seller cannot sell one unless he truly owns it (paid $$$ for it) and DirecTV says he owns it.

The BBCs are for de-stacking signals coming down from the dish. You need a Slimline dish to get the HD services.

Thaedron

· #5 · Oct 10, 2008

peano said:
I am currently with Dish and thinking of switching back to Directv. I have a chance to buy an HR20-700 brand new for around $100. I do not want to sign a contract or lease a receiver.

Is this a good choice for an HD PVR? Pardon my ignorance, but what are BBCs and do I need them? Which dish should I buy for this receiver? I still have a triple LNB dish from when I last had Directv about 2 years ago. Does the HR20-700 have UHF capabilities so I can locate it in another room? My experience with Directv in the past is their DVRs were noisy as heck.

Thanks in advance.

I believe that the threshold for returning customers is 2 years. If it has been >2 years since you were a DirecTV subscriber and you left on good terms, I would suggest calling them to see what kind of offer they have for you. You will likely get an HD DVR and new dish installed for either $99 or $199. Even if it has been less than 2 years, I would call and see what they have to offer before you start attempting to piece together your new equipment.

As others have mentioned, yes you need BBCs and yes, your DVR will be leased. From my point of view, the leasing model effectively means, you pay less out of pocket for your unit, but have to return it when you are done with it. The per month "lease" fee is really no different than the previous per month "mirror" fee. Your first unit is still covered by your base package, subsquent units incur the mirror/lease fee.

I think by UHF capabilities you mean RF remote (vs. IR). Yes, the HD DVR remotes have RF capability. Though in my experience, the units (especially the HR21) are very quiet.

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arxaw

· #6 · Oct 10, 2008

The HR20s come with RF remote capability. But beware of some remote controls that are IR only, and not RF capable ("UHF" as you called it).

There is little if any advantage to owning a receiver, vs leasing. If you disconnect service, it is useless for anything except as a doorstop. The OTA tuner is shut off and cannot be used without an active account. As others have said, the monthly rate is the same, whether you have leased or owned equipment.

The HR20s do have built in dual OTA tuners. If OTA is important to you, most new DVRs (e.g. HR21) being leased do not have OTA built in. So, if you get new equipment and want OTA, you'll have to order an AM-21 OTA add-on box, which connects to the HR21. You may have to pay $50 more for the AM-21, or you may be able to talk them into giving you one free. YMMV.

If you obtain a used DVR, you will have to order a new access card from D* for $20. They normally will not reactivate a used card.

harsh

· #7 · Oct 10, 2008

In answer to the RF remote question, yes, the HR20 has that capability.

I'm pretty sure the D* remote isn't UHF band.

As for not wanting to sign a contract, lease equipment or be subject to a programming commitment, you will be subject to a 24 month programming commitment at the very least and judging by the price paid, also a lease.

Be absolutely certain that you don't bury the receiver in amongst other hot equipment as heat is a big weakness of this model.

The other thing to watch out for if you came from old school D* and E*: Diplexing is recommended against by DIRECTV.

Self-installing is overrated.

veryoldschool

· #8 · Oct 10, 2008

harsh said:
I'm pretty sure the D* remote isn't UHF band.

FYI: it does seem to be in the UHF band. Some have used a Silver sensor antenna to extent the range.

peano

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 10, 2008

Thanks for the responses! The unit I am looking at is brand new in the box. I had read somewhere that the HR20-700 was not subject to lease fees. OTA is important to me. Will it come with BBCs in the box? If not, I guess ebay is the place to buy them or will Directv supply them at no charge?

say-what

· #10 · Oct 10, 2008

The HR20 was introduced some 6 months after DirecTV went to the lease model. Unless the person you are getting this from has an owned unit (there are some out there), DirecTV will consider it a leased unit - it's impossible to transfer a previously activated leased unit, unactivated doesn't seem to be a problem. While it may be new in box, you still want to get the receiver ID to confirm that the unit can be transferred free and clear - they may also be able to clarify whether the unit is currently owned or just old unactivated stock that would be considered leased for you.

It should come with BBC's, but if not, DirecTV can send you some for free once you activate the unit.

veryoldschool

· #11 · Oct 10, 2008

peano said:
Thanks for the responses! The unit I am looking at is brand new in the box. I had read somewhere that the HR20-700 was not subject to lease fees. OTA is important to me. Will it come with BBCs in the box? If not, I guess ebay is the place to buy them or will Directv supply them at no charge?

This would be "old stock" as they haven't been made in almost a year now.
BBCs should be in the box along with cables & remote.

The odds of this being a lease with a two year programing commitment are EXTREMELY high.

harsh

· #12 · Oct 10, 2008

veryoldschool said:
FYI: it does seem to be in the UHF band. Some have used a Silver sensor antenna to extent the range.

The Silver Sensor works just fine as a broadband antenna for me. I've got one hooked up to a computer based TV tuner in my dining room and it picks up channel 2 from 50alm+ away.

It is interesting that they aren't required (or are and they choose not) to give information about the frequency used.

veryoldschool

· #13 · Oct 10, 2008

harsh said:
The Silver Sensor works just fine as a broadband antenna for me. I've got one hooked up to a computer based TV tuner in my dining room and it picks up channel 2 from 50alm+ away.

It is interesting that they aren't required (or are and they choose not) to give information about the frequency used.

"Somewhere" it was posted to be "around" 400 MHz. [Sorry to be so vague]

rudeney

· #14 · Oct 10, 2008

The D* RF remotes use 433Mhz, which is considered “UHF”. How do I know this? Well, my home alarm systems uses 433Mhz to communicate with its wireless devices (remote key fobs, wireless sensors in the house, etc.). The up-arrow button on the D* remote I use in the kitchen (RF mode) will cause the alarm panel to beep with a low sensor battery warning. Normally, all wireless devices have to handshake with the panel using registered digital codes, but the low battery signal does not, and it happens to be the same thing sent by that remote. It actually has to do with the RID, too, because changing the remoter to control a different receiver does not cause the stray signal.

peano

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 10, 2008

Thanks everyone. I'll report back how activation goes.

peano

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 13, 2008

Another question. I read about a new 3 LNB dish. Can I get away with that? I only watch HD and will not be getting locals.

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