My options with current or recommit and go HR34

Double_B · 11-01-2012, 11:56 AM

I am thinking I would like the whole home DVR set up but not sure if I should work with what I have or go with the HR34. I am currently not under contract which is nice. I have been a DTV customer for 8 years.

Current set up:

Living room: HR20-100 DVR hooked to 42" plasma.

Den: H20-100 HD receiver hooked to Epson 8100 PJ and Denon receiver.

Bedroom: HR22-100 DVR hooked to 24" lcd. Only one input line so can only record one thing at a time.

We would like to be able to watch recorded stuff in the den on the PJ and also watch recordings from the living room in the bedroom.

I am very close(I just need to do it dam it) to buying an Apple Airport Extreme to replace my current Airport Express and use the Express to extend the network(new gen Extreme will be faster too). I would put the Express down in the living room and could use that to get an ethernet to the HR20-100. That would leave needing to get the den and bedroom on the network. The Extreme is in a different room than those so I would need to do some fishing of Cat 5 in the walls or get gaming adapters I assume for the den and bedroom.

Getting the HR34 would seem to make all of this easy......but knowing I'm not "tied down" to two more years and I would most likely having to be paying $150 up front to get the HR34.

Any thoughts? Opinions?

Thanks

See reply below for update after calling DTV and also a new question.

Loran1 · 11-01-2012, 01:04 PM

There have been some bugs with the HR-34 (my first had to be replaced) but the second one is working out just fine. I’m enjoying all the features I didn’t have before, like whole-home service, ability to record five shows at once, and PIP. So I would say go for it.

lsilvest · 11-02-2012, 05:53 AM

If you've been a customer that long and are obviously paying a good bit for your service, I'd go for the HR34 (love mine) and wouldn't pay a cent for it. They should give you a new customer deal if you agree to the 2 years (which you would be doing with a change of equipment even if you pay for it). Don't mess with a CSR, just tell them you want to cancel and when you get to retention tell them the Dish deal for the hopper looks very attractive so you are going to change since it's better than your current setup.
.

Double_B · 11-02-2012, 09:53 AM

Thanks for the replies. I called D* last night and got a CSR....was told what most others were told. Would be $149+tax for Whole Home DVR, current special is you get an additional DVR. I asked about the HR34 and she quoted me $547. haha

I just looked at Dish deal with the Hopper....they certainly can't argue that upfront it is a good price compared to what I have and what they quoted me.

I also chatted with Comcast....quoted me what my monthly bill would be with Whole Home DVR from them....about $35 more per month than what I would pay with D*...hahahahaa...I didn't even ask about install...told them no way.

I will call D* back and get retention and see what happens.

Double_B · 11-03-2012, 10:10 AM

I wanted to update on what I ended up doing. I called Dish and got their prices on what it would cost me up front and per month to get the Hopper and the same channels I have now. I have to say I was pretty impressed at the price. Like very impressed. But I know a few people(parents included) who had switched to Dish and ended up switching back for one reason or another. But still, the price, wow.

So I then called DTV and said "cancel service" and was transferred I assume to retention. Explained that Dish blew me away with their offer and price. The girl I talked to was very helpful and started with the discounts right away. She said she could do Whole Home service and give me the additional HD DVR to replace my one HD receiver which would give me three HD DVRs for only $19 install. I inquired about the HR34 and she said she could do it for $70. I haggled some but she said she couldn't do it for less than 70. She also pointed out that with the 3 HD DVRs I would be able to record 6 things a one time where the GEnie can only do 5(I am not sure, I would think my existing DVRs would still do 2 each)....In the end I was fine with paying $19 for the additional DVR and not getting the HR34. I am sure some will say I should have held out but with the HR34 the only thing I am missing out on is the two picture ability(which would be cool on my PJ. I do not need any more recording capacity than what the 3 DVRs will give me.

She also gave me a total of $25 off my bill for the next 12 months which brought it to what Dish would have been. Very happy with that. That's why I still love DTV!! Really is a great service.

QUESTION: With the installer hooking up the Cinema Kit I see in the install videos it shows it has an ethernet port that if you don't have a SWiM ready device you would use. But since I would be getting the HR24(I assume) the ethernet port isn't used. Could I use that ethernet port to hook to my Sony Blu-Ray player to get internet access to it(it is does not have built in WiFi but does have an ethernet port)?? i would love it if I was able to do that.

lsilvest · 11-03-2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double_B

QUESTION: With the installer hooking up the Cinema Kit I see in the install videos it shows it has an ethernet port that if you don't have a SWiM ready device you would use. But since I would be getting the HR24(I assume) the ethernet port isn't used. Could I use that ethernet port to hook to my Sony Blu-Ray player to get internet access to it(it is does not have built in WiFi but does have an ethernet port)?? i would love it if I was able to do that.

