HR20-100S as a Standalone DVR

[adryan16]

I've done my best to try to keep on top of the nomenclature and changing tech of the DirecTV market, and have been very happy so far.

During the winter months, both my wife and my work schedules become busy enough that we decided to save a few bucks and suspend service for a while. I thought it would be fine, as we still could use the DVR for OTA channels (my wife worships Oprah). Well, when I hit "List" yesterday, I received an error message that said DVR service was disabled for my box. I realize that for satellite it would be disabled, but after purchasing a $300 DVR, I can't use it for OTA recording? What a joke! I haven't attempted to call DirecTV yet, but I was curious if there were any tricks to enable DVR capabilities without satellite programming. I would greatly appreciate any help. Thanks!

 

[Jimbo]

I've done my best to try to keep on top of the nomenclature and changing tech of the DirecTV market, and have been very happy so far.

During the winter months, both my wife and my work schedules become busy enough that we decided to save a few bucks and suspend service for a while. I thought it would be fine, as we still could use the DVR for OTA channels (my wife worships Oprah). Well, when I hit "List" yesterday, I received an error message that said DVR service was disabled for my box. I realize that for satellite it would be disabled, but after purchasing a $300 DVR, I can't use it for OTA recording? What a joke! I haven't attempted to call DirecTV yet, but I was curious if there were any tricks to enable DVR capabilities without satellite programming. I would greatly appreciate any help. Thanks!

I have never tried this, but I would think that if you talked to D* and told them that you want to turn off programming for a while, but continue to use the OTA portion that they should be able to do that, you would have to keep the DVR portion active ($ 5.99 p/m) as long as they show it to be an ACTIVE rec you should be fine ... thats said, when you got this unit the fine print probably said something like " Sub needs to have 24 months continues programming" Tis is so they know you will be sticking with them so they can re coop some of the cost of the box, the box you leased for $ 300 is a $ 800 box if you were to purchase it.

I'm not sure which way they would go with this, you might tell them you want to suspend the programming on the box, but that may also shut down the rest,I don't know.

I would give them a call and see what they have to say, try to get to the 2nd level or higher in the call center, chances are they will transfer you anyways when they hear what you want.

Let us know the outcome, this is a good question.

btw, to the site !

Jimbo

 

[adryan16]

Well, I figured there wouldn't be an easy work around with this. I'll get a hold of them tomorrow over my lunch hour, and we'll see where I can get. If they aren't cooperative, I may have to see about building that MediaCenter PC I've been thinking about. Thanks for the response and the welcome.

 

[Jimbo]

Well, I figured there wouldn't be an easy work around with this. I'll get a hold of them tomorrow over my lunch hour, and we'll see where I can get. If they aren't cooperative, I may have to see about building that MediaCenter PC I've been thinking about. Thanks for the response and the welcome.

I wish I could give you a more definate answer, but I really don't know, but make sure you let us know what they said.

btw,if the first time you call you don't get what you want ....
Try again.

 

[adryan16]

Well, I just got off the phone with a rather curt individual, and he, in a nutshell, said what I want is impossible. He gave me some BS answers which I quickly and accurately countered, only to be shut down.

I asked him if I could activate DVR service, and he said with a suspended account, no.

I asked him why I can see it recording, more than likely recording over programs I've wanted to hold on to for quite some time. He said he didn't know! Whoops.

I asked him if I could reactivate my account and subscribe only to DVR service, and he said no.

I asked him if it was all or nothing basically, and he said yes. I told him that this policy was ludicrous, and very unaccommodating. I then asked him, flat out, "Can you help me today?" And, after a short pause, he responded"...No." "You said it," I told him and bid him good day.

Should I knock on their door again? Thanks...

 

[Jimbo]

Should I knock on their door again? Thanks...

YES
Also you might want to send them an email asking about your situation, sounds like you didn't get past the first CSR.

Jimbo

 

[adryan16]

I appreciate the response. I only spoke with one guy, so I apparently didn't get further the one CSR. I'll give them a call again today, and also send them an e-mail here soon. Thanks.

-Adrian

 

[adryan16]

I sent an e-mail describing my problem, much as I did earlier for my first post, and received a response from them. The message had a phone number and PIN for a direct connection, and after I dialed and entered my PIN, I was connected quickly. The man I spoke with was WAY more helpful, and although he was able to pull me back into paying for service, the deal is quite a bit nicer. He told me, much as the first guy said, that DVR service is not available separately from a package. I acknowledged that another CSR had told me this, and he apologized, and said that that's how the DVR's were programmed; no satellite programming(or if your account is suspended), no DVR service. He said that their lowest package, Family, he could offer it to me for $29/mo, or normal. I reiterated, that I didn't have time for satellite programming, and just wanted to record my OTA channels, and he said that I would have to pay for at least the Family package, but that he could give the DVR service to me for free for 6 months. Now we're getting somewhere. I told him that I'm still paying for a service that I didn't need, and he countered with an upgrade to Choice, with free DVR service, free HD upgrade and $10 off the service for 6 months. So now, I've basically got my original Choice Plus HD DVR service for effectively $40/mo.

Like I said, I'm still paying $40/mo when all I wanted was DVR service, but after hearing that you couldn't get standalone DVR service without a package, $40/mo is still cheaper than going to Best Buy and buying a hard drive DVR as far as I'm concerned. I guess now I'll have to make time to watch TV! What's the world coming to!?

Thanks for the help, and hope this info can be of some help to someone.

-Adrian