[RollsRoyce]

I've been reading the threads about all the problems with the hr34, now i can understand that its a newest receiver and that of course its going to have bugs, but i wanted to ask the people who currently have it. Considering all the current problems and the cost of getting the receiver, is it worth getting it? Currently im iffy on it, the features are great, but some of the problems ive heard about completely outway those features. what do you think?

 

[veryoldschool]

I'm sure you'll get mixed results.

Comparing mine to all of my HR2x, yes the 34 isn't the same.

Realizing this, I still use mine for my "daily driver", and plan to retire my last HR24 at some point.
The 34 is just a different piece of hardware, and runs different code, so it doesn't have the advantage of the six year development of the HR2x.

 

[steve053]

I'm going into the fourth week with my HR34. Comming from an HR20-100 the only regret is that I didn't upgrade sooner.

The HR34 is lightning fast compared to the HR34. The three extra tuners eliminated all of my family's recording conflicts, and the bump to 1 TB of storage is great.

The most difficult part was setting up the series recordings. Since some of the wife's shows are prime time, I had to wait a week until the series kicked off in late September as the guide didn't go out that far.

I had to pay some $ up front. That being said, with all of the credits I ended up paying a total of $9 for the install, HR34 and CCK. And that doesn't include the extra $10/month off I'm receivng for bundling AT&T Uverse internet with DirecTv AND the extra $15/month I'll save on my internet cost by switching.

 

[veryoldschool]

I'm going into the fourth week with my HR34. Comming from an HR20-100 the only regret is that I didn't upgrade sooner.

The HR34 is lightning fast compared to the HR34.

Had you had a HR24, you might find the response a bit slower [as I do] with the 34.

 

[RollsRoyce]

Sounds like its a good receiver, the cost of the receiver is a bit high honestly, but it sounds like you get your monies worth

 

[raott]

Sounds like its a good receiver, the cost of the receiver is a bit high honestly, but it sounds like you get your monies worth

There are bugs, none are show stoppers for me personally. I think it is worth it, especially with Genie, which I know some don't like but I personally do.

It is pricey, but deals can be (or at least they could be) had. With credits, I paid $50 for mine total and installation was waived.

 

[CCarncross]

It all depends on what you already have as well....I have 3 HR2x models, all with OTA, all with their own 2TB drives attached, so I've got 6 tuners, any combination of sat/OTA I want to use, and 6 TB of storage across the mix...unless one of my HR2x's fail, for someone like me it makes absolutely no sense to upgrade to an HR34 at this time.

 

[wahooq]

had mine since february...no complaints

 

[jagrim]

I've had one since December and wish DTV would allow me to have 2.

 

[tgater]

I have had mine since February, had some minor issues, nothing that would make me want to return it. Only had to do a RBR once. Compared to some headaches I have had with other receivers this has done very well. So overall I am satisfied with it and wish I had one more. In addition to the 1 HR34, I have 1 DVR10, 2 HR24's, 1 HR23, 1 H23 and 2 H24's. No Smart TV's yet, waiting for some of those bugs to get worked out so the newer units can connect.

 

[BakeBarry]

I dont regret buying the HR34, but it's quirky.

A lot depends on the current software. The latest update has caused havoc for me.

It misses recordings, locks up, and is just generally fussy with a myriad of lil issues, but the HR20-700 that the 34 replaced was a the end of its days and also fussy.

Since I paid full price, I expected more out of the box. If I had gotten it for a discount, I might be less annoyed by the issues.

 

[RollsRoyce]

Question: Does anyone use C31 Clients with their HR34? if so, how is it compared to using just a regular receiver?

 

[veryoldschool]

Question: Does anyone use C31 Clients with their HR34? if so, how is it compared to using just a regular receiver?

Since it can pause live TV, in this aspect it beats the receiver hands down.
The current "downside" is that it's fairly slow.

 

[carl6]

Question: Does anyone use C31 Clients with their HR34? if so, how is it compared to using just a regular receiver?

Comparison of C31 with regular receiver...
Receiver uses an SWM channel, C31 does not.
C31 can pause, rewind, fast forward live TV, receiver cannot.
C31 typically does not have a buffer coming out of standby (like a DVR would). Receiver has no ability to buffer. So pretty much a wash.
C31 is half the size of the smallest receiver (H25) and waaaayyyy smaller than any other receiver.
C31 must have an HR34 to connect to in order to work. If HR34 dies, you've got nothing. A receiver could still watch live TV as a stand alone device.
C31 and H25 use an external power supply. All the other H2x series receivers have power supply built in and just use a regular power cord.
C31 being brand new might experience some "growing pains", i.e, bugs that may not yet have been found/fixed. But it is maturing rapidly and should prove reliable in normal use.

 

[Drucifer]

You can break the HR34 newness into two categories -- hardware and software.

There been very little reported problems with the HW. As to its SW, lets just say with revisions release almost every month, that's a work in progress.

 

[inkahauts]

Sounds like its a good receiver, the cost of the receiver is a bit high honestly, but it sounds like you get your monies worth

I think that sometime in the next month we may see the price drop, as I expect it to be very heavily promoted, now that they have given it a name, and are soon to launch the c31 nationwide. I believe its about to become the dvr they have, and not one of the dvrs they have. I'd even venture to guess that the two tuner dvr is about to become all about replacements or additional dvrs in a system, and that all new customers will only be getting an hr34. We will see though..