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DIRECTV R22 Dvr Satellite Receiver [r22] Review

Great DirecTV SD DVR

"This R22 DirecTV DVR was released earlier this year (2008). It packs essentially the same hardware as the high-definition HR21 DVR, but the R22 has the HD capabilities disabled. This is why the front panel has lights available for 720p and 1080i resolutions, but the R22 will actually NOT output those higher resolutions. Since Best Buy's website already describes some technical specifications, I won't go into detail about these specifications in my review.

This is my first DVR, and at the time of my review, I have only used it for five days with my triple LNB satellite dish. The model that I bought from my local Best Buy store is the R22-100. There is also a R22-200, but the main difference between the two subversions of the R22 is the contract manufacturer who supplied the DVRs to DirecTV.



PROS:

~Installation and setup was easy. I replaced my old DirecTV SD (Standard Definition) receiver with this R22 SD DVR, and activated it while on the phone with DirecTV. Setting up the remote control was a breeze. The onscreen instructions even listed the codes that I should try in order to program the remote control for my specific TV. Recording and playing recorded shows were easy. Using this SD DVR is so easy, I believe even my nontechie older relatives can use it.

~Besides the basic DVR features (such as recording all of the episodes of a tv show that is on the same channel), this DVR is GameSearch capable, meaning if a football game is "blacked out" on one channel, it will look for the same football game on another channel. Also, you can schedule recordings by using DirecTV's website via computer or cellphone (DirecTV calls it 'DVR Scheduler'). Although I have not tried this myself yet, DirecTV's customer service told me that this DVR can download OnDemand content over your wired broadband Internet connection.

~This DVR is the first SD DVR for DirecTV that is MPEG4 capable. For the same picture quality, MPEG4 transmissions take up less space than the previous transmission standard. Couple this with the large 320 GB hard drive, and you have a SD DVR that can record up to 200 hours of video. You may want to call DirecTV and verify that you have a satellite dish that can receive MPEG4 transmissions.



CONS(the ones I can try to come up with, at least):

~When turned on, the blue circle is a little too bright for me in a darkened room.

~My old SD receiver had video input connections in the back of the unit, but this SD DVR only has video output. I was told that all of DirecTV's latest receivers do not have video input.

~I can hear a slight high-pitched hum from the DVR when the room is completely quiet.

~Like other current DirecTV DVRs, you need to have two satellite coaxial cables connected in order to receive the full recording capability of this DVR. With just one satellite coaxial connection, you can record one channel, but not watch another live channel. But you can still record one channel while watching a previously recorded show. In order to record one channel while watching another live channel, you need two satellite cable connections.

~No ASTC/NTSC tuner to watch over-the-air local channels.



All in all, I am pleased so far with the performance of this R22 DVR. I have not experienced any major problems with my R22. In my personal opinion, the benefits of the R22 outweigh its disadvantages. I have no problem recommending this SD DVR to anyone.

As a note to the previous reviewer: 480p is actually better than 480i."