Just got Directv want to add directivo

[Parradox]

Hey all,

I just switched from D*H to D*v, I have one D* Plus Dvr and one stand alone receiver. Thinking that I no longer needed my Tivo service, I gave away my old tivo box and called to cancel my Tivo service. Tivo made me a retention offer that I could not refuse (besides...I prefer the Tivo format).

I subsequently purchased a used R10 / Dual Tuner Di*Tivo Receiver from ebay w/ a clear card and am awaiting delivery of it.

In the interim I have read up on the 'leasing" policy and noticed the use of the programing card. My question(s) is/are:

1) How best to install the aftermarket D*Tivo unit (with new or old card?)

2) Can I then get rid of the stand alone receiver and save the $4.99 a month lease fee?

[John T Smith]

1 - call DirecTv, they MAY require you to buy a new access card for $20
But, playing CSR roulette MAY get you a free install with old card

2 - DirecTv requires ONE fee for any number of DVR's on your account
Plus the mirror fee for each receiver added to the 1st one

[ssandhoops]

Hey all,

I just switched from D*H to D*v, I have one D* Plus Dvr and one stand alone receiver. Thinking that I no longer needed my Tivo service, I gave away my old tivo box and called to cancel my Tivo service. Tivo made me a retention offer that I could not refuse (besides...I prefer the Tivo format).

I don't know what kind of retention offer TIVO gave you but there is no need to retain your TIVO service (from TIVO that is) if you are going to activate a DirecTivo. The DVR fee you pay to DirecTV will cover the DirecTivo. Any service you pay to TIVO only applies to a stand-alone TIVO.

[wolflord11]

With Directv you pay a $5.99 a Month DVR Fee for any number of DVR units.

Also, your First Receiver is Free, each receiver after that is $4.99 a Month.

You would not need to pay tivo anything. Your DVR service would be thru Directv not Tivo.

Also, you may be able to activate the R10 with the current Card it has, but most probally you will need a New Card. Directv charges $20.00 for a Card, but if replacing a unit on your Account you can get that fee waived.

[Parradox]

I don't know what kind of retention offer TIVO gave you but there is no need to retain your TIVO service (from TIVO that is) if you are going to activate a DirecTivo. The DVR fee you pay to DirecTV will cover the DirecTivo. Any service you pay to TIVO only applies to a stand-alone TIVO.


Wow, I did not realize that! Tivo offered to reduce my monthly fee to $6.99 a month to keep the service.

Do you think DirecTv will allow me to turn in the "leased" stand alone receiver? If so, does that mean that lease fee would be removed?

As I understand it...my DirecTivo would belong to me with no addittional "lease" fee while the R-15's lease would be waived per the 2 year contract (1st leased reciever fee of $4.99 waived), I would also pay the blanket fee for having DVR service for all TV's. Is this correct?

[wolflord11]

"Wow, I did not realize that! Tivo offered to reduce my monthly fee to $6.99 a month to keep the service.

Do you think DirecTv will allow me to turn in the "leased" stand alone receiver? If so, does that mean that lease fee would be removed?

As I understand it...my DirecTivo would belong to me with no addittional "lease" fee while the R-15's lease would be waived per the 2 year contract (1st leased reciever fee of $4.99 waived), I would also pay the blanket fee for having DVR service for all TV's. Is this correct?"

Yes you can return a leased Receiver to Directv. The lease Fee ($4.99 a Month) would be removed.

If you had a R15 and a Directv/Tivo unit, you would pay $0.00 for the 1st DVR and $4.99 a Month for the second. You would also pay $5.99 a Month DVR fee for ALL DVR Receivers.

So in your case it would be $5.99 a month DVR Fee, $0.00 a Month for the R15 and $4.99 a Month for the Directv/Tivo unit.

[Parradox]

It is strange to me that they can still charge a fee called a "lease" when I own the box. I think for me, it helps if I think of it as a programing "card" fee.

[wolflord11]

Think of it more as a Lease Fee for the usage of Directv Service.

