Welcome to the DIRECTV Community Forums

New to the Community? Visit the Community How-To and Guidelines to get started.

ACE - Sage

 • 

46.4K Messages

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 10:47 PM

How to sign up for MRV if you're using your own networking (not DECA) ...

How to Sign up for MRV if you are on Ethernet (not DECA)

OK folks, what I am about to say is not fully confirmed .. It's more from information I've pieced together from multiple sources than from one single message. It may not be 100% accurate, but should follow along similar lines:

How to Sign up for MRV if you are on Ethernet (not DECA)
 
  • * On May 13th you might start receiving a message indicating that you need to call in to DIRECTV to activate MRV

  • * If not, on or about May 20th, MRV will stop working and you will receive the message.

  • * You will need to call DIRECTV using the phone number from the on screen message. It might be the main DIRECTV number, it might be a special number (I don't know).

  • * Beginning on May 13th (not before), DIRECTV CSRs should have a screen on which to allow you to activate MRV .. They will have to read you some legalese that you must agree to before MRV will be activated using your home network.

  • * Once activated, you will be charged $3/month for the use of MRV and DIRECTV will not provide you support for MRV beyond the question "Would you like to upgrade to DECA?"


Odds are there will be a few growing pains as this ramps up.

____________________________________
ACEs are customers too, NOT employees. Answers are based on experience. I strive to give honest answers, even if not always appreciated. If you posted personal information, please edit and remove.

For official support call DirecTV Satellite 1-800-531-5000, DirecTV Stream 1-888-429-4023, DirecTV Gemini dedicated 1-888-488-4742, or AT&T 1-800-288-2020. 

Award for Community Excellence Achiever*
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.

Teacher

 • 

11 Messages

15 years ago

Hi litzdog911:


I believe this was my post from this morning that was missing that showed up somehow.  I have now spoken with DirecTV this evening and had the MVR service added to my account for $3/mo without DECA!  No contract extension and can cancel at anytime if my home network fails.

Teacher

 • 

4 Messages

15 years ago

Quote:

Thanks to Doug over at the DBSTalk forums:

 

OK folks, it took me a bit of time and an EXTREMELY helpful CSR (Thanks again Brian!) and I have discovered the process needed to get Whole Home DVR Service when using your own networking.

NOTE: If you are ordering DECA/SWiM, 
DO NOT follow this procedure. Simply order DECA/SWiM and MRV will work out the way it's supposed to.

This procedure is for those folks who want to use their own home networking and continue to enjoy Multiroom viewing.

  • Call 1-800-531-5000
  • Give Your Phone # when prompted
  • At the main menu voice prompt say "Whole Home DVR Service"
    At this point you should be connected to an agent
  • Tell the agent that you have been participating in the 'Whole Home DVR Service beta' and you want to enable 'MRV-Capability' so that you can activate 'Whole Home DVR Service' on your account
  • Ask the CSR to cancel (or do not enter) the Whole Home DVR upgrade screen
  • Ask the CSR to enter 'Account Attributes' and choose 'Create New'. The only option here is 'MRV-Capability' and it should be set to 'u' (for unsupported) with mostly defaults. At this point, you have enabled the 'MRV' flag and you could (in theory) order from the web page. I saw it when viewing my account via the web.
  • Once this has been set, the CSR will have to exit your account information and then reenter your account information screen so that the information refreshes.
  • At this point, the CSR can now enable "Whole Home DVR Service"

If you can politely get the CSR to follow through this process I am confident that you will be set up for MRV. It took me 30 minutes working with the CSR to get to this point, but I would expect most any CSR to be able to work through this with you in less than 10 minutes. It's a pretty fast process if you know how to do it, so help the CSR out and you'll both be much happier.

Cheers.

 



Teacher

 • 

18 Messages

15 years ago

I called and followed the script that litzdog911 posted about getting the service with a CSR and it is working like a charm for me.  Took 4 calls to get a CSR that worked everthing out for me.

 

Contributor

 • 

2 Messages

15 years ago

My first phone call to DIRECTV did not go well. It is clear that the agents have received no training yet.  Frustrated I sent an email to DIRECTV. They responded in minutes asking me to call them back, so I did. I spent about 30 minutes with the second representative and even directed her to this posting. Working with someone else she did get it working! Everything seems fine. Clearly this is a new feature that very few at DIRECTV understand, but at least some of the representatives are willing to try. Thanks to mrchapel for the posting!

Mentor

 • 

45 Messages

15 years ago

dcd,

 

Thanks for all of your help...today and in the past!  I wanted to let you know that I have been told by 3 different DTV reps that "NO" we will not be allowed to use our exsisting networks & DECA is required, even if we have been part of the beta.  I was put on hold and within two minutes was told the same thing each time.  I had to order and am being charged for the whole home UPgrade for $99 and an install charge of $49...plus the $3 each month. 

