[opendtv] Review: DirecTV HR10-250 HD-DVR

  • From: Monty Solomon <monty@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: undisclosed-recipient: ;
  • Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 00:39:55 -0500

DirecTV Digital Video Recorder with TiVo
Reviewed by: Jerry Del Colliano
November 2004


Introduction
In a recent poll conducted as a part of an Audio Video Revolution
sweepstakes, a question was asked to the nearly 20,000 respondents as
to what AV product they are planning on buying next within the next
six months. We asked a very similar question in 2003: for a
resounding majority, the answer was an HDTV set. In 2004, the most
likely purchase was an HD-DVR (or TiVo). This new AV component
category led all others, including HD sets themselves, with 28
percent of our readers saying this would be their next purchase.

To say HD-DVR is a scorching hot new category of gear is to
understate its importance. To not mention how bad and overpriced the
category of HDTV tuners have been since the early adopters started
dialing into HDTV would be to forget an important piece of recent AV
history. Up until now, nearly every HDTV receiver has been
practically pathetic in terms of ease of operation and ability to
tune terrestrial stations, and this doesn't even start to discuss the
lack of ability to record HD programming.

The DirecTV HR10-250 is a $1,000 DVR (digital video recorder) that
receives and records both terrestrial and satellite signals -
specifically HDTV - and records it using the fantastic TiVo
interface. It is not a standard size in terms of width, but it fits
nicely into a double-sized opening in most racks. It can take
multiple satellite inputs via coax connections, allowing the user to
record more than one program at a time or to watch a program while
recording another one. It is essential to have your satellite
installer give you two satellite feeds and the 3 LMB DirecTV dish
needed to perform such a feat. I had lived without the feature until
I got a DirecTV HR10-250 and I discovered I had really been missing
out. The DirecTV HR10-250 has room to connect your terrestrial
antenna, which most people use for off-air HDTV broadcasts. DirecTV
has some local HDTV programming, but not as much as what comes over
the air. Less than one month ago, the satellite provider announced
plans to launch a number of new satellites, which will allow it the
bandwidth to start broadcasting local HDTV signals into major markets
across the country in the next few years. For now, you still really
need an antenna to go along with your satellite. Delivery of local
HDTV channels is one of the advantages of many local cable systems.
However, with a strong terrestrial antenna and a properly working
dish, you should be able to get all of your channels in HD barring
any radical topographical problems in your area, like mountains or
tall trees in the way of your antennae.

The DirecTV HR10-250 has all of the video outputs you will want,
including HDMI. HDMI is the latest approved encrypted digital video
format that can also theoretically hold audio. If you have one of the
latest HDTV sets, you may have an HDMI connection, which is the best
way for you to connect your DirecTV HR10-250. I recommend Ultralink's
HDMI cable for a somewhat affordable connection via HDMI. The DirecTV
HR10-250 also has component video output, which is also no slouch,
especially when using Transparent cables for your connection. Since
my digital projector is one of the first, it doesn't have an HDMI or
DVI input (you can supposedly convert HDMI to DVI with an adapter if
you only have DVI for an input). I ran my DirecTV HR10-250 component
out to my Meridian 861 preamp, then to my Faroudja video processor
and then to my D-ILA projector. You can see how much simpler
connecting one HDMI cable to your rear projection HDTV set would be.

...

http://revolutionhometheater.com/equip/hdtivo/

 
 
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