Does HR20 require a phone line

[krolmec]

I'm a newbie looking to move to Dtv but have a few questions that I hope you can help me with.
1. Does HR20 require a phone line?(only have a cell) Iam not interested in pay per view ordering. I have a co worker who said his DVR stopped working after 2 weeks until he plugged in a land line.
2. Does the HR20 update through the satellite or phone line?
Thanks for your help

 

[Jimbo]

I'm a newbie looking to move to Dtv but have a few questions that I hope you can help me with.
1. Does HR20 require a phone line?(only have a cell) Iam not interested in pay per view ordering. I have a co worker who said his DVR stopped working after 2 weeks until he plugged in a land line.
2. Does the HR20 update through the satellite or phone line?
Thanks for your help

All updates are done thru the sat data stream.
You do not need to have the phone line plugged in.
There are some advantages to having it plugged in, but seeing you don't have a land line, you would not be able to take advantage of them anyway.

Let D* know thiss info when you call in, this way they won't be looking for a phone line.
The phone line allows your person calling's phone number to show up on the TV

The only thing they use the phone line for now, is to access your access card to verify any PPV 's you may have ordered, so they canbill them accordingly.

Jimbo

 

[Smush401]

All updates are done thru the sat data stream.
You do not need to have the phone line plugged in.
There are some advantages to having it plugged in, but seeing you don't have a land line, you would not be able to take advantage of them anyway.

Let D* know thiss info when you call in, this way they won't be looking for a phone line.
The phone line allows your person calling's phone number to show up on the TV

The only thing they use the phone line for now, is to access your access card to verify any PPV 's you may have ordered, so they canbill them accordingly.

Jimbo

Hi all first post. When the DirecTV Tech comes to install the HR-20, and finds out I don't have a landline will he refuse to complete the install? Thanks in advance.

 

[grydlok]

technically yes he can. No matter what people say he can. It's in most installer contract to connect to a working phone.
I have done it without the phone line so I am guilty, but I will not do it if you don't have the tv.

 

[Jimbo]

technically yes he can. No matter what people say he can. It's in most installer contract to connect to a working phone.
I have done it without the phone line so I am guilty, but I will not do it if you don't have the tv.

You are correct, but thats why I mentioned to let them know ahaead of time that you won't be using a landline phone line.

Jimbo

 

[RIRWIN1983]

You are correct, but thats why I mentioned to let them know ahaead of time that you won't be using a landline phone line.

Jimbo

yea but that never hets communicated down to us on the w/o's

 

[Jimbo]

yea but that never hets communicated down to us on the w/o's

I understand, I go thru the same trouble with communication, theres just too many people in the flow of orders these days.

Jimbo

 

[vurbano]

The setup routine on the HR20 doesnt fail without a phone line like the HR10-250????????

 

[bonscott87]

The setup routine on the HR20 doesnt fail without a phone line like the HR10-250????????

Only Tivo's require a phone line for setup (they must call Tivo). R15 and HR20 have never needed one for anything other the standard reason all receivers need one (PPV). Since the HR20 isn't a Tivo, no phone call to Tivo needed.

 

[vurbano]

AT one time I remember reading that D* would upgrade existing HDtivo owners at little or no cost. What happened to that? ANd what happened to the two versions of the HD DVR? the HD DVR and the home media center?

 

[Jimbo]

AT one time I remember reading that D* would upgrade existing HDtivo owners at little or no cost. What happened to that? ANd what happened to the two versions of the HD DVR? the HD DVR and the home media center?

I think the D* upgrading for free or close to it, was wishful thinking, I think originally they thought they would, then realized how much money they could make seeing there is a demand for them.

As for the Home Media Center ????
I haven't heard a word about it in about a year now... I think that now that they are talking about networking thru your own network, they may not have a need for it, basically it was to be able to transfer info ... maybe eventually they will run video to your other TV's thru the local network as well....
Just thinking of what MAY be down the line..... really haven't heard anything about the HMC

Jimbo

 

[bonscott87]

Most people that have an HR10 are getting an HR20 for little or no cost. But of course you might also get a bad CSR who won't pull up that deal. May take some CSR roulette but not as much as usual. Probably just ask for retention if you don't get that deal right away.

Home Media Center. Haven't heard anything much since CES 2 years ago. Earl has said he's heard it's still in development but on the back burner. Could be that since CES 06 they've determined there isn't a big market for it. And remember, never take anything announced at CES as fact, only wishful thinking.

 

[vurbano]

Most people that have an HR10 are getting an HR20 for little or no cost. But of course you might also get a bad CSR who won't pull up that deal. May take some CSR roulette but not as much as usual. Probably just ask for retention if you don't get that deal right away.

