whole home dvr and the internet.

You need one of two things for WHDVR to work... Either all of the receivers need to be networked via DirecTV's DECA system or all of them need to be connected directly to your home Ethernet network. An internet connection per se is not required for WHDVR, but all of the receivers must be networked  to each other via DECA or an Ethernet network.  The newer H/HR24 have DECA built-in but older models need external DECA modules.

first, what is the DECA and what does it do?

The equipment was installed by a direct tv tech and he placed the DECA into our wirless router on a desk in an office when a wiring closet was available. We added another HD DVR on our own and activated it and moved the rec it replaced to another tv. I also moved the DECA and plugged it into a router in the wiring closet.  Now as stated the moved rec does not see any of the 2 DVR's and the DVR's do not see each other.  In fact when I go the the menu button is says something about AUTOTUNE and nothing about recorded shows.

Does the DECA use the existing in house network to communicate with the REC's?

If so, do the REC and DVR need to be hardwired to network or do they have wireless capability?

Should I force the LAN ISP and needed addresses on the REC and DVR?

If it is not using the existing home network architecture, how do the REC's and DVR's communicate?

Thanks for the help

DECA is DirecTV's method of networking their receivers via the satellite coax. Attached is a drawing of a representative system using DECA. Each HD receiver other than an H24 or HR24 needs to have a DECA attached and then a separate DECA connects the coax network to your router at only one point.

I went and looked up some other posts.

I have 2 dvr's HR24-200 and HR24-500

2 HD REC both H24-200

I read that these REC all have built in DECA. The tech hooked up an external DECA to the house network. If I am reading some answers correctly, the external DECA is not needed. Could having it installed be causing my problem?

If not, what is the external DECA being used for?

In your case the external DECA is used to bridge the DIrecTV DECA network to your network so that you can download OnDemand programs and use functions like DIRECTV2PC, Media Share and TV Apps. It is part of a normal DECA installation and should not cause any problems if everything else is done correctly. Make sure that the connection to the DECA is the only connection between your network and DirecTV's. There should be nothing connected to the Ethernet port on any of the receivers.  If you changed the configuration around or added the local network connection after the fact you may need to reset each of the receivers so they can re-establish their network connections.

I have reset them already but they still cannot see each other. I will try again tonight.

The RG cable going to the DECA comes out of a splitter the tech installed. On the splitter is the acronym SWM, is this the SWIM I see mentioned in the posts? I am splittling the same output the DECA is hooked to (on the ouput side of spitter) and running it to one of the H24 rec. Could this be part of the problem? If I removed the DECA would that have any effect on the WHDVR function?

Sorry to be asking so many questions, I am just frustrated

Thanks again.

SWM or SWiM (Single Wire Multiswitch) is required for DECA systems, so yours is a SWiM system. The splitter(s) should also have green labels indicating that they are DECA compatible. If I'm understanding you right, it is possible that you have too many splitters strung together.... DirecTV recommends no more than two splitters in any line, and no additional splitters if the main splitter is a 1x 8. It would help to know exactly what you have and how it is wired.

i can't remeber if it green labeled, i will check.  I also don't know what is going on between the LNB and the 4 way splitter in wiring closet. I will have to check and see what is there and will respond accordingly.

Again, wondering if removing the DECA altogether will effect the WHDVR?

The DECA connected to your network isn't needed for WHDVR, so removing it should have no effect one way or the other... unless perhaps it is defective.

Just installed wHDVR  and the systems are not connected. Where is the DECA connected too? Because I'm looking and cant see one..

The broadband DECA to tie the DirecTV network to your home Ethernet network would be connected to the satellite coax somewhere,  to your Ethernet router/switch and to AC power.

earlier I thought you said you do not have to have home internet to use WHDVR? my HDdvr is model HR24-500 is this the newer model with DECA built in?

You do not need an internet connection for WHDVR, but a separate DECA or broadband adapter is required to connect to your router IF you want an internet connection.  All of the H24 and HR24 models have DECA built-in (other models require a DECA adapter).

If i am looking at the chart right it looks like my HR24-500 should not be connected to the swm power converter.  My other TV is an H23-600 model.

Question.

should my HR24-500 be connected to the SWM power converter?

Should my satellite be pointed to a SWM site?

I am not connected to any internet conections

There are a number of places the SWiM Power Inserter can be placed, including between any one of your receivers and the wall jack/main splitter. The dish points to the same place no matter what type of installation you have.