Customer Reviews for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
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DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
Model: H21
SKU: 8504022
UPC: 185463000191
Watch digital TV in a whole new way with this DIRECTV receiver that features an Advanced Program Guide that helps you locate programming up to 7 days in advance. Search functionality by person, title, keyword and channel makes finding programming a snap.
Average Customer Rating:
3.4
out of 5
(35 Reviews) 35
Rating Snapshot 35 reviews
5 stars
12
4 stars
6
3 stars
7
2 stars
5
1 star
5
69% of customers would recommend this product to a friend
(
24 out of
35)
Customer Reviews for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
Review 1 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
Great Buy
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: Anonymous
from St. Louis MO
on 05/19/2010
Value for Price
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
This is the fourth HD receiver in the house so I'm familiar with the setup and customization process, which is easy. Performance is great via hdmi. The receiver's guide is fast. Works great pulling in recorded shows from the hd-dvr using the multi-room beta feature and D-Link router (does not work with ATT combo router/modem).
What's great about it: Easy setup, configuration and performance.
What's not so great: Runs warm.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 2 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
Be Careful
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: larryw1950
from Houston, TX
on 03/04/2010
Although the VuQube touts itself as compatible with DirecTV and Dish TV, it will NOT support HD on DirecTV. It will only receive HD from Dish TV. Would have been nice to know about this before I purchased both. However, Best Buy was very gracious about accepting all items back and crediting my account. Best Buy - excellent; VuQube/DirectTV - hmmmph.
What's not so great: This receiver will NOT work with the VuQube Satellite Dish.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Review 3 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
HD is Awesome!!
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: XBX693
from Greensburg, PA
on 01/18/2010
Value for Price
5.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Features
5.0
The unit provides excellent picture quality for my HDTV, but the UI is slow and non-responsive, making it difficult to navigate through the guide and channels.
What's great about it: Stunning HD quality, sleek design
What's not so great: Has major lag
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 4 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
Buyer beware
Customer Rating
3.0
Value for Price
1.0
Ease of Use
2.0
Features
2.0
I have been having problems with the remote and the box communicating with each other. This has been a problem since I bought the new box. I will say that I like Directv and have been with them for years.
When I received my new box I thought that the problems that were slowly growing on my old box would not be present at least for a few months. This new box started out with the problems that took over a year for the other box to develop.
When I change channels by entering the numbers it will usually not take me to the channel that I thought that I entered. The box just does not get what I have entered. I know that I am entering the correct channel number because every time that I try and enter the channel number I get a message that that number does not exist. When I have the channel lineup screen up and I have scrolled to the channel that I want to change to it is very slow for the box to respond.
I just got off the phone with Directv. They told me to reset the box. Have done numerous times, no help. New batteries, have tried numerous new and it does not help. It has not worked well since I got the new box and it came with new batteries, not knowing how long they may have been sitting around I replaced them. No help.
The rep looked up in his list of issues since he knew nothing and his response was that when I changed channels from a now HD channel to an HD channel it could take up to 8 seconds. That is fine but is it not a problem when I try and change a channel and it shows on the box that it has been received, by the blue power button flashing and the channel does not change. If I were to wait around for it to change it could take days. When I said this he just sat there and had no response. As a rule I get outstanding customer service but tonight it was MISERABLE
Bottom line, Directv is a good service and has a good line up of channels but there equipment SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I chose to recommend this to a friend in that the lineup of channels is good and the service is usually good. I also recommend them in that our cable provider Time Warner has to offer is the worst thing that I have ever had to deal with. They have stolen from me when they installed cable, there customer service is the worst and they treat you like they are the 800# gorilla. I would rather watch a blank TV then deal with Time Warner.
What's great about it: Good content and like Directv
What's not so great: Boxes have problems communicating with remotes
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 5 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
HD is great, but get the DVR
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: tompap98
from Jacksonville, FL
on 01/15/2010
Value for Price
4.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
4.0
DirecTv is much better than cable or dish network. Everything is much better in HD, the only complaint I have is to have the DVR instead, much better.
What's great about it: HD picture
What's not so great: no DVR
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 6 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
This does what it is supposed to. works great
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: ironmansr
from tulsa
on 01/09/2010
Value for Price
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
I came back from cable after six months, will not go back.
What's great about it: better picture than cable, better program guide.
