2 Messages
Skips/Video/Audio Dropout on Recordings on HR44: eSATA a solution, upgrade, or abandon DirecTV?
I have an aging HR44. It serves one remote Genie client and is networked to an old HR22 that holds some precious and otherwise unavailable recordings. For the last month or so, on recordings I am getting what I would call "skips". To use one simple and obvious example . . . recordings of Jeopardy will have an a/v hiccup that skips over the answer to a question and picks up again with the next question. Family is not noticing the same effect with live TV, and tests of the signal from the dish indicate that there is no problem there. So I am guessing this is a problem with the HR44 box. For the last coupe of years the box itself has been subject to overheating problems in rare hot weather conditions here in NorCal. To the point that we sometimes have to use a cooling pad to keep the box from shutting down.
I have seen other posts here suggesting that similar problems may be a symptom of the internal hard drive. My HR44 was the eSATA connection. Would subbing in an eSATA drive likely address the problem? As I understand it, that will disable the internal HD, and I will lose whatever recordings are on that drive . . . although presumably only while the eSATA drive is connected?
I'm considering other more dramatic changes. After years with a static home-theater system, I recently upgraded to a 4K set. The HR44 of course does not support 4K. And in the course of tinkering with the HR44 problem, I learned that somebody at DirecTV decided it was a good idea no longer to allow passthrough video mode and therefore I am not getting native resolution in either 720p or 1080i depending on what I set the box at. (Dumb decision.) I've read the discussions of the new Genie server system and that sounds unappealing to me. I lose all of my existing setup and need to figure out how to run coax to the location where the 4K set lives so as to allow one of the Genie client boxes . (At present, the HR44 lives in an equipment closet and connects to the set through an AVR and a 50-foot HDMI run. The only appeal of the new Genie to me would be to have a true DVR . . . I find the absence of that capability on streaming services to make them a non-starter for core video purposes in our system.
Seems like the only mid-point option, if the eSATA solution likely will not work, is to get a secondary market replacement DVR for the HR44. Which I guess could include a like-for-like HR44 or an HR54. Not seeing any real advantage to the HR54 as I am disinclined to put up with the hassle of requiring a Genie client to drive the very limited amount of 4K content to the 4K TV.
Many thanks for any thoughts you may provide.
litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.2K Messages
9 days ago
When you see a "skip" on your recording, try rewinding slightly. Does the "skip" happen in the same place on the recording? This can help you determine if it's a broadcast issue, or a hard drive issue.
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DIRECTVhelp
Community Support
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254.6K Messages
9 days ago
Hi, @thomaskoegel. We're sorry you're experiencing issues with your recording and with your HR44 device. Does this happen with all the titles and channels you're recording? Also, what troubleshooting steps have you taken so far? You can check https://www.directv.com/support/article/000075734 for helpful troubleshooting steps. Ariane, DIRECTV Community Specialist
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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22.6K Messages
9 days ago
Very good considerations you have made for what you use out of your setup.
You are correct that upgrading the Genie (HR44) to the Genie-2 (HS17) would require replacing the HR22 with a Client (and putting a Client on the other TV as the HS17 doesn't go on a TV itself). That would lose all recordings.
Using an eSATA external drive only disables the internal while in use. It doesn't delete what is on it. However, you cannot use the external to transfer recordings (even with a warranty replacement) as they are still encrypted to their exact DVR.
A warranty replacement of the HR44 might result in an HR44 or HR54 (Same model line, just 3rd generation). You lose the recordings of the HR44 as they don't copy, but you still have the HR22 of course.
There is a revised version (HR54R1) which doesn't have an eSATA port, so no longer having support of an external drive. Something to be aware of if that matters for you long term.
The advantage of the HR54 is having something in like-new condition to last longer. Think of it as the equivilent of the HR44, with slightly better internal hardware (might not notice any significant difference in performance), no phone jack (landline support is an outdated feature), and can support a 4K Client if you want (but not required).
As a note, the HR54 can now co-locate with a 4K Client so it still counts as one connection for the account. So no longer having to replace a dedicated HDDVR/Receiver with a Client just to get the few 4K channels. (though I cannot speak to the performance of this setup as it is still fairly new).
If it turns out the box is the issue per a failing hard drive, you can try an external eSATA drive (get an enclosure). Otherwise a warranty replacement (netting HR44 or HR54) would be fine as you keep your dedicated setup. Don't have to upgrade to anything 4K unless you choose to.
Be prepared that even keeping your dedicated setup, the HR22 will not last forever. Might look into audio/video capture options to keep anything you can't get again (like kid's baseball game on local TV channel).
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thomaskoegel
2 Messages
5 days ago
Many thanks for the quick responses. @litzdog911 had the right idea. Having spent some time watching recorded content from a variety of different services, the issue seems limited to the ABC affiliate here in the SF Bay Area. I can skip back and confirm that the "skips" are definitely on the recording itself rather than occurring on playback. And I am not seeing those skips on content from other services (such as ESPN, CNN, etc.) So I'm thinking that this is either some sort of hiccup in the video signal getting from the ABC local to DirecTV, or in DirecTV transmitting the signal through its system. As to long term, I appreciate your analysis, @Juniper . I'll just plod along for a bit and ponder a solution to archive those irreplaceable recordings on the HR44 and HR22. At one point I had a home theater PC that might've handled the task. But that collapsed years ago.
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
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20.8K Messages
5 days ago
There are USB SD video capture devices for use with computers/laptops.
(edited)
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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22.6K Messages
5 days ago
You're very welcome. Hopefully you don't have to heavily consider that analysis too soon. I have always viewed a Genie with regular HDDVRs to be the most capable and reliable setup. Avoiding the issue of all eggs in one basket.
One of my biggest complaints from AT&T acquiring DirecTV was their push to the Genie with Clients as the only option. Hence the Genie-2 (HS17) forbidding dedicated boxes from the start. With AT&T moving on from the TV industry, I hope the remaining owner will reconsider basic receivers/HDDVRs as a viable customer-friendly option.
An in-house option to transfer recordings for warranty or upgrade would also be appreciated. But that is something that has so far been said no to since long before AT&T's involvement.
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