[richidoo]

My old SD DirecTivo just died.  DirecTV sent me a free replacement SD DirecTV dual tuner DVR, model R16-500. It is an older model (refurb) technically the same as my old unit except that it has the DirecTV homebrew UI, not Tivo. It is usable, but very crude compared to Tivo.  The box did download the latest software after I started it up.

There is one feature that I can't find, hoping someone here might know a hack or the legit way to do it. I have read the manual, it doesn't say anything.

Is there a button (like Tivo) or another easy way to switch back and forth between the two tuners? My TV style is being cramped without this feature. Without a simple way to do this automatically, I must try to remember the channel number that the other tuner is on, type it in and press enter to get to the other tuner. Barbaric! If I can't remember or if I make a mistake and switch to a third channel by mistake then I lose the buffered content. Even if both channels are recording, there is still no easy way to switch between them and I still have to remember the channel number. Sometimes I don't even remember what the other show is recording, so I can't remember what channel it is.

Any ideas how to make this switch between tuners?
Thanks!
Rich

[satfrat]

Hi Rich, i have no experience with DTV's standard DVR receivers as I've always had HD DVR's but I do know DTV has TIVO DVR's, here's a link that describes all the available DTV receivers and a feature comparisons. You have the right to request a current receiver upgrade, not just a refurbished older model. You might want to set up an online account at DirecTV.com to do so or call 1-800-531-5000 for technical support 24/7 for the one you now have if that's what you want to keep.

Cheers,
Robin

[satfrat]

Also Rich, any HD DVR has the capacity to show only SD channels in it's Menu/Setting so you could very well get a TIVO HD DVR for SD use only and get back what you're use to having.

Cheers,
Robin

[Ern Dog]

Rich,
Hey, I have the same thing going on.  I've never had Tivo so I didn't even know that this feature existed.  If you figure this out, please post it.  I'm tired of living in the stone age

Thanks,
Ernie

[richidoo]

Thanks Robin....
I would like the new Tivo HD but it requires HD service, don't need it for our one 30". This is a free replacement box from DTV to hold me until my wife buys herself a big flat screen then I'll get the Tivo HD.

I'm starting to get used to this one, even found a feature that shows the previously visited channels. I think I can make that workif I can't find a hack or something.

I'll let you know Ernie if I get lucky

[satfrat]

Thanks Robin....
I would like the new Tivo HD but it requires HD service, don't need it for our one 30". This is a free replacement box from DTV to hold me until my wife buys herself a big flat screen then I'll get the Tivo HD.

I'm starting to get used to this one, even found a feature that shows the previously visited channels. I think I can make that workif I can't find a hack or something.

I'll let you know Ernie if I get lucky

Are you sure about that Rich? I dunno if HD service is required but I can state that if you log onto DirecTv.com, go paperless and pay your bil via CC, the HD $10/month service charge is credited for 1 year and with a yearly reminder call, they'll continue the credit for another year, and on & on. I'm on 3 years myself w/o a HD charge.  And with the new oblong HD dish & new DVR, they've done away with that switcher box, always was a PIA. 

Cheers,
Robin

[richidoo]

I know HD service is required with an HD box, but I am learning that the rates are extremely negotiable. Just threaten to jump and they will kiss your butt. DISH has free HD now so that jig is up for DirecTV.  The Directv agent said people switch back and forth to keep getting the lowest new customer promos, so they have to offer better deal than the competitors promo to keep them. I said thanks for the tip...   Wish I knew sooner. 12 years of full price coulda bought me some new speakers!

[satfrat]

I know HD service is required with an HD box, but I am learning that the rates are extremely negotiable. Just threaten to jump and they will kiss your butt. DISH has free HD now so that jig is up for DirecTV.  The Directv agent said people switch back and forth to keep getting the lowest new customer promos, so they have to offer better deal than the competitors promo to keep them. I said thanks for the tip...   Wish I knew sooner. 12 years of full price coulda bought me some new speakers!

You're preaching to the choir Rich,,, just from my last call to reinstate my HD credit, I was able to get $30 off my bill for 6 months from their premium channels promotion given to new subscribers and I got $100 off Sunday Ticket, only $99 for this season,,,, and with no threats. I simply asked them "what can you do for me?" It did take me 2 operator switches and about 25 minutes but it was time well spent, pun intended. 

Cheers,
Robin

[richidoo]

WTG!

[Bob in St. Louis]

We recently switched from four rooms of SD, only one of which had DVR to four rooms of HD, all now have DVR.
The SD was provided by Dish, and that was the best they could offer. That's it, nothing better, go jump off a bridged, go blow a goat.

So we switched to Charter and all four rooms now have HD DVR.
The GUI seems more buggy with Charter than Dish, but we've got twice the channel count, and a LOT of HD.
Dish told me that I could have sex with myself before they'd give me a single HD channel.

Seems it's all about pleasing the new customer. To Hell with the old customer.
Let that be a lesson to you when you want more TV than you already have. It's easier than you think.

Bob

[richidoo]

I did sign up for DISH Hopper after DTV wanted a new contract to send me a replaceemnt box, but when I tried to quit DTV they convinced me to stay by sending me a free box and lowering my rates by 30%. I didn't want to run new wiring through the house for DISH antenna and I didn't want to learn 200 new channel numbers.  Then I had to try to quit DISH and they did not want to let go. A DISH hitman even called me the next day. It is a racket, that's for sure.

I got a funny email from DTV today. Funny because of the timing, with all this DVR drama. Preface: The reason I have this new DVR is that the old DirecTivo box was rebooting itself randomly. It started happening a few years ago every couple weeks with ever increasing frequency. Over the years I have tried various methods to cure it. On advice from techs, forums, etc, I replaced the HDD, I bought a replacement DVR, I recapped the PS, I cleaned the motherboard with solvent. We noticed that it often happened when watching local Fox broadcast channel (over sat.) Other people on forums mentioned relationship to certain channels/shows over the years. The frequency with which it would reboot has been steadily increasing, until this week it was rebooting before it even finished rebooting. So I got the new stupid GUI box. So the email from DirecTV reads as follows:

"Dear RICHARD,
This is an important message from DIRECTV about your TiVo receiver. We are aware that you may have experienced a software issue that was causing your TiVo to reboot frequently. We want to assure you that we worked diligently with TiVo and resolved the issue yesterday.
Due to this inconvenience we will be applying a onetime $10 discount to your account; this will appear as a credit on an upcoming bill statement.
Thanks again for being a loyal DIRECTV customer. We truly appreciate your business.
Sincerely,
DIRECTV"

As I read the email I heard the mailman driving away, he just grabbed the Access Card for the old Tivo box that I mailed back today.
You gotta love it! Perverse synchronicity, but funny still

[richidoo]

Update: I couldn't deal with the poor GUI of the replacement used DVR nor its smelly used remote control, so I asked DirecTV to send me another access card for my old DirecTivo so I could see if their Tivo fix solved my rebooting problem. It has worked perfectly for 2 months without a single hiccup. The problems were totally server side. Took them several years to fix it, but I am glad it is finally stable now.