Canceling ReplayTV Service...

[lasaint888]

but can I still watch recorded shows? I called ReplayTV customer service to cancel my monthy service and he told me that I would be unable to view my recorded shows.

Is this true?

[Cutrock]

That's true if you wanted to view them using your Replay. However, if you have the time, you could download your shows via DVArchive and either burn them to disk or watch them on your PC as long as you still have time left on your Replay subscription. Otherwise, you'd have to remove the HD from the replay to transfer shows to PC.

[mikek]

sounds crazy. Just unplug the phone or ethernet line and then cancel.

[RFontenot]

I believe every RTV must periodically check in with the mothership. Unplugging it from the phone or network will not prevent the RTV from automatically disabling it's DVR functions once the check in period has been exceeded.

RF

[SpaceCadet]

You won't be able to view your recorded shows via your ReplayTV, but DVArchive will still have access to them (but you can't record new shows, of course).

[blacknoi]

If you have a 2nd replaytv thats still active, you can watch shows off the deactivated unit, through the active one.

[antnjen]

Does it work the other way around, too? That is, can the deactivated unit be used to only to view shows recorded on an active unit?

- A

[SpaceCadet]

... can the deactivated unit be used to only to view shows recorded on an active unit?No.

[wrench]

FWIW.....

I have a 5040 in lifetime service.......and another 5040 that is not currently under subscription. It is deactivated. I have a 200 gig drive in it from the lifetime 5040 that is filled with shows. It is networked and my system sees it fine, DVA included. I cannot record to it, but playing shows (or moving them to DVA) has never been a problem.

YMMV

[CopRock]

replay has been sold enough times I lost count... [sonicblue?]. what if the current owners go offline both phone/internet, go bankrupt? does that mean your replay with lifetime service unit becomes a doorstop?

also how many days of non-communication with the 'mothership' would the replay start pushing up a dasiy?

[adone36]

If you can't count higher than 2, you shouldn't own a Replay.

What happen if terrorists drop the bomb? All the Replays on "Jericho" stopped!

[sfhub]

replay has been sold enough times I lost count... [sonicblue?]. what if the current owners go offline both phone/internet, go bankrupt? does that mean your replay with lifetime service unit becomes a doorstop?

also how many days of non-communication with the 'mothership' would the replay start pushing up a dasiy?
Lifetimes won't self destruct if they don't contact the mothership, only monthlies.

[icecow]

Lifetimes won't self destruct if they don't contact the mothership, only monthlies.


[sfhub did't say this part:]
untill you need a new harddrive. Of course if you backed up your own replaytvs image after it activates, one could keep using that image.

and the replaytv wont keep correct clock time so making manual records would be much much pain.

[sfhub]

Both very true.

BTW saying a lifetime unit doesn't have to contact the mothership to stay activated is different than saying there is no way for a lifetime unit to become deactivated, as we've seen in the past, sometimes a mistake is made at replay and large swathes of lifetimes become deactivated (except the ones not connecting to the mothership)

[drlava]

Again, nothing to worry about, I trust our DNNA overlords :)
they won't shut down for at least another 3 years, and after that point I doubt many will be clinging to this old technology. For those that are, maybe DNNA will give the gift of a final update.

[Creech]

Even if they DO shut down, there are very smart people here who I think could provide guide data and the clock if need be.

I wouldn't worry too much.

[lasaint888]

[sfhub did't say this part:]
untill you need a new harddrive. Of course if you backed up your own replaytvs image after it activates, one could keep using that image.

and the replaytv wont keep correct clock time so making manual records would be much much pain.

I thought RTV with lifetime activation is triggered by motherboard, not hard drive of the unit.

So, if I had a RTV with lifetime and my HD dies out... after HD replacement, my RTV unit would no longer have lifetime?

[icecow]

I thought RTV with lifetime activation is triggered by motherboard, not hard drive of the unit.

So, if I had a RTV with lifetime and my HD dies out... after HD replacement, my RTV unit would no longer have lifetime?

As long as they don't de-activate the motherboard before they shut off service your replaytv will continue to work (using manual with the clock drifting issue) until your harddrive goes bad. After that, if you get a new HD and put a new image on it (using the image file floating around the net) the first thing the replaytv will do when you boot it up is ask to be connected to the server (server shut is shut down though). You will be SOL.

However, if you put in a newly imaged HD in there today, and boot it up it will ask to be connected to the server and then connect. After it OKs the HD, if you take the HD out again and make a backup of the image (that is tied to your specific replaytv), then when your HD goes out you can just reimage a new HD with the custom image you backed up and it should continue to work with the new HD.

The issue is mute because I don't see how the replaytv would be useful for even manual records if the clock drifts.

The only wild card is the hacks that may come out.

[sfhub]

The issue is mute because I don't see how the replaytv would be useful for even manual records if the clock drifts.
I continue to think it is overcompensation for a bovine lisp that accounts for the mute moooh-t issue.

[icecow]

Shouldn't you be worrying about more important things? like mooclear reactors?

haven't you herd of regional accents?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5277090.stm
(listen to audio and think)