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DirecTV HD DVR - HR2*/ HR34 Master Topic: one thread for all - Page 45

post #1321 of 1936
1/21/12 at 12:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dgolombowski View Post

I swapped out the cables and still no luck. I switched the other source devices on the Octava switch and the other four sources work fine in any of the inputs on the Octave. The HR-34 has a consistent problem synching in any of the input positions on the Octava. So there is obviously a HDMI handshake issue with the HR-34. Bypassing it is not an option in my system. I've spent way too much money and put to much work into my setup to accept this. DirecTV and I are not off to a good start. I will call and have a service tech come out. If this is a flaw in their system I will have them take out their equipment and go back to cable.

If it was a "closed loop", that would be one thing, but it isn't, and HDMI is one of the most "loosely" followed "standards" out there. DirecTV has [and may continue to] modified their code to work with as many other devices as it can. At one point they'd loosened the handshake up so much that they broke the HDCP.
I do understand if it doesn't work for you, then it's useless [as it would be to me].
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post #1322 of 1936
1/21/12 at 2:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by veryoldschool View Post


If it was a "closed loop", that would be one thing, but it isn't, and HDMI is one of the most "loosely" followed "standards" out there. DirecTV has [and may continue to] modified their code to work with as many other devices as it can. At one point they'd loosened the handshake up so much that they broke the HDCP.
I do understand if it doesn't work for you, then it's useless [as it would be to me].

We'll find out on Tuesday when their tech comes out.
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post #1323 of 1936
1/21/12 at 3:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by veryoldschool View Post

I've got nothing then. Never seen it nor read a post about it before.

Thanks for the help, VOS. I contacted DTV, and it's either a dish alignment problem or a failing hard drive. (I'm guessing it's the drive. I haven't had a hard drive fail here in the house for about nine months, and with my bad luck I'm overdue.) Regardless, they are bringing out a new HDDVR (no promises about a HR24, and certainly not about an HR34), and they are going to realign the dish. New 24 month commitment, of course.
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post #1324 of 1936
1/21/12 at 5:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hawkster27 View Post

Thanks for the help, VOS. I contacted DTV, and it's either a dish alignment problem or a failing hard drive. (I'm guessing it's the drive. I haven't had a hard drive fail here in the house for about nine months, and with my bad luck I'm overdue.) Regardless, they are bringing out a new HDDVR (no promises about a HR24, and certainly not about an HR34), and they are going to realign the dish. New 24 month commitment, of course.

FWIW: neither of these "fixes" sound like they'll have anything to do with this, but "maybe" a receiver "swap" is worth a try.

"BTW" a defective receiver exchange doesn't [and shouldn't] trigger a new 24 month commitment.
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post #1325 of 1936
1/23/12 at 3:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dgolombowski View Post

We'll find out on Tuesday when their tech comes out.

Most likely the tech isn't going to be able to do anything. Most of them haven't seen anything as complicated as your setup.

I see that you have tried changing inputs on the HDMI switch back and forth, but have you tried changing the inputs on your projector? Change it away from the HDMI input and then back and see if that helps.

Also, have you tried just shutting the Hr34 off and then turning it back on, instead of resetting it?

This really sounds like an HDMI handshake issue. Would it be possible to try a different HDMI switch?
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post #1326 of 1936
1/24/12 at 5:53am
As a long time Directv subscriber, tried to order a HR34 by phone last night. Think I would have gotten one, but the CSR (with supervisor) insisted that I needed to have at least one RVU enabled television. Any other experience guys? I really want the PIP, not to mention the other improvements with the multiple tuners.
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post #1327 of 1936
1/24/12 at 6:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fev View Post

As a long time Directv subscriber, tried to order a HR34 by phone last night. Think I would have gotten one, but the CSR (with supervisor) insisted that I needed to have at least one RVU enabled television. Any other experience guys? I really want the PIP, not to mention the other improvements with the multiple tuners.

Some CSR's say that, which is incorrectly. Call back and try again, might need to ask for a supervisor.
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post #1328 of 1936
1/24/12 at 8:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fev View Post

As a long time Directv subscriber, tried to order a HR34 by phone last night. Think I would have gotten one, but the CSR (with supervisor) insisted that I needed to have at least one RVU enabled television. Any other experience guys? I really want the PIP, not to mention the other improvements with the multiple tuners.

You have to wait until after 2/9/11 iirc. Current subscribers can only ask for the HMC after that date.
Bish
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post #1329 of 1936
1/24/12 at 9:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by thebishman View Post

You have to wait until after 2/9/11 iirc. Current subscribers can only ask for the HMC after that date.
Bish

I was going to post something like this, but use 2012 instead.
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post #1330 of 1936
1/24/12 at 10:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beerstalker View Post

Most likely the tech isn't going to be able to do anything. Most of them haven't seen anything as complicated as your setup.