What's not so great: no complaints
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 7 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
Great Receiver, all included
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: wibbs
from Riverside, CA
on 01/07/2010
Value for Price
4.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
Boxes are great, come w/ all needed to get started
What's great about it: All cables, including hd cables, are included
What's not so great: price, considering you're paying monthly, and have to return it, I would like them to be cheaper
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 8 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
2nd rate
Customer Rating
2.0
Posted by: daveofwi
from southcentral WI
on 12/10/2009
Value for Price
2.0
Ease of Use
3.0
Features
2.0
First the good; easy to use. Now the bad; the receiver is slow to respond to commands. Sometimes so slow I think it didn't get the command. There is no connection for an off-air antenna. Dish's HD DVR's all have the connection and all of the channels seamlessly intergate into the on screen channel guide. I live between 2 cities, one being my locals. With Dish both cities channels & sub-channels (.1, .2 etc) are in the channel guide, not so with DirecTv. Dish's HD DVR also has autotune feature & DirecTv does not, although their standard receiver does have this feature. Dish receivers respond immediately to commands while Direct is very slow. After my promotion is over I will be going back to Dish.
What's great about it: Set up is easy
What's not so great: Lacks antenna connection and other features that are standard with Dish.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 9 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
very good
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: hansomedave
from sarasota fl
on 12/07/2009
Value for Price
4.0
good valuve for the price. Didn't have ability to record from direct tv. works fine.
What's great about it: Easy to use, set up quickley
What's not so great: Doesn't have all the features as the one from Direst tv. no recorder,
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 10 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK!!!
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: chopsticks
from Baltimore
on 10/05/2009
Value for Price
1.0
Ease of Use
1.0
Features
1.0
First of all, this receiver overheats EXTREMELY easy. Then there is issues with the TV settings and ratios that you can watch TV in. Nearly ANYTHING outside of fullscreen (ie. Native, Widescreen, 4:3) will cause this receiver to produce little lines at the top of the picture. Everything has to be watched in Full; forget about native.
The receiver is also EXTREMELY slow to react.
Then when I called directTV to ask about the "leasing thing", I was told that it is because the receiver cost over $500.00 to make", by one of their employees so I was "getting a good deal". I think she might have meant it cost $500.00 to make ALL of the receivers that they have sold so far based on quality.
OH, PS: When I returned my first 2 because they were having issues with the set telling me that it could not blah blah blah, and to call extension 7 something or another - when I took it in to drop it off, the guy at the drop off location told me that he easily sees 50+ of those boxes (the receivers) a week. No wonder with all the negative responses.
What's great about it: Nothing
What's not so great: Everything
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Review 11 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
DIRECTV SERVICE
Customer Rating
5.0
Value for Price
4.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Features
4.0
I HAVE BEEN DIRECTV CUSTOMER SINCE 1998. I'VE HAD MANY TYPES OF RECEIVERS OVER ALL THESE YEARS. IT'S TRUE NOWADAYS YOU CAN'T " BUY" A DIRECTV RECEIVER. HOWEVER; THEY PROVIDE ME WITH FOUR NEW HD RECEIVERS; THE NEW DISH AND THE INSTALLATION FOR FREE. I ONLY PAY $.5.00 PER RECEIVER AND THE PEACE OF MIND IF I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANY OF MY RECEIVERS; THEY WILL EXCHANGE
THE DEFECTIVE ONE IN A FEW SHORT DAYS. THAT'S WHAT THE WORD
" LEASE" MEANS. ABOUT THE 24 MONTS CONTRACT: WHO CARES!!! I DON'T PLAN TO GO WITH THE COMPETITION AFTER BEING TREATED LIKE ROYALTY FOR SO MANY YEARS.
ABOUT THE NEW LINE OF RECEIVERS I HAVE TO SAY; THOUGH; THEY ARE LIGHTHER AND WORK COOLER THAN THE OLD ONES. MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS THEY HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN WHEN IT COMES TO
PROGRAMMING A RECORDING TO A VCR OR DVD RECORDERS. I DID NOT LIKED THE IDEA OF THE DVR TOO MUCH.
THE DEFECTIVE ONE IN A FEW SHORT DAYS. THAT'S WHAT THE WORD
" LEASE" MEANS. ABOUT THE 24 MONTS CONTRACT: WHO CARES!!! I DON'T PLAN TO GO WITH THE COMPETITION AFTER BEING TREATED LIKE ROYALTY FOR SO MANY YEARS.
