This article is a collective effort of Doug Brott and Stuart Sweet.

It's hard to believe how long it has been since the first HR20-700 hit the streets. Three years after the introduction of DIRECTV's flagship receiver in August 2006, it continues to improve. Even though there hasn't been a new receiver since the HR23 was released last year, DIRECTV continues steady development of the HD DVR platform by adding new features. One such highly anticipated feature, DoublePlay, allows customers to watch two channels at the same time on a single receiver. In the early days, the HR20 was the only receiver that let you view and record the new High Definition channels from DIRECTV. This period was marked by rapid development and frequent software updates which both stabilized and improved the product. The second year witnessed the introduction of the HR21, HR22 and HR23 receivers as well as a significant increase in the number of available High Definition channels. The third year continued the trend of moving the HD DVR platform forward and also offered a glimpse at the future with the introduction of the ability to watch DIRECTV programs on your PC from a different room in your house. In its third year of availability, DIRECTV released 8 software updates. Through a unique relationship with DIRECTV, forum members at DBSTalk.com discuss these updates as they are rolled out. The notable features added to the DIRECTV Plus HD DVR this year are:
  • DIRECTV2PC
  • Support for Wireless Networking adapters
  • Softpad
  • More Actors in program description
  • Faster skip-to-tick
  • QuickTune
  • Support for up to 8 remote controls
  • ScoreGuide
  • DoublePlay
  • Live Extension
  • Subtitling
  • Enhanced remote scheduling via iPhone
  • TVApps (beta)
  • DIRECTV Cinema
Remote TV? Believe it. In the past year, DIRECTV introduced DIRECTV2PC software for Windows-based personal computers. Simply install and open the DIRECTV2PC application and you will be able to watch programming on your PC from any of your HD DVR receivers. DIRECTV2PC is a fully functional product that allows you to watch programs from another room when watching in front of the TV just isn't good enough. DIRECTV also introduced wireless networking support this year. Networking support is important for features like DIRECTV on Demand. Sometimes running a wired connection to a receiver just isn't an option, but with the proliferation of wireless networks in the home, a wireless networking adapter can now be used to simplify the task of getting connected. DIRECTV now offers configuration for the Linksys/Cisco WGA600N right from the DVR, eliminating PC-based setup. Softpad is a feature that will record a few seconds at the beginning or end of a program if there is otherwise no scheduling conflict. The beauty of Softpad is that if a program starts early or runs late, the recording will still catch the action rather than cutting you off at what is invariably the worst possible time. This is totally automatic and is part of every recording whenever possible. If you've started watching only to find that you're a few seconds in... rewind past the start time and watch from the beginning! ScoreGuide has been rolled out to all DIRECTV-branded receivers. When tuned to a sports channel, simply press RED when no menus are on screen and you can see sports scores, standings, and jump to any game currently in progress (limited by programming package, of course.) DoublePlay is DIRECTV's implementation of Dual Live Buffers. Using DoublePlay, it's easy to watch two live programs simultaneously by switching back and forth between the two programs as they reach logical stopping points (such as commercials). One of the biggest uses of this feature is to watch two live sports programs as the on-field action lends itself to swapping the games. Unlike other manufacturers' implementations of this technology, DoublePlay offers two 90-minute buffers and can even buffer the same tuner twice, for switching back between two parts of the same program. DIRECTV is known as the leader in sports with Sunday Ticket, Extra Innings and other sports packages. Now, sporting events are even easier to record with Live Extension. If you record a live sporting event, Live Extension automatically pops up a menu to give you quick access to adding time to the end of the recording. It makes one-touch recording of sports even better! For those who found Closed Captioning too hard to use, DIRECTV adds DIRECTV Subtitling which is a simple, quick solution for turning on captions. Even if you don't have difficulty hearing, you'll appreciate the ability to turn on subtitles when the phone rings or someone in the home is sleeping. The mobile-phone based DVR scheduler has been such a success that DIRECTV improved it with an iPhone app specifically designed for scheduling. It's so easy and convenient that some people prefer using it to using the DIRECTV remote! Of course, it's available at Apple's App store. The next generation of active content comes in the form of TVApps, which are widgets that pop up on your TV. In addition to providing weather, sports scores and other content seen on the Active Channel, users can upload their own content to share! This feature is still in beta but looks to be very exciting. DIRECTV also renamed Top Movies to DIRECTV Cinema which may be an effort to provide remote content for everyone including those viewers that don't have access to High Speed Internet service. Overall, DIRECTV's Plus HD DVR enters its fourth year stronger, more stable, and more powerful. DBSTalk.com's unique relationship with DIRECTV has made it possible to test new software quickly and implement new solutions when problems are found. As two of the many who were there when the HR20 first hit the streets, we're proud to toast DIRECTV's progress and look forward to the years to come! -Doug Brott -Stuart Sweet