Comments on: New TiVo-powered DirecTV DVR coming in 2009

A new "DirecTiVo" DVR capable of receiving the network's full lineup of digital and HD channels will be coming to DirecTV in 2009.

[cardfan1212]

Of course its a good thing. But only if TIVO has improved since its direct tv days. Back then it was extremely slow and dish's vip 622 made it look stupid.

But this is what direct needs if it wants to compete with dish's excellent receiver. It already has the programming beat.

[fooldog01]

GREAT NEWS. The current generation of non-tivo boxes, which I currently own, is garbage. The old Tivo based DVRs were so much better it is ridiculous.

[LndSpd03]

Hallelujah!!!!!!! I have replaced the HR21 in my master bedroom twice for constantly needing to reboot and am still plagued by audio dropouts on some hd channels on both my HR21's in the master and family room. My standard definition box has had no issues (although I have never used it, my guests have had no complaints). I had Tivo from it's first go around with DirecTV and have sorely missed it. The older speed issues will hopefully be rectified, but honestly, the HR21 is not setting any speed records either.

Hopefully they'll be out in the middle of 2009 and not the end!!!

[Gsteele]

I had two of the original DirecTivos and loved them. I was devastated when one died and DirecTV forced one of their lousy units down my throat as a replacement. The user interface of the new units was awful compared to Tivo. I've gotten somewhat used to it at this point, and it does have a nice feature that Tivo didn't - showing the currently playing channel or saved show in a window while you browse alternatives. But the remote truly $uck$. I'll switch as soon as these are available.

[jwhoweth]

Human interface on HR21 is no where as good as the HR10-250, and that is infinitely worse than the old ReplayTV system's auto skip of ALL the adds on playback. None of the HR's can recognize when they already have recorded an episode and skip the replays (try setting it to record Hannity and Colmes - you'll get 4 recordings/day of the same show). The HR's continually interrupt the show you are watching to record what is on it's schedule even though the second tuner is idle. Speaking of which, why can't a box with two tuners have TWO OUTPUTS (!) to work with the MILLIONS of PIP/dual screen setting plasma displays? None do as far as I know. I kind of miss the suggested shows you get on the TIVO. I can't wait for a PVR that works as good as it's supposed to.

[Leon Eaves]

My HD DVR from DIRECTV is a piece of CRAP. It will sometimes record (or play) a blank screen in place of the program requested. DIRECTV admits it is a known problem that atey are working on. They won't send me a new DVR, because they cant be sure it won't do the same thing. I am on a two year lock-in which they won't let me out of. I'M STUCK WITH THIS PIECE OF !@#$%^& FOR ANOTHER 18 MONTHS. WHAT A COMPANY.

[cardfan1212]

you're never locked in. Pay and get out if you're unhappy.

For an example of a good dvr, see the dish vip722. Let's hope TIVO has improved enough to get to that level.

[nstefanisko]

I've been putting off going HD because my local cable stinks and DirecTV doesn't offer an HD DVR with TiVO anymore. But now that they are bringing it back, I know what I'm doing with my next tax refund.

[skeeter31]

That is great news. I don't have HD yet but I switched from TIVO to DTV Plus awhile back. I had nothing but problems with the first one they sent me. It was a R15-100 and they sent me a R15-300 replacement. It hasn't given me as many problems but it is no TIVO.

I ordered it in the first place because of the interactive features. Little did I know that they, being Directv, did not test the functionality. I had TIVO for 4 or 5 years and never did have to reset it. I can't remember if it even had a "red reset" button. I hope they have a standard definition version but if they don't, I may finally switch to HD. I would not have thought about it if there was not a TIVO version DVR. Good news either way.

[foboos]

I was set to end my relationship with DirecTV as soon my 2-year agreement is over. But I refuse to go to DISH after reading about its persistence in screwing TiVo. Guess I'll be patient and wait for the DirecTivo.

[bsw11]

The HR DVR's are actually better than TIVO in all but one feature - the ability to record (without actually recording) on both tuner's and to switch via the live button back and forth between them and go back on either- that is the only feature I miss from my SD Tivo boxes. I wish the HR's will build that into a later release and I would be very happy. I hope the new TIVO has multiple device networking so any show can be watched on any device in the house.

