Upgrading from RCA DSS to DirectTV TIVO

[JimTivoTech]

My sister currently has a standard DirectTV DSS receiver. If I got her a DirectTV TIVO (like the RCA DVR40) could it be swapped in to replace the current DSS box? Can the access card be transferred from the DSS box to the DirectTV TIVO? Will a call the DirectTV be required? Is there a additional charge for using a DirectTv TIVO? Thanks!

Jim

[rlj5242]

Yes, any of the DirecTV DVR's that run Tivo software will be able to work in place of a regular reciever. You will have to run an additional coax cable to take advantage of the dual tuners. That may require additional equipment as well but that depends on the system's current configuration.

Yes, it will require a call to DirecTV and probably the purchase of a new card. Some people get lucky and the CSR will allow a card transfer.

There's an additional DVR fee unless you subscribe to the most expensive DirecTV programming package.

Finally, the acronym "DSS" was dropped around 1998 when DirecTV was sued by the copyright owner. The appropriate abbreviation is D* or just spell out DirecTV.

-Robert

[mr.unnatural]

Actually, the abbreviation D* is anything but appropriate. It's a bastardized version of E* that was used as a shorthand notation for Echostar. The name is not Directstar so the abbreviation D* doesn't really fit. People just started using it because they were either too lazy to spell out DirecTV or they just thought it was cute. Unfortunately, even though it's use is wholly inappropriate, it has become an accepted acronym for DirecTV. Personally, I like to use the term DTV but apparently it confuses too many people since it's also used as an abbreviateion for Digital TV. I also liked it when we called them Dave and Charlie but there weren't enough people on the web hip enough to know what we were talking about outside of certain forums. ;)

[JimSpence]

And doesn't DSS actually stand for Direct Satellite Signal, or something of that nature? I've never seen it used for an abbreviation for DirecTV.
I also use DirecTV instead of any of the abbreviations.

[rlj5242]

And doesn't DSS actually stand for Direct Satellite Signal, or something of that nature? I've never seen it used for an abbreviation for DirecTV. DSS was printed on my first Sony DirecTV system that cost $700. It stood for Digital Satellite System. Then Echostar started their own "DSS" about the time DirecTV was sued for use of a trademarked acronym.

-Robert

[trainman]

"DSS" was originally marketing shorthand for "satellite systems that can receive content from both DirecTV and USSB," if I recall correctly.

In my TV Guide collection, I've got a copy of the September 13, 1997, issue that's labeled "DSS Edition" on the front cover, although the listings pages inside refer to it as the "USSB Mountain Edition." (It did list both USSB and DirecTV channels.) Then I have an April 11, 1998, issue that's "USSB Central" inside and doesn't say "DSS Edition" on the front (it has an ad for an upcoming program in that space).

[doncoolio]

Long live DAVE :)

[goony]

Actually, the abbreviation D* is anything but appropriate. It's a bastardized version of E* that was used as a shorthand notation for Echostar. The name is not Directstar so the abbreviation D* doesn't really fit. ...There is historical support for this shorthand syntax - at one time, 3 of the 4 DBS companies had the word star on the end of the name:

Echostar
Primestar
Alphastar
DirecTV

So the abbreviations E*, P*, and A* were in common use in usenet discussion groups and it made sense to just use D* for DirecTV as well.

Alphastar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphastar) wasn't around very long at all; Primestar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primestar) folded a few years ago.

[JimSpence]

And it was DirecTV that bought out P*. So maybe D* is okay.

[goony]

DSS = Digital Satellite System (http://www.cedmagic.com/history/rca-dss.html)??

[sk33t3r]

I always refereed to it as DaveTV. I probaly have some h and hu cards some where, may even have a few Charlie Rom2 or Rom 3 cards