Latest reviews about DIRECTV Group - HR20-700S DVR

MisterBoffo says "Good but could be better" about DIRECTV Group - HR20-700S DVR

MisterBoffo — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:43:35 GMT

The DirecTV HR20-700S is a good product. It allows you to record 2 channels at once in both regular and HD format. Because it is customized for DirecTV it stays current as more features are added to the service. It is easy to program.

You can only rent the unit. Over the years that adds up to a lot more money you will have to fork out.

The hard drive is big enough for most purposes, but should have been big enough that capacity is never a thought. There's no provision to record or play DVDs in either regular or Blu-Ray format. That would make the unit much more convenient and would help when the hard drive gets full.

Two tuners seem like a lot, but when 3 or 4 good shows are put up against each other in an otherwise crappy week I wish more could be recorded at once.

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arismendez says "DVR is great" about DIRECTV Group - HR20-700S DVR

arismendez — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:14:57 GMT

Anyone that's thinking about getting Directv or already has the service has to buy one of these DVR recorders. It lets you record your shows ans save them for later viewing, so you never have to miss an episode or sacrifice one show when two are on at the same time. How I didn't get one earlier i really don't know, but couln'd get by without it now that I have it. It is worth the extra cost from the normal Directv receivers.

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gfowler says "If you have never had a DVR before, you will love it. If you have had Tivo, you will probably hate it." about DIRECTV Group - HR20-700S DVR

gfowler — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:57:26 GMT

If you have never had any type of DVR before, you will love this device and it will completely change the way you watch TV. This review is not for you. You can't miss what you have never had. But for those of us that have been using Tivo for the past several years, DirecTV is forcing us to choose between giving up our Tivo and accepting this inferior DVR, or remaining in the Standard Definition world. DirecTV's latest satellite cannot be received on the Tivo integrated DirecTV receivers. A large portion of the High-Def programming is broadcast on this new satellite, so if you don't upgrade your receivier, you will not be able to get this programming. Since DirecTV no longer has a relationship with Tivo and produces their own DVR, your ONLY choice if you want access to all the HD channels is this box.

First, my top 10 things that are just not possible with this box that are possible with Tivo:

1) Home Networking; Tivo owners have been able to network their boxes together for...

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Willy says "HD picture is nice, interface so so" about DIRECTV Group - HR20-700S DVR

Willy — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:01:07 GMT

Good picture quality, but interface is difficult to learn after Tivo. Price was right - free. Call Directv and they may upgrade you for free. MPEG 4. About 30 HD channels now, soon to be 70 according to Directv. 2 tuners, OTA tuners also. No dual live buffer though. HDMI Inputs are nice. Ethernet can connect to internet for Video on Demand. Anyways, Good luck....

buckley102284 says "Forced to switch from TiVo to this basic DVR" about DIRECTV Group - HR20-700S DVR

buckley102284 — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 05:23:19 GMT

If wanted to have a HD DVR with Direct TV, I had no choice but get this reciever.
The Seach feature, the "To Do List", and just about every menu on this reciever are almost impossible to navigate without feeling like you are carrying buckets of sand after using the Direct TV w/TiVo for the last few years. When I'm looking for a show or actor or sporting event, I usually look it up on one of my TiVo's and then go set it up on this reciever. Because I have Direct TV this HD DVR is a neccesary evil.
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Cat says "Oh High Definition Technology, You are a Cruel, Cruel Mistress" about DIRECTV Group - HR20-700S DVR

Cat — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:10:27 GMT

I love being on the bleeding edge of technology as much as the next geek, but only when I choose to be there. I don't like being painted into a corner by technology, and that's exactly what happened when we installed our second high-definition set in our family room, requiring us to get a second DVR capable of recording high-definition programming from DirecTV. Our high-definition TiVo in our upstairs home theater worked great, but we quickly discovered that horror of horros - TiVo no longer makes DVRs that work with DirecTV!! After much mourning, wailing and gnashing of teeth, we took the plunge and exercised the only option we could, as DirecTV customers looking for a high-def DVR. We purchased the DirecTV HR20-700S directly from DirecTV.

About the HR20-700S
Technological specs are listed toward the end of this review, but in general the HR20's main purpose is to record television programming. One plus for this DVR is that it is fully integrated into DirecTV's menu guide system. Users who...

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brian says "I want my Tivo back!" about DIRECTV Group - HR20-700S DVR

brian — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 02:04:17 GMT

Having been a loyal Tivo user for over 7 years, I was quite hesitant to switch to DirecTV's new HD DVR box and service. I made the switch mainly because I had recently purchased a new HDTV, and DirecTV had severed their relationship with Tivo (I also own the excellent DirecTivo) in favor of building and selling their own DVR solution. When DirecTV announced a HD tuner/DVR that would be completely integrated into one box, and would receive and record HDTV programming at only $199 (Tivo's HD DVR is $800), I jumped at the chance.

It does the job. However, it's the little things that make me yearn for my Tivo. Tivo has a feature that, while fast-forwarding, backs it up a few seconds once you stop. This DVR has no such feature. The Tivo's remote control is simple and intuitive. This one has quite a few more buttons and is very confusing. The most commonly used features (e.g. picking a program to record) are hard to find in a sea of menus. The remote also stopped working after a week...

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