$200 install for WH???

The price of the WHDVR upgrade recently went from $99 to $199... The upgrade gets you whatever you need to support WHDVR using DirecTV's DECA coax networking... Typically a new SWiM dish/LNB, splitter and PI; DECA units for each receiver; the Internet (Cinema) Connection Kit and updated receivers if needed for SWiM compatibility. Plus full support for the system from DirecTV.

are you saying that every receiver needs a DECA unit?  I just recently had DirecTV installed, along with one HD DVR, two HD receivers, and Whole Home DVR.   It works great for a few days, then I will either not be able to see the play list, or I will get warning messages that the DVR has disconnected from the network.

The installers have been here at least 3 times, trying to resolve the issue.  The last time, he connected a small black box (DECA?) to an ethernet cable connected directly to my router, and a coaxial cable directly to the splitter/diplexer, or whatever you call that device.

The two non-DVR HD receivers are connected directly to the splitter.

I even got so frustrated with this that I went out and bought a new router, thinking it may be a problem with the router...  same problem.  The routers were different brands also.

Is everyone having this issue?   Is there a resolution for it?  

One thing I have not seen mentioned here is whether or not the receivers can be assigned static IP addresses.

Any help?

I also just called and found out that it was $200. It's not happening@ my house until they lower the price drastically.   You could get another DVR for that cost!

sungam threw out all these anachronisms and it just flys over my head.  Also the directv account online doesnt tell that there is a $200 set up fee.  they say  "just call to activate" 

I suppose if i wait a few years, it might be reasonable with the bugs worked out.

rick:

You probably have the newer HR24 and/or H24 receivers which do not need external DECA modules. Older receivers like the OP's HR23 and H21 each need an external DECA. Every system that is connected to the home Ethernet network and Internet also needs the 'broadband' DECA connected to their router. The fact that your system works at all says that you probably have all the necessary equipment.

The router should have no bearing on WHDVR, since with the DECA system no WHDVR traffic passes over your network, it all travels via the coax. The Ethernet/Network connection is not needed at all for WHDVR. 

Do you know where in the system is the SWiM power Inserter installed? Some problems like yours can be traced to having the PI inline with the DVR and the solution for that has been to either connect the PI to the splitter separately, or to use a separate 2-Way splitter to inject the PI output into the cable. There can also be problem swith too many splitters or suing a splitter that is bigger than necessary (e.g., an 8-way when a 4-way would work.

It is possible to setup static IPs, but generally it is better to let DHCP do it. If there's no DHCP server found, the DECA system will build it's own private IP network

pete:

There are several places on the Whole Home page that indicate that additional charges for equipment and installation may apply if your setup isn't WHDVR ready.  E.g.:

"If you're not sure your DIRECTV^®System is set up for Whole-Home DVR, please call 1-800-531-5000. Additional charges may apply"

I wouldn't look for the price to drop any time soon since they just raised it. For most people the old $99 upgrade price was a real bargain considering the cost of the equipment DirecTV was installing. The current price is probably more in line with what the upgrades actually cost DirecTV.

WHDVR = Whole Home DVR

DECA = DirecTV Ethernet Coax Adapter  (networks the receivers over the satellite coax)

SWiM = Single Wire Multiswitch (required by DECA, allows one cable to feed multiple tuners)

LNB = Low Noise Block (Converter) (part of the dish that receives the satellite signals)

PI = Power Inserter (provides power for the SWiM)

Hi guys.  I just called to get WHDVR and was told that I would have to pay 99 each for HD receivers.  I understand that I have of pay for an additional HD DVR that I desire but I thought that the non-DVR receivers are included in the 199.  What do I have to do, ask for a supervisor?  It was going to be $858 to add 1 DVR and 2 receivers.  A total of 7 receivers.  (I already have 5) Thanks. 

That's correct... you need a DirecTV approved SWiM/MRV 2-way splitter (green label) and you need to be sure the PI output connects to the red, power passing port on the splitter. The unused connector on the PI needs a 75 ohm terminator.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=02&p=SPLIT2MRV

A reset should not affect any recordings except ones in progress when the DVR is reset. If you're saying that a red Button Reset deletes existing, completed recordings then something is wrong with the DVR.