ABOUT THE NEW LINE OF RECEIVERS I HAVE TO SAY; THOUGH; THEY ARE LIGHTHER AND WORK COOLER THAN THE OLD ONES. MY ONLY COMPLAINT IS THEY HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN WHEN IT COMES TO
PROGRAMMING A RECORDING TO A VCR OR DVD RECORDERS. I DID NOT LIKED THE IDEA OF THE DVR TOO MUCH.
What's great about it: HD 1080; DOLBY SOUND
What's not so great: PROGRAMMING TO RECORD TO A VCR OR DVD RECORDER
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 12 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
Had no choice
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: Jville
from NJ
on 08/19/2009
Value for Price
1.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Features
4.0
We thought we were buying it so figured we would be saving money not paying the monthly leasing fee. Turns out you are just leasing it.....wasnt happy for that price but we didnt have a choice since Direct Tv is our service provider and needed HD on a new TV we bought for downstairs. I wasnt happy about extending the contract another 24 months either. This device is slow....but so is the HD DVR we recieved when we signed up. I dont have many complaints about Direct TV. Its a great picture and we get a lot of channels along with all our local channels. It looses signal a little more then I anticpated but it usually isnt out for very long at all.
What's great about it: Picture quality
What's not so great: Slow, extended contract
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 13 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
DIRECTV HDTV Receiver
Customer Rating
2.0
Posted by: EMUWSU
from Detroit, Michigan
on 07/25/2009
Value for Price
2.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Features
4.0
The new DIRECTV HDTV receiver H21 is slower than the H20.The H21 operates at a cooler temperature. The H20 receiver received all the local channels. This receiver does not get all the local channels. There was no need to get a converter box with the H20 receiver. So, using this newer model receiver you less for the same price.
It is still better than cable.
What's great about it: Its operates at a cooler temp than the to H20
What's not so great: Limited local channels. The H20 received all the local channels.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 14 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
Supports ALL resolutions
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: Jeffyboy0068
from Tucson,AZ
on 06/29/2009
Value for Price
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
4.0
Some people first off say that this reciver does not support 1080p. they are very wrong. All movies on directv cinima broadcast in 1080p. Secound off. why do you care if its i or p? progressive and interlaced are unnoticibal. The picture is great. I STRONGLY recomend it.
What's great about it: Picture Quality
What's not so great: Not a Glossy Case
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 15 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
direct tv HD
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: firefighter72
from chicago,il
on 06/18/2009
Value for Price
4.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Features
4.0
first off 1080i or 1080p both are true HD, the i (interlaced) p (progressive) the Human EYE cannot tell the different. 2nd if you want all the local station that is offer on over the broadcast get an anttenna, connect it to a second antenna source on your tv. If your set does not support 2 ant. use the only antenna it has , as that your directv is input by hdmi.coaxial, or RCA inputs Our household has 2 HD DVR, 2 HD and 1 dvr receiver, all are also connected to a roof top antenna . when reception is lousy about 10-15 minutes a year, we switch to the outside antenna. BE HAPPY
What's great about it: its easy,more choices
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Review 16 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
DIRECTV HD
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: JUD105
from wisconsin
on 06/02/2009
Value for Price
3.0
Ease of Use
3.0
Features
3.0
I am really surprised to find how directv can mislead people into hd when they dont really offer true HD, true HD is 1080p not 1080i, I signed up for the HD and after they told me they would not be able to offer the 1080p for quite awhile and some issues i was having with banners that i did not care for and the double channels ,cancelled the HD after a couple days, even though they do not have 1080p service, they stuck me on a 2 year contract for trying it out, unless they are honest with what they offer they should not be sticking people with contracts, bottom line! if you want people to not go back to cable give them the incentive to keep them as a customer!
