Random Recording and Channel Change

The HR24 has touch-panel controls and ships with a protective film that can sometimes trigger those same touch-panel controls, so if that's still on there, peel that off first and see if that helps.

Just two. Look inside the card door and see what the manufacturer code is. If it's a HR20-100, then is must be set up in a special way, see attached pic. If it's a HR20-700, then all it needs is a DECA module, no other devices.

I would do a power off reset of my system thus:  Disconnect AC power from both DVR's, then disconnect power from the SWM Power Inserter, wait a couple of minutes and plug it back in.  Then reconnect the HR20 and let it boot up.  Then do the HR24.  This will completely reconfigure your system and give you a fresh start.

I do have a HR-20-700 and it works great.  THe problem is with the HR24-500.  I called DTV and they are shipping me out a new one today.  They can't figure out what is possessing my receiver so we are going to try another one!

It is very strange!!

Note that random channel changes are often caused by a receiver/DVR other than the one that is changing channels, Thus my question regarding the HR20.  A splitter port that is not covered by a 75 ohm terminator may cause problems as well.  A DVR that is connected to AC power before the coax is connected will exhibit odd behavior as it will attemt to configure to a standard dish as opposed to a SWM which is in your installation.  A power off reset of the DVR will correct the latter problem..

OK.......before the DECA I had two DVR's - HR20 and an HR21 as well as a standard reciever and an H20.......everything worked perfect.  I wanted the Whole Home so I had them install the DECA.  I upgrade on my own the H20 to an H23......they took out the multi switch and put in an 8 port SWM.  There were no splitter before and there are no splitter now.  The cable goes directly from the SWM to each reciever - HR20 DECA, H23 DECA, Standard DECA and the new HR24-500 directly to the reciever since it has the DECA built in.  I also have the powered DECA to my router.

I have powered the whole system down and up in various orders so the SWM can reset (as directed in various post) and I still get the weird behavior.  The HR20 is off 95% of the time and reside in the basement.  I sit and watch my HR24 go from the menu to the list to a station back to the menu and then start recording the show I am watching.  I woke up this morning and 4 show were recordedon 3 different channels and 2 of the show were put in my series manager to record the series.  I sit and when the menu comes up I press exit on the remote - it pops right back up or goes to a different channel.  I fight with it for 45 seconds or so and then it stops...............

There are two open ports on the SWM and they are covered by the 75 ohm covers.

I should be getting the new receiver in a couple of days and we will see what that does.

I have to follow my last post up with - as I was typing it I was fighting my HR24 - it kept brining up the guide and highlighting the channel not the show.  It is highlighting 206 ESPNHD and not the show Cardinal @ Reds.......I started typing this because the front panel of my HR24 was completely black except for the DirecTV logo................As it is switch to the guide and going back and forth the lights on the front panel just came back on..........first I have seen that!!!

I'd say you may have a broken DVR.  I'd call Directv.

I did call them and they are shipping me a new DVR.  Should have it tomorrow.  Hope that works!  I woke up this morning and it had records 12 partial shows from 9 different channels and 4 of them were put in my series manager!!!  All between the hours of 2 and 5:30 am!!  I hope my dog isn't sneeking down and recording things!!

Hi, I know this post here is a few months old but I was wondering if you got the problem with the hr24 fixed because i have the same situation. I got my hr24 back in august and it was fine up until a month ago and it would do the same thing of changing channels, bringing up the menu, and recording things that i did not record. I got a new box about 3 days ago but this new one is doing the same thing so i don't think the boxes are defective. the only thing i could think of is there was an update right after setting up the box so that may be it. but if you got the situation fixed if you can please tell me what you did.

Although it may appear that you have the same problem, these systems are complex and you can't be sure you have the same equipment as the original poster.  You'd be well serverd to begin a fresh post and give full details as to your equipment, connections etc.

This is an old issue, but I just dealt with it myself, and I don't see the solution I came up with mentioned anywhere.

Do you have any other devices with a buttonless touch front panel near the DVR? I had an HR24 that started changing channels at random shortly after I rearranged my entertainment center. It wasn't until the replacement unit started similarly wigging out that I realized it wasn't the unit at all, but my $80 Insignia Blu-Ray player that was causing all the trouble. It had a buttonless front panel, just like the HR24, which was stacked on top of it. 

I moved the devices to separate shelves, and the problem appears to have gone away. These buttonless front panels work just like smart phones, using capacitive sensing to register button presses. A poorly-designed panel may emit and/or receive stray signals that could trigger crosstalk, which would cause the random phantom button presses we've seen here.

DTV should conduct some tests on their receivers with various other equipment and amend the script their troubleshooters use. This could save them quite a bit in shipping and refurb costs.