DSR708 Sat2 grumbles...

2545 Views 6 Replies 3 Participants Last post by litzdog911, Mar 31, 2011

Dave_P

Discussion Starter · Mar 29, 2011

So I had the classic "bad Sat 2" pixellation issue. I decided as a first stage ti swap out the PCB with the one from my spare (A hughes series 2 also) which came off the same production line. It even has the same pen QC mark by the same person!

Well, it didn't go well, because the Receiver ID didn't match between the HD and the board, so it required I to a "Clear & Delete Everything" - finally up and running, and calling DirecTV to re-activate the unit. Yeah, no. The Hughes units don't have 12-digit RID numbers and cannot be activated. At all. Ever.

So, back to the old PCB, and put it back how it was. It made me C&DE again.

And now the catch: I haven't had a landline in years, and do not know anyone who has a landline anymore, so essentially there is no way to EVER re-enable the DVR functionality by doing that first daily call x 2...

My choice seems to be find a DirecTiVo unit that is activated already, or send this to someone to get it activated, or hunt around for an ethernet>USB hack or somesuch - if that's even possible. It's that or get an HR24... :/

Worst thing? I have a full SMD rework station, and having signed up here, I've found the $0.75 component fix and could have done it from parts in stock!

It seems natural to me that my wife is laying on the bed in tears, and I feel like the dog died :/

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litzdog911

· #2 · Mar 29, 2011

You really don't know ANYBODY with a phone line where you can perform the initial Guided Setup? They don't need to have satellite, just the phone line. Perhaps where you work?

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Dave_P

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 29, 2011

Yup. Our works are 100% VoIP work-from-home operations. Most of the people we know work in the technology field and dumped their landlines 5+ years ago. I've even canvassed the neighbors we know (and a few we don't) and they all either have VoIP or just use cellphones. My wife also posted on her blog, and the nearest landline owner we've identified is in Oklahoma - 600 miles away!

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litzdog911

· #4 · Mar 30, 2011

Bummer.

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ss_sea_ya

· #5 · Mar 30, 2011

You may be able to get VOIP to work by forcing a lower dial bandwidth from the tivo (like 9.6k) (but may not be doable on your model). Look at the "Troubleshooting" section in the wiki article below. There may be other tips too elsewhere for dialing out via VOIP. The article also gives instructions on how to hook up an external modem to the directv Tivo.

Here is a wiki how article:

Make-Your-DirecTV-Tivo-work-with-Vonage-VOIP-service

Check out this topic here too: Using DirecTivo over Vonage (VoIP) - a solution
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?threadid=135715

YOu can also google directv tivo voip for lots of resources

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Dave_P

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 31, 2011

Given that the TiVo was failing and repairing and reactivating it were a pain, I have just taken delivery/installation of a DirecTV HR24 DVR. My first impressions are that the pictures are crisp, but the menus are inconsistent and there are too many/inconsistent button choices - a User Interface expert wasn't ever anywhere near this design.

I feel dirty, but at least I can watch TV now.

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litzdog911

· #7 · Mar 31, 2011

Dave_P said:
Given that the TiVo was failing and repairing and reactivating it were a pain, I have just taken delivery/installation of a DirecTV HR24 DVR. My first impressions are that the pictures are crisp, but the menus are inconsistent and there are too many/inconsistent button choices - a User Interface expert wasn't ever anywhere near this design.

I feel dirty, but at least I can watch TV now.

You'll get used to it.

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