DirecTV giving away 80hr TiVos

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DirecTV giving away 80hr TiVos

Just got a reader tip that BestBuy was rolling out "free standalone DVRs" to current customers signing on for another two years and all new customers this past weekend. This page on the BestBuy site mentions the free 80Gb DVR. This image from the promotion calls it a "DirecTV DVR".

I was wondering if it was a free standalone TiVo or a new mysteriously branded DirecTV model, but after hearing from someone that got one of the units, he verified that it was indeed a 80hr standalone TiVo.

What's kind of strange here is that DirecTV isn't giving away the DirecTiVo combo unit which has dual tuners and records at full satellite quality. It seems the DirecTiVo unit phase out is underway and they are giving away standard TiVos until their new non-TiVo satellite combo DVR comes out. Or maybe the 80Gb standalones are cheaper than the combo units in the long run.

by Matt Haughey August 3, 2005 in News

Comments

*Looks like DirecTiVo to me*

The way I read it, option 2, "Our Price: $99.99
Save more! Up to:
$100 mail-in rebates
" --> http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6570089&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03028&id=1077630629336 this is the standard DirecTivo 2 receiver system. i.e. 80GB, with 2 sattelite receivers at the same time. USELESS except for DirecTv use, but preverable if you are sticking with DirecTv, 2 channels as the same time, no IR control...

The thing that is unfortunate is that DirecTv is:

1) Probably going to switch to their own DRV and thus being less interested in the TiVo style

2) Not been willing to "open" up their DirecTiVo system so that it is legal to upgrade it with the Home Media opion, etc.

What I think lots of us would wish is that they would continue to sell a DirecTiVo system so that we could get full TiVO functionality, Including the new NetFlex capability, and the other programs being developed by other people for the standard TiVo. I know it is possible to HACK the system, but I'd really like a supported version.

Posted by: Mike Liveright at Aug 3, 2005 9:53:55 PM

The standard DirecTiVo uses a 30Gb drive, not a 80Gb one. This is definitely a standalone TiVo, not a directivo.

Posted by: Matt Haughey at Aug 3, 2005 11:50:07 PM

The standard drive for DirectTivo was 40 GB, but hasn't been that for over a year. The R10 the most recent DirectTivo has 80 GB.

Posted by: Brian Hoyt at Aug 4, 2005 5:48:50 AM

DirecTV has been calling what is commonly referred to as a DirecTiVo a "DirecTV DVR" for about a year or so now.

If you read the details, it explains that the offer is for a $100 rebate on the purchase of a "DirecTV DVR." This would include the R10, which is the 80GB DirecTiVo priced at $99.99.

This offer is most definitely for a DirecTiVo.

As an aside, the latest info (at tivocommunity) from someone on the inside is that DirecTV will be rolling out the Home Media Center later this year. All reports indicate this will include all the functionality of a standalone TiVo, DirecTV receiver integration, HDTV recording, and improved (?!?!) DVR software.

Of course, I won't believe it until I see it.

Posted by: Chris Luebbe at Aug 4, 2005 6:26:55 AM

Yeah, this is for the DirecTiVo. However people over at tivocommunity have hypothesized that this rebate would cover *any* D* DVR - including the R15, which will be the non-TiVo unit. The R15 was supposed to be out already, hence the rebate.

Posted by: Paul at Aug 4, 2005 6:40:53 AM

DirecTV is liquidating their Tivo's before unveiling their own DRV next month. The truth sometimes hurts.

Posted by: Smog Farm at Aug 4, 2005 9:00:13 AM

Thats because DTV said their "new dvr" is delayed again (CEO said so on their conference call today). Ocotber is the new date. My guess is that they are waiting for the outcome of the tivo vs Dish patent infrigement suit. If Dish loses DTV will have trouble.

Posted by: KWBENNETT at Aug 4, 2005 10:06:43 AM

inside info from directv tech support: the current promotion is for the Directv DVR with TiVo and is 80 hours. all customers new and exsisting are eligble for 100 rebate or a credit to the account if purchased via local dealer to make first dvr free. I.E. cust paid $79 retail cust gets offsetting credit to the account. this is not a stand alone tivo...

