[adam1115]

Does the HR21 have features comperable to TiVo's kidzone? What are the differences between the HR21 parental controls and TiVo's...?

 

[Ken S]

Does the HR21 have features comperable to TiVo's kidzone? What are the differences between the HR21 parental controls and TiVo's...?

I don't have a Tivo to do the comparison for you, but I can tell you that while you can almost certainly block someone from seeing actual shows by rating.

The parental controls have a few holes that will sometimes allow someone to see show titles and channel titles that you may not wish be seen.

The worst offender of this function is the search which will search ALL channels even if you have removed them from the guide using a customized favorites list.

 

[adam1115]

I don't have a Tivo to do the comparison for you, but I can tell you that while you can almost certainly block someone from seeing actual shows by rating.

The parental controls have a few holes that will sometimes allow someone to see show titles and channel titles that you may not wish be seen.

The worst offender of this function is the search which will search ALL channels even if you have removed them from the guide using a customized favorites list.

Kidzone gives a list or pre-recorded shows that are age appropriate. Live tv can be surfed but only allows access to shows that meet the appropriate rating.

Show's that aren't rated can be added to kidzone.

Season passes can also be added to kidzone.

Can the HR21 replicate all of this? (or what things can't it do..)

 

[Ken S]

Kidzone gives a list or pre-recorded shows that are age appropriate. Live tv can be surfed but only allows access to shows that meet the appropriate rating.

Show's that aren't rated can be added to kidzone.

Season passes can also be added to kidzone.

Can the HR21 replicate all of this? (or what things can't it do..)

The HR20 works best the other way.

You can set parental controls to do the following:

1. Block the Adult PPV channels - This removes these channels from the guide and I believe from searches as well. There is a bug, however if you have this active all TV-M show titles on any channel are blocked no matter what your rating limit is set to. This function only blocks a few specific Adult PPV channels. It won't block someone from buying an R rated PPV movie from the regular PPV channels. This function is password protected.

2. Ratings Limis - You can block by TV/Movie rating - When working correctly this will put BLOCKED TITLE in the Guide in place of the actual show and block the actual content. Unfortunately, it will not block the title from showing up in a search. You can also choose to block/allow Unrated content here. This function is password protected.

3. Channel Blocks - This is different than the other Adult Block as it does not remove the channels from the guide or search...it just blocks the titles from showing up most of the time. Unfortunately, the guide will still have the name of the channel...it just blocks the titles of the shows (and watching the content). Sadly, the titles from these channels will still show up in a search. (password protected).

4. Spending Limits - You can limit any online purchases to a specific amount or nothing (password protected)

5. You can create a favorites list with only the channels you want appearing in the guide. This is not protected though and anyone can switch it back to all channels at anytime.

6. The guide also has a quick sort for Family and Kids channels, but this is really a sort in the most general of ways and does not take into account the shows actually being show at that time. This is not a protected setting.

For some reason DirecTV seems to be dead set against giving parents the ability to completely block certain channels....I guess they're afraid we'll block Home Shopping Network?

Any inquisitive child is going to figure out there are channels available they can't view and if they're creative with the search command they'll find the titles of shows they're not allowed to watch.

While it is possible to actually queue and download a blocked show from the On Demand section and set blocked shows to record...I haven't found any instance where someone could actually view the prohibited content...but a determined child might try to do that a lot harder and more often than I have.

Hope this helps.

 

[DonHac]

Kidzone gives a list or pre-recorded shows that are age appropriate. Live tv can be surfed but only allows access to shows that meet the appropriate rating.

Show's that aren't rated can be added to kidzone.

Season passes can also be added to kidzone.

Can the HR21 replicate all of this? (or what things can't it do..)

Very little of it.

You can apply age appropriate ratings limits which prevent viewers from seeing guide data (name is replaced with "Blocked Title"), but the HR-21 often doesn't actually block access to the show itself, just the guide data. Your kids can watch smut, but at least they won't know what it's called.

You cannot explicitly mark specific shows or season passes as kid-acceptable. Everything is driven by the ratings.

You can flip a setting and block "adult" channels, which makes the porno channels in the 590s disappear completely. All other adult (TV-MA) shows will still appear in the now playing list and in search results, even if you have the channel marked as one you don't receive.

Don

 

[adam1115]

Wow, that's terrible...!

My kids can have full access to the TiVo's without any worries at all.

I guess I'll check back with DirecTV next year...

 

[joed32]

Or just check back after they've grown up.