DirecTV's HR21 Pro gets inspected, now available

Remember that gorgeous new DirecTV HD DVR that stirred the pot at CEDIA last September? Sure enough, said box is finally available to the masses. Of course, it will run you $599 to own, but that's where DBSTalk's first look comes in -- to help you decide, not help you finance it. Those lucky buggers managed to snag one of their very own and test it out, and noted that it came stocked with a 500GB Seagate drive and the same software set as the HR21-200. Also of note, the HDMI socket is v1.2 (with HDCP 1.1), and there's more ports 'round back than you can shake a stick at. Anxious for more? Head on down to the read link for a bevy of snapshots and the full blown review.

[Thanks, Earl]

[PeterF @ Mar 6th 2008 5:14PM]

"$599 to own"
haha, that's what I thought when I bought my HD receiver from them. It broke, and I got it exchanged, but instead of an exchange, they "upgraded" me to the same receiver and locked me into another 2 year contract without my permission (I was 1 year into my original 2 year contract). 1 Year later (original contract has expired) I want to cancel my service, but they want an early termination fee AND for me to return the receiver.
Seems like they lease them out now, and $600 to LEASE a receiver yet they still will charge an ETF.
DirecTV is a scum company.

[chris fredette @ Mar 6th 2008 5:56PM]

You are locked into DirectTV anyway. The box is useless with out it, that's why I can't see paying for a box for a system I might not have forever.

[phrozunsun @ Mar 6th 2008 8:49PM]

I want the HU card back...

[mingistech @ Mar 6th 2008 5:19PM]

I'm sick of BS stories like this... WHERE IS THE APPLE NEWS?

[phanbouy @ Mar 6th 2008 5:43PM]

your sarcasm is clever. you're clever.

[Wes Lewis @ Mar 6th 2008 5:20PM]

Hopefully the interface will be as good as the old DirecTV/TiVo boxes

[Sian @ Mar 7th 2008 2:03PM]

Loved the DirecTiVo. Not interested in this. DTV and TiVo have made up, haven't they? where's the third generation DTiVo?

[Nick C. @ Mar 6th 2008 5:20PM]

I have this receiver and love it!

[Baumann @ Mar 6th 2008 6:09PM]

What? No off-air input? Seems like a mighty big thing to leave out.

[Jon A. @ Mar 6th 2008 6:24PM]

Search "DirecTV AM21"

They left it out on purpose so that you can incur the additional hardware cost it would take to have an OTA tuner (and to make some additional profit).

Besides the majority do not use OTA.

[beavis @ Mar 6th 2008 7:15PM]

this looks really nice!

[roger_huston @ Mar 6th 2008 11:34PM]

Dude,

$599, not sure what you are smoking, but in BB and CC it is only $199 plus tax. But I actually only paid $99 with no contract extension or anything. Read on.

I just went to BB today and picked up an HR21-700 for $199. Yes, HR21-700, that is what it says on the box on the DirectTV sticker.

Last Sept. I upgraded to HD and only paid $99 for 2 of my three HD-DVR's (they gave me the third for free) receiver so when I called DirectTV they refunded me $100 to match the earlier price. Basically, I told them "I want another HD receiver and I do not want to pay more than I did for the others, you figure out how to get that done." It worked with the second person I talked too. You just have to know the system.

FYI: I can only use it for my back room for now. No OTA is a killer for me since the WB in my area is only SD via DirectTV and OTA it is HD. Yes, I like Smallville that much.

-Roger

[roger_huston @ Mar 7th 2008 12:14AM]

Ok, my bad. I do not have the pro, just the regular HR21-700. Maybe I can call DirectTV and tell them to give me the pro for $99. May have to call a few times before I find someone to do it, but it may work :)

- Roger

[Prey521 @ Mar 7th 2008 2:32AM]

LMAO! Tell them to give you a pro for $99? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Jack Storm @ Mar 7th 2008 3:24AM]

lol you dont know what you're talking about dont ya?
BB and CC do not even sell these yet. DirecTV barely sells these. You are the reason why cr's hate us customers.