vurbano said:
Hmm I have a an HIRD e86 and the picture IMO is much better than my HR10-250. And the guide runs CIRCLES around the turtle speed of the HDtivo. Also I can check the signal strength of any channel in about 3 key presses in 3 seconds compared to maybe a minute of menus on the HR10-250. The User interface speed of the HDtivo is an absolute Embarrassment IMO. The e86 is the simplest, friendliest, best performing D* product I have owned. Everything on it works and works as far better than expected.
I will agree with you, somewhat, that the E86 is a good receiver,
as long as it works. I really liked mine till the same problem that you are having, killed mine. But if you think the menu is fast on it, you should try the H10. It flies compared to my old E86.
But, in my opinion, I think the best receiver that D* has ever put out was the HTL-HD. That receiver runs circles around my previous E86 or its replacement H10. You can check signal strength with just a touch of the "pause" button, on the remote, while it is in the "SAT" mode. The best feature I like about it is you can set up your programing you want to record and also set up the receiver to turn your VCR on and off, to record the programing. Taking away the need to worry about loosing the clock time, of the VCR, due to a power failure. This is a feature, I will miss, when they swap my HTL-HD out for the new H20. The H20 manual says you have to set the VCR separately, like the H-10s.
The only problem I have with the HTL-HD, is a bug since their last software update, in 2004. Sometimes, but not always, when you exit the search screen, the unit reboots itself, like you hit the reset button, or unplugged it.