Posted by: Action at Aug 4, 2005 1:03:19 PM

I agree with KWBENNETT, stalling for outcome of DISH suit.

Posted by: Tyson at Aug 4, 2005 1:12:02 PM

Yep, this is a full-blooded DirecTV R10 unit. Just bought it $99 plus $100 rebate = FREE!!. Dual tuners, 80GB, Tivo powered, etc. Don't wait till the PVR from NDS, Tivo agreement is until Feb 2007 with DirecTV, so they will support it for a while. That'll give 'em time to get the bugs out of the HD DVR MPEG4 and make it more affordable for the masses! Yippee!!

Posted by: Cashewnut at Aug 9, 2005 2:58:11 PM

OK here's the poop on the DirecTV DVR system. I work in the tech support center. The DirecTV R10 either has an 80G or 120G harddrive in it, but you will have to purchace a 120g at places like Best Buy, or Curcuit City. Comming in late September or early October there is a new DirecTV DVR called the R15. It's going to have more features and more space. From what I hear it may have up to 200G, but the ones shipped out will be 120G. DirecTV is no longer using TiVo products as of this past August 1st 2005 (dropped the contract), and will not support TiVo standalones troubleshooting wise. If you allready have a DirecTV "TiVo" unit it will continue to be supported. Also as of Aug 1st, you can get a R10 for $99 plus a $49 install and $100 rebate, so the DVR will be the cost of a standard receiver.

Posted by: Mercury at Aug 11, 2005 10:38:45 PM

So... you can still get this TiVo, but in order to get the rebate you still have to subscribe to DirecTV?

Posted by: nakedgremlin at Aug 13, 2005 11:02:51 AM

The only way you can get the $100 rebate is to be a new customer getting a DirecTV R10 or R15 and the installation. Or buy one from DirecTV or a retailer. Yeah you can go get a stand alone TiVo unit to go with a standard DirecTV receiver or any other company's but you won't get the rebate, and DirecTV can't troubleshoot any stand alone units.

Posted by: Mercury at Aug 15, 2005 9:57:45 PM

Just to clarify, the free DVR that comes with a new DirecTV subscription is the "DirecTivo," with the dual tuners, 80 GB, etc., right? And that unit is also known as the R10, right?

But, the "R15" will be coming out soon (October)? This will not be a TiVo DVR, but a DirecTV one? And is the only upgrade more storage?

Posted by: Mike at Aug 18, 2005 10:33:04 AM

I found some info about "Home Media" on a TiVo site. Got realy excited, and wanted to get a USB wireless network adapter so I could connect to my existing wireless network, and use my DirecTiVo reciever to:
1.Listen to the MP3 files on my computers.
2.Watch a slide show of my computer pictures.
3.Program my reciever without having to use that stupid remote.
I also was excited to find out that I can get a external hard drive and add space for recordings... So....
WHY DID DIRECT TV DISABLE THE USB PORTS ON THE BACK OF THE RECIEVER?!?!?!?!? None of the other compalies did it!
Will the new DTV R15 reciever even have these features? Or will it be YET ANOTHER case of... "You can look, but you can't touch" (Should I even waste another $100.00 on DTV?)Honestly... What's the big deal with the USB ports? I gave DTV $100.00 for half a reciever. I should have gone with another company, payed the SAME PRICE, and got WHOLE reciever! Does anyone have any good news?

Posted by: Zoie at Sep 1, 2005 6:05:24 PM

I have read, and assume that others will correct me:

1) There were strong suggestions that the Home Media options would be enabled later this year, but it may be that this is in-operative now that DirecTv is moving away from the TiVo system.

2) There is an immoral patch that allows the DirecTv unit to run the Home Media option. So the hardware is capable, and all it needs is to have a different software load.