Home Media Center. Haven't heard anything much since CES 2 years ago. Earl has said he's heard it's still in development but on the back burner. Could be that since CES 06 they've determined there isn't a big market for it. And remember, never take anything announced at CES as fact, only wishful thinking.

You know we didnt pull this stuff out of our asses. It came from D*. An HDtivo owner that shelled out 700 bucks shouldnt have to beg two or three CSR's to "get a deal"

 

[Jimbo]

. An HDtivo owner that shelled out 700 bucks shouldnt have to beg two or three CSR's to "get a deal"

You got a good point there !

 

[Jimbo]

Most people that have an HR10 are getting an HR20 for little or no cost. But of course you might also get a bad CSR who won't pull up that deal. May take some CSR roulette but not as much as usual. Probably just ask for retention if you don't get that deal right away.

Home Media Center. Haven't heard anything much since CES 2 years ago. Earl has said he's heard it's still in development but on the back burner. Could be that since CES 06 they've determined there isn't a big market for it. And remember, never take anything announced at CES as fact, only wishful thinking.

I generally will NOT ask for anything less than what I would expect to pay for it.
I got my HR20-700 9 months ago for $ 199 after they offered it .

I felt the HD DVR at 200 was a good deal for the unit and took it.

Jimbo

 

[vurbano]

I generally will NOT ask for anything less than what I would expect to pay for it.
I got my HR20-700 9 months ago for $ 199 after they offered it .

I felt the HD DVR at 200 was a good deal for the unit and took it.

Jimbo

I dont think its a good deal to pay 200 bucks for the "right" to lease anything and pay a monthly lease fee to a company for 2 years. Thats just insane IMO. Just my opinion, let the silly car leasing downpayment arguement begin..

 

[Jimbo]

I dont think its a good deal to pay 200 bucks for the "right" to lease anything and pay a monthly lease fee to a company for 2 years. Thats just insane IMO. Just my opinion, let the silly car leasing arguement begin..

Well paying the $ 200 was alot better for me than the alternative, buying it for $800, perticularly with some of the issues it had in the beginning when I originally got mine. Like NO OTA tuner, I would not have bought it had I not had a pretty good idea that it WAS coming soon.

Normally, I would rather buy than lease, pretty much always, but $ 800 is a bit extreme.
NOW I would probably pay $ 500 to own the unit, but now it's much more stable than back then.

Jimbo

 

[vurbano]

I think the D* upgrading for free or close to it, was wishful thinking, I think originally they thought they would, then realized how much money they could make seeing there is a demand for them.

You know if I called D* conference calls and etc "wishful thinking" I would be crucified for it by the zealots. I would think that signing a 2 year contract with them would be more than enough compensation, a 2 yr contract for HD from a company with the worst PQ of any provider currently, and thats not enough for them? A 2 yr contract with a company that even refuses to admit that there is a problem. They want the consumer to make a commitment but yet they will not pledge to improve PQ nor will they admit there is ANYTHING wrong.

 

[FlyingJ]

I dont think its a good deal to pay 200 bucks for the "right" to lease anything and pay a monthly lease fee to a company for 2 years. Thats just insane IMO. Just my opinion, let the silly car leasing downpayment arguement begin..

Than don't do it. I understand the thought process but...lets say 200 + what is it, $5.00 a month to "lease" 2 years at another $120. So $320 for the two years then its time to do it all over again, come on Vurbano, it's just not that bad. Certainly not insane in my opinion.

Oh and when , I don't know, probably 95 percent of their HD subs don't know that there even is a PQ issue, why would they in your words admit to a problem. You are soooooo hung up on this when anyone else would have just left. Maybe the issue will be resolved with the new sats, looks promising. And V, if it were your company, you would do the same damn thing or you would be out of business. I know it's your last gasp before July 27th, but dude, you are grasping at straws now.

 

[Jhon69]

Than don't do it. I understand the thought process but...lets say 200 + what is it, $5.00 a month to "lease" 2 years at another $120. So $320 for the two years then its time to do it all over again, come on Vurbano, it's just not that bad. Certainly not insane in my opinion.

Oh and when , I don't know, probably 95 percent of their HD subs don't know that there even is a PQ issue, why would they in your words admit to a problem. You are soooooo hung up on this when anyone else would have just left. Maybe the issue will be resolved with the new sats, looks promising. And V, if it were your company, you would do the same damn thing or you would be out of business. I know it's your last gasp before July 27th, but dude, you are grasping at straws now.

V's leaving July 27th?.2 months before D* kicks everyone's A$$ with D10?.Is that
perfect timing or What!?