Cannot watch DVR shows from second room states too many recordings watched in Main Room

The DVR can only stream to one remote Receiver/DVR at a time.  If someone else is watching the DVR's recordings on their Receiver then the other Receivers cannot view any of that DVR's recordings.  

thank you for the reply.  just a follow up question; i have been digging through the sites answer area.  I see that up to 15 receivers can be connected to the dvr. so out of the 15, only 1 receiver can watch a recording?  that's rather disappointing. from what was advertised.  with my limited knowledge, does not the DVR act like a Media Server?  It uses the cable to network the receivers together via the home network.  so if it is an ad hoc server, then it can only take care of one client at a time?  that's not very good.  I just want what was advertised delivered. to borrow the websites bullet points: Note the highlighted area.....

See how the new DIRECTV Whole-Home DVR makes watching TV even better:

• Watch recorded shows in up to 15 rooms with 1 DVR — DISH
  Network can't offer this.
• Watch shows in HD in every room — you can't do that
  with DISH Network.
• Record 2 shows at once while watching 2 more from
  your playlist.
• Manage your DVR playlist from any room.
• Schedule your recordings from any cell phone or computer.

We see these types of posts quite frequently, mostly from a user who has just discovered that the DVR is capable of streaming a single program at a time.  Often these posts contain quotes and want to debate the propriety of the way the system works.

My answer to these folks is always the same.  This is the way it works, this is the way it was designed and has always worked.  Whether the advertising is confusing or not depends on the prior experience of the reader I suppose.  Knowing how the system works make the ads sensible to me, but I can see where the uninitiated would see it differently.

Everyone who posts here are users like yourself, so cannot make your system change or address your concerns.  Sometimes by changing the location of the DVR can help to alleviate the problem.

Yes, you can watch two recordings simultaneously from one DVR, but you have to watch one of them on the DVR itself. If you think about it, the DVR and its hard drive can get pretty busy as it is... it can simultaneously record two programs and play back two programs (one locally, one remotely) and download an OnDemand selection... that's five simultaneous streams to handle. As dc says, sometimes simply relocating the DVR will solve the problem of only one remote playback, but sometimes a second DVR is the best solution. Other than the initial cost, it is no more expensive to have another DVR vs a regular receiver.

On the page you quoted above, you'll also find this... admittedly in the fine print at the bottom:

"Limit one remote viewing per HD DVR."

Point noted and taken.  Thank you for your reply.  i am sure you get quite exasperated from the likes of the "uninitiated" such as myself who post similar queries.  I am merely wanting to know some facts and the seemingly ambiguous statements from the literature I read from the DTV website. 

 I live in a literal world where what is written should be what is fact, not claims. Or "just the way it is". For example:  If someone just stated " the DVR can be paired with another receiver and 2 programs recorded can be watched at the same time.  The extra receiver(s) will not be able to access the DVR until the other receiver has stopped viewing the recorded program.. "  

 I  apologize if I have offended  any of the more technical folks here.  I am well aware this is a user forum.  I merely want to get insight on how things worked.  

No offense taken.  We thrive on these sorts of questions 

The best solution to your dilemma is a second HD DVR.  

And no exasperation here either.  Looking at the ad copy, some of it is quite a ways off the wall, the 15 rooms for one DVR for example is plain  silly.  My point was that there wasn't much any of us can do about the "over promotion" of Whole Home DVR.  But, in spite of it's limitations (and oversell) it is the slickest feature since color TV.  And, if you get your LAN going, you can enjoy Cinemaplus, Mediashare, TV Apps and Directv2PC.

To do what many people want to do they need to have a second DVR which gives a lot more flexibility but doesn't change the one stream at a time.

Yes one stream per DVR, but with two DVRs that's two simultaneous streams to other receivers.

I am getting the same message about too many recordings being watched and nobody is watching anything on the Main Room (DVR). I tried turning both DVR and receiver off, then back on and I still get the same message when trying to play a recording on the receiver. I currently only have the DVR and one receiver tied together.

You didn't by chance connect a Ethernet cable to the DVR did you?  If so remove it, but in any event do a red button (inside card door) reset on both the DVR and receiver. Make sure your favorite program isn't recording or it will be interrupted.

Thanks DCD!  I hadn't plugged any cables into my DVR, and I had already tried resetting the DVR to no avail.  It didn't cross my mind to reset my receiver...I just reset both and it's working again.

You're welcome, glad it worked for you.

So, just to make sure I am understanding this correctly.  I have two DVRs and 6 TVs total.

HD DVR 1

HD DVR 2

HD Box 1

HD Box 2

HD Box 3

HD Box 4

If I am watching a program from HD DVR 1 on HD Box 1, I will not be able to watch another program from the same HD DVR 1 on HD box 2 - 6?  If the program is on the HD DVR 2, I will be able to watch it on HD box 2 - 6?

Is this correct?

1. Correct.  DVR1 can only send its recordings to one remote Receiver/DVR at a time.

2. Correct.  Those other boxes can view a recording from DVR2.  But only one of them at a time can view it.