Whole Home DVR over home network

You don't if you don't want any support from DirecTV. You will however have to pay the $3/month WHDVR fee and you'll have to get them to enable it in unsupported, DIY mode. Many phone reps don't seem to know this is even possible, so you have to work up the chain of command or better yet email them and say you participated in the beta and you want to use WHDVR with your own network. Use the email link under ?HELP/Contact Us at the top of the page.

I too have my HR22-100 hooked up to my 2 H23-600 receivers over the home network. I did not participate in the beta. If I can get them to enable WHDVD service, will it work without paying the $100? why do I need a Direct tv Ethernet Coaxial Adapter (DECA thing?) if im using my network not the coaxial cable? 

Hard-wired ethernet cables should work fine.  Just don't try using Powerline Network Adapters or Wireless LAN with WHDVR service.

You'll need to call or email DirecTV support and request that they enable WHDVR as "unsupported" onto your account for $3/mo.  

The benefits of DirecTV's DECA-based WHDVR network is that they'll support it, and it won't hog any of your home network bandwidth. 

Good to go. I had to call 3 times. they tell you they cant because it wont work trying to get me to spend the $100. The third lady finally turned it on after telling me for 15 min that it wouldn't work. It worked perfectly over my LAN.

a wired LAN has 0 problems handling that much bandwidth. The signal is 10 times better than it would be sending it through the coaxial. What do you mean buy support it?   

DirecTV won't provide support for any networking or WHDVR problems unless you have their own installed DECA networking.  

Fortunately for those of us that have an unsupported system, there are other folks who are willing to come on these forums and offer free "non support".

As to quality of signal, the non supported system normally routes the programming through the router and often shares the cable with computer and other traffic, so it is not a superior system or signal.  In order to make it so, each receiver should connect it's cable to a common Ethernet switch and no other devices should connect to that switch.  The sharing traffic will then never enter the router and there will be no competing traffic.  The switch can of course be connected to the router so as to allow for Internet and network traffic to the receivers.

bobkuwait:

I was able to get mine activated with a phone call.  But others have reported better success using DirecTV's Support Email or Twitter links.  It can be done. 

I think its funny that they push there inferior tech so they can make more $$. there is no way shoving the signal through coaxial is anywhere near the quality of a 10/100/1000 gigabit LAN network, especially when you have to send it throught all the different conections, the swim switch and the swim signal itself  . They tell you over and over it wont work to make a sale when it works just fine. And is better and easier. A LAN network is by far a superior system and signal. 

You need to brush up on MOCA and DECA technology.  DirecTV's DECA networking performance meets or beats home network performance.  And it's easier because you don't need to run LAN cables to each Receiver/DVR.

I did just brush up on that and DECA is faster than 100 MB, but gigabit is far faster than DECA.  Having said that, it appears only the H24 supports gigabit, so DECA would be faster for anything but an H24.  To me, this is just another example of DTV trying to squeeze every penny out of its customers.  If I am willing to do it over ethernet, then let me.

Now, back to this thread, since I started it.  Here is where I am at.  As suggested above, I emailed customer service to which I received a form letter back that said I needed DECA.  I replied to this email very angrily and asked if they even read this thread or if they just replied with the standard form letter.  I then received this response:

Thanks for writing us back. 

I just wanted to let you know that we received your email and I have forwarded it for special handling.  A specialist will respond as soon as an agent is available (likely within 48 hours). For immediate assistance, please call us at 1-800-531-5000.

Thank you again for writing and participating in the Cutting Edge user group.

I will keep this thread updated as things occur.

There's more to it than raw speed... DECA is designed for the application and prioritizes things differently than an Ethernet network would. For example, it is my understanding that it sets up specific 'channels' for each stream, rather than tossing packets 'to the wind' and hoping that they get there on time and in the right order. There's also special handling of 'control' information to make remote control faster and more consistent.

It seems to me that rather than make money on DECA, they are pretty much giving it away in most cases. $99 for all of the hardware needed to upgrade, regardless of the size of the system, likely costs them money for all but the most basic setups. It does make economic sense for them however, because they don't have to deal with the myriad network setups they would encounter in the field.

I won't argue that it would be a nightmare to support everyone's home network.  I think the unsupported option is the way for them to go.  I do networking for a living so I have no problem being unsupported from them.

However, having the option and not telling the customer service reps about it is so they have to sell you the hardware is bad customer service and deceptive.

A wired LAN is perfect but for a customer support crew that reads from an on-line playbook all the variations and possible configurations in equipment, topology, etc makes them ineffective in troubleshooting your network issues.

DECA provides a single networking solution to that although where it ties out to your LAN for VOD functionality has proven a bit bothersome in some cases. Still a phone CSR can read through a single set of diagnostics with you to determine if support needs to escalate. With your own network in place they are clueless.

DECA requires a different multiswitch technology (SWM) that has the benefit of hooking up a 2 tuner DVR on a single line and adds in auto adjusting signal gain. If you are on an old multiswitch and desire a DVR in a room that currently only has a single coax line this should be a no brainer...

Older multiswitching units work fine using Ethernet for WHDVR without requiring the SWM upgrade. But if you have issues, you'll need to trouble shoot on your own.

As example I had a unit cause meltdown last night to where I could only "see" 1 of 6 DVRs till after I rebooted 3 DVRs. The requesting client, its requested server, and a third DVR I used to monitor the WHDVR status during the issues. This stuff is not common by any means but it does happen and it is up to you to figure out the resolution unless you do the DECA dance.

If you are comfortable at troubleshooting and have a hardwired SWITCHED LAN in place it's great. Otherwise just negotiate the price on the SWM DECA upgrade and let D* drive.

Don "stuck on Ethernet myself due to sizing issues" Bolton