Why can't DirecTV and Tivo just get along?!?

Many years ago, I purchased a DirecTivo box. This marvelous device combined a DirecTV receiver with a Tivo DVR. It was a match made in Geek Heaven. You see, the function of a DirecTV receiver is to decode the satellite signal, which is compressed MPEG-4, decompress it, and send it to a TV. The purpose of a stand-alone Tivo was to take a TV signal, compress it into MPEG-4, store it, then decompress it and send it to a TV. So when you combine the two, you eliminate the local MPEG-4 compression (instead using DirecTV more efficient compression) which saves money in equipment (no local 'co' in the codec) and picture quality. And, being one box, it only needs one remote. Perfect.

Then they started to fight. DirecTV decided that the wanted to make their own DVR and kicked Tivo to the curb. Now, me? I'm legacy. My DirecTivo still works (both of them, HAHA). But, alas and alack, neither of them support HD. In the next few months I will be making the jump to HD and then I need to make a decision. A decision akin to asking a 14-year-old if he wants to live with mommy or daddy. You see, Tivo HD DVR do not support satellite. Period. Can't be done. But Tivo DVR's have all the latest DVR features, such as access to Rhapsody music, instant download of NetFlix movies, webisodes and web content, and now, YouTube videos.

On the other hand, I much prefer DirecTV to cable. Charter doesn't have NFL network, or SciFi in HD, or USA in HD, or Brave in HD. Which is 70-80% of my veiwing.

DirecTV does have a DVR, but it isn't nearly as cool as Tivo. But basic functionality (and I include SciFi, USA, and NFL network as part of 'basic functionality') is more important that cool extra features.