New Receiver: HR-23 HD-DVR

[jcrandall]

DirecTV will soon be releasing the HR23 receiver, an update to the current HR2x series.

The only differences/improvements are:

The tuners are BBC / SWM switching, meaning that the BBC (small converter box hooked to the satellite input) is no longer necessary. The receiver detects if the conversion is necessary, or if the users has an SWM switch automatically. This same technology was recently added to the H23 non-dvr receiver.

The hard drive is 500gb, instead of 320gb. Resulting in almost double the storage (because ~50gb is reserved for D* recordings (ppv/showcases) on either drive).

Essentially, the receiver is the same as the HR21/HR22 other that these 2 improvements.

For now, the HR23 is only made by Pace, and will have the -700 mfg number. No word on other manufactures yet, but others will probably be added over time.

The HR23 will be treated like any other DirecTV HD-DVR, and will be a rolling change from the existing product. There is no way to "request" this receiver when ordering a upgrade or new service. The only way to guarantee you get an HR23 is to wait for the to show in a store (a few months yet) or order one online (a few weeks yet, I'd expect anyway). Any orders through DirecTV will get whatever receiver the local service office has in stock at that time.

DBStalk has an indepth review of the new receiver, including pictures, at this link:
http://hr20.dbstalk.com/HR23-700 First Look.pdf

 

[rad]

Jason, the HR22's also have a 500GB hard drive in them.

 

[jcrandall]

Jason, the HR22's also have a 500GB hard drive in them.

True, the only difference from the HR22 is the built in BBC/SWM switching capability.

The HR21-pro had 500gb too

 

[rad]

True, the only difference from the HR22 is the built in BBC/SWM switching capability.

The HR21-pro had 500gb too

OK, just wanted to clearify since your 1st post said the 500GB drive was a difference from the HR21/HR22.

 

[IcEWoLF]

Very nice...can current customers swap their current receivers?

I have an HR20-700...but I may want to keep it since it has OTA.
Hard to find an HR20-700 nowadays.

 

[CEV]

I've been waiting for a black receiver. It's the only component in my setup that is not black.

 

[Rey]

It needs to say HRTivo baby

 

[cybok0]

It needs to say HRTivo baby

:up:up:up

 

[jcrandall]

You can not switch receivers. If you buy a new receiver, it adds two year commitment.

If your receiver fails, and they replace it, you will receive whatever they ship/have in stock. There is no way to request specific hd-dvrs.

 

[uncrules]

One of the comments from the other site was that they improved the PQ with the HR23. I can believe this because when I hooked up my new HR22 to the TV that I've had my HR20 hooked up to for 2 years, I immediately noticed a softer picture on the HR22 than I ever had on the HR20. I ended up moving the HR22 to my smaller 42" TV in my bedroom and brought my HR20 back downstairs and hooked it back up to my 60" TV.

 

[IcEWoLF]

You can not switch receivers. If you buy a new receiver, it adds two year commitment.

If your receiver fails, and they replace it, you will receive whatever they ship/have in stock. There is no way to request specific hd-dvrs.

I see....since I have the protection plan do I get a new receiver without a new commitment if it fails?

 

[jcrandall]

If a receiver fails they will replace it without commitment for any "leased" receiver, regardless of protection plan, because they own the receiver. At least that is my understanding.

For an owned receiver, if they replace it and it's out of warranty (out of contract?) they "could" require a new commitment, that area is kinda grey.

When I had a dead HR20 they tried to get me to agree to a new commitment while setting up the new "refurb" order. I quickly said the receiver is leased, they own it, and they must replace it without commitment. They agreed. I do not have the protection plan.

That still won't get you a HR23. Most likely you'll get a refurb HR21.

 

[DaveO]

If a receiver fails they will replace it without commitment for any "leased" receiver, regardless of protection plan, because they own the receiver. At least that is my understanding.

For an owned receiver, if they replace it and it's out of warranty (out of contract?) they "could" require a new commitment, that area is kinda grey.

When I had a dead HR20 they tried to get me to agree to a new commitment while setting up the new "refurb" order. I quickly said the receiver is leased, they own it, and they must replace it without commitment. They agreed. I do not have the protection plan.

That still won't get you a HR23. Most likely you'll get a refurb HR21.

I have the protection plan and had an appointment today because I had a tuner problem on my HR20-100S. Guy came and replaced all the connections, re-dithered the dish, worked on the system for 1 1/2 hours. To get a few channels, I would consistently get a 771 error, and if I swapped wires in the back I would then get them until the tuners switched again. Signal strength on tuner 2 was 45-55%.
He initially had said that he had no receivers on the truck and was going to leave me with instructions on how to "switch wires" to get the channels I wanted.

I told him "s'not going to happen that way" and that he would have to come back with another receiver. At that point he "found" one in the truck that he said was for another appointment. He installed a gleaming black HR22-100 and it worked flawlessly (and still does). I complained about losing the OTA tuner in the HR20 but I stuck with the new receiver anyway.

He also said that it was not "RF". I said, then why does it come with a RC64R remote? He said-"look, there's no antenna on the back". Well, when he went out the door I went into setup and programmed my (5) remotes to RF and all are cooking just fine. I think I lucked out today.

 

[rad]

I complained about losing the OTA tuner in the HR20 but I stuck with the new receiver anyway.

I'd recommend calling D*, saying they replaced the HR20 with a HR22 and since they don't carry all your local ATSC HD channels on satallite yet could they please send you a AM21 for free so you get those channels back, many report getting free AM21's.

 

[bateau980]

I'd recommend calling D*, saying they replaced the HR20 with a HR22 and since they don't carry all your local ATSC HD channels on satallite yet could they please send you a AM21 for free so you get those channels back, many report getting free AM21's.

Exactly what I did and I received the AM-21 for free. The CSR didn't put up a fight at all. Note: This was before the Dayton Locals were lit up, you might get some resistance if you do have some locals.

 

[DaveO]

I'd recommend calling D*, saying they replaced the HR20 with a HR22 and since they don't carry all your local ATSC HD channels on satallite yet could they please send you a AM21 for free so you get those channels back, many report getting free AM21's.

Didn't know about that. Great idea!

Is it better to use a regular CSR or a Retention CSR?

There are a lot of sub-channels around here.

 

[DaveO]

Exactly what I did and I received the AM-21 for free. The CSR didn't put up a fight at all. Note: This was before the Dayton Locals were lit up, you might get some resistance if you do have some locals.

Now that I think about it, I used my two DTV coupons and purchased two DTVPal boxes, which I received and just put on the shelf.

Would that do the same as an AM21?

 

[jtwex]

Jason,

Any word on whether the AM-21 works with the HR23 software yet?

 

[Jimbo]

Very nice...can current customers swap their current receivers?

I have an HR20-700...but I may want to keep it since it has OTA.
Hard to find an HR20-700 nowadays.

I've been waiting for a black receiver. It's the only component in my setup that is not black.

I request a BLACK HR20-700 !
Or a HR-23 with OTA !!!!

Jimbo

 

[jcrandall]

Jason,

Any word on whether the AM-21 works with the HR23 software yet?

It should, it is running the same software as the other HR2x lines.

I haven't heard anything indicating that it doesn't work.