Hi-tech-tv.com: Television technology news & answers

Need help re: HDMI cables for super DirecTV deal - Though I’m an existing DirecTV customer, I was able to get the HD/DVR system for a net $18.00. Now I need the HDMI cables before Saturday when they come to install it. I’ve checked HDMI cables out and they’re anywhere from $50-$200. What’s the story? Any suggestions on what to or what not to get? Monster cables the best? Thanks.

By the way, the cables they are bringing are “standard” cables not HDMI. The deal was basically this: I’m getting a HD/DVR, regularly priced at $299 or $199 and the HD dish free with everything installed at no charge. The first 4 months of HD programming at $9.99/mo. is free. $10/mo off my bill for tweleve months - no reason - just being nice. The delivery charge of $19.99 is being waived, too. $100 + $40 + $120 + $20 is roughly $280 minus $299 is $19.00 give or take.

Answer #1: From personal experience, monster cables are definitely the best, but the difference in quality isn’t worth the extra 100 bucks you’d pay at a retail store.

If you really want a monster cable, get one online. I recently got one from an amazon retailer, 50 bucks, 125 dollar retail value. That was with shipping.

Answer #2: MarkerTek sells a high quality HDMI cable made by canare for 40% less than Monster and it’s just as good.

Answer #3: I paid a crap load for my HDMI cable and $200 would have been a bargain. But I needed a lot of it as I was stretching it across a room and hiding it in the wall. Consider how much you invested in your entire system, how much it means to you and go from there.

Answer #4: Any HDMI cable should provide the same results so Monster cables are a rip off. HD is a digital signal, either it comes in or it doesn’t. Cables used to make a difference with analog signals, but you should see absolutely no difference in HD or digital cable/dish channels.

Answer #5: Crutchfield offers multiple brands and lengths so you can actually buy a decent cable for an affordable price. The retail stores screw you with minimal selection including cable lengths that are twice what you need. Order today and you will have the cords in two days.

Answer #6: Monoprice cables are great. I got them for nothing compared to what Monster costs with great results.

Answer #7: Mine came w/ an HDMI cable. You might want to look up the model that they are bringing and see what the box contains. I was ready to go out and buy the cable after the guy came to install it, but the HDMI cable came w/ the HD/Tivo unit

Answer #8: I’m not sure of the quality of the cable but the D* installer did hook up an HDMI cable, as part of the installation, when I went HD recently.

Answer #9: Monster Cables look so cool…they really do. That said, I only used Monster where others weren’t available. Buy another brand if you can. I also needed 12′ cables and the cost difference is huge.

Answer #10: I hope the receiver works with an HDMI. The receiver I just got from Directv doesn’t and the replacement they sent didn’t either. They said the software upgrade might be coming next month sometime. They were not DVR. I also got the cables from Monoprice. Came in 2 days.

Guys, help me understand all of this. I am buying an HD capable TV in the very near future and am totally lost on all of this stuff. I currently have Direct TV w/ TiVo. Works great no problems at all. What will my options be when I get the new set?

Answer #1: I upgraded Direct TV TiVo to Direct TV DVR. I fell for Direct TV’s ‘free’ DVR since it cost nothing and provided a 100 GB HD which was 3 times the HD I already had. Big Mistake!

It is probably the worst electronic device ever assembled. It freezes, dropping shows already taped, doesn’t tape shows it was supposed to, is slow as sh!t, etc. etc, etc.

So I bit the bullet and took my old DirectTV TiVo in to get a larger HD (250GB) with 220 hours of space. Pure heaven!

Now most of you have HD DVR and that is the next step for me, but for those with reg. Direct TV, stay away from their DVR!

Answer #2: I upgraded a month or so ago from DirecTV’s standard def DVR to the new HD DVR you are talking about.
The standard def DVR definitely worked much better, it was basically flawless. The new HD unit definitely has software issues. It will miss or corrupt recordings probably about once a week for me which is a big pain in the butt. They seem to download software patches to it about once every two weeks so far. Performance has gotten better, but still nowhere near the original unit.

All that said, I am actually glad I made the switch. I have had a HD TV for awhile now and was waiting to make the switch to HD programming until they released a HD DVR that would pick up HD locals without an antenna. The difference between standard def and the HD is obviously pretty huge.

When this unit works (about 95% of the time) it is amazing; when it doesn’t it’s obviously annoying. I still have my old DVR sitting around and if push came to shove, I could switch back. Hopefully they will get all of the issues resolved in the next software fix or two in the coming weeks.

Answer #3: If you have an R10, it’s still a TiVo. Don’t let it go unless you want to give it to me. If it’s not TIVO then it’s an R15.

I had the R15 hooked up for less than 4 hours. It’s total crap. I disconnected it and re-hooked up my TiVo. I sent that POS back to DTV. Its horrible. I then bought a 3rd Directivo on Ebay. Next I’ll upgrade the Hard disks. DTV has a Major problem with their lack of TiVo. It’s a downgrade in technology. I even have an R15 in my garage, brand new in the box that DTV didn’t want back. If NFL sunday Ticket gets onto Cable, I’ll drop DTV.

Answer #4: I’ve had the DirecTV HD DVR for a couple of years now. It was slow as shyte until the recent software upgrade (which also enabled folders, which are great). It gets a little hinky now (dropped a couple of shows, failed to record others), but overall it’s a better piece of equipment. I’ll happily stick with it a while longer.

But I’d also say to the early adopters, you guys probably know it’s always like this with the first few generations of just about any sophisticated new technology. A year from now, the R15 may well be a different story. I’m sure they’re anxious to get their boxes into our houses and this kind of word of mouth should get them working pretty hard.

Answer #5: the R15 gave me a headache after 3-4 hours. I disconnected it and boxed it up, and reactivated my TiVo. My big fear is that DTV will cut off TiVo support and I’ll be stuck with their POS DVR. I think DTV signed a deal with TiVo this year to support the units for 3 more years. After that I guess everyone will have to make the switch to DirecTV new DVRs and receivers to receive HD. Hopefully they will have all the kinks worked out by then.

Answer #6: I’ve had the new DVR for 2 months, and have had no issues (knock on wood). I really like it, outside of the missing dual buffers. I ordered the HD TiVo unit and was pretty pissed they sent this one istead, but it’s been pretty good so far - specially since I’m too far from the TV tower and need this box to get local channels in HD.

However, because it’s missing the dual buffers I am not able to record two programs at once. I hate that. It sounds like they rushed it out and/or are hoping that because the HD universe is still relatively small, newcomers won’t know what they’re missing.

iO DVR: Anyone have it? Comments or complaints? Just ordered one and it should be here by mid week. Time to move out of the dark age of the no-tivo life.

Answer #1: It’s awesome and works great. Actually, it’s the best thing ever. It seems better than TiVo because its essentially the same thing and it costs less.

Answer #2: I have Time Warner with the DVR and love it. I’m sure iO is pretty much the same.

Answer #3: I’ve just gone back to IO after years of using a DirecTivo DVR. I prefer the 8300hd dvr, but I have some Tivo withdrawl symptoms.

What do I like better than the TiVo?

PIP is cool, as is the viewable picture when in menus and guides. I also like the really fast channel and guide scrolling plus the channel info surfing without changing the channel or going to the guide.