Best HD DirecTV DVR for hacks?

[Pro-289]

Is there a best DirecTV HD DVR out there? I'd like one capable of moddin and stuff. Mainly show extraction, and possible TivoWebPlus type interface. Anyone have any ideas on models? I really haven't researched much into this area yet.

[stevel]

There are no known hacks for the DirecTV non-TiVo DVRs. The major difference among models is that the HR20 has an OTA ATSC tuner and the HR21 does not (but DirecTV is saying that there will be some sort of "external" OTA solution for the HR21 - the assumption is that it will be a tuner that connects by USB like a lot of those available for PCs.) The HR20 is very hard to get right now. Your best bet is to find it in a retail store such as Costco.

There are minor differences among HR20 submodels - the -100 has coaxial digital audio out and the -700 does not.

I will comment that SOME of the types of hacks we apply to DTiVos are supported as standard features on the HR20/21 - or will be in the coming months. You can already view photos and play music and see caller ID. In beta testing now are setting up recordings from the web and an on-demand feature. Supposedly the ability to play videos from your home network will be coming later.

[Pro-289]

I will comment that SOME of the types of hacks we apply to DTiVos are supported as standard features on the HR20/21 - or will be in the coming months.
Can you extract shows to a computer? I like keeping an archive of some shows, like Robot Chicken. :) I have a Sony SAT-T60 w/network & cache card. It's so simple to run TyTool and click start server then I'm ready to extract any show I've recorded. I've also used the undelete feature a few times in TivoWeb. So really the main feature I use is show extraction. Can the HR2x models handle that?

[jt1134]

So really the main feature I use is show extraction. Can the HR2x models handle that?

Nope. When/if they do, I'm sure there will be some thick DRM added in also.

[Pro-289]

Nope. When/if they do, I'm sure there will be some thick DRM added in also.

Damn. So if those don't, are there any older models that could?

[stevel]

Show extraction is not available on any DirecTV DVR. Not yet, anyway. A year ago DirecTV talked about integration with Intel VIIV PCs, but left unclear what this all meant, and nothing has been delivered yet.

[Yazhol]

A year ago DirecTV talked about integration with Intel VIIV PCs, but left unclear what this all meant, and nothing has been delivered yet.

That's incorrect. Plenty has been delivered in regards to the ViiV HR20/21 relationship. Streaming music, photos and video from a PC running ViiV on the HR20/21.

At CES they also announced that you would be able to view HR20/21 recordings on your PC via special software. No idea if this is only for ViiV or not.

They have never promised, or even hinted, that their working with Intel would result in the ability to remove shows from the HR20.

[stevel]

I was referring to the "view recordings on your PC" specifically. Both Echostar and TiVo have options to move recordings to other devices - DirecTV does not. I'd guess that the newly announced PC Tuner for DirecTV may show at least some direction.

[opticalcarrier]

... I'd guess that the newly announced PC Tuner...

OK Where can I find out more about this???

[jwciv]

OK Where can I find out more about this???

ever hear of google?:D
link1 (http://gizmodo.com/342342/directv-pc-tuner-photos-surface-online)
Link2 (http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/directvs-pc-tuner-is-real/)
link3 (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=115062)