After over 6 years of flawless operation, it appears the modem in my UTV took a dump. Is it worth it/feasible to even bother to get it repaired? Even though I am about to retire it for an HD capable DVR (although it is not the "best" out there, but I decided I am going to stick with DirecTV and suck it up with an HR-20 unit), but it would be nice to keep it as "backup", plus every once in a blue moon, I do go out onto WebTV (especially since I have a couple of friends on there that I sometimes chat with, plus it serves as a handy backup if my cable internet service ever craps out for some reason - it happens!). If I do get it repaired, how do I go about it and if so, about how much would it be? Is this something I could do myself?

Oh, almost forgot - this is an RCA DWD490RE unit!

My guess is that you'd likely be able to find a used unit (and given yours is 6 years old, probably one that is newer) for less than it would cost to fix it.

I see that right now there is someone selling his units in another thread.

I long ago bought a few spares for $50-60 each plus s/h on ebay. Not sure how much they would go for now.

Replacement as Rocket suggests would probably be cheaper.

Not entirely sure if you mentioned if the dead modem is effecting your UTV/DVR functionality.

If the UTV OS (3.7) is loaded and not corrupted... The UTV should continue to provide DVR service... Until the Hard Drive needs attention.

You may not have MSNTV/WebTV access but then you could maybe look into a stand alone MSNTV/WebTV unit. They might be even cheaper/easier to find then a UTV unit. I've seen them occasionally at rummage sales,thrift shops,etc... so they can be had for very little.

Anyone know if the UTV Service Fee covers the home phone and other MSNTV receivers? I know it can cover multiple UTV Receivers in a home (one at a time), but not sure if it allows standalones to swap out.

Replacement as Rocket suggests would probably be cheaper.

Not entirely sure if you mentioned if the dead modem is effecting your UTV/DVR functionality.

The thing has been starting to act weird in some cases, such as when I play a recorded show, it will not display the green "progress bar" nor any of the "tabs". I may have to try one of those "reset" codes. I have a suspicion that I took a lightening strike while I was away in Wisconsin visiting friends and family those last few weeks of June. I went and unplugged everything in my HT setup, but did not even enter my mind that I also should've unplugged the phone line. (The reason I suspect is that my cable modem was also dead when I got back, which I've since replaced, plus my neighbor across the street did tell me that there were some pretty nasty storms, including high winds and hail that passed through while I was gone.) I am hoping that there is not some other type of damage/corruption that may have occurred as well. Figure this is about as good an excuse and time to finally ditch UTV and move onto an HD capable reciever/DVR, although I've really liked my UTV unit. It has served me well these past 6 years or so and really had no reason to upgrade until the HD DVRs started to get more reasonable in price. (Could not stomach spending $1,000 when the HD DirecTiVo first came out, and I did not want to give up DVR capability - so might as well stick with something that I knew worked in my trusty ol' UTV device). Now that my UTV device seems to be starting to act up plus with the dead modem, time to move on to the wonderful (and expensive) world of HDTV. :p


If the UTV OS (3.7) is loaded and not corrupted... The UTV should continue to provide DVR service... Until the Hard Drive needs attention.

I do have OS 3.7 on my unit and does not appear to be corrupted. It does still work and provide the DVR service. Figure the modem was only needed for ordering PPV as well as accessing the MSN/WebTV functionality. The big reason why it would be nice to still have a good modem is incase I do need to reload the OS (damn shame they never activated the USB port to allow network capability. Also, I wondered what was up with the printer port on that thing as well - could not think what I would want to print from it - TV listings from the guide or the "My Shows" list? EDIT - I guess it would've been nice if I needed to print something off the web - was it ever activated in the software?)


You may not have MSNTV/WebTV access but then you could maybe look into a stand alone MSNTV/WebTV unit. They might be even cheaper/easier to find then a UTV unit. I've seen them occasionally at rummage sales,thrift shops,etc... so they can be had for very little.

Anyone know if the UTV Service Fee covers the home phone and other MSNTV receivers? I know it can cover multiple UTV Receivers in a home (one at a time), but not sure if it allows standalones to swap out.

I could've sworn I remember seeing somewhere a software client that you could run from your PC to access WebTV. May have to google that one up. Anyway, I'll just have to e-mail my friends on there and tell them that I no longer have access to WebTV and will have to contact me by "conventional" means, ala reguler ol' email or such.

As to if it covers other MSN/WebTV "recievers", I really don't know. There was a period of time that I did add the "unlimited" WebTV access to my account as I was using quite a bit in conjunction with my (at the time dial-up) "regular" internet access. Since I've gotten cable access, I've dumped the "unlimited" account and reverted back to the free 3-hours that came with basic UTV account.

Just this evening, I went and picked up an HR-20 HD DVR unit. There is sits, brand-new, still in the box on my living room floor. I now need to call DirecTV to get it setup as well as get somebody to come out and install one of those new-fangled 5-LNB dishes (they say it is a free install/upgrade, at least that is what they said when I called them up last evening - they better hold their word, lest I return the HR-20 unopened and go with DISH and the ViP 622 DVR!)

