Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Standard Definition DirecTV TiVos (or DirecTiVos) - FAQ

Collapse
This is a sticky topic.
X
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 3
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 3 template Next
  • #1

    Standard Definition DirecTV TiVos (or DirecTiVos) - FAQ

    Which models are these?

    Originally, DirecTV had this equipment manufactured by several outside companies based on the engineering plans they drew up with TiVo. Eventually, the started branding the units in-house.

    Here is a list of all Standard Definition DirecTV TiVos, roughly in release order:

    First generation
    Philips DSR6000, DSR6000r, and DSR6000r01
    Sony SAT T-60
    Hughes GXCEBOT and GXCEBOTD

    Second Generation
    Hughes HDVR2 (sometimes called HDVR3), SD-DVR40, SD-DVR80, and SD-DVR120
    Philips DSR7000, DSR704, and DSR708
    Samsung S4120R, S4040R, and S4080R
    DirecTV R10

    What's the difference between the first and second generations?

    All of these units have dual tuner support. The first generation units could hold two drives on their internal bracket; for the second generation, you need a TwinBreeze or other bracket to install a second drive. The second generation has USB ports, but they're turned off by DirecTV. The second generation has a faster processor that allows for faster software, and for the Folder feature among other things.

    What can fail in these units?

    Hard drives, since they are spinning all of the time, are the most likely components to fail inside these units. Also, fans, power supplies, tuners, and entire motherboards can fail. Except for motherboards, the parts are easily replaceable.

    Drive failures

    The most typical signs of drive failure are: TiVo is rebooting, TiVo is stuck on "Powering Up...", TiVo is stuttering or freezing, and TiVo is taking much, much to long to complete on-screen processes. In those cases, a replacement hard drive almost always fixes the problems.

    Overheating

    Generally, just a bad fan, and replacements are available.

    Dialing problems

    Lots of things can cause dialing problems, but the top two offenders are a bad modem, and VoIP. Each of these can be overcome with an external TiVo modem kit.

    Just nothing at all on the screen

    If you get nothing at all on-screen when you power up the TiVo, you likely have a bad power supply. Replacements are available for most DirecTV TiVos.
    Tags: None
    • Stuck
  • #2
    The main board on my Hughes HDVR2 fried. Does anyone know where I might be able to purchase one? Thanks.

    Comment

    • #3
      We have something close, new and refurbished, here:

      http://www.weaknees.com/directv-tivo.php

      If you get a bare refurb, you're getting a power supply and case also. That's the closest we have to getting just the board.
      Been here a long time . . .

      Comment

      • #4
        Dsr6000r01

        I have a DSR6000R01. It will not finish powering up, just keeps going back to same screen over & over. Do I need a new hard drive? Is it hard to install(not a computer savvy person), & is it worth fixing? We only record & delete, never ran out of room. Thanks Darc

        Comment

        • #5
          Yes, rebooting is a typical sign of hard drive failure. And they're pretty easy to install yourself. You should get a replace kit from here:

          http://www.weaknees.com/dsr6.php
          Been here a long time . . .

          Comment

          • #6
            Hello,
            I *think* this might be my first post...
            I have a 3.5yr old Phillips DSR704 (2-tuner TiVo) I LOVE my Tivo!

            My issues:
            1) I am running out of room, as this unit only has 38 hours. I know the solution for #1 is to buy a BIGGER Hard Drive, and I am ready to do that.

            2) My Tivo is starting to Power Off & On by itself and, well - since I did read this page before posting, my Hard Drive is beginning to wear out.

            But my question about #2 is more about 'software' issues, IF that is a 2nd issue at all.
            My tivo will tell me that it can't record a program because, "this episode will not be recorded. Check 13 SA13 in Channels You Receive, or call DirecTV to order". 13 is MY CBS station AND I record Letterman EVERY nite of week!
            Tech people at DirecTV have told me that my hard drive is wearing out. -> Is that what is happening?
            I DO want to ++increase the size of my Hard Drive, but with the issues that I've tired to explain above, do I need to do something else besides getting a bigger Hard Drive? Do I also need NEW TiVo software installed on any new hard drive that I purchase?

            THANK YOU so much in advance for ANY info/advice that you can offer,


            Scott
            Modesto, Ca

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by WerksRacer View Post
              My tivo will tell me that it can't record a program because, "this episode will not be recorded. Check 13 SA13 in Channels You Receive, or call DirecTV to order". 13 is MY CBS station AND I record Letterman EVERY nite of week!
              Tech people at DirecTV have told me that my hard drive is wearing out. -> Is that what is happening?
              This sounds like a drive/software glitch that should be solved with a new hard drive. It doesn't sound like an issue with the motherboard of the unit.

              Comment

              • #8
                WK-Jeff,
                so then the Software IS on the Hard Drive and not on the Motherboard, correct?
                Out of curiosity, what problems occur when the Motherboard has issues?

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by WerksRacer View Post
                  WK-Jeff,
                  so then the Software IS on the Hard Drive and not on the Motherboard, correct?
                  Out of curiosity, what problems occur when the Motherboard has issues?
                  Right--software is on the drive, not the motherboard.

                  Motherboard symptoms are far too numerous to list...like the Supreme Court said with hardcore pornography, "I know it when I see it."

