DirecTV HD DVR - HR2*/ HR34 Master Topic: one thread for all - Page 61

Has there been a fix to your issue?

I seem to recall hearing that you could use it offline.

However, after a certain period, if you don't ship it back, they will bill you several hundred for it.

Same problem again. Less than a month since the cinema kit was replaced. While the tech was here we just removed the kit and all was well. I've done that this time with no luck. Downstream receiver still see the DVR but playback plays for two seconds paused for five plays for two etc. Red button resets do nothing. With the cinema kit connected and online all functions correctly in the living room.

You guys have any ideas? The tech replaced every connection between the dish and the boxes last time so I don't think it's cable. I suspect the DVR is bad in some manner but all recording playback fine on it. Just across the whole home end is where the problem appears.

I just found that LMN (253) is now in HD. I just found it this morning. I never recieved any notice of it and I have my box set to display all HD content on the guide but it didn't . I found it by accident.

I'm not sure how long it's been in HD. When I talked to DTV in Dec about something else I asked them about LMN and they said they didn't have it scheduled to go to HD.

I'm going to have to manually check to see if any other stations went HD.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/914047/directv-hdtv/13980#post_22872118

Just went live within the past week. I agree they don't deliver this type of information in a timely manner.

LMN, ID and TV Land are now in HD

Thanks, I see that, when I logged in this morning there were 2 pages of posts I hadn't read. (Guess I should have read through all of them before posting). I wonder why I never got an emails about new posts. I always did before.

I think if you look at the message tab, in the banner, you'll see the notice.

It's not in mine, I check the messages this morning and just did it again. no notice of any of the channels going HD.

I just rechecked and have three messages, one of which is about the new HD channels.

I see the banners in the guide when you look at the channel in the guide. I never read messages in the mail envelope. Stop in more often and you won't miss any news. More channels are going HD tomorrow.

That's strange, my messages is empty. I wonder why I'm not getting them. I did have 2 yesterday but they were for some sports events or something.

What new channels are going HD tomorrow?

What software are you on if you can check.
I have the HR24/100 and Software is 0x62c, Wed, 12/19

I was using my Genie, but notice my HR24 didn't have the same message.
The three channels were active last week, so I don't know of any more for this week.

The rumor mill has these 5 lighting up tomorrow morning:

204 Headline News
232 Cooking
271 H2
541 Encore Action
559 IFC

They're up.

Yes they did, I just had to manually add them to my guide. But no messages about any of them yet. I guess the people with the older boxes don't matter anymore.

I've never gotten messages about HD changes on my HR-24. I don't mind that so much but it's annoying when a series recording stays on the SD channel when the HD version comes available -- it seems like an obvious optimization.

DirecTV has sort of screwed the pooch with their banner ads for the new HD channels. They only display "after" you've added them to your custom guide.

It seems that one's custom guide(s) do not notice when channels upgrade to HD. Also, series recordings apparently don't notice, either.

Do "all channels" or "channels I receive" notice properly?

Yes, they do.

Strangely, my H25 automatically hid the SD channels as it was instructed to do, and the new HD channels were in my custom list. My HR34 did not do this, and I had to manually update the list.

As others have noted, the banners in the guide that say "XX channel now in HD" show up only if you have the HD channel in the current guide list. They should show up only if isn't in your list, but the SD channel is.

I'm hoping to find answers to certain questions, from those very familiar with the DirecTV hardware.

A couple months back, one of my HR23-700 receivers died -- in a way that leaves me thinking it's about 85 % likely that it was the power supply that burned up. (So, the HDD is probably intact.) But, bottom line, the receiver is a doorstop now. And I got too busy to do anything about it, until now. I'd like to replace this unit with something similar and compatible, probably an HR24-500, probably one to be owned rather than leased, and most preferably without initiating a new 2-year service commitment. I'd like to be free to drop D* altogether, if I don't get what I want. (The outcome is a more critical factor to me than the cost.)

I'm receiving some conflicting advice pointing towards the HR34, but, even if it was compatible with the existing setup (some sources say 'NO', and that this would definitely restart the contract clock), I don't need whole house, or 5 tuners, and find some of what I've been reading about this model online not particularly favorable. Usually, I'm inclined to choose an older model, if it has a more proven reliability. There seem to be ample sources around for buying leftover stock. Refurbs or Used -- not interested. The more responsible vendors mention that you need to check a RID # with D* first, and make a specific arrangement for Owned instead of Leased.

Why the HR24-500 ? More HDD capacity would have been a plus, but from what I've read, this model has an extra fan in back, and after the above experience that has to be a good thing -- right ?

