Contributor
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2 Messages
Am I getting the run-around?
I have a HR20-100 (bedroom) & a R22 (living room) and would like to know if I am eligible for the Whole House DVR service.
I received the HR20 in May '09 when I moved as part of the "moving gift" (Free HD for a year or a free DVR)
I upgraded to the HD service in January '10. Quoted a $100 "install fee" upon ordering, but CSR gave me a $50 discount.
In January, the tech swapped out the living room DVR for the R22 (I cannot remember what was there previously) and "activated" the HD service on the HR20. He also left the old dish laying in a pile of snow in our backyard.......
Fast forward to Directv's exciting commericals about the Whole Home DVR! I go online, try to activate it, says to call CS. I call last night and was told that I do not have compatible equipment and would need to pay the $100 upgrade fee, $50 install and renew my 2 yr agreement on top of the $3 per month charge. He told me that despite my understanding from their website that up to 15 tv's can share one DVR, each tv needs its own HD receiver.....ok
I am thinking now, why wasn't I given an HD receiver in the living room as part of the upgrade to the HD service? I already had a HD ready box (HR20) so I am thinking that they would have swapped out?
I am reading threads on here of other customers calling and getting different answers as well. Part of me says forget this its not that important- I can just set both of my DVR's to record the same show and continue what I have done all along. But then ther eis the other part that says, ok this would be nice, but I just want some straight answers before I make a decision!
Any help is greatly appreciated!
joed32
Guru
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856 Messages
15 years ago
They don't replace all of your receivers with HD units just because you order HD.
Your R22 will work with MRV but the CSRs have been told that you must have at least one HD DVR and one HD non DVR fro MRV to work and they're sticking to that story. I hope for all who have the 22s that it will get straightened out so people can use them with their home networks.
I'm sure they will never set up MRV with SWM/DECA installation with R22s but if you can get them to allow you to at some future time, a CAt-5 cable between the two is all you need for a home version.
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irishntn
Guru
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535 Messages
15 years ago
They don't replace all of your receivers with HD units just because you order HD.
Your R22 will work with MRV but the CSRs have been told that you must have at least one HD DVR and one HD non DVR fro MRV to work and they're sticking to that story. I hope for all who have the 22s that it will get straightened out so people can use them with their home networks.
I'm sure they will never set up MRV with SWM/DECA installation with R22s but if you can get them to allow you to at some future time, a CAt-5 cable between the two is all you need for a home version.
The reason behind this is that the R22 is considered a SD/DVR that can be networked and receive HD programming when another HD receiver is on the account. The reason behind not allowing WH DVR to be activated with just the two receivers is that if something happens to the R22 then you will not be able to have WH DVR services any more because they will more then likly replace it with a R16 model. The R16 can connect to a SWM setup, but not run on a network. The R22 have been discontinued, so the exact model replacement will more then likely not happen. The best thing to do is upgrade for a 2nd HD receiver along with the WH DVR then you will be good to go.
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suprunown
Contributor
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2 Messages
15 years ago
Thank you both for your responses.
So the inexpensive way of getting the WH DVR service is getting the Cat 5 cable ($20) and calling Directv and asking for the unsupported version of WH DVR?
The expensive way is "upgrading" to the WH DVR (which could end up being a refurb, not even the H24) and paying the $150 + tax?
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testerx
Professor
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4.2K Messages
15 years ago
Correct... just remember that method 1 may be unreliable and is not supported by DirecTV, while method 2 is guaranteed to work and is supported by them if you do have problems.
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lugnutathome
Mentor
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37 Messages
15 years ago
And Cat5e 20 bucks leads me to believe you intend to connect the boxes directly? If you do that and you want VOD you'll be using both Eithernet ports and this does bad things to the HR's performance.
So Eithernet works but beyond cable, you would need switching and time to make it all dissappear in the landscape.
Negociate price on the DECA upgrade and it's all good, not your responsibility to maintain and forward compatible (until 2 years from now when DTV comes up with a new spec)
As to the ideas floating around that "it might be unreliable, not work eventually" (using Eithernet). Unreliable is highly possible as wireless and powerline are sketchy at best. Hardwired works great if properly deployed. If not than you are on your own fixing that.
As to "not working eventually" I seriously doubt that will happen anytime soon as they would have to recall *ALL* the HR20, HR21, HR22, HR23, H21, and H23 uints in service and replace them with something that didn't pipe their 10/100 Eithernet port to a coax converter. From a business perspective that would be cost prohibitive. Over time through attrition it might eventually go away though.
