High Def Receiver Basics?

HydroGuy · 07-13-2007, 11:27 PM

This must have been asked here many times, and I looked back a few weeks at old posts without any real success. If anyone has a link to an old thread that is fine. I am trying to get more educated on the DTV receivers.

I am a 2 year DTV subscriber with almost two years on an HR10-250 (with DVR 200 SD hours/30 HD hours) which I have been very happy with. We just got a second HD TV for the family room. For the moment I have an old RCA HD receiver w/o DVR which we are using until I make a long term decision.

I was told by the local DTV installer (who happens to be a friend) that I should wait until Sept before upgrading because DTV will be coming out with new receivers, etc., in conjunction with the HD expansion, new satellite, etc. (which I understand is successfully in orbit). I have an Oval-3 dish, and I understand I will need a dish upgrade as well.

In any case, I called DTV tonight on another issue and got a tech who was very open with recommendations, and told me that my HR10-250 would not be compatible with the new HD programming (which I was expecting to hear) but went on to say that there is no reason to wait to get the new HR20 receivers and dish upgrade. He said that all of this would be compatible with the HD programming come Sept, and no new receiver features would be coming on line in the next few months. Since I need two new HD receivers, his only suggestion about delaying was in trying to get the $199 discount on both by staggering their purchase. Otherwise if I upgrade now they will cost me $199 for the first one and $299 for the second.

So, my questions are really these:

1. Is there a reason for me to wait until Sept to upgrade?

2. I noticed from this forum that there are different types of HR20s. What are the differences?

3. Since I want to get the two HD receivers is $199+299 the best price I am going to get?

ivanl · 07-14-2007, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HydroGuy

This must have been asked here many times, and I looked back a few weeks at old posts without any real success. If anyone has a link to an old thread that is fine. I am trying to get more educated on the DTV receivers.

I am a 2 year DTV subscriber with almost two years on an HR10-250 (with DVR 200 SD hours/30 HD hours) which I have been very happy with. We just got a second HD TV for the family room. For the moment I have an old RCA HD receiver w/o DVR which we are using until I make a long term decision.

I was told by the local DTV installer (who happens to be a friend) that I should wait until Sept before upgrading because DTV will be coming out with new receivers, etc., in conjunction with the HD expansion, new satellite, etc. (which I understand is successfully in orbit). I have an Oval-3 dish, and I understand I will need a dish upgrade as well.

In any case, I called DTV tonight on another issue and got a tech who was very open with recommendations, and told me that my HR10-250 would not be compatible with the new HD programming (which I was expecting to hear) but went on to say that there is no reason to wait to get the new HR20 receivers and dish upgrade. He said that all of this would be compatible with the HD programming come Sept, and no new receiver features would be coming on line in the next few months. Since I need two new HD receivers, his only suggestion about delaying was in trying to get the $199 discount on both by staggering their purchase. Otherwise if I upgrade now they will cost me $199 for the first one and $299 for the second.

So, my questions are really these:

1. Is there a reason for me to wait until Sept to upgrade?

2. I noticed from this forum that there are different types of HR20s. What are the differences?

3. Since I want to get the two HD receivers is $199+299 the best price I am going to get?

Potential reasons to wait:

1. iF you need to time to save $$$ for the cost of the upgrade.
2. IF you do not belive the current HD line-up justifies to csot fo the upgrade, but will oncethe new channels are available in September.

There is no technical reason to wat.

HDTVFreak · 07-14-2007, 07:00 AM

If you have heard that "newer" receivers were coming out soon, I don't think you will need to wait until then to upgrade your dish. If I had heard newer receivers were to come out, I would have waited on the DVR and just purchase the H20. I don't know about a lot of people but to me, the H20 are fairly cheap ($99). Get the upgrades now so that Directv installers won't be bombarded by millions of customers wanting to upgrade when more HD channels come out.

I am all set and have been since March and April (had to get two; one for each residence (year-round and seasonal residence)).

mcbeevee · 07-14-2007, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HydroGuy

1. Is there a reason for me to wait until Sept to upgrade?
2. I noticed from this forum that there are different types of HR20s. What are the differences?
3. Since I want to get the two HD receivers is $199+299 the best price I am going to get?