[Samuel_Rock]

I just found out about this today when a Rep from DirecTV called to try to get me to upgrade i told them i will never get the DirecTV branded equipment

Directv has been trying to get me to do the so called upgrade to the Direc brand boxes for a long time.. After seeing how they work at a buddies house. I told them i would go without my HD and keep my Tivo untill i could no longer use them and then switch to cable so that i could use HD standalone Tivos. Well i guess they saved me from leaving there service. i have 8 Tivo boxes in my home and 2 at my camp, the ones at my house i have upgraded the software to support TivoToGo and TivoWeb via hacks found on the web. I just hope they will include this on the new box.

Long Live The Tivo

[Shrrt Rver]

Finally I can upgrade my two R10's Which have worked nearly flawlessly since I got them. I did try the R15 for about 3 months. They were garbage. The first didnt record our shows properly, so we sent it back. The second overheated and died. The third would pixelate horribly through 90% of the shows we recorded. Its in the back of our closet collecting dust. I think I found the last R10 in our area to replace it. Reading the reviews of the HR20s and 21s they have the same issues the R15s had. I was hopeing they would reteam with Tivo before I had to replace one of my boxes, because I would cancel my service before I would pay for those crappy boxes ever again.

[omalley576]

Are you kidding me, dumb question! I HATE HATE HATE the SD and HD DVR's that DirecTV has been using. Speed is the LEAST of all the quirky problems these things have. Now I know why: they were made nearly-in-company. NDS apparently had no incentive to actually make these units worth more than a doorstop!!! OH! I can't wait.... just can not wait!!!

PS - since when did Brits make electronics, anyway?! If ths H-xx and HR-xx series of DVR's are any indication of their ability - they should quit before they look too stupid!

[vine3scoot]

I'm delighted. DirecTV forced me to replace my quite satisfactory Tive HD10-250 with a DirecTV HR20 several months ago. My experiences could not have been worse - the HR20 is the worst product of any type I've ever owned - stunningly unreliable. It's obvious DirecTV technical support knows this, too. My last call brought me the great luck of speaking to a senior, very intelligent tech, who tried to help me. Yet it became bvious from her several "damning with faint praise" remarks about the HR20 that nothing would help. A typical comment from her was, "well, I can get you a new unit if you'd like - it shouldn't be THAT bad." Of course the inexorable implication of such a remark is that even a replacement would remain bad. She used other coded speech to let me know my complaints about locked up playback and satellite signals slowly drifting from excellent to unusable were neither unique nor unexpected.

[runCMD]

Any news from CES 2009 on when this new HD DirecTivo will be out ? I have stubbornly held on to my HR10-250's and am now getting bombarded with YOU MUST UPGRADE YOUR HARDWARE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW CHANNELS messages from the big 'D'

I want Tivo for my DirecTV. I am waiting.

[heringermr]

I have been big Tivo fan over the last six years. At one point eighteen months ago, we had three Tivo units in the house. we got to the point where almost everything that we watched was time shifted. I was very excited by Tivo's ability to connect to each other, the internet and a PC. Unfortunately, Tivo's failure to continue their relationship with Directv and the availability of more Directv HD programming created some practical problems.

In late 2007, I replaced the Directv Tivo receiver in the master bedroom with an Directv HD Plus DVR. We have been very happy with the Directv DVR and have not really missed the Tivo. I love the ability to record HD programming on two channels at the same time.

More than five years ago, I installed our first HD receiver in the entertainment center in the bonus room. With the changes in the Directv satellites, the older HD receiver did not support all of the new HD channels. I swapped it out this weekend for a second Directv HD Plus DVR and pulled out a second Tivo.

[ejgcnet]

I can't wait. One question. On my current DirecTV DVR I have a connection (esata) for an external harddrive. The external harddrive automatically becomes the main drive. In my case it's a 750 Gigabyte drive. Will the new Tivo have the same option?

[edjschenk]

i have been waiting for this for ever ! cant wait ! i have been a dtv customer since the 90's and a lifetime tivo subscriber i have a hr250 but am not able to get all of my hd channels so this will be warmly welcomed

[Twoboxer]

DirecTV's DVR user interfaces have improved in look, feel, and function slowwwwwwly over time. But they still do not match the (now) much older DirecTV with TIVO or straight TIVO units.

We've been waiting for a good time to convert to HD, and this TIVO announcement means that good times are coming soon!