it really all depends on your setup and your choice of programs to record. I've posted this in the H/J threads there
I use to have 2 R22's (specialized HD DVR's) and a H23. Both R22's were in the living room so I had 4 tuners. I know some people are all giddy about the whole PTAT thing but for a lot of people its useless. I am one of them. Looking at my series timers for shows on the networks
3 fall within the PTAT (series)
1 falls within the PTAT but I record it as need be (Undercover Boss)
1 is a sporting event (NASCAR)
3 are either on CW or an Independent station or not during PTAT
The rest of my timers are on sat channels. The only "conflict" I use to have with locals was Tuesday night. The sat programs are on later that night so it was a moot point
So now we're back to raw tuners....5 vs 3
There are nights where 5 isnt enough and there can be a conflict.
Also the Joeys use one of the Hopper tuners. D*'s setup if you have 2 receivers on MRV (along with say the HR34) those receivers have their own tuners in them. So with a H/J setup if I'm recording PTAT and 2 other series there goes all my tuners. If I had a Joey in the computer room all I could watch it a recorded program or a recording program. With D* you would have an independent tuner to watch.
The other line that some Dish people will throw out if you think of leaving is the whole "missing 30 HD channels" which is bunk. Here is an updated list of basic HD channels E* has that D* doesnt
204 Headline News
230 DIY
232 The Cooking Channel
235 Style
236 E! Entertainment TV
238 Reelz Channel
246 Tru TV (Rumour is coming Wednesday)
253 Lifetime Movie Network
256 Turner Classic Movies
264 BBC America
271 History Channel 2
272 Logo
279 Oprah Winfrey Network
283 National Geographic Wild (SD available June 30th)
285 Investigation Discovery
310 G4 (SD removed November 1st)
330 Centric (HD only on DISH)
345 RFD TV
353 Bloomberg TV
404 Galavision
605 Sportsman Channel
While E* is missing the Disney stuff and some others
141 ESPN U
142 / 9494 ESPNews (Pulled 6/22/2010)
156 FUEL TV
172 / 9433 Disney EAST (Pulled 6/22/2010)
180 / 9434 ABC Family (Pulled 6/22/2010)
174 / 9449 Disney XD (Pulled 6/22/2010)
374 Smithsonian HD (Pulled 2/1/2009)
406 Fox Soccer Channel Plus (SD is offered a la carte)
xxx GolTV (Not on DISH in SD)
Is the HR34 rock solid? Hell no I'll admit that. There are some minor bugs. I know a few of them are related to the MRV but simple things. Since I dont have MRV (or any add'l receivers) I dont see those issues. The HR34 records what I tell it to and also the one big plus on all Directv DVR's is if you set a padding for run over and you have back to back shows it records the overlap and doesnt tie up a tuner. I posted a pic a week or so ago showing 6 (on the screen) things recording....it actually was 7 (due to the 2 minute overlap it records)
http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/272992-directv-hr34-home-media-center-15.html#post2786330
