[Fwd: HDTV Magazine: Ed's View - The DirecTV HR 20- DirecTV Local Channel HDTV DVR, Part 1]
 

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles...dvr_part_1.php

Finally, DirecTV has decided to release to "secondary markets" their HR 20,
the HD DVR unit that receives (some) local HDTV channels. While not quite
the disaster that was my experience with the HR 10 (see my previous article
published last year), it's a close second. Both of these units come under
the heading of "don't buy version/1.0 of anything." But I couldn't resist,
needing to retain my "early adopter" license.
First of all, please keep in mind these units are true "kludges." DirecTV
contracts the reference hardware design, based on their specifications, to
one company, the software design to another and the integration and
manufacturing to third parties. Good luck! But this type of disintegrated
"outsourcing" product development and production model is becoming the norm
these days. In this manner the blame can be spread among several entities.

To punctuate the degree of design confidence and stability DirecTV has in
this unit (the HR 20), they have adopted a leasing model, allowing them to
provide customers with update capability by exchanging the units and/or the
dishes, no doubt at extra charges. Gee, just like Cable.

The HR 20 does not receive off-air digital signals in spite of the fact that
it has an integrated DTV tuner. Even though this capability is advertised on
the carton, one must look very closely to see a little add-on sticker that
reads: "Coming late 2006: This box can also integrate local channels from an
off-air antenna (ATSC)."

Add this revelation to the fact that the unit only receives two of the
advertised five local HDTV feeds (and no other DTV multiplexes of those
channels), makes this offering about as useful as a screen door on a
submarine. A call to DirecTV - a very painful experience at its best -
reveals that extended channel capability continues to be "under
negotiation," with no conclusive date for HDTV service expansion. Really!

In a subsequent article, I will discuss the HR 20 performance, as soon as
DirecTV downloads the capability to turn the unit "on."

[Fwd: HDTV Magazine: Ed's View - The DirecTV HR 20- DirecTV Local Channel HDTV DVR, Part 1]
 

In article ,
"Steve Stone" wrote:

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles...ctv_hr_20-_dir
ectv_local_channel_hdtv_dvr_part_1.php

Finally, DirecTV has decided to release to "secondary markets" their HR 20,
the HD DVR unit that receives (some) local HDTV channels. While not quite
the disaster that was my experience with the HR 10 (see my previous article
published last year), it's a close second. Both of these units come under
the heading of "don't buy version/1.0 of anything." But I couldn't resist,
needing to retain my "early adopter" license.
First of all, please keep in mind these units are true "kludges." DirecTV
contracts the reference hardware design, based on their specifications, to
one company, the software design to another and the integration and
manufacturing to third parties. Good luck! But this type of disintegrated
"outsourcing" product development and production model is becoming the norm
these days. In this manner the blame can be spread among several entities.

To punctuate the degree of design confidence and stability DirecTV has in
this unit (the HR 20), they have adopted a leasing model, allowing them to
provide customers with update capability by exchanging the units and/or the
dishes, no doubt at extra charges. Gee, just like Cable.

The HR 20 does not receive off-air digital signals in spite of the fact that
it has an integrated DTV tuner. Even though this capability is advertised on
the carton, one must look very closely to see a little add-on sticker that
reads: "Coming late 2006: This box can also integrate local channels from an
off-air antenna (ATSC)."

Add this revelation to the fact that the unit only receives two of the
advertised five local HDTV feeds (and no other DTV multiplexes of those
channels), makes this offering about as useful as a screen door on a
submarine. A call to DirecTV - a very painful experience at its best -
reveals that extended channel capability continues to be "under
negotiation," with no conclusive date for HDTV service expansion. Really!

In a subsequent article, I will discuss the HR 20 performance, as soon as
DirecTV downloads the capability to turn the unit "on."

As much as I lament DirecTv foregoing TiVo, I pay little attention to
review of DirecTv units in a Cable magazine.

[Fwd: HDTV Magazine: Ed's View - The DirecTV HR 20- DirecTV Local Channel HDTV DVR, Part 1]
 

As much as I lament DirecTv foregoing TiVo, I pay little attention to
review of DirecTv units in a Cable magazine

Good point.

[Fwd: HDTV Magazine: Ed's View - The DirecTV HR 20- DirecTV Local Channel HDTV DVR, Part 1]
 

"Jackzwick" wrote:

As much as I lament DirecTv foregoing TiVo, I pay little attention to
review of DirecTv units in a Cable magazine.

Why do you call it a cable magazine? Does Comcast own it?

[Fwd: HDTV Magazine: Ed's View - The DirecTV HR 20- DirecTV Local Channel HDTV DVR, Part 1]
 

In article ,
"Dan Luke" wrote:


"Jackzwick" wrote:

As much as I lament DirecTv foregoing TiVo, I pay little attention to
review of DirecTv units in a Cable magazine.

Why do you call it a cable magazine? Does Comcast own it?

It brags it is a Cable organ.