I own all my HD DVRs that I have with DirecTV. I am wanting to switch over to Tivo XL's. I called DirecTV a few weeks ago and asked them if I shut off service on a DVR that I own, am I still able to access the recorded shows on the hard drive. I was told Yes.

Well tonight, I called in to disconnect the service on one of my DVRs to test this theory. When the phone rep turned off my unit, I went to try to access my recorded shows and got a message saying that "DVR service is not set up on my account". Obviously it is because I am able to use my other DVRs just fine. She put me on hold and we went round and round and her final answer is that the receiver must be actively paying for service to be able to access the recorded shows folder.

To me that is ridiculous! I own the unit and I shouldn't have to pay them $5 a month to just be able to watch what I've recorded previously. So my question is does anyone out there know a work-around to this? I have hundreds of hours recorded on my DVRs and would like to completely cancel my service with DirecTV but do not want to lose the ability to watch all that I've recorded.

Thanks!

What DirecTV DVRs do you have? In 2006, DirecTV made all DVRs leased, including those "sold" at retail outlets. That includes all HR20, HR21, HR22, and HR23 DVRs.

DirecTV does plan to offer the TiVo software as an option on their next DVR in early 2010. In all likelihood, this will be on leased hardware just like the existing HR2x DVRs.

DirecTV has always charged for DVR service. Even when they DirecTV allowed customers to own their own hardware (i.e. pre-2006), the DVR service fee was still required as a fee to use the software.

I have HR 20s and HR21s and they are not leased. I own all my equipment and my account reflects that. I did have to call DirecTV to get that all straightened out but it has been done so that is not an issue.

I understand the TivoHDs only work with cable and OTA.

So...about my question... ;-)

I have HR 20s and HR21s and they are not leased. I own all my equipment and my account reflects that. I did have to call DirecTV to get that all straightened out but it has been done so that is not an issue.As far as I know, there is no such thing as a non-leased HR20 / HR21.

DirecTV's own cost for the HR20 hardware (excluding software) was about $450. Had you been able to purchase and own the box, it would've probably cost you $600 or more.

DirecTV's own cost for the HR21 hardware was said to be significantly less - $250. Note, however, that retailers only pay about one-third of that (the rest is their profit), so DirecTV still takes a significant loss on every box sold at retail.

As far as I know, there is no such thing as a non-leased HR20 / HR21.

DirecTV's own cost for the HR20 hardware (excluding software) was about $450. Had you been able to purchase and own the box, it would've probably cost you $600 or more.

DirecTV's own cost for the HR21 hardware was said to be significantly less - $250. Note, however, that retailers only pay about one-third of that (the rest is their profit), so DirecTV still takes a significant loss on every box sold at retail.
Mine were exchanged out for owned HR10-250's.

Anyways...back to my original question please : -)

Mine were exchanged out for owned HR10-250's.

Anyways...back to my original question please : -)The answer to your question is simple: no workaround exists.

The HR20 and HR21 are only leased, so they don't work unless you pay the fee. I understand you got your HR2x DVRs as replacements for the HR10's, but I don't believe that changes anything. DirecTV offered the HR2x as a "free" upgrade/exchange to thousands of HR10 customers, and everything I've read indicates that they are still leased.

Even if you believe otherwise, understand that DirecTV still treats all HR2x as leased and their software is designed accordingly.

I still have my old Tivo DVR (non-HD). I upgraded to the HR-21 a while back. I had recorded programs on the old unit before I upgraded and of course wanted to watch them. I connected it up and it work fine with no subscription to the DVR service. I of course could not do anything with it except watch recorded programming but it did indeed work. I think there was an error on the screen, but when I went to the list to play my shows the error disappeared. That may be different with the newer units like the HR250 (I think that was the old number). Mine was obviously much older than that one. I even used that box when my HR-21 failed me while I was waiting for the replacement unit to be delivered. Of course they had to activate it at that time for me but it was nice to have a working and reliable backup.

Good luck with those old programs. I hope it will indeed playback for you.