Obviously http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/ is a good reference for these issues

My continuing suggestion is that A.S.A.P. DirecTv return the software , support, and funding to TiVo so that they can offer the current software.

Posted by: Mike Liveright at Sep 2, 2005 1:11:08 AM

Let me first say that this information came from a level 2 technician at DirecTV's service/tech center....this isn't something I heard from my Uncle Lou, who heard it from the Mail-Man's daughter-in-law, who happened to over-hear it from the Governor of Pickled Herringville, in South Central New Mexico (yeah...the herring in a desert state comment was on purpose..a joke..ok..I wont quit my day job).

I have not heard a lot of details about the R15, and have only recently purchased the R10 (MAN! I wanna open it up bad!...but, since I've had a few minor issue's with it already, I think I'll leave the screw's where they were when I bought it....for now ),so other than this link, a handful of other links and the info from the "young lady" I had the opportunity to "chat" with from DirecTV, my input here is both recent and probably stuff you have already heard....It's this next subject that has my brain churning and wondering if it's fact or misinterpretation on the part of the D-TV employee.

The extremely nice female tech did, however, suggest the data she had in front of her on her li'l monitor, that the R15 would hold up to 2,000 (yes...that's with 3 zero's...again - her words - not mine); But when I started to ask "fairly simple questions" about what compression ratio,what specific compression type, what kind of hard drive or other storage device would be used, how it was going to be configured (what type of software platform, in other words) to compress the data and then decompress it in order to transfer it to a dvd-r/vcr tape/etc, how the R15 was going to choke 2k hours onto a storage device, ETC....well....when these questions - and others - started pouring from my mouth, her brain went into "vapor lock". She was very honest and said she didn't have a clue what I was talking about and put me on hold to go ask the "big chief tech", who didn't answer any of these questions...(or any other's I threw his way either, for that matter)...but referred me to WWW.look it up yourself because I don't have time and probably don't know.com (I originally wrote it without any spaces between the words to make it look more like the web address "pun" I was looking to accomplish with it, but MAN! It sure was hard to read that way!!! LOL So here I am!!! :D

So....to make a short and simple question/statement/story - long/involved and confusing.....Does anyone know if the sweet young "thang" had a clue (in regards to the 2k hours of recording), and while we are at it, does anyone know anything about any new feature's that D-TV'S DVR has, that Tivo doesn't???

Well...I'm sorry...but my back hurts WAY too bad for me to proof-read, punctuate properly, check my spelling, etc....so hopefully at least the important parts are legible enough for you to respond to. Thanks in advance for any clarification provided, in regards to the forthcoming 'R15' !!!

ThirdDay.

Posted by: Davd King at Nov 3, 2005 12:34:02 AM

Davd King:

That "straight scoop" information is so funny, now that we know the R15 has a hard limit of storing 100 recordings and recording 50 "Series(TM)"

Besides, it doesn't actually record everything it's supposed to - if you get far enough to actually figure out how to set it up.

I guess we need several more sips of Rupert's kool aid.

Posted by: Mike Easter at Dec 24, 2005 8:04:58 AM

The R-15 has bugs. If you want to watch a show that is recording you will loose everything that has recordered to that point. ie Dr. Phil starts at 3:00pm and you tune in at 3:15 you loose the first fifteen minutes unless you go to list first and select it from that menu. If you select it from the guide your are F$%#.

Second known bug:
If you select to record a reoccurring show it will work ok for a while then it will start to skip recording that show. The show is selected to record and everything looks good to go but.... you guessed it your F&^%$.

DTV support knows of the problem and blames it on local broadcasters for not sending some kind of magic code.

What the R-15 is? Well it is an unreliable recording device unless you set it to manually record.

I am a customer in San Diego with a philips tivo and a R-15. $5.99 DVR fee waived for Premium service.

Posted by: sweetpotato at Feb 9, 2006 11:28:54 PM

Is there a way to pull the video off of a R10? Can anyone help me?

Posted by: robert at Aug 11, 2006 6:31:43 PM