I assume since he's hooking up the Cinema Kit you can't run ethernet from the DVR to the router? Hooking up your BD player to the DVR won't get you internet access and the DVR only goes to D* or youtube and Pandora (or get to those through D*). If you want internet access for your BD player (and for what purpose other than updates) you might look into a Powerline setup. My daughter has the Cinema Kit and it's not worth a shit for HD.

Double_B · 11-03-2012, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsilvest

I assume since he's hooking up the Cinema Kit you can't run ethernet from the DVR to the router? Hooking up your BD player to the DVR won't get you internet access and the DVR only goes to D* or youtube and Pandora (or get to those through D*). If you want internet access for your BD player (and for what purpose other than updates) you might look into a Powerline setup. My daughter has the Cinema Kit and it's not worth a shit for HD.

I want internet access to the BD player because I can stream Amazon Prime videos through it. It has App capability.

I wasn't sure if the ethernet port out of the Cinema Kit would act as an extension of my home network once it was "live".

What do you mean the Cinema Kit wasn't sht for HD?? You're saying the picture is crappy so all of my HD DVRs will have a crappy picture??

lsilvest · 11-03-2012, 11:41 AM

Simple. It's wireless and I have yet to see wireless service that actually does a good job with HD. At best it's hit and miss. Part of her problem is a slow internet connection, but for the most part you'll hear nothing but complaints about HD over wireless.

joed32 · 11-04-2012, 06:26 AM

My cinema kit is wired to the router so are my DVRs and BD (using a switch to get extra ports so they all connect to the switch.) HD looks great on everything including Roku which is also wired to the switch.

isszguy · 11-13-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double_B

Getting the HR34 would seem to make all of this easy......but knowing I'm not "tied down" to two more years and I would most likely having to be paying $150 up front to get the HR34.

And how do you get an HR34 for $150? I don't give two fiddlesticks about being tied to another 2 years, but at this moment I don't feel like paying around $300+ that I was quoted for an HR34.

TDK1044 · 11-16-2012, 03:38 AM

I just upgraded from whole home DVR and three HR24s to an HR34 with a Genie Client. So far, the HR34 has performed perfectly.

The cost was $199 for the HR34 and the Genie Client, and $49 for the install.

johns70 · 11-16-2012, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isszguy

And how do you get an HR34 for $150? I don't give two fiddlesticks about being tied to another 2 years, but at this moment I don't feel like paying around $300+ that I was quoted for an HR34.

You don't give two fiddlesticks?..
OK....

lsilvest · 11-16-2012, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joed32

My cinema kit is wired to the router so are my DVRs and BD (using a switch to get extra ports so they all connect to the switch.) HD looks great on everything including Roku which is also wired to the switch.

I thought the Cinema Kits were only wireless (at least the one I've seen)? Do they have a new one out? If it's wired to the router, what's the advantage over wiring the DVR directly - just what do you get that you can't get with it wired directly?

11-01-2012, 11:56 AM	#1
Double_B How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 20	My options with current or recommit and go HR34(UPDATE and new question) I am thinking I would like the whole home DVR set up but not sure if I should work with what I have or go with the HR34. I am currently not under contract which is nice. I have been a DTV customer for 8 years. Current set up: Living room: HR20-100 DVR hooked to 42" plasma. Den: H20-100 HD receiver hooked to Epson 8100 PJ and Denon receiver. Bedroom: HR22-100 DVR hooked to 24" lcd. Only one input line so can only record one thing at a time. We would like to be able to watch recorded stuff in the den on the PJ and also watch recordings from the living room in the bedroom. I am very close(I just need to do it dam it) to buying an Apple Airport Extreme to replace my current Airport Express and use the Express to extend the network(new gen Extreme will be faster too). I would put the Express down in the living room and could use that to get an ethernet to the HR20-100. That would leave needing to get the den and bedroom on the network. The Extreme is in a different room than those so I would need to do some fishing of Cat 5 in the walls or get gaming adapters I assume for the den and bedroom. Getting the HR34 would seem to make all of this easy......but knowing I'm not "tied down" to two more years and I would most likely having to be paying $150 up front to get the HR34. Any thoughts? Opinions? Thanks See reply below for update after calling DTV and also a new question. Last edited by Double_B; 11-03-2012 at 10:12 AM. Reason: Update after calling DTV