One rep had it all screwed up...told me my HD DVRs weren't compatible etc etc... ugh.  I know this is new for them but come on....  Anyway, if you have other info that says we can indeed use our current networks...that would be great...as I am shut down until they do the instal on Monday.

 

I don't mind the charge if they indeed are doing it the same for everyone.  If some are not having to pay the fees and able to use their own networks...and others have to pay when they have the same equipment etc...well, that obviosuly wouldn't be right.

 

Thanks again for being som helpful.

 

Bobby

Professor

 • 

1.5K Messages

15 years ago

bobbyk,

Call them back and cancel the DECA install if indeed you had a properly performing experience with MRV Beta on your home network. I.....and MANY other users with home networks, and participated in the Beta, are activated on Whole Home DVR Service as I type this. After calling to cancel the DECA install, and asking again to be activated on WHDS....if they will still not activate you, try their website "Contact Us" send email and choose "Services/Whole Home DVR" and send them an email. However, if you are NOT subscribed to a currently offered subscription package, that WILL be an additional stipulation that you upgrade(most of the time this results in an approx. $1/month increase in your bill). Hope this helps.

P.S.

You need to understand and relay specifically to them "you do understand that there will be no DirecTV technical support of your network or the new service" if you refuse the DECA installation.

Contributor

 • 

1 Message

15 years ago

just got it working again.  Called customer service- she had to ask a supervisor how to set it up for home network service. She sent authorization to all my HD receivers.  I had to reset receivers and reconnect to home network.  Working fine now

Guru

 • 

535 Messages

15 years ago

I just want to send thanks for the info litzdog, sungam and dcd. I did it the email way to avoid having to call and talk to CSR's that didn't know what I was talking about. Email was sent around 5 p.m eastern standard and Home DVR services activated 3 hours later with NON-DECA equipment. Much appreciated for the info, didn't want to sink $150 on equipment not needed when $30 worth of Ethernet cable could do the same.

Professor

 • 

4.2K Messages

15 years ago

Email is the best way to contact them to get MRV activated with your network. (Twitter and Facebook requests are no longer being accepted now that the beta is officially ended). However, whether you do that or not it is still highly recommended that you continue with the scheduled Whole Home Install.

Professor

 • 

1.5K Messages

15 years ago

bobbyk,

See, I told you....read user irishtn's post right above this one.

P.S.

I wasn't "quick enough".....read the post above user sungam's post:0)

P.S.S.

And TKG sungam is correct....if you can "afford" the $150 DECA/SWiM upgrade it is indeed the preferable choice.

Contributor

 • 

2 Messages

15 years ago

After 45 minutes on the phone They said you have to pay the $99.

 

I asked for a supervisor, read them the 1st post on this forum and suddenly and miracously they set something up and asked me to turn off my recievers off then back on and IT WORKS AGAIN!!!!

 

I told her I was willing to pay the$3 per month but not The $99, I also told her I just upgraded 3 weeks ago and why did they not install the Deca then since I already had my Multi-Room up and running then.

 

Be patient calm and polite, let the CSR try and then when they will not budge ask for a supervisor.

You will probably be on hold for 5-10 minutes before the supervisor comes on but they fixed it for me.

Mentor

 • 

19 Messages

15 years ago

I think the trick to calling in to directv ...firstly you need to ask for the networking department...then just state "calmly" you were a beta tester and want to opt out of deca and just pay the $3 for the whole home dvr...your package may need to be updated into the newer choice xtra or choice ultimate packages...

 

If they still give you trouble...ask them to open DORIS....its like Directvs HOW TO manual for everything Directv and will explain to this the process nessesary to get done what you need done...I just did it yesterday and after 2 failed attempts a week ago...

 

Each CSR should know what to do ...but if they dont inform themselves they will have no clue...If they are pusing back on you to purchase the DECA...have them open Doris ...have them scroll down to May 13th ...they will find what they need..

Mentor

 • 

45 Messages

15 years ago

Here's what I have found out with my latest call to verify that I would or would not need DECA for MRV.  I was told that unless I had the HR-24's I would have to swtich to DECA .  Anyone having the HR-24's would be able to use their pree-exsisting network.....   that info may well be here within the forum and I just missed it.

 

Can anyone verify that?  It's the first time I was told that...and I have asked the same questions with each of my 4 calls. 

 

I hope all are having a great day!

Mentor

 • 

45 Messages

15 years ago

Here's what I have found out with my latest call to verify that I would or would not need DECA for MRV.  I was told that unless I had the HR-24's I would have to swtich to DECA .  Anyone having the HR-24's would be able to use their pree-exsisting network.....   that info may well be here within the forum and I just missed it.

 

Can anyone verify that?  It's the first time I was told that...and I have asked the same questions with each of my 4 calls. 

 

I hope all are having a great day!

Mentor

 • 

19 Messages

15 years ago

NO HR24 has deca built into the stb...nobody "needs" Deca....its only another vehicle to network your receivers for the whole house dvr...as long as you have an HD DVR and other HD recievers you will be ok...


NEED HELP?