DirecTV Whole Home DVR

[Gunslinger08]

Awesome, you DID get the Costco thing. That means you got RedZone for free (along with Sunday Ticket for free too)

Do you have a cable jack near your primary router? I have the wired cinema kit, but I also have a coax jack in my wiring closet (specifically had one put there), which then feeds all of the receivers off coax. If you need the wireless one, you may need to call back and ask, or just ask the installer. But be careful, as the installer may not have one on hand when he comes out if he's not prepared.

Also, something interesting I found out about the cinema kit... it's actually a MoCA box. My desktops in my house are all on wifi, and my neighborhood as its getting built out is getting pretty full on wifi, so wifi is sucking hardcore. So I found one of these. I hopped on eBay for an AC adapter for it (they're designed to get power directly from older receivers - HR21's in particular). Plugged it in, and now my desktops are running 100Mbit "ethernet over coax".

I have a newer home, so I have home-runs of coax to every living space (meaning they aren't branched from anywhere). My internet connection is through Comcast, so the coax jack in that room isn't connected to any of the others in the house. Sounds like I'll have to live with the wired kit and leave my bridged router in the entertainment center, unless I get lucky and the tech has a wireless kit on him.

 

[SunnyD]

See and this is why I love DirecTV - after talking to you I was looking at my account online and I saw something on my statement that made me curious, so I called in and it was promptly answered. My next question was "You have any current deals or anything going on?"

I finished the call with 3 free months of Starz! and Showtime, just for the effort of calling in about a minor question on my bill. That's how DirecTV rolls!

 

[jaha2000]

Sigh..
As an FYI, if you have homeruns of ethernet in everyroom you dont need those stupid boxes that the bring along.
ethernet > DECA any day of the week in my book.

The installer that came out told me that whole home DVR does not work over ethernet (i have had mine setup this way since the service was turned on). The DECA boxes all use the ethernet port. Umm what difference does it make if i have that port plugged into a switch or your DECA? IMO, its a way for DTV to make some money from non-techie consumers. It does eliminate making the tech pull CAT5 as well.

 

[SunnyD]

Sigh..
As an FYI, if you have homeruns of ethernet in everyroom you dont need those stupid boxes that the bring along.
ethernet > DECA any day of the week in my book.

The installer that came out told me that whole home DVR does not work over ethernet (i have had mine setup this way since the service was turned on). The DECA boxes all use the ethernet port. Umm what difference does it make if i have that port plugged into a switch or your DECA? IMO, its a way for DTV to make some money from non-techie consumers. It does eliminate making the tech pull CAT5 as well.

Josh said homeruns of COAX, not ethernet.

But yes, you're correct. However, DirecTV does not officially support nor endorse whole home DVR over ethernet for some odd reason - only over DECA. I'm not sure why, but it's ridiculous to be honest.

In my case though it's nice, since I didn't get the opportunity to run Cat5 when my walls went up. Now I found that I have a MoCA network in the house thanks to DECA being there, and as of last week I can ween my house off of wifi. But that's just a bonus.

 

[jaha2000]

Josh said homeruns of COAX, not ethernet.

But yes, you're correct. However, DirecTV does not officially support nor endorse whole home DVR over ethernet for some odd reason - only over DECA. I'm not sure why, but it's ridiculous to be honest.

In my case though it's nice, since I didn't get the opportunity to run Cat5 when my walls went up. Now I found that I have a MoCA network in the house thanks to DECA being there, and as of last week I can ween my house off of wifi. But that's just a bonus.

I can think of a few reasons.
1. They dont want techs pulling cat 5
2. They dont want techs having to play with equipment that is not theirs (routers)
3. They dont want techs pulling cat 5

Most people dont have wiring closets in their basements. Running it over etherent is a PITA without it.

 

[SunnyD]

I can think of a few reasons.
1. They dont want techs pulling cat 5
2. They dont want techs having to play with equipment that is not theirs (routers)
3. They dont want techs pulling cat 5

Most people dont have wiring closets in their basements. Running it over etherent is a PITA without it.

Well true. In fact that's the exact reason I picked up a DECA adapter for my PC... because I'm not at a point right now where I want to punch holes in drywall and fish cable, then patch and finish - even though I can.

Plus for the techs it's an additional sunk cost and more materials along with more labor and expertise. In addition, it's more for the company to support should an issue arise down the line. Why deal with two wire runs to every box when you can happily deal with just one?

It does its job anyway.

 

[hclarkjr]

Okay, I think I'm going to do it.

So if I get an HR34 receiver, I just need an HD Receiver (not DVR) on each TV to get whole home DVR working? I don't need RF remotes or anything, right? I'm wondering how big of a pain it will be to add the DVR controls to my Logitech remotes, since I'll be adding non-DVR receivers in the config.

It seems like DirecTV has slightly better picture quality as well. It looks like I won't lose any channels I care about by moving to the Choice XTRA package. Choice Ultimate seems pointless to me - it only adds a few sport-specific channels (ex. NHL and Tennis) and Encore.

Is it possible to get Red Zone without paying the extra $100 for Sunday Ticket Max? Can I just add it on for $5/month or something, like other providers?

i have a logitech harmony 1 and had no problems getting it to work with my HR24-500. the picture quality is better with directv vs dish. i have had both and can say without a doubt directv is better. i have been with directv for 10 months and have not been lied to by a customer service rep where with dish they constantly lie and mislead their customers.

 

[hclarkjr]

I think I can live without pausing/rewinding live TV on my other screens.

One last question for anyone that's cancelled Dish: What exactly do I need to return to them? I'm not going to get on the roof to remove the dish or anything attached to/near the dish.

when i canceled they sent me a box with postage already on it for UPS to put the DVR i had in it. i told them when i cancelled that if they wanted the dish they would have to come out and climb up to get it. they waved it and let me keep it. still on the wall of building to this day

 

[MikeL DISH]

We hated to have seen you go and just to clear up any confusion about returning the equipment, we don't require you to return the dish satellite as we would never want you to create an unsafe situation for yourself by climbing on your roof to retrieve it. Please let me know the updated status of you service with us in a private message so I can assist you further. Did you have any interest in checking out what the Hopper can do? I hope to hear from you!

Anybody have an opinion on this? Do I just need to get a DVR (probably the one that says it can record 5 shows at once) and some HD receivers for the other rooms?

I'm considering switching from Dish to save some money (on monthly discounts for 2 years and one time whole home DVR upgrade fees) and retain AMC. It would also be awesome to get Sunday Ticket this year.

 

[MikeL DISH]

That's excellent that you enjoy the advanced piece of equipment! If you have any questions about the cool product, just let me know!

Get the hoppa instead

 

[Shawn]

That's excellent that you enjoy the advanced piece of equipment! If you have any questions about the cool product, just let me know!

:hmm:

 

[boomhower]

I've had mine for a few months and absolutely love it. It has been completely trouble free. The picture quality is great and have no issues with my Harmony remote. Only thing that is annoying is your limiting in what you can do with the recordings from the bedroom boxes. It is so much better than the crap TW equipment it's not even funny, light years ahead.