DirecTV Removes OTA Tuner From HR21
November 5th, 2007 by 
imagery
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If you are thinking about upgrading your DirecTV service or DVR, read this article. There has been a significant change to the DVR’s being provided by DirecTV in that they do not include a built-in over-the-air HD tuner.
I recently upgraded my DirecTV high-definition package with the HR20-700 DVR and the Slimline 5-LNB satellite dish. Compared to the old TiVo unit I had, I am quite pleased and surprised with its ease of use, storage capacity, and quick menu response. In addition, I can also plug an HD over-the-air antenna directly into the DVR, view each channel’s programming schedule, and record my local channels in HD.
However, I upgraded in September 2007. A friend at work eager to upgrade his system discovered the hard way that the new DVR’s provided by DirecTV (model HR21 Pro) since about November 2007 do not have a built-in over-the-air HD tuner. The worse part is, DirecTV sales people are not informing customers of this fact.
What does this mean? Not a thing if you live in a market where you can receive you local channels in HD from DirecTV. However, if you cannot, you have to purchase an over-the-air antenna in order to receive them. I can watch all my local channels such as NBC, CBS, FOX, NBC or PBS in HD with my HR20-700 DVR because my over-the-air antenna plugs right into my HR20-700 DVR. As a result all my channels show up in the guide just like any other channel provided by DirecTV. However, the newer DVR’s like the HR21 Pro Series (picture above) provided by DirecTV, do no have a built-in tuner so you cannot plug an over-the-air antenna into the unit. As a result, you cannot use the HR21 Pro to record shows, pause live TV, or view the programming guide of your local HD channels if an antenna is required in your area. You have to instead bypass the DVR and plug the antenna directly into your TV (provided it has a built-in HD tuner). Now, if you live in a major market like Los Angeles or New York, you can receive your local channels in HD from DirecTV and don’t need an over-the-air antenna. In this case, the HR21 Pro which lacks a built-in HD tuner makes no difference to you.
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But in our market, we can’t get our local channels in HD from DirecTV yet (Colorado Springs, CO). As a result, this “upgrade” left my friend a bit puzzled. How was this considered an upgrade if he can no longer record the local channels in HD? About 90% of the shows he and his family watch are on the regular networks such as ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. With his current TiVo unit, he can plug his antenna directly into the unit and record the shows in HD. By “upgrading” to the HR21 Pro Series, he was actually downgrading his capabilities. |
Sure, he could watch the local channels in standard definition with an HR21 Pro Series DVR, but what would be the point in upgrading? Before the unit was even powered on, he informed the tech he was canceling the order and had all the equipment returned. He is now contemplating a switch to Dish Network or Comcast, but is first going to speak with DirecTV to see if he can get the older model HR20-100 or the HR20-700 which do have a built-in HD tuner.
So, if you are thinking about upgrading and you require an over-the-air antenna to get your local channels in HD, make sure you do not get the HR21 Pro (the newest model DVR). You want one of the older models such as the HR20-100 or the HR20-700.
Eliminating the built-in HD tuner was a bit premature on DirecTV’s part, in my opinion.
Posted in Ramblings | 