I see that you have tried changing inputs on the HDMI switch back and forth, but have you tried changing the inputs on your projector? Change it away from the HDMI input and then back and see if that helps.

Also, have you tried just shutting the Hr34 off and then turning it back on, instead of resetting it?

This really sounds like an HDMI handshake issue. Would it be possible to try a different HDMI switch?

Yes I've tried just turning it on and off. No luck there. I haven't tried changing the input setting on the projector yet. I see no need to try another switch. I have four other devices that work fine and my cable DVR wrorked just fine. I have also had at least another dozen devices in my system over the years and never had an issue. It appears that the HDMI signal from the HR-34 is the culprit. Maybe a different box will work maybe it won't but I won't pay DirecTV for substandard equipment.
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post #1331 of 1936
1/24/12 at 12:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dgolombowski View Post

Yes I've tried just turning it on and off. No luck there. I haven't tried changing the input setting on the projector yet. I see no need to try another switch. I have four other devices that work fine and my cable DVR wrorked just fine. I have also had at least another dozen devices in my system over the years and never had an issue. It appears that the HDMI signal from the HR-34 is the culprit. Maybe a different box will work maybe it won't but I won't pay DirecTV for substandard equipment.

HDCP is being used with DirecTV, which is the handshake issue that you may have, which so far, you haven't troubleshot to see if it's the problem.
HR34 straight to the TV. If this then doesn't work, you have a problem with your HR34.
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post #1332 of 1936
1/24/12 at 12:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by veryoldschool View Post

HDCP is being used with DirecTV, which is the handshake issue that you may have, which so far, you haven't troubleshot to see if it's the problem.
HR34 straight to the TV. If this then doesn't work, you have a problem with your HR34.

If I run the cable directly to the projector of course it will work. It doesn't work once the HDMI signal is broken. If it's direct wired that will never happen.

We narrowed it down and the HDMI will reconnect if if the box is reset or you unplug the HDMI cable from the back of the box and plug it back in. What I don't understand is what difference should it make if you unplug the cable or switch the input? Either way the signal is broken. The tech just left and their technical support dept. told him that DirecTV has their HDMI set at a higher level for copy protection and that is the issue.

So my next call is to DirecTV and have them pull out their equipment. Sure is a lot of hassle for nothing. But at least I'll be a new TWC customer now and they'll cut me a deal!
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post #1333 of 1936
1/24/12 at 3:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dgolombowski View Post

If I run the cable directly to the projector of course it will work. It doesn't work once the HDMI signal is broken. If it's direct wired that will never happen.

We narrowed it down and the HDMI will reconnect if if the box is reset or you unplug the HDMI cable from the back of the box and plug it back in. What I don't understand is what difference should it make if you unplug the cable or switch the input? Either way the signal is broken. The tech just left and their technical support dept. told him that DirecTV has their HDMI set at a higher level for copy protection and that is the issue.

So my next call is to DirecTV and have them pull out their equipment. Sure is a lot of hassle for nothing. But at least I'll be a new TWC customer now and they'll cut me a deal!

so the switch and or cables you're using is the problem. "got it".
Since I don't have stock in DirecTV, it doesn't matter one way or the other if you keep it or dump it and move to someone else.
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post #1334 of 1936
1/24/12 at 5:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by veryoldschool View Post

so the switch and or cables you're using is the problem. "got it".
Since I don't have stock in DirecTV, it doesn't matter one way or the other if you keep it or dump it and move to someone else.

Considering that the switch and cables have worked fine with over a dozen other source components I would suggest the problem is with the level of HDCP code used by DirecTV in the HR-34. There needs to be some level of compatibility in the electronics industry.
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post #1335 of 1936
1/24/12 at 5:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dgolombowski View Post

Considering that the switch and cables have worked fine with over a dozen other source components I would suggest the problem is with the level of HDCP code used by DirecTV in the HR-34. There needs to be some level of compatibility in the electronics industry.

Yes the whole HDMI "standard" hasn't been followed very well.
What I think you're seeing is the DirecTV [at the request of the program providers] is one of the first to be using HDCP, and as time goes on, others will be using it more and more.
"for you" this may simply come down to fix it now, or fix it later.