1 - I would recommend upgrading now to avoid the rush in Aug-Sep when the new HD channels are closer to going live.

2 - There are 2 models of HR20, -100 and -700. They are basically the same piece of hardware...just different manufacturers. If you order from D*, you can't choose which model you get...just luck of the draw.

3 - If you want 2 HD-DVR's, that might be the best price. If you only need 1 HD-DVR and 1 HD receiver (H20), the price will be much lower. The H20 will be able to receive the new HD channels...it just does not record.

DtvRep07 · 07-14-2007, 09:45 AM

The new model receivers, as far as I've heard, aren't gonna be anything special. They will just have all the new software downloads already. It's another example of DirecTV trying to push out owned equipment.

redlinetire · 07-14-2007, 11:03 AM

And it's been my experience that you do NOT want the new equipment simply because they typically haven't worked out the 'real world' bugs out of them yet.

I have an H10 I've owned since they were brand new. The software was horrible, would take forever to change a channel and would reboot every time the phone rang!!

Now of course - with the software updates - it works fine for me and I'm quite happy with it. But it took - what? - almost a year before they fixed it all? So for me, I want the old tried and true equipment. Let someone else workout the bugs in the new stuff.

07-13-2007, 11:27 PM	#1
HydroGuy High Def or Highly Deaf? Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 13	High Def Receiver Basics? This must have been asked here many times, and I looked back a few weeks at old posts without any real success. If anyone has a link to an old thread that is fine. I am trying to get more educated on the DTV receivers. I am a 2 year DTV subscriber with almost two years on an HR10-250 (with DVR 200 SD hours/30 HD hours) which I have been very happy with. We just got a second HD TV for the family room. For the moment I have an old RCA HD receiver w/o DVR which we are using until I make a long term decision. I was told by the local DTV installer (who happens to be a friend) that I should wait until Sept before upgrading because DTV will be coming out with new receivers, etc., in conjunction with the HD expansion, new satellite, etc. (which I understand is successfully in orbit). I have an Oval-3 dish, and I understand I will need a dish upgrade as well. In any case, I called DTV tonight on another issue and got a tech who was very open with recommendations, and told me that my HR10-250 would not be compatible with the new HD programming (which I was expecting to hear) but went on to say that there is no reason to wait to get the new HR20 receivers and dish upgrade. He said that all of this would be compatible with the HD programming come Sept, and no new receiver features would be coming on line in the next few months. Since I need two new HD receivers, his only suggestion about delaying was in trying to get the $199 discount on both by staggering their purchase. Otherwise if I upgrade now they will cost me $199 for the first one and $299 for the second. So, my questions are really these: 1. Is there a reason for me to wait until Sept to upgrade? 2. I noticed from this forum that there are different types of HR20s. What are the differences? 3. Since I want to get the two HD receivers is $199+299 the best price I am going to get?

07-14-2007, 07:00 AM	#3
HDTVFreak High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 228	Why wait? If you have heard that "newer" receivers were coming out soon, I don't think you will need to wait until then to upgrade your dish. If I had heard newer receivers were to come out, I would have waited on the DVR and just purchase the H20. I don't know about a lot of people but to me, the H20 are fairly cheap ($99). Get the upgrades now so that Directv installers won't be bombarded by millions of customers wanting to upgrade when more HD channels come out. I am all set and have been since March and April (had to get two; one for each residence (year-round and seasonal residence)).

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07-14-2007, 09:45 AM	#5
DtvRep07 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 282	The new model receivers, as far as I've heard, aren't gonna be anything special. They will just have all the new software downloads already. It's another example of DirecTV trying to push out owned equipment.

07-14-2007, 11:03 AM	#6
redlinetire One Frustrated Consumer Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 91	And it's been my experience that you do NOT want the new equipment simply because they typically haven't worked out the 'real world' bugs out of them yet. I have an H10 I've owned since they were brand new. The software was horrible, would take forever to change a channel and would reboot every time the phone rang!! Now of course - with the software updates - it works fine for me and I'm quite happy with it. But it took - what? - almost a year before they fixed it all? So for me, I want the old tried and true equipment. Let someone else workout the bugs in the new stuff.