Directv DVR

[poohbear158]

I am thinking about switching to Directv from comcast cable. I currently have Tivo and a DVD burner. I burn shows (mostly scrapbooking) from my Tivo to my DVD burner. Does anyone know if the Directv receiver will allow you to send the show to a DVD burner? The Directv receiver subscription is cheaper than Tivo.

thanks

 

[Gillian]

Keep your Tivo.

The directv DVRs are pretty bad. I routinely curse at mine. Last week it cut off the first 15 minutes of the Survivor finale by restarting the taping over. I think it was my fault, but I'm not sure how I did it and it should not be that easy!

We have a Directv-branded Tivo receiver as well, and it's much easier to use. DH & I are both technical people, and we hate the DIrectv DVR. With a passion. It has an awful interface, it's way too complicated, there is no way to check on your subscriptions like with tivo. The list goes on & on.

And, for the model that we have, there was/is a bug where it tapes all episodes of some shows instead of just first runs. The response from tech support was that they knew of the problem but didn't know why it was doing that and had no fix for the moment. We were about to leave for a 2 week vacation and this was a BIG problem for us. No sympathy from Directv.

Our area has Cablevision and not Comcast. Cablevision isn't so great. Most of our friends in neighboring communities are happy with Comcast and we would have them too if we lived somewhere else.

Of course, this is just our experience and ymmv.

 

[eowensby]

We have the Directv DVR and we love it. No problems at all with it. We burn shows and movies onto our recorder/burner thing. I would be lost without DVR...I'm such a TV junkie now.

 

[momsgoofy]

I had to laugh when I read this thread. Just last week I spent over an hour (between 2 phone calls) trying to get at the root of the TIVO v. Direct DVR problem. We've had a tivo unit since January 2000, which was connected to the cable (whatever company it was back then I can't remember). When we moved into this house we were told the cable didn't come out this far, so we opted for DirectTV. We kept the stand alone tivo for our bedroom, and purchased a Hughes brand Direct receiver with tivo, then 2 years ago, we added a Samsung brand Direct receiver with tivo for DS's room. We were very happy campers! Until the stand alond tivo's hard drive crashed in the middle of the night...woke up both DH and me. So, in researching buying a new unit, DH found that the Direct DVRs are not getting a good reviews, so we specifically requested that our new unit be a receiver with a tivo...if not take it back!

Well, they borught out a DirectTV DVR and DH sent it back. Two days later, they were ready to deliver the new one and I told them it'd better be a tivo unit or don't even bother. Well, the area technical manager called and said it wasn't and they only use the Direct DVR models now. UH? So, I called back to customer service...blah, blah, blah...nope, they don't use the tivo units anymore. So, we could buy our own stand alone unit (if we could find one) or get a refurbed unit from Direct (someone else had owned...) or go with the Direct DVR. But, if we accessed the Direct DVR and didn't like it..wasn't a tivo comparable unit...then we would be stuck with it and couldn't return it.

Well, DH said he'd go with the Direct DVR. He isn't fond of it. He concurs with what the research found...it's not as good as the tivo unit. It can do a lot of what the tivo can, but it's just not as user friendly. I guess, we're just gonna have to get used to the new system...if the other 2 tivos fry we'll end up with more of the Direct DVR units.

 

[Kellyscrapbooks]

I have one of these DirecTV TIVO units that we aren't using. I wonder if they would sell on ebay if people can't get them anymore. Anyone know?

 

[momsgoofy]

I have one of these DirecTV TIVO units that we aren't using. I wonder if they would sell on ebay if people can't get them anymore. Anyone know?

They just might if the price is right! And if the unit had a lifetime membership...they are transferable...all 3 of the units we own have the lifetime...saved so much that way. Give it a shot.

 

[daddyof2]

we have direct tv dvr the box is made by samsung and has tivo on it it is awsome

the controls are easy and useful

as for gillians "problem there was/is a bug where it tapes all episodes of some shows instead of just first runs"
my box has an option to change first runs only/all showing

and it has a to do list, so you could see what will record, and a wish list to find what you want

cant live with out our dvr

i suggest you get one

 

[madge]

I have one of these DirecTV TIVO units that we aren't using. I wonder if they would sell on ebay if people can't get them anymore. Anyone know?

I haven't done a search, but I would think that thye would. I'm sure they can be used for parts, if nothing else. WHile I was on hold a few weeks ago with tech support, the person helping me said people hack into those units like crazy.

So, I called back to customer service...blah, blah, blah...nope, they don't use the tivo units anymore

this was not my experience a few weeks ago. I was on the phone for 45 minutes with tech support trying to fix my DirectTV TiVo unit... when everything we tried failed, he offered to send me a new unit. I had my choice of the DirectTV DVR or a TiVo-branded unit. I was overnighted a TiVo unit (R10). I have NO idea why he had it overnighted, other than the fact that he made the comment several times that I was a nice change of pace from other customers calling for help. A little pixie dust for me, perhaps? LOL!

 

[momsgoofy]

...this was not my experience a few weeks ago. I was on the phone for 45 minutes with tech support trying to fix my DirectTV TiVo unit... when everything we tried failed, he offered to send me a new unit. I had my choice of the DirectTV DVR or a TiVo-branded unit. I was overnighted a TiVo unit (R10). I have NO idea why he had it overnighted, other than the fact that he made the comment several times that I was a nice change of pace from other customers calling for help. A little pixie dust for me, perhaps? LOL!

Yeah, actually the tech area manager told me we could get a TIVO unit, but it would be a refurb, not a new unit. Knowing how folks do hack into the TIVO systems...another post mentioned this and all the tech programs have talked about it...I remember one even showed HOW to hack the TIVO, DH wasn't about to take a refurb from the company without some kind of warranty. And when I asked about that, they told me, nope. BTW, it is the same with the leased units and the old owned units...DirectTV will not cover them at all except for the leased box itself. IF anything goes wrong with a leased unit (wiring, dish gets moved by a storm, etc. then DirectTV will charge us for fixing it. The company does offer a "protection plan" now for $5.99/mo. in our area, which will cover the leased and owned equipment and all the other stuff.

 

[angwill]

I feel Direct TV has the best and most friendly customer service department. Based on that alone I don't plan to ever switch to another company. If you ever have anything happen with your equipment and it doesn't work ask for a supervisor and then ask them if they will meet you half way on the cost of a new unit etc. Remember once your contract is up you can switch to any other company and get new equipment for free. Directv met me half way on the cost of a new Tivo box when my basic unit burned out.

Angela

 

[tink2dw]

What causes the Tivo units to "blow out"? And what/how are tivo units hacked, for what purpose??

 

[madge]

Yeah, actually the tech area manager told me we could get a TIVO unit, but it would be a refurb, not a new unit.

This TiVo has no indication anywhere on the box or unit itself that is a refurb. I purchased a refurb unit from the DVR4ME promo a few months back, and that unit was clearly marked.

 

[wscato]

What causes the Tivo units to "blow out"? And what/how are tivo units hacked, for what purpose??

Main reason the DirecTV Tivos goes out is the 80mm fan in it stops working and it starts to overheat. Had one unit do this and I replaced the fan in it myself with no problems. Only other problems I have heard is hard drives going bad.