The $199  WHDVR upgrade cost does not include the cost of any receivers you might want to add or to upgrade from SD to HD. The only time a receiver is covered by the $199 fee is when you have an SD receiver that is not SWiM compatible, or an H20 HD receiver which is not WHDVR compatible. Then the WHDVR upgrade fee covers updating those receivers to the equivalent compatible versions (e.g., replacing an R15 SD DVR with an R16 SD DVR).

I had virtually the same experience yesterday....called to activate Whole Home service and was told by the rep..."I see you have all the required equipment and your system is ready to go...there's a $199 charge to have a tech go out and look at it to make sure everything's ok."  What the heck?

This is because....Just 3 months ago I had service at another home...same equipment...and WHDVR..never paid any type of setup fee.  Outside of the initial install of the dish that was all Directv had to do at the house.  It was already wired and ready to go.  I paid the monthly service fee and that was it.

This house is pre wired and virtually the same setup as the other house...but they want to charge me $200 to "come and look and make sure it is ok".  It's bad enough that I bought the equipment and paid to have the house pre wired...now they want more?

Goodbye Directv...hello Dish.

i see this covers upgrading the dish and my hr20 but does it include running wiring and any other parts? or maybe i should ask what it doesn't cover (besides upgrading SD to HD which i don't need)? my house is old and there is only a dual run into my living room to support the current dish which the installer put in 5 years ago when i started the service.. i can see why those that are on all current hardware would not want to pay $200 - why don't they offer a self-install kit? i mean it can't be that hard for DIY'ers (like myself)..

If you can run a Cat-5 cable between the two of them you will be good to go. Then you need to get them to activate it at $3 per month.

I don't set Directv's pricing policy, but note this.  They have set prices for any particular equipment installation, and in many cases it's free, as in dish and coax installation.  They recently raised the price of the Whole Home DVR system and they quote the same price to everyone, whether you need a quick inspection or a upgrade on 6 SD receivers, a new dish and a SWM16 module.  If they cut the guy who needed the inspection only a big break then they'd be required to charge the SWM16 guy the $1,000 or so his installation was actually worth.

Keep in mind that guy #1 had all the current stuff courtesy of Directv and in many cases didn't pay a nickel for it originally.

At the risk of sounding like a crybaby......almost 2 years ago, I did my homework and ordered SWM equipment.  I got almost all of my info from from this forum and thanks to all of you regulars: dcd, sungam, litzdog911, texasbrit, etc.  So because I did this I'm now being punished because I don't have old equipment that needs to be upgraded for WHDVR.  I don't think that direct tv should have been providing sd equipment as soon as 2 years ago. And I don't think you could buy an sd tv back then which means that direct tv knew that everyone would have to upgrade eventually.   Had I known that they wanted to charge me 99 to upgrade each sd box, I would have ordered hd boxes back then in anticipation of replacing my sd tvs in the future.  Direct tv probably knows that they have a superior product to the competition, and they're taking advantage of that fact which is ok with me because I believe in capitalism. I've decided that it's not worth the money to me to have access to other dvrs in the house from every room.  I going to buy the boxes myself (and I will check the numbers with direct tv).  And by the way, I found out the hard way, if you add a leased box to your account......it generates another 2 year commitment, (for that box)  That fact extends my departure 3 months.  I know you guys don't set direct tv prices and once again, thanks for your input in this forum. 

Dont' kick yourself over your equipment choices.

DTV has told me our equipment (H24, H21x2 & HR21 all HD) and setup (swm) checks out, we are connected online and ready to go.
But, they still require a tech to come out and check to make sure everything is connected correctly and to fine tune....for $199.

As said before, I had virtually the same setup in a previous location.  Outside of the initial movers connect which covered installing the dish, swm and splitter, dtv did not have to put any other equipment in my house.  All receivers (at that time) were purchased by me, outside of dtv but dtv still required me to pay a monthly lease fee (one of my receivers did go out and was replaced with a H24, but as far as I am concerned, the $25 per month lease fee for the 5 receivers over 2 years more than covered that). I paid no upfront fee for WHDVR, set it up myself and, in fact, ran it during the free beta period.  After that we did pay the $3 p/month.

Currently we have the H24,  H21 (x2) and 1 HR21.  All are connected to the internet and are on the home network.

Yet, they still want $199 to send a tech out to "check things out".

No way.