Contributor
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3 Messages
Whole Home DVR + VoD both working, but a few issues with managing recordings
I have two HR24's and one H24 with Whole Home DVR and Video on Demand all installed and working. That is I can record to either DVR and view those shows on any of the three boxes, and I can download VoD to either of the DVRs.
The H24 is in the guestroom, HR24 #1 is in the bedroom, and HR24 #2 is in the family room where I do the majority of my tv watching.
Here are some issues that I have been having, and I hope somebody can tell me if I'm doing something wrong or if the system just can't do this (yet).
1) I can record to either of the two HR24's from the H24, which is nice, but I have not found a way record to HR24 #2 from HR24 #1 and vice versa. I kind of expected that to work based on dtv marketting.
2) I can see all recorded and downloaded shows on any of the boxes, but I can't manage a remote DVR's "to do list", so effectively I have no idea what's upcoming on a remote DVR without going to that room, which is annoying. I'm already seeing duplicate shows as somebody forgot they had it set to record in another room...
3) I can record to either HR24 from the DirecTV app on my cell phone, but I can't manage the list so I don't know if I'm bumping programming that either I or my wife had previously set up.
4) I can record to a remote HR24 from the H24, but I can't figure out how to download VoD from the H24 to a remote HR24, or between HR24's for that matter.
So if my family room dvr has 2 shows set to record at the same time, say my wife's reality TV shows, while I want to watch live tv, I can't check the bedroom dvr from the family room dvr to see if that time slot is available. I also can't set a show to record on the bedroom dvr from the family room dvr, apparently missing this functionality which is found in the H24. I can set a show to record on the bedroom dvr from my cell phone, but I risk bumping a preexisting show set to record which I can't view remotely. I could switch the H24 in the guest room with the HR24 in the family room, which would allow me to record on either HR24 DVR, but then I'd not be able to download any video on demand from the family room. I could go up and down the stairs adjusting both HR24s on a daily basis, but I was kind of hoping the whole home dvr service wouldn't require that. I could get a second H24 box and keep it in the family room along with the HR24 in there, but that's an extra expense and seems kind of silly. I could replace the wife, but that'd be problematic too 😉
litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.4K Messages
15 years ago
See the questions and answers to very similar questions here ....
http://forums.directv.com/message/10755258#10755258
Basically it's working as currently implemented. Networked DVRs cannot manage recordings on other DVRs, only the networked Receivers can do that. Hopefully that will be fixed eventually. And there's no way for DirecTV.com or your Smartphone to manage recordings, except to schedule new stuff.
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ACEs are customers too, NOT employees. Answers are based on experience. I strive to give honest answers, even if not always appreciated. If you posted personal information, please edit and remove.
For official support call DirecTV Satellite 1-800-531-5000, DirecTV Stream 1-888-429-4023, DirecTV Gemini dedicated 1-888-488-4742, or AT&T 1-800-288-2020.
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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dcd
Expert
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20.7K Messages
15 years ago
Here are some issues that I have been having, and I hope somebody can tell me if I'm doing something wrong or if the system just can't do this (yet).
We would all like more control, but here is how I see the situation as to why we don't have more (yet). If you share computers (and these Directv boxes are a type of computer) via a LAN, you can set it up to share a multitude of data files (such as TV programming on a DVR). you can also copy programming to a networked PC (like scheduling recordings on a DVR). But, if you want to manage software,(like the To Do list?) look at a networked PC's control panel (a bit like the Manage Recordings on a DVR) or many other every day computer functions, you'll likely have to get up and go to the other PC (or DVR).
The short of it is, I think the receivers and DVR's sharing functions are likely using current computer technology to do the Whole Home thing, and the limits you see on your computer are the same ones you see on you Directv system.
We see a lot of posts from folks who are new to the Directv system, and coming in cold they often ask why can't it do this, that or the other thing. All good ideas, but not available. Those other folks who have been with Directv since before HD, see the system as a marvel of wonderful features.
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litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.4K Messages
15 years ago
It can't hurt to email feature enhancement requests and suggestions directly to DirecTV using the email link on their main web page.
____________________________________
ACEs are customers too, NOT employees. Answers are based on experience. I strive to give honest answers, even if not always appreciated. If you posted personal information, please edit and remove.
For official support call DirecTV Satellite 1-800-531-5000, DirecTV Stream 1-888-429-4023, DirecTV Gemini dedicated 1-888-488-4742, or AT&T 1-800-288-2020.
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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ozimandiustv
Contributor
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3 Messages
15 years ago
Here are some issues that I have been having, and I hope somebody can tell me if I'm doing something wrong or if the system just can't do this (yet).
We would all like more control, but here is how I see the situation as to why we don't have more (yet). If you share computers (and these Directv boxes are a type of computer) via a LAN, you can set it up to share a multitude of data files (such as TV programming on a DVR). you can also copy programming to a networked PC (like scheduling recordings on a DVR). But, if you want to manage software,(like the To Do list?) look at a networked PC's control panel (a bit like the Manage Recordings on a DVR) or many other every day computer functions, you'll likely have to get up and go to the other PC (or DVR).
I'm not sure I follow you here. What is being shared in the GUI is just a composite list of a local DVR list and one or more remote DVR lists of recorded shows. For whatever reason DTV has only apparently implemented this for recorded shows and not for the scheduler.
As an aside, and to carry on the analogy, if I wanted to manage a remote pc's control panel without needing to be physically present I would use something like a VNC application, or terminal services, or put the computers into a domain and use the group policy object etc.
The short of it is, I think the receivers and DVR's sharing functions are likely using current computer technology to do the Whole Home thing, and the limits you see on your computer are the same ones you see on you Directv system.
DTV has decided to share existing recordings, but for some reason not share scheduled recordings. I cannot imagine how this could be a limitation of current technology, both types of lists are probably just stored locally in some database, the difference is a good deal of time has been spent in getting the boxes to query remote boxes in their network to display the existing recordings first. Maybe it's a time to market thing, I know other companies are rushing to get a similar product out on the market.
We see a lot of posts from folks who are new to the Directv system, and coming in cold they often ask why can't it do this, that or the other thing. All good ideas, but not available. Those other folks who have been with Directv since before HD, see the system as a marvel of wonderful features.
I don't mean to come across as overly negative here. I switched to DTV in part for the whole home DVR service and I really do enjoy it. There are a bunch of other features that the system has that I wasn't aware of that I enjoy using too. I am a bit bummed about not being able to manage remote do to lists, and honestly I was surprised it was not an existing feature. I hope and suspect that it will be a feature at some point in the future, I just want it now 🙂
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dcd
Expert
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20.7K Messages
15 years ago
I try to deal with the way the system currently works, and your is working correctly. I offered some "maybe why" it's the way it is but they were pure speculation on my part. We get a lot of "I want it now" posts for every conceivable feature.
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