roamer1
sticking it out at you
join:2001-03-24
Atlanta, GA
clubs:
| reply to Jafo232
Re: Tivo again ?
said by Jafo232  :I agree, bring back the DirecTivo. It is the only thing keeping me from upgrading to DirectTVHD. I don't want to use their crappy DVR. I have a DirecTV HD DVR that has TiVo software. 
I agree that the "new" DVRs suck. If I didn't own so much legacy DirecTV equipment, I'd probably have Comcast right now...with ADS they aren't all that bad anymore.
-SC
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said to me: "it seems like all you ever buy is Abercrombie and cell phones" |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
 ·CableOne
| As nice as your High-def Tivo is, I have bad news for you (and this is the reason I won't get HD yet):
DirecTV launched two new KA-band satellites this year strictly for more HD programming (mainly for HD local channels), in the 99 and 103 orbital slots. Hence the new big awkward semi-square looking 5-satellite dish that new HD customers get when they are installed. Your HD Tivo is not, and will never be, able to recieve these two new birds. So when the new programming on the new birds go live, you won't be able to get them. You will either need an H-20 (Regular HD receiver) or an HR-20 (HD DVR).
Sorry to burst your bubble, man. But you have to admit: all the cool new shows on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX primetime would be killer in HD.
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"I invented it, Bill made it famous." --David Bradley, the inventor of Ctrl+Alt+Del. |
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fireflier
Coffee. . .Need Coffee
Premium
join:2001-05-25
Limbo
 ·Skype
| I bet you know what the gray box/dongle that installs in-line with the DTV receiver cable (comes with the H20 box) is for?
I know it's somehow related to the 5-LNB dish and programming but I'm not sure exactly what it's used for.
Upconverting? |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| The two new sats they put up this year greatly add to the range of frequencies transmitted down the cable from the dish to the receiver.
The new frequencies run close to 2GHz. But the recievers don't like them. So the little gray box on the back converts those near-2GHz signals to between 250-500MHz.
Yes, the new receivers suck so bad, they can't even handle all the signals piped into them. They need an external converter to lower the frequencies to something they like more. Should have been built in, I say.
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"I invented it, Bill made it famous." --David Bradley, the inventor of Ctrl+Alt+Del. |
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fireflier
Coffee. . .Need Coffee
Premium
join:2001-05-25
Limbo
·Skype
| said by PolarBear :Yes, the new receivers suck so bad, they can't even handle all the signals piped into them. They need an external converter to lower the frequencies to something they like more. Should have been built in, I say. Wow. That is just insane! 
--
Wishes: When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor. --despair.com |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| I've been with DirecTV since 1999. I've had dozens of different receivers over the years.
By far, any of the new "DirecTV" branded receivers (D-10, D-11, R-15, H-20, HR-20) SUCK @$$!
The fact that they weren't smart enough to build that little box INTO the receiver internally (among other things), proves this.
I still use a Hughes SD-HBH for my regular receiver, and 3 Tivo's for DVRs. I WANT to get a new LCD TV and HD receiver, but I haven't yet, cause I am not going to trouble myself with their current crappy HD receivers.
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"I invented it, Bill made it famous." --David Bradley, the inventor of Ctrl+Alt+Del. |
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fireflier
Coffee. . .Need Coffee
Premium
join:2001-05-25
Limbo
·Skype
| Any idea what component on the H20-600 runs so darn hot? I've never torn into it to see where the heat is coming from but I figure it's either the CPU or a poorly designed PSU.
I hear they mostly fixed that issue on the newer H20-600s but I don't know what was changed.
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Wishes: When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor. --despair.com |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| I would assume its the PSU; they probably use really cheap inefficient ones to cut costs.
But come to think of it, with the way it runs, one could also assume it is improper cooling on the CPU. It's software operation DOES remind me of my PC when my case fan quit working.
Opening it up to find out may be interesting. If it is the CPU, you may find a simple cooling upgrade (another small fan in there somewhere?) may make your box run quite smoother. But I still say they suck!
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"I invented it, Bill made it famous." --David Bradley, the inventor of Ctrl+Alt+Del. |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| reply to PolarBear
said by PolarBear :Sorry to burst your bubble, man. But you have to admit: all the cool new shows on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX primetime would be killer in HD. DTV doesn't offer true HD, its HD-LITE downrezzed overcompressed crap.
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth |
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fireflier
Coffee. . .Need Coffee
Premium
join:2001-05-25
Limbo
·Skype
| reply to PolarBear
said by PolarBear :But I still say they suck! I wholeheartedly concur. . .
From a support standpoint I can understand why DTV migrated to their own branded boxes, but if you're going to do that you need to make sure what you offer is at LEAST as good as the run-of-the-mill equipment you're replacing if not better.
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Wishes: When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor. --despair.com |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| reply to dvd536
That is because the sat they are currently using (110) to provide HD is owned by Dish/Echostar; they are simply leasing space, and a small amount of space it is. That is why DTV launched two new sats of their own this year. To provide much more (and hopefully better) HD content.
Also, I have heard similar complaints from many Comcast customers. I've had neither HD service myself (still got a 27" tube!), so I can't state an opinion.
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"I invented it, Bill made it famous." --David Bradley, the inventor of Ctrl+Alt+Del. |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
·CableOne
| reply to fireflier
I don't think it would have happened, if Murdoch, who owns the company making the new receivers, wouldn't have bought 35% of DirecTV. So hopefully his selling his piece will change things. Hopefully DirecTV realizes they suck, and will make some changes once Murdoch is gone.
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"I invented it, Bill made it famous." --David Bradley, the inventor of Ctrl+Alt+Del. |
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