Oh how I am going to miss my trusty'ol UTV :(

The thing has been starting to act weird in some cases, such as when I play a recorded show, it will not display the green "progress bar" nor any of the "tabs". I may have to try one of those "reset" codes. (


If you haven't done a reset (like 12357) or reboot (unplugging it for a time)... you might want to do that. You may be surprised to find the "progress bar" and "tabs" will return. You may also restore the modem if it isn't actually fried.

I recall posting a message here once where my Sony UTV's modem had "disappeared" and didn't show up in the 411 (UTV Remote Code) info screen. I thought it was toast and it was time to get it replaced/repaired... but it came back after an overnight shutdown and reboot. (If I recall correctly)

Enjoy,

David

If you haven't done a reset (like 12357) or reboot (unplugging it for a time)... you might want to do that. You may be surprised to find the "progress bar" and "tabs" will return. You may also restore the modem if it isn't actually fried.

I went ahead and did that, and the progress bar and tabs did return.


I recall posting a message here once where my Sony UTV's modem had "disappeared" and didn't show up in the 411 (UTV Remote Code) info screen. I thought it was toast and it was time to get it replaced/repaired... but it came back after an overnight shutdown and reboot. (If I recall correctly)

Enjoy,

David

However, unfortunately, I think the modem is indeed shot, though. Even with the power turned off and the unit unplugged, when I plugged the phone line into the modem, I lose the dial-tone in all the phones in the house. That indicates that something is causing the phone line to short out. Indicates a fried modem to me. To bad the thing does not allow you to connect via ethernet.

Despite the dead modem, it appears my UTV is working like it should. As long as it works long enough until DirecTV gets my new 5-LNB dish installed and activates my new HR-20, I'll be happy. Anyway, thanks for all your help. ;)

OK

Just to be complete... You did use different Phone Line Extensions and check the Modem's pin outs to make sure that it isn't something simple like a bad cable or crossed or bent pins?

If that isn't the cause I fully agree that that does sound like a dead modem to me. I've had to replace several modems for friends/family that had this "Dead Phone" related to a fried modem.

I've had to replace several modems for friends/family that had this "Dead Phone" related to a fried modem.

You're talking about computer modems, right? Not replacing the modem in a UTV?

I would like to know how to repair a UTV modem. I have the schematic but it doesn't help much since I'm not an electronics guy. Don't know how to figure out what part is fried.

OK

Just to be complete... You did use different Phone Line Extensions and check the Modem's pin outs to make sure that it isn't something simple like a bad cable or crossed or bent pins?

I checked the pins in the modem port and they all looked fine. As for the phone line, I went and hooked up a cheap, generic telephone to that line and got a dial tone. I even called my own cell phone from it and it worked.

If that isn't the cause I fully agree that that does sound like a dead modem to me. I've had to replace several modems for friends/family that had this "Dead Phone" related to a fried modem.

That is why I am thinking that is indeed a dead modem as I've got plenty of experience dealing with dead PC modems as well (assuming that is what you are indeed referring to above), including one instance where the computer would not even POST (although it was getting power - the fans spun up as well as the hard drive). In that case, I yanked all the cards out of the machine, including the video card (basically just leaving the disk drives, memory and CPU and power supply), to see if I can at least hear it beep and start going through the boot up sequence (at this point I really did not give a damn about Windows - figured I'd deal with that later if I can figure out the hardware issue first). Started adding the cards back one-by-one (starting with the video) until I got to the modem and then the machine again quit booting up. I put the modem in another machine and it too exhibited the same (lack off) behavior.

Anyway, kinda bummed actually, as up to this point, this was a perfectly working UTV device, despite being over 6 years old. Well, like I said, sitting here on my living room floor, still in its box, is a brand new HR-20 unit, awaiting until DirecTV gets my 5-LNB dish installed. In the meantime, it seems my UTV unit has straighten itself out (after I did the unplug and let it sit for a few hours thing) and is working fine (despite the busted modem).

Thanks for you help and suggestions. ;)

I was referring to the now common "Software" Modem seen in many of today's PCs (and I assume UTV) .

"Hardware" Modems in my experience are less likely to fall victim to this "Dead Phone" problem.

As for repairing/replacing the UTV Modem... I suppose an inquiry to CCS Corporation regarding the possibility/practicality of fixing a fried UTV Modem might be in order.

Even if it is cost prohibitive it would be nice to know at least.

As for repairing/replacing the UTV Modem... I suppose an inquiry to CCS Corporation regarding the possibility/practicality of fixing a fried UTV Modem might be in order.

Even if it is cost prohibitive it would be nice to know at least.

I checked them out just out of curiosity. They are asking $130 for repairs, at least according to their website, but that includes both tuners as well (did not say specifically if that also included the modem - I could e-mail them and ask what just getting the modem repaired would cost). If either or both of the tuners were bad in this unit as well, I may have considered it, especially as I do have a lot of shows saved in my unit that I'd hate to lose (which would be the case if I just got a whole new unit). But like was already suggested, would probably be better just to find a replacement unit off of eBay or even just take up that one guys's offer that I saw posted on here. However, I decided I am not even going to bother as it'll be retired by next month (I'll disconnect the unit from the satellite before I "cancel" it, so I can at least still watch the recorded programs on it).