To Direct HD or Not to Direct HD or go Surewest ?


Here's the situation. I want to go HD, but I don't want to lease the equipment since I won't be able to increase the drive space. I could stay@480p or go to Surewest, purchase a Series 2 TIvo and the HD version(a Series 1 won't work with Surewest's service). I could also purchase a used DTV (HD)Tivo and do without the HD channels that I won't be able to receive.
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The HR-20/21 DVR's from DirecTV will allow you to attach an external drive, say a 1T eSATA, and have most all of the space you'll need.
Narrod,

What drives are you using? I am about to make the exact same move you did and I'm looking at the Apricorn 1T drives $380.

I'll be getting two HR21's and I'll pick up AM21's when they become available. My wife Tivo's network stuff constantly.

Frankly, I would have gone Dish if only they would sell me a second vip722 for $200, but no. Using Directv will allow us to keep our TIVO's up for a month or so to watch what is stored.
You can easily attach an external esata drive to the DirecTv HD recorders. Works like a charm. They're designed for it and it doesn't violate the lease agreement.
I have two of them after years of Tivo and like them.