Want to record PPV movies using DirecTIVO remote

[uncle-buck]

I have a Phillips DSR-704 DirecTIVO receiver and want the ability to record PPV movies using my remote (without calling DirecTV on the phone). It used to work.

What happened and how to fix it? I called DirecTV twice tonight and they weren't much help. Said my receiver hadn't called in in 15 months. But it's connecting fine and on a regular basis with the TIVO service.

Any ideas?

[rminsk]

The TiVo service phone call and the DirecTV PPV phone call are two seperate phone calls to different phone numbers. The phone call to report DirecTV PPV are not going through. The user can not force the DVR to make the PPV call but a CSR can send a signal on the satellite to have the unit try to call in.

[uncle-buck]

Right. They said they'd do that, but it hasn't happened yet. Apparently the receiver hasn't called in since January of 2007, almost 15 months ago. Why would the receiver be able to call the TIVO service, but not DTV? Any ideas how to fix this?

[ttodd1]

Perhaps the phone number changed?

[Dkerr24]

Why not order your PPV movies using the directv website? Nice thing about ordering from the website is that the programming is sent to all DVR's on your account.

[uncle-buck]

Apparently, the external modem will only call TIVO, not DTV. I was told by a Weaknees rep. that there are two internal modems in the unit: one that calls TIVO, the other calls DTV. I've hooked the phone line to the internal modem(s) jack and will see what happens.

[classicsat]

Actually, there is only one modem. The DTV app is hard coded to use it for its call, the TiVo app, can be tweaked to use an external modem, serial ppp, or possibly a network connection.

[uncle-buck]

The Weaknees man was right. The internal modem that calls DTV is working and the issue has been resolved. However, the internal modem that calls TIVO is broken, so I'll have to get a splitter and use the internal modem for calling DTV and the external modem for calling TIVO.

Another solution is to repair the internal modem that calls TIVO, but I think I'll go with the simple solution for now.

Thanks to all who responded.

[uncle-buck]

Hey classicsat -- If you are correct, how do I get the internal modem to work with the TIVO service again?

[skipw]

Sounds more like a setup issue. Try disconnecting the external modem and run through the modem setup. I'm not familiar with the Phillips box, but if the internal modem is working, it shouldn't matter who it calls.

[uncle-buck]

I disconnected the external modem and went through the setup routine for the internal modem(s). The internal modem seemed to perform fine when it made a test call, but generated "service not answering" messages when trying to connect to the TIVO service (I tried a couple of different local phone numbers).

I ended up using a phone line splitter so that the external modem can call TIVO and the internal modem can call DTV. So far, so good. But I am curious about why the internal modem won't connect with TIVO. Does anyone know?

[JimSpence]

You don't by any chance have DSL? If so, try a different DSL filter. It might be possible that the filter is messing one call but not the other. It's a long shot, but who knows?

[uncle-buck]

No, we've never had DSL at our current address. Anyone else?

[rminsk]

But I am curious about why the internal modem won't connect with TIVO. Does anyone know?http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=6189058#post6189058h
It seems that TiVo is havng problems certain dialup lines at certain phone companies. It may not be related since that thread is talking about the 800 authorization/setup number.