Since the HR20 is DirecTv's own inhouse built reciever, in a nutshell it operates the same as their R15 SDTV DVR unit just in Hi-Def. Compared to the Hughes HR10-250 (the HD TiVo unit) operation is generally the same. The menu interface is the same as any other DirecTv branded box. Works pretty well IMO. I personally have (well HAD) and HR10-250 that for me I liked better just for the simple fact it is what i was used to using. The menu was a lot easier to navigate IMO but eh HR20 isn't bad. Just personal preference really. Biggest difference is the addition of the HD local channels. Double-edged however, in the respect that all you get in terms of HD locals is comparable to the "-1" channels if you had an OTA antenna. The HR20 doesn't yet (not sure if it will eventually) pick up any additional digital channels such as the "-2" "-3" etc etc. Don't know if this an issue with the FCC or with DirecTv. Like in my area, with my OTA (Cincinnati) I can get 5-1, and 5-2, the latter being our local Weather 24/7, the former being the HD broadcast channel which is what the HR20 recieves. The end game is by next year to have roughly 1/2 of the regular package channels in HD. That was the reason for the new 103 and 99 sats.