Or as a Card Fee :D

[Jeffro7]

Question folks - I'm about to do a very similar thing...do I need a phone line for my "new" DirecTivo or does it pull programming from the satellite? I realize I won't be able to order PPV via remote, but I can walk my lazy butt over to the computer to do that.

Thanks!

[rminsk]

You only need a phone line for inital activation and software updates. All programming guides come over the satellites. After 30 days you will get a daily warning message. Just delete the warning message and you will be fine.

[dslunceford]

It is strange to me that they can still charge a fee called a "lease" when I own the box. I think for me, it helps if I think of it as a programing "card" fee.

The fee's the same whether you own or lease: $4.99 per additional box per month.

If you "own" a receiver, yet it shows as "lease" on your bill, you need to call DTV and have them change it. Their activation software now defaults to any new activation being a "lease" but once activated, they can correct the description for that hardware to show that it is owned and/or used. This becomes important for a second reason (beyond showing you own the equip), as a standard activation is suppossed to lock you in to another two year agreement. Reactivating/adding a box that was previously used does not do so.

The above is a lesson learned this week as I activated a recently purchased R10-250, YMMV

[Parradox]

As an update. I bought a phillips DSR 708 on Ebay and discovered that it was frozen on the welcome screen on start up. After researching the forums I discovered that the problem was probably a defective hard drive. I ordered a 250 GB HD with a tivo image from ebay, installed and PRESTO! It worked!

BTW, D* was very helpfull and turned on the unit with my existing card. Thanks for everyones advice.

~Parradox

[wolflord11]

Glad everything worked out.

And hope you enjoy the Directv/Tivo :D

[Parradox]

OK, as previously posted my replacement/upgrade went smooth and we enjoyed it for about a week and a half. Then a few of our shows started "stuttering" and we experienced some short "freezes" that worked themselves out.

Now it seems to have gotten worse. Today we tried to watch Jericho and it "froze" in the first minute, it locked up so badly that I had to unplug the power and let it reset itself. This happened several times before I finally gave up and deleted the show.

I checked and the early recordings (from the first week) are all working fine. Am I right in assuming that this is probably a HD problem? The last thing I am trying is I did a Clear & Delete, if that dosen't work i am returning the drive for an exchange or refund.

And, finally...what is the best drive to get?

[John T Smith]

And, finally...what is the best drive to get?
Just about any IDE hard drive of the capacity you want

Some run cooler/quieter than others... for computers, I like the Western Digital brand... but that is just about like saying I like Ford -vs- Chevy, since someone else will say the reverse

Some recent postings on eBay (I have NOT used, post for information)

http://cgi.ebay.com/250GB-Maxtor-Quickview-TiVo-Upgrade-Hard-Drive-quiet_W0QQitemZ110123679462QQihZ001QQcategoryZ11725QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-160GB-Maxtor-Seagate-TiVo-Upgrade-Hard-Drive-3-y-wr_W0QQitemZ110124009005QQihZ001QQcategoryZ11725QQssPageName ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tivo-Hard-Drive-Upgrade-200-hours_W0QQitemZ170109933411QQihZ007QQcategoryZ11725QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-250GB-Maxtor-Quickview-TiVo-Upgrade-Hard-Drive_W0QQitemZ110125913110QQihZ001QQcategoryZ11725QQssPageN ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Do a search on eBay for tivo hard drive and you will see many more

[wolflord11]

Just about any IDE hard drive of the capacity you want

Some run cooler/quieter than others... for computers, I like the Western Digital brand... but that is just about like saying I like Ford -vs- Chevy, since someone else will say the reverse

Must agree here. Any IDE Hard Drive will work, as for make/brand its a personal preference.

But I must admit I too like the WD.

[anonymuse]

For those preferring Western Digital, what model do you prefer? Do they have one recommended for DVRs?

[classicsat]

I think the Caviar JB/BBs are fine. The ones for DVRs are AWs, and likely not available retail or through normal outlets.

[kschauwe]

The newer WD with "AA" in the model numbers (WD1600AAJB, WD3200AAJB, etc), have 160GB platters. They run cooler than the older WD with 80-100GB platters.

[wolflord11]

The "AA" models would be fine for a replacement Drive :D