DirectTv Help

[rolandajoynt]

I have one of those awesome Philips TIVO/DirectTV boxes and after like four years it finally gave up. (Surprising as hell a Phillips product lasted that long.) Now I have a service plan on that I’ve been paying 4.95 a month for but I don’t want another one of DirectTv’s Crappy DVR. I have one it’s a total nightmare. Does anybody have any advice on how to get DirecTv to get me another Tivo or repair this box? Or does anybody know the best number to call DirecTv so that way I can just get to who I want to talk to rather than navigate my way through the labyrinth of “press this number for…”?

[rlj5242]

First, the DirecTivo you have is Philips in name only. It is identical to my Hughes GXCEBOT. Second, DirecTV will not repair it. They don't repair anything, they just replace it. And they can't replace it with another DirecTivo because there aren't any.

What died? The hard drive? That's an easy fix. I fixed my HR10-250 in under 3 hours and that included driving to town to get a new drive. Not comfortable with Linux? Then there are a few advertisers here that will sell you a preloaded drive. All you need to know how to work is a screwdriver. If the power supply is dead, that's a little more work involved. If a tuner went out then you are SOL.

-Robert

[rbtravis]

If the Unit is bad CCS corp can repair it.http://www.ccscorporation.net/dss.htm
If the hard drive has gone bad replace it and order Instantcake from www.dvrupgrade.com. Good Luck. by the way the hard drive fix may be cheaper. A 500 gb drive can be had for $80.00 at Fryes.

[rolandajoynt]

Before it died the 2nd turner was attackinmg crazy, and the hard drive would make a very loud loading noise all the time. Then Yesterday it just wouldn't turn on. So I'm sure it's the power supply that killed it but other parts our close to dead anyways. Like someone with cancer having a heart attack. You could replace that heart with one from an ape, but it'll just keep them alive long enough to rot to death.
How well does a normal tivo work with a directv box? I guess it'll be just one tuner but is that the only problem?

[rlj5242]

Loss of video quality from the analog to digital conversion and missed channel changes due to the IR emitter.

I'm using an HR20 as well as my two DirecTivos. It's not as bad as people make out. The biggest deal for me was learning a new remote. That only lasted about 1/2 day when I added the HR20 to my Harmony. Same buttons perform equivalent functions. The increase in speed is amazing.

-Robert