But this could be the most important immediate question: According to posts I read in some DBStalk threads, each HDD is "married" to its original receiver (How ? Via firmware ? Or just the Access Card ?), and so its contents can never be salvaged and re-used. If true, I couldn't just transplant the old HDD into an HR24, or even another HR23, and still access all of the rare and irreplaceable stuff that happened to be on that HDD ? Absolutely positively -- No Exceptions ? What about by connecting it to the e-SATA port of an HR24 or later model ? This may be one of the worst failings of D*, almost enough to make me consider switching to whatever service -- if any -- does not have that limitation.

1. You can call and get a replacement DVR, but there's no guarantee what model it will be (other than the HR34). It might be an HR24, it might be another HR23 (or HR21 or HR20), and it might also be a used/refurbed unit. Replacing a defective receiver with another like receiver does not start a new 2 year commitment.

2. If you don't have a SWiM setup, than the HR34 will not work without it. If you order an HR34, they'll connect everything you need to get it working, but it will of course start a new 2 year commitment and it will cost more than simply replacing the defective DVR, because it's an upgrade.

3. There's no way to save your recordings to play on another DVR.

So, you have a couple of options: Call D* and have them replace your defective receiver with whatever they end up sending (no cost, no commitment), upgrade to the HR34 (additional costs, 2 year commitment), order an HR24 from a third party like solidsignal (additional cost, 2 year commitment).

You can sometimes buy owned(used) equipment from individual sellers, but you need to be careful (as you alluded to in your post).

I told the tech on the way over if it wasn't a 24, don't bother coming. He happily obliged...

Sure, you can try that. They might not oblige and if it's a replacement for a dying DVR, they might just ship one too, so you have no tech to call.

BTW, there's an HR44 that they're suppose to be rolling out in some areas.

Has built-in Wifi and supposedly a faster processor for more responsive menus.

Thanks for your reply. I have no interest in the 34 or 44, at this time. So, buying new (leftover) stock of a 24 from an outside party restarts a 2-yr. commitment. Why ? That's wack. It might even be where I head for the Exit. I'm out of contract, determined to have things a certain way, and willing to spend whatever it may cost to get it that way (if at all possible), so my options are really open.

The e-SATA port on a 24-or-later is going to reject or reformat the old HDD ? If that content is a complete write-off, and I find myself shopping for a different provider (unfortunately, Verizon FIOS is completely unavailable in this area . . . ), does this same "kiss-it-goodbye" scenario hold true for all the other providers, cable or sat ?

I just received a suggestion that I might try to replace the dead PSU with a new or salvaged part. I'm wondering what the chances for success there might be ? If it could work, presumably that would not break the linkage of the married HDD to its DVR . . . ?

From what I'm seeing around, D* seems to only be doing replacements with refurb units these days. (Unless one has some high-up connections over there, maybe ?) That's not going to retain me as a customer, either. I was with TWC for 15 years, maximum package, then dropped them like a rock when displeasure with various things reached a critical mass.

I know WideOpenWest DVR lets you add an external HDD to it and it is added as additional storage to the internal drive. I'm not sure if it is then transferable to another WOW DVR. But I like the fact that it doesn't shut down the internal one.

Dish has been coming out with some nice features, like being able to watch recorded programs on you Smart Phone or Tablet from anywhere.

I'm not trying to steer you away from DTV, and I have no current plans of leaving them but I really like some of the features the others have. I'm not completely sure but I don't think you have to buy (and not own and pay rent) the equipment from Dish, I think it's just rent. This really bugs me plus what you said, every time you want to change/upgrade/add equipment they hit you with that 2 year contract again. I don't think they should do that once you have completed the first 2 year commitment.

Just so you know, DIRECTV has nomad which allows you to copy recorded content from your HD DVR's to IOS /MAC devices and your PC. It doesn't require you to get a new Hopper with Sling to do it, just add the nomad box to your network and it works with all your HD DVR's.

It should re-format it.

The problem is that the recordings on the drive are effectively encrypted using a key that is based on a combination of the receiver ID and the access card, which means you need both of those to decrypt them. The exact method is unknown, but there is some suspicion that the drive has essentially a "encryption ID" written to it, and when a drive is place in (or connected to the eSATA) of a receiver, the receiver checks to see if this ID matches the one for the current receiver/card. If so, it assumes the drive is formatted and tries to use it. If ID doesn't match or reading the drive using the current decryption key fails, then the drive gets re-formatted.

So, yes, that content is completely gone.

This is a little off topic, but does anyone use or know of a de-icer for the dish. I just had to go out and spray my dish to get the ice and snow off it again. I had no signal at all. I've had to do this a few times already this winter.