Comments on DirectTV?

[zed]

I'm thinking of ditching cable for DirectTV. I'd be interested in hearing any comments any of you have about it...picture quality, reliability, and (perhaps most important ) how well/easily does it interface with GB-PVR. I'd probably be going with a couple of standard receivers and one HD receiver (I realize I can't record HD from it). Any input would be appreciated.

[SniperDude]

well I am not a DirecTV customer.. I use Dish... the quality of the signal is very good on everything EXCEPT my locals... to which I am either going CableHD to S/V or use the OnAir HD tuner...

other than a few issues with screen saver on my dish STB I am very happy with the integration with gbpvr...

your last statement is not entirely true... read some of the TwinHan threads around here and about...

DTV is supposedly got new birds in the air to be turned on this fall for 150HD channels... not sure how Dish will respond but I am sure they will.. anyhow... your making a good choice... to go 100% digital instead of Analog and like 15%-50% digital (depending your cable provider) Mine cable provider is supposedly going all digital this year... that might make me consider them further but basic service is all I have with them..

Before you Ditch.... besure you have a good open view of the 'sat birds' you need to hit.

my cents... !!

[jburnette]

I have DirecTV and have been using it with a PVR for a while now. I just recently switched to GBPVR from MediaPortal. I can tell you that it is a very trouble free setup. To control the boxes (assuming they support serial control) you simply have to build a cheap little cable. Zap2It has all of the listings for directv, so that's not a problem either. As far as reliability is concerned, I have constant perfect signal. The only thing that ever causes it problems is very hard rain but even then it only lasts for a few minutes. In my area it is also a much better value considering the number of channels you receive. The picture quality is always spot on and perhaps a little better than cable (though again that may just be in my area). All in all, they're great.

I do have two problems though they are not necessarily specific to DirecTV. For one, you obviously can only tune one channel per receiver at a time. Number two, channel changes take a bit longer than simply tuning to a different frequency on cable. I no longer notice it though as it only really takes one-two seconds to change.

[nitrogen_widget]

Basically the same as what jburnette said.
I have older receivers & channel surfing is slow because GBPVR has to send the 3 or 4 digit channel everytime you hit Channel + / - .

but I hardly ever do that anyways & use the guide instead & it seems to me that GBPVR's guide is faster than the directv guide on a regular SD receiver.

If you do go DirecTV Get the 4 room right away or at least make sure they put the bigger multiplexor in.

I went for a 3 room with a dual tuner TIVO & I can't add another receiver without buying a new multiplexor.

[_Dude_]

I just got Directv and am using my gbpvr machine on a new Directv D12-300 [no frills box] and installed the newer ir blaster software and I'm loving life!!!

Directv's HD [on my big screen LCD HD TV] is awesome... even the NON HD channels are very clear. Very happy that I decided to do this...

I went for the 2 box [because I don't want a tv in my bedroom, not in there to watch tv ;-) if you know what I mean, LOL].

Any questions I subscribed to this so just let me know.. as I said I've had it for 4 days now...and I love it... OH by the way the will be up to 99 Channels of HD within this year.

[dvasco]

You are using GBPVR on an HDTV DirecTV receiver? If so, have you compared HDTV --> LCD TV and HDTV --> GBPVR --> LCD TV? Which kind of cables are you using for each of these connections?

[sub]

HDTV --> GBPVR --> LCD TV?

With DirectTV this isnt an option, without converting to standard definition with an analog capture via a card like PVR150. There is no (consumer) capture cards that can capture HDTV via a set top box, and no capture devices that will recording DirectTV directly.

[dvasco]

I am just going by what he posted. There are ReplayTV people who go Svid out on their HDTV box to the ReplayTV. They say that even though it isn't HDTV the signal is much better than regular sat or cable.

[_Dude_]

You are using GBPVR on an HDTV DirecTV receiver? If so, have you compared HDTV --> LCD TV and HDTV --> GBPVR --> LCD TV? Which kind of cables are you using for each of these connections?

No I'm using my PVR 150 with a Directv D12-300 box. This is just the plain jane box non-HD. So connections are the normal coax from box to PVR 150. You can hook via S-Video but I'm happy with the standard coax connection.

[ApexHack]

I can speak to the service more than the equipment since our gear is getting pretty old now but still functioning fine.

I've been with Direct TV since before they were Direct TV. I actually had a Primestar dish back in the day. At the time it was the only way to get SpeedVision (now known as the Speed channel) and I've stuck with them ever since.

I've got the Svid out of the old STB going into a PVR150 and the picture comes out great. I don't mess with IR blasters and just dual program. The computer is on the other side of the house and with the MVP it allows us to have everything plugged directly into the tv as well for normal viewing.

I guess my only complaint is that the DTV guide only goes out a little over a week and I'm sure this is due to the old hardware.

Overall I've had good luck with them and would recommend.

Cheers