is it possible to use directv dvr *without* a phone line?

[gtbuzz]

I just bought a directv tivo unit for myself, hooked everything up and i can recieve programming fine, however I can't record anything because direcTV says i have to have a phone line plugged into it for it to work properly.

I've gotten rid of two of the evils in life: cable tv and the phone company - i use a cell phone exclusively. If you ask me it's absurd to have to pay an extra $25 /mo just to record my tv shows. Is there any way around this? It only has a phone line jack. Is there some sort of voip device that will let me make outgoing calls?

 

[LordThing]

Probably the wrong forum to ask this in. You may want to check Here or Here.


As far as I know, you need the phone for it to call home to get all it's info. Probably your next bet is to network it using wireless or wired ethernet. I plan on doing my wireless when I get mine.

 

[spliffstar69]

For Tivo you need that phone line
for regular viewing no need for the phone line, it allows them to track your ppv activity and allows for proper billing.

 

[Shockwave]

Call DirectTV and ask.

 

[labgeek]

There are some units that can be modified to use the internet to "call home". The unit I have (HDVR2) could not, at least not last time I checked.

 

[RossMAN]

YES

1) You will need a phone line for the initial setup.
2) After the initial setup you do not need a phone line. You will receive an annoying message 1-2 times a day just acknowledge it on your DirecTIVO and life goes on.
3) I think you cannot order PPV movies without a phone line but everything else will function normally.

 

[gtbuzz]

thanks for the info guys. i guess i'll have to haul it over to a friends house and tie up their phone for a few hours

i did call directv btw, and of course i got a drone with a script. sigh. whatever happened to call centers that staffed people that can actually think?

 

[gtbuzz]

one other thing of note... after searching around some more last night i found out that directv disabled the usb ports on all their tivo units. the reason for this is because while tivo can use wireless/ethernet, directv can not. *techinically* you're supposed to have a phone line connected to all your recievers in order to recieve mirrored access. the only lifeline between the reciever and directv is the phone line. if you cut that out then they're out of the loop. kind of stupid if you ask me because they don't enforce that phone line issue.