An easy question...I hope...

[searchin4answers]

Hi,
I'm new to the forum and joined to get the answers to a few specific questions. I have not been able to find these answers through the search function so please forgive me if they are redundant. I have had DirecTV for about 8 years. My original receiver was the RCA DVR 40 which I LOVED. When it died DTV provided me with a replacement receiver, but it was not an RCA and it had different functionality. Specifically, it did not have the Wish List function which I have severely missed. DTV has now uploaded some software to my existing receiver that has made it start acting wacky. They are aware of the problem and evidently it is widespread. They don't know when it will be fixed and they are not replacing receivers. So I have now decided to purchase a reciever of my choice, and that leads me to my questions...

First, what is the best source to find an RCA receiver with the Wish List functionality, but with more memory than my old 40? I would like to have at least 100 hours.

Second, does one have to pay the TiVo monthly subscription fee in order to use one of these receivers?

Finally, if the answer to #2 above is "no", then will the Wish List functionality I so dearly love be usable without the pay service?

Thank you all very much for taking the time to respond!

[JimSpence]

The DirecTV DVRs don't have Wishlist by that name but they do have the search for shows functionality.

You might want to visit the DBSTalk and Satellite Guys forums for more info on these units.

http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=82
http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/

[bitmap]

You can find many Series2 DTivos on ebay, I've bought most of mine there.
I like the DSR70x models, but HDVR2 is equivalent.

DVRupgrade (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/) or WeaKnees (http://www.weaknees.com/tivo-upgrade.php) will sell you a brand new hard drive, with the latest software on it, of whatever size you wish, for whatever model you find.
If you'd like to network your DTivo, DVRupgrade has a great package called PTVnet (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/dvr/stores/1/ptvnet.cfm)
which will add a number of the most common hacks that many people like to use, in a simple way for less technical people.

If you are already paying the DVR fee, I believe adding an additional receiver is $6 (same cost as leasing one of their DVRs).

[shibby191]

RE: costs

DVR fee is $5.99 *per account*. This covers all your DVRs, Tivo or not.
Your first (primary) receiver has no monthly charge, ever additional receiver is $4.99 a month program mirror fee. You'll see it listed as a "lease fee" if leased and "additional receiver fee" if owned. Same fee, leased or owned, Tivo or not, DVR or not.

searchin4answers, sounds like you probably don't know but DirecTV no longer offers a Tivo based unit and hasn't for a few years now. So the only place you're going to find one is on e-Bay or some other online source. There is a new HD DirecTivo scheduled for 2010 but it's already been delayed once so we'll see.

As for wishlist, the DirecTV DVRs have pretty extensive search capabilities, especially if you use the advanced boolean search terms. Check the links out above for forums that discuss the DirecTV DVRs in details, especially DBSTalk, they'll have more info overall. However, it is different then the Tivo wishlist so depending on what you did with the wishlist it may not replace it. But you can for the most part and it is more powerful in some cases. Again, just depends on how you use it. Here is a thread that might help you: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=132971

By the way, sounds like you may have an R15 receiver. Those were quite buggy and were replaced a couple years ago already. If you can get the newer R22, those are much better. Same interface, just less bugs.