I think if you go back through this thread, you'll see this isn't just the HR34, but most of the DVRs and mostly the switches/TVs that have been the problem.
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post #1336 of 1936
1/25/12 at 3:42am
So it appears my HD-DVR (HR24-100 SWM enabled whole home activated) got it's guide update last night (all the panel buttons lit up this morning)but this morning the unit will not start up. On startup it is displaying Error 14-969 A problem has been detected in the storage device This may be a simple initialization error or a critical fault. Please reboot the box now. That may fix the problem. control panel is unresponsive. Tried a red button reboot (multiple times) no go, tried power cord out reboot no go and tried to enter advanced diagnostics for drive but it says entering advanced diagnostics and then goes back to error message. I think the guide update may have killed my DVR.
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post #1337 of 1936
1/25/12 at 5:03am
When HD's are failing, an update will often push them over the edge. Without the update, your HD would have failed anyway, but it might have lasted another week or two.

Try unplugging it for at least 15 minutes and then see what happens, but I fear it's toast.
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post #1338 of 1936
1/25/12 at 5:08am
Unit is less than a year old and had showed no signs of issues beforehand have never even had to do a reset on it till this update. I will try the 15 min power off and see what happens.
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post #1339 of 1936
1/25/12 at 5:12am
Yep, computers/HD's are peculiar things, sometimes they last many years, sometimes they fail in the first month
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post #1340 of 1936
1/25/12 at 5:22am
Oh yea as a self taught computer hardware guy I go with the motto -There are 2 states of hard drives those that have failed and those that are going to fail.
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post #1341 of 1936
1/25/12 at 5:42am
Just got off the phone with DirecTv - Hard drive fault, new unit being shipped 2 day FedEx does not help I lost all my shows but at least I have a new unit on the way.
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post #1342 of 1936
1/25/12 at 9:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dgolombowski View Post

Considering that the switch and cables have worked fine with over a dozen other source components I would suggest the problem is with the level of HDCP code used by DirecTV in the HR-34. There needs to be some level of compatibility in the electronics industry.

I looked at the specs of your Octava 5x2 matrix switcher and I believe this is the problem: it appears to be an older switch and not compliant with the latest HDMI protocols

as pointed out, HDMI is a nightmare of compatibility issues:

for example, if your connected components are all HDMI certified 1.3 but one is 1.1, your entire chain will be limited to 1.1

My suggestion is to buy the Monoprice 4x4 HDMI matrix switcher and try it before you give up on the HR34
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post #1343 of 1936
1/25/12 at 9:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by markrubin View Post

as pointed out, HDMI is a nightmare of compatibility issues...

Ya think? lol

HDMI versions:
1.0,
1.1,
1.2,
1.2a,
1.3,
1.3a,
1.3b,
1.3b1,
1.3c,
1.4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI
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post #1344 of 1936
1/25/12 at 1:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by veryoldschool View Post

I was going to post something like this, but use 2012 instead.

Lol. Thanks for the correction. Damn iPad!
Bish
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post #1345 of 1936
1/25/12 at 3:09pm
Every week or so my HR24-500 in my HT room freezes up and I have to do the red button reset to get it working again. I also have a HR20-700 that did the same thing until I moved it up to the bedroom and I haven't had this issue since. The HT room has two cables coming from the wall to the DVR but the bedroom only has one. Is there an easy way to see if a cable is bad or intermittent? Do all of the cables have to be RG6 or is RG59 OK? Any other ideas or suggestions? This is really getting old.

Thanks in advance!
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post #1346 of 1936
1/25/12 at 4:02pm
Are you only using a single tuner in the bedroom?
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post #1347 of 1936
1/25/12 at 4:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by markrubin View Post

I looked at the specs of your Octava 5x2 matrix switcher and I believe this is the problem: it appears to be an older switch and not compliant with the latest HDMI protocols

as pointed out, HDMI is a nightmare of compatibility issues:

for example, if your connected components are all HDMI certified 1.3 but one is 1.1, your entire chain will be limited to 1.1

My suggestion is to buy the Monoprice 4x4 HDMI matrix switcher and try it before you give up on the HR34

Will the Monoprice switch display the same source image on multiple displays simultaneously? Also is there a configuration that you would suggest if I needed more than four souce inputs?
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post #1348 of 1936
1/25/12 at 4:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dgolombowski View Post

Will the Monoprice switch display the same source image on multiple displays simultaneously? Also is there a configuration that you would suggest if I needed more than four souce inputs?

yes: it is a full function matrix switch

matrix switches with over 4 ins/ outs can be very expensive

you could add an HDMI switch to feed a matrix input for additional sources
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post #1349 of 1936
1/25/12 at 5:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stew4msu View Post

Are you only using a single tuner in the bedroom?

Yes, I would have to run another cable to use both.
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post #1350 of 1936
1/25/12 at 5:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 60SXRD View Post

Yes, I would have to run another cable to use both.

Not necessarily, but that's a different discussion.

The number of tuners shouldn't have any bearing on why the unit is freezing.
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