Finally got DirecTV

[leprechaunshawn]

Well, I finally did it.  I had DTV installed yesterday and took my TWC HD-DVR back to the store at Mayfair last night.

So far so good.  The only downside I've noticed so far is that the receiver doesn't have a clock visible on the front like the TWC boxes.  Oh well!!

So does anybody have any advice to help me get the most out of what we told my daughter it is, TV from space?

Thanks in advance for any/all advice.

[RonH]

Unlike on TWC, you can custom make the guide show whatever channels you want.  You can even make multiple versions, and switch between them.  I have one called "olympics" for example I use every 2 years!

Learn the undocumented DVR commands for Boolean operations.  For example, you can have the DVR find any program with the words "Wisconsin", "Basketball", "Live", and NOT "women", occuring in a certain channel range.  DirecTV doesn't talk about these features but they are great for finding sports games.  I use them for brewers games and badger games.

See this link (http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=1042604&postcount=29).

Also during wet snow periods and thunderstorms, be prepared to watch something you have recorded.

[Mark Strube]

Also during wet snow periods and thunderstorms, be prepared to watch something you have recorded.

I think this depends on any surrounding foliage and how well your dish is tuned. I've found it only really goes out when the clouds full of precipitation pass through the signal path. For example, a downpour doesn't usually affect it much, but a little before or after, it might go out for a minute or two.

Of course everyone's experience can be different, just thought I'd share.

(I should also note, when we had cable, when it would go out once or twice a year from bad storms or very cold weather, it would take a day or more before we'd get it back. I'd much rather have 1-2 minutes out than days.)

[leprechaunshawn]

Thank you for the advice.

[vegasvic]

In over 10 years I have had MUCH fewer outages from weather than I had overall with TWC.  Not even close.

[gparris]

In over 10 years I have had MUCH fewer outages from weather than I had overall with TWC.  Not even close.

And believe me, you will never get "channel not available, press "A" to try again" like with TWC's SDV HD service...what a mess.

[Jack 1000]

And believe me, you will never get "channel not available, press "A" to try again" like with TWC's SDV HD service...what a mess.

LOL!!!!!  I love that "Press A to Try Again!"  You can "Press A to Try Again 1000 times."  It won't do crap!  (Except wear out your "A" button!)

Jack

[gparris]

LOL!!!!!  I love that "Press A to Try Again!"  You can "Press A to Try Again 1000 times."  It won't do crap!  (Except wear out your "A" button!)

Jack

But I'm not laughing!
-You may not know this, but I have had both Directv and TWC at the same time awhile ago and the only thing I will remember to do if I get it again is to make sure I have access to my dish.
Access means that in the winter good access makes it easy to clean the snow off/deice it or realign it (now, with its 5 LNB dish).
-Many of my neighbours have their dishes mounted on a pole on the ground high enough up to not catch snow drifts and then run the cords down to the basement to the distribution area.

[leprechaunshawn]

I've got a problem that you all might be able to help me out with.  I set up my DVR with all the series recordings that I had on my TWC DVR.  They're all set to record 'first run' only but it is recording old episodes.  Is there something I need to change or what?

[Mark Strube]

How recently was your system up and running? A new system (or a box that has just been rebooted) takes about 24 hours to fully download all the detailed guide data. It just might not have all the data about "new" and "repeat" yet, so it's being safe and recording it all.

Out of curiosity, what shows are giving you this problem?

[RonH]

Although the DirectV DVR is much much better than TWCs, the guide data is not 100% correct and so sometimes relying on it accurately indicating when something is first run will not work.

For example last week californication and dexter on showtime were not marked as first run on sunday, but were on wednesday.  So mine didn't record sunday even though it should have.

I would assume this happens will all providers, as they all use some news services listings.

[Stanley Kritzik]

DirecTV (or, D*, as it is known) is my connection, and I love it.  A few items -- one is to hook up with //www.dbstalk.com , as there is lots of good stuff there, including good advice.

If you have the ability to also have an outdoor antenna, you can get an inexpensive add-on that will let you receive over-the-air (OTA) local channels, and the menus are integrated, so you will see, for example, 4 (D* satellite) and 4-1, 4-2, 4-3 (locals).  It's useful for the extras that D* doesn't carry (CH 36 has seven of them), and on those rare rain-outs or snow-outs, it helps.

Their HR21-series DVRs are very good.  If, for example, you have the unit turned off (but plugged in), it will record scheduled recordings, etc.  The remote is decent, too.  And, of course, all programming is digital, whether HD or not.  Also, come Spring, they have a satellite launch scheduled that will bring them to some 250 channels -- most in HD.

I have no complaints.

Stan

[Blitzburgh]

Although the DirectV DVR is much much better than TWCs, the guide data is not 100% correct

I thought I was once told that the guide data has nothing to do with DirecTV but the content provider....

Anyone else have more information regarding this?

[kevbeck122]

For example last week californication and dexter on showtime were not marked as first run on sunday, but were on wednesday.  So mine didn't record sunday even though it should have.

Same happened to mine, but I caught it early and changed it to Sunday.

I believe DirecTV gets guide data from Tribune: http://www.tvdata.com/.  Tribune is most likely at fault.

[AA9VI]

Don't forget about the onDemand stuff.  You get it with the HR-xx series of receivers.  Just hook up your ethernet cable to it using a wired connection or you can purchase a wireless gaming adapter for around $50.  either way it offers quite a bit more TV.

... on top of that... I HIGHLY recommend getting something called PlayOn.  It's a one time $20 purchase for the software.  You run it on a computer in your house and it communicates with your boradband connection to the HR-xx and you can watch Hulu, you tube, fox news, and several other networks' programs right on your TV!  Real cool.  Real easy to use.  Heck, you can watch no-pay-per-view once you buy that PlayOn thing.  Hulu has a huge movie database.... So free movies!

I second the Am-21.  A must have!