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Thanks for the replies Jeff.
                    I have a couple of questions, I do Not see a way to send you a PM, nor am I sure Where to ask General Questions. Sorry.
                    - I see that WK has a store, but has your site ever had a Classifieds section, where members could sell their Used & Unused equipment?
                    - do you guys think there will come a time where DirecTV will put an end to TiVo working with the older units/the units that are Not DirecTV DVRs?
                    I know that's a Frightening thought! And if DirecTV were to ever try that, they'd probably have multiple lawsuits on their hands.

                    and finally,
                    I am getting ready to change careers, the new job will cause me to travel a great deal, for months at a time. I'm not ashamed to say it, I enjoy being entertained by TV, and I'd miss being able to watch TV out on the road.
                    I had a thought the other day and I'd like your Opinion/Advice/Suggeston:
                    as I stated earlier on this thread, I want to Upgrade my current 38hr unit to somewhere between 250-500GB. Then, I thought I'd buy a 2nd unit in the 250GB size. I'd leave one at home and take the other (filled with recordings) out on the road with me and use it *only* as a player. A couple of months go by and get back home, I simply Switch the 2 units - the Player becomes the Recorder at my home and the Recorder goes out on the road with me as the new Player. Will these units work like that? Do you think DirecTV will have a problem with this? (i know, ask THEM!)
                    Thanks, again.
                    Keep up the good work,


                    Scott

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      - I see that WK has a store, but has your site ever had a Classifieds section, where members could sell their Used & Unused equipment?
                      Sorry, we don't.

                      - do you guys think there will come a time where DirecTV will put an end to TiVo working with the older units/the units that are Not DirecTV DVRs?
                      We highly doubt it. TiVo customers are DIRECTV's most loyal. DIRECTV stopped supporting UltimateTV, Microsoft's DIRECTV DVR, a LONG time ago but they are still in the field.

                      I am getting ready to change careers, the new job will cause me to travel a great deal, for months at a time. I'm not ashamed to say it, I enjoy being entertained by TV, and I'd miss being able to watch TV out on the road.
                      I had a thought the other day and I'd like your Opinion/Advice/Suggeston:
                      as I stated earlier on this thread, I want to Upgrade my current 38hr unit to somewhere between 250-500GB. Then, I thought I'd buy a 2nd unit in the 250GB size. I'd leave one at home and take the other (filled with recordings) out on the road with me and use it *only* as a player. A couple of months go by and get back home, I simply Switch the 2 units - the Player becomes the Recorder at my home and the Recorder goes out on the road with me as the new Player. Will these units work like that? Do you think DirecTV will have a problem with this? (i know, ask THEM!)
                      I don't think DIRECTV would have a problem with this, and yes, the units should work like that.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        R10 keeps rebooting

                        Hello, my DirecTV DVR R10 has a WK Maxtor Quickview 250gb expansion drive with the twinbreeze bracket and fans. The original HD is a Western Digital 80gb drive.

                        The system is constantly rebooting now, starts at the "Welcome, Powering Up" then "Just A Few Minutes More" screen when the front LED goes out and it starts the reboot sequence again. Same sequence as above.

                        So I'm wondering if this is a HD, power supply or ?? issue?

                        DirecTV of course just wants to replace it with their non-Tivo box and I cringe at the thought of that. However I'd hate to plunk down ~ $150 for a replacement drive only to find that's not the problem.

                        Any assistance with this is appreciated.

                        Thank you... SPRUDO

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          That's almost definitely a hard drive problem. A "replace" kit for your model should fix the problem:

                          http://www.weaknees.com/r10a.php
                          Been here a long time . . .

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Originally posted by WK-Jeff View Post
                            I don't think DIRECTV would have a problem with this, and yes, the units should work like that.
                            I have a HDDVR, a standard receiver and two TIVO units. One of the units was sending spikes causing problems with all my other receivers. They would pixelate and the audio would cut out for anywhere between 1 and 15 seconds.

                            Nothing more frustrating than to be watching a show and not know what they are saying.

                            DirecTV came out many times to resolve the issue. They even removed the HDDVR from the multi-switch and re-installed my old dish. The HD no longer had issues but I still had problems with the bedroom TIVO. As it turned out, my Hughes R10 TIVO developed a major problem. Its tuner 2 was sending out voltage spikes to the point that it blew the multi-switch. I replaced the switch only to see the pixelation return.

                            DirecTV sent me out a DVR to replace the TIVO and I asked the Customer Relations person if I could hook up the TIVO unit to an analog to digital converter so that I could record the movies to my PC. He said that I could if I temporally re-activate the TIVO. It seems that the unit can't access the recording portion without the dish connected and the unit re-activated. He told me that I could call DirecTV and have it reconnected temporarry until I could download the movies and then have the unit de-activated.

                            I would be interested to know if WK's techs have tried what has been suggested/requested (connect a TIVO to a tv or computer via an analog to digital converter without the satellite dish connected and without any activation) to see if the tv or computer can view the recorded items.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Sure - if the unit can play recordings, then you can grab them on a computer with a video capture card.
                              Been here a long time . . .

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 3 template Next
                              Working...
                              X