If you have to buy equipment let DTV drive the bus.
If you have an existing hardwired network then using it is likely an option for a year or two (maybe more)
Please note that last statement is pure conjecture on my part.
Don "I'm hardwired Eithernet due to scope of my infrastructure. (too big for current SWM/DECA technology)" Bolton
Quote: Originally Posted by suprunown
Thank you both for your responses.
So the inexpensive way of getting the WH DVR service is getting the Cat 5 cable ($20) and calling Directv and asking for the unsupported version of WH DVR?
The expensive way is "upgrading" to the WH DVR (which could end up being a refurb, not even the H24) and paying the $150 + tax?
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irishntn
Guru
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535 Messages
15 years ago
And Cat5e 20 bucks leads me to believe you intend to connect the boxes directly? If you do that and you want VOD you'll be using both Eithernet ports and this does bad things to the HR's performance.
I just have a simple answer for you straight connect from receiver to receiver and then connecting the additional port to the internet. Thats the way I have all three of my DVR's running and been working like that through the Beta test phase and currently connected that way today without a hiccup.
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danjeffries
Tutor
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5 Messages
15 years ago
I'm getting the same run around from Direct TV. We had the beta test of the DVR sharing working great for months with three HD DVRs in our house. Now that the beta phase is over, they are telling me that we need to spend $150 on new equipment to make it work (not sure if that is $150 for each receiver or total). I'm willing to pay the $3 per month, but it looks like all the new equipment is not only expensive, but according to other posts in the forum, it is causing a lot of problems to other users. Sounds like even the Direct TV installers can't get the new equipment to work. Guess it is time to look at other service providers!
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djdicetn
Professor
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1.5K Messages
15 years ago
danjeffries,
PLEASE restrict you comments/questions to a single post instead of chiming into several and stating the same thing. You will be best served when needing technical assistance to click on Create New Post and stating your system details, issues, concerns and questions in one thread that somebody can(and will) respond to.
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danjeffries
Tutor
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5 Messages
15 years ago
sorry - my apologies - thanks for your help on the other thread
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joed32
Guru
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856 Messages
15 years ago
I'm getting the same run around from Direct TV. We had the beta test of the DVR sharing working great for months with three HD DVRs in our house. Now that the beta phase is over, they are telling me that we need to spend $150 on new equipment to make it work (not sure if that is $150 for each receiver or total). I'm willing to pay the $3 per month, but it looks like all the new equipment is not only expensive, but according to other posts in the forum, it is causing a lot of problems to other users. Sounds like even the Direct TV installers can't get the new equipment to work. Guess it is time to look at other service providers!
Just keep calling. Many of the CSRs are not up to date on this. Many people are using their home network just like we did on Beta. You just need to find a CSR to activate it for you.
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fugeeman
Contributor
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2 Messages
15 years ago
I was told when I ordered my DirecTV service a little over a month ago that it would be pretty much ready to go and all I had to do was call in and would cost $3 a month. This was a major selling point for me. Imagine my surprise when they want to charge me $210 to get it set up.
I have an H23 DVR and a H21 regular box. I had the beta MRV running flawlessly over a wireless bridge I set up. Now when I called to get the "official" version, they want to charge me: $99 setup fee, $50 install fee, & $60 new customer fee. I told them I wanted to cancel and go back to cable. They were quick to throw the 2 year contract in my face when I spoke of cancellation, then I was kept on hold until thier system hung up on me when I asked to speak with a supervisor.
Needless to say I am appalled at the way they are treating me. Ironically, I sent them an email for loss of picture 2 days ago and have yet to get a reply. So much for thier "Customer Promise"
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djdicetn
Professor
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1.5K Messages
15 years ago
fugeeman,
No need to duplicate your post in several threads. Please refer to my "FYI/warning" to you and user noyb111 here:
http://forums.directv.com/pe/action/forums/displaythread?rootPostID=10707316&channelID=1&portalPageId=1002
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fugeeman
Contributor
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2 Messages
15 years ago
My apologies, won't happen again.
fugeeman,
No need to duplicate your post in several threads. Please refer to my "FYI/warning" to you and user noyb111 here:
http://forums.directv.com/pe/action/forums/displaythread?rootPostID=10707316&cha
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