What's great about it: COLOR
What's not so great: DO NOT OFFER 1080P HD
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-3points
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Review 17 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
Slow
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: f4511984
from S.E. Michigan
on 04/19/2009
Value for Price
1.0
Ease of Use
2.0
Features
3.0
I have 2 of these receivers. This receiver is slow. I mean it is really slow to react to the commands from the remote control. When you press the button and wait for the command and nothing happens, just when you press the button the second time, it reacts to the first command and then it reacts to the second command. This receiver does not pick up all the local stations. Many stations have up to five feeds. For example channel 7 has five feeds 7 WXYZ, & 7 DT 7, 7-1 WXYZDT, 7-1 WXYZDT2, 7-3 WXYZDT3. All you will receive is 7 WXYZ and 7 DT7. These show the same picture. You won’t get the channel 7 weather channel and also you won’t get the channel 7 classic TV show channel, RTN. This applies to all the local stations. I have had DirecTV for eleven years, their receivers are not getting better. DirecTV receivers are becoming poorer in quality and shorter in life span.
What's great about it: Excellent picture.
What's not so great: Slow
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+1point
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Review 18 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
Beware of the new receiver
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: ProwlerEJA
from Dallas, TX
on 04/04/2009
Value for Price
1.0
Ease of Use
1.0
Features
1.0
you are extending your contract with Directv for 2 years and must return the reciever back to Directv if you cancel.
What's great about it: Nothing
What's not so great: You are not buying but leasing this equipment
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Review 19 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
DirecTV is a ripoff
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: JLarson
from Midwest
on 04/03/2009
Value for Price
1.0
Ease of Use
1.0
Features
1.0
I switched from cable to DTV with DVR (not HD, though). At first it wasn't too bad. Nothing great, but nothing awful. The signal would go out during big rains, big snows, or big winds. Then you have to go through setting up your satellite configuration and waiting while it re-downloads all the information (assuming you can remember what all the settings are supposed to be set to).
We also noticed that when items sat in the recorder for a couple months they begin to degrade. When you watch them they are glitchy and skip forward. Eventually we had a new box put in. That one got worse than the first. Now items that had been in the recorder for just a week or two are already degrading.
The fast-forward and rewind freeze up. You have to hit FF or RW again to speed up, then it leaps forward (or backward) past where you want to go. And the pop-up bar that shows your progress has stopped working along with the FF/RW. It says you're at the beginning of a show even as you're FF'ding, right up until the end of the show when it leaps ahead.
The absolute worst is that shows we've set to record inexplicably stop recording even though they display the (R) icon meaning "set to record." One day you realize you missed last night's episode of Lost or something because the box stopped recording it even though it's telling you it's still set to record. Then you have to go into the menu and un-record then re-record each show to get them recording again -- and you have to do this every few weeks for every show or series you have set to record.
But here's the real kicker. My girlfriend finally got fed up enough to call customer service and ask for a new box, and the guy said (actually SAID), "Yeah, we know about all of these problems. Everyone has these same issues. Our engineers are working on it, but we don't have an ETA for when it's going to be resolved." His resolution was first to offer a month of free Showtime, then to offer $5 off our bill for three months. Wow. Here's an idea: how about you stop putting fliers in every Sunday newspaper on the planet and use the money you save to create a product that does what you say it will do.
It has become obvious why DTV locks you into a 2-year contract -- who would stay with a service like this? A coworker managed to get out of his 2-year contract, but he had to spend hours and hours on the phone with DTV working his way up the chain of command, and had to document EVERYTHING that was going wrong. (Not sure how you do that unless you have an exec come out to your house and watch TV with you.) My contract is up in less than a year and I hate dealing with customer service, so I'll stick it out till then. But I am definitely switching back to cable with DVR or TiVo. I wouldn't even trust another satellite company after dealing with DTV.
I would STRONGLY recommend that you look elsewhere for other satellite or cable options. I can't recommend any aspect of DTV. To be fair, our main issues have revolved around the DVR (though resetting the box after every thunderstorm or big wind IS a pain, especially in the Midwest). And the man who installed it was very nice. But even so, I feel DTV is misleading in its claims and should in no way be allowed to hold you to a 2-year contract when the service they provide does not live up to the agreement.
What's great about it: Nothing
What's not so great: Everything
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Review 20 for DIRECTV HDTV Receiver for Current Subscribers
New HD Reciever
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: Honnum1
from Nort Arlinton, NJ
on 03/29/2009
Value for Price
3.0
Ease of Use
3.0
Features
3.0
Recently bought new HD lcd tv and went to Best Buys to get my second HD unit. Told they ate out of stock that a newer version would be coming in about aweek or more. The new unit will be number 22 or 23.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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