11-01-2012, 01:04 PM	#2
Loran1 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Southern California Age: 76 Posts: 326	There have been some bugs with the HR-34 (my first had to be replaced) but the second one is working out just fine. I’m enjoying all the features I didn’t have before, like whole-home service, ability to record five shows at once, and PIP. So I would say go for it. __________________ Panasonic 50" TH-50PZ700U Panasonic DMP-BD30K Blu-ray player Polaroid 15" LCD TLA-0511C Panasonic 46" TC-P46S30 Samsung 22" 5003

11-02-2012, 05:53 AM	#3
lsilvest High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,520	If you've been a customer that long and are obviously paying a good bit for your service, I'd go for the HR34 (love mine) and wouldn't pay a cent for it. They should give you a new customer deal if you agree to the 2 years (which you would be doing with a change of equipment even if you pay for it). Don't mess with a CSR, just tell them you want to cancel and when you get to retention tell them the Dish deal for the hopper looks very attractive so you are going to change since it's better than your current setup. .

11-02-2012, 09:53 AM	#4
Double_B How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 20	Thanks for the replies. I called D* last night and got a CSR....was told what most others were told. Would be $149+tax for Whole Home DVR, current special is you get an additional DVR. I asked about the HR34 and she quoted me $547. haha I just looked at Dish deal with the Hopper....they certainly can't argue that upfront it is a good price compared to what I have and what they quoted me. I also chatted with Comcast....quoted me what my monthly bill would be with Whole Home DVR from them....about $35 more per month than what I would pay with D...hahahahaa...I didn't even ask about install...told them no way. I will call D back and get retention and see what happens.

11-03-2012, 10:10 AM	#5
Double_B How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 20	I wanted to update on what I ended up doing. I called Dish and got their prices on what it would cost me up front and per month to get the Hopper and the same channels I have now. I have to say I was pretty impressed at the price. Like very impressed. But I know a few people(parents included) who had switched to Dish and ended up switching back for one reason or another. But still, the price, wow. So I then called DTV and said "cancel service" and was transferred I assume to retention. Explained that Dish blew me away with their offer and price. The girl I talked to was very helpful and started with the discounts right away. She said she could do Whole Home service and give me the additional HD DVR to replace my one HD receiver which would give me three HD DVRs for only $19 install. I inquired about the HR34 and she said she could do it for $70. I haggled some but she said she couldn't do it for less than 70. She also pointed out that with the 3 HD DVRs I would be able to record 6 things a one time where the GEnie can only do 5(I am not sure, I would think my existing DVRs would still do 2 each)....In the end I was fine with paying $19 for the additional DVR and not getting the HR34. I am sure some will say I should have held out but with the HR34 the only thing I am missing out on is the two picture ability(which would be cool on my PJ. I do not need any more recording capacity than what the 3 DVRs will give me. She also gave me a total of $25 off my bill for the next 12 months which brought it to what Dish would have been. Very happy with that. That's why I still love DTV!! Really is a great service. QUESTION: With the installer hooking up the Cinema Kit I see in the install videos it shows it has an ethernet port that if you don't have a SWiM ready device you would use. But since I would be getting the HR24(I assume) the ethernet port isn't used. Could I use that ethernet port to hook to my Sony Blu-Ray player to get internet access to it(it is does not have built in WiFi but does have an ethernet port)?? i would love it if I was able to do that.

11-03-2012, 11:41 AM	#8
lsilvest High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,520	Simple. It's wireless and I have yet to see wireless service that actually does a good job with HD. At best it's hit and miss. Part of her problem is a slow internet connection, but for the most part you'll hear nothing but complaints about HD over wireless.

11-04-2012, 06:26 AM	#9
joed32 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,351	My cinema kit is wired to the router so are my DVRs and BD (using a switch to get extra ports so they all connect to the switch.) HD looks great on everything including Roku which is also wired to the switch.

11-16-2012, 03:38 AM	#11
TDK1044 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 557	I just upgraded from whole home DVR and three HR24s to an HR34 with a Genie Client. So far, the HR34 has performed perfectly. The cost was $199 for the HR34 and the Genie Client, and $49 for the install.