If you switch to TiVo and return DTV equipment, does DirecTV let you off the hook for device charges over rest of contract?

No. Tivo equipment has nothing to do with DirecTV. If you cancel before your 2-yr contract commitment has been fulfilled, you'll owe a cancellation fee of $20/mo for each month remaining. 

@litzdog911 I am not talking about cancelling the service, just switching out the equipment. You would be charged $20 extra per month for not using DTV's equipment? Is that on top of the device fees paid for using the equipment?

No, you will pay whatever DTV is billing you per month for the channel package and fees until you cancel.  DTV has no way to know if you are using the service or not.  You can't return the receivers until after you cancel.

Just to make sure TiVo doesn't work with DTV service unless you get the THR22 that uses the TiVo software.

@shannon02 I am referring specifically to the device fees - are you charged the monthly device fees if you return the devices before end-of-contract?

sw

There is only one Tivo-based DirecTV DVR (THR-22), and I doubt it's available anymore. So if you use a standalone Tivo, that will not impact your DirecTV equipment fees. But you won't be able to use DirecTV with that Tivo anyway. 

@dolphinseal 

DirecTV uses proprietary equipment, so you cannot switch to boxes from TiVO.

You are not paying for the boxes themselves. You pay $7 for each TV on the service, no matter how it is connected (receiver/DVR, client, or even no box at all if you use a TV with a built-in RVU Client/DirecTV Ready TV).

No matter how many DVRs you have, as long as you have at least one, you pay monthly for the DVR service as that covers the account.

The last time DirecTV had a box that used TiVO was the THR22. However, you did pay for TiVO service on top of your other charges. And the box was not compatible with Whole Home DVR. Being a bit of an older model, it may no longer be available.

As a note, when your service agreement ends, those charges do not go away. Those are monthly charges for the service. The agreement is just your obligation to stay with DirecTV because of what you received, or pay an early cancellation fee (ECF) based on how many months you have left if you end your account before then.

@litzdog911 @Juniper Thank you - I was under the wrong impression that other TiVo models could be used with DTV (we have some Bolts and a Mini with lifetime plans on them). It does look like Weaknees has some THR22 for sale, but if they don't support whole-home (and as you say, have their own monthly fees), I guess unlikely to go that route. Thanks.

The TiVo fee for the THR22 is $5 a month plus the $7 TV fee DTV charges and they are not for sale, that is the upfront lease fee as DTV is a lease only service.  DTV no longer wants them back.

@dolphinseal 

As a note the THR22 is 'leased' like other DirecTV boxes. Just means you return it when done and by getting it you renew your 24 month service agreement.

The TiVO cost is $5 monthly on top of the other normal charges. Not a lot so some TiVO enthusiasts are fine with it.

Not compatible with Whole Home DVR as that is only for boxes and software in-house. Also has been known to have issues using On Demand.

The only way to remove DVR service is not to have a DVR to begin with. To remove the $7 fees you must reduce how many TVs you use. Simply put, you have to reduce/remove what you have to get rid of those costs. You cannot replace with equipment from elsewhere.