Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

hr20 problem with recorded shows

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    hr20 problem with recorded shows

    About 3 weeks ago I started having problems with one of my 2 hr20 dvrs. The problem seems to coincide with a software update (but I'm not sure of that). The receiver works fine when watching live programs, but when I record a show, the recording seems to stutter a lot. It doesn't always happen, but frequently when watching a recorded show.

    It also happens when I pause a show and then come back and start playing it again. If I fast forward to catch up with the live broadcast, then it's fine again.

    This only happens on one of my two hr20s. Any thoughts on a fix would be most welcome. Thank you.

    I'm really hoping the new Directivos come out before I need to replace my DVR.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Did you try a red-button reset? Press the red button near the access card and see if that helps matters.

    Comment

    • #3
      Thank you. I will try that and get post back here again tomorrow.

      Comment

      • #4
        As best I can tell, there are a number of similar reports with the 0x368 software update, but I can't tell if the problem is related to those using external drives.

        Anyone know about a fix or a work around?

        TIA

        Comment

        • #5
          I reset the receiver using the red button near the access card and it did not fix the problem. Any other suggestion? I am not using an external drive.

          I have 2 identical boxes I got from Directv about 2 years ago. Only one of them is having this problem.

          Again, it is only a problem when watching recorded content: either a recorded program from my play list, or if I pause a program and come back in push play. It is fine if watching live.

          If I can't get it working soon, I may need to contact Directv about getting a new dvr. I was really hoping that these boxes would last until an HD directivo is available.

          Thanks for any suggestions.

          Comment

          • #6
            Pretty strange, but it does sound like a DVR problem. You could actually try an external and see if that helps. It may be that the internal drive is failing, and an external would mean not using the internal anymore.
            Been here a long time . . .

            Comment

            • #7
              I had thought about that, but isn't it true that even when watching a "live" show I'm actually watching it off of the hard drive? Am I wrong?

              I tried uplugging it for 20 seconds and plugging it back in. I've done that once already, but from what I've read sometimes a second time fixes issues.

              Also, I emailed Directv about it and they said I would have to call tech support and have them trouble shoot it over the phone before they'd consider replacing it. Oh joy.

              I'll let you know what happens. I may go with the external drive. Thanks for the suggestion. I will contact you nice folks if I decide to get the external drive.

              Comment

              • #8
                Well, it may be that with software updates, the HR line isn't caching live TV - I really don't know for certain that that's still the way they work, and the disparity in your posts between live and recorded TV suggest that maybe live TV isn't cached in your unit.
                Been here a long time . . .

                Comment

                • #9
                  It is recording the show when I pause, but when I push "play" the recorded content stutters so badly it's unwatchable. When I fast forward to the end and catch up to real time, then it plays fine. It also does this with shows I've recorded. It's very odd.

                  I'll let Directv try to trouble shoot it over the phone with me sometime soon when I have 5 or 6 hours to spend on hold and talking to one of their moron techs. They won't send me a new unit until I suffer through this.

                  WK-Michael, if I send it to you folks, can you have a look at it and see if you can figure it out? (I realize there would be a fee to diagnose and repair it.) It would be easier than suffering with Directv techs.

                  Thanks for your help.
                  Last edited by darthemma; 12-06-2009, 05:55 PM.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    We can certainly try, but the problem is, with those units, we can't fix all problems.

                    Do you specifically need the functionality of an HR20, i.e. OTA?
                    Been here a long time . . .

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Ok, I talked to the Directv tech - he was actually intelligent and treated me like a reasonably smart person (that's not always been my experience with Directv).

                      I told him what I had done so far (unplugging and resetting with the red reset button). He told me to try the "reset everything" option (under system settings). So, I did that and it seems to be working okay now. He promised me if the problem happens again that they'd send me a new HD DVR.

                      I noticed something peculiar before I did the "reset everything." When I turned on the box and paused it, it looked like it had video in the buffer. It didn't used to do that. It doesn't do that now. Just thought I'd mention that.

                      Anyway, thanks for your help. I really want to keep the 2 hr20s I have for now until the HD Directivos become available next year. When that happens, I'll be contacting you to buy 2.

                      Thanks again, Michael.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Hmm. Maybe it installed new software after the update.
                        Been here a long time . . .

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Well, the problem came back. I called Directv. The are sending me a new box and I have to send the HR20 back to them. He said he thinks the hard drive is failling (just like you said, Michael). I just wish it hadn't taken a month of back and forth to get them to do it.

                          Anyway, they are shipping me an HR22-100C-R HD DVR via 2 day FedEx. I don't use the OTA antennas on the HR20 anyway. I told them that I thought they should eat the shipping too. He was able to take $10 off the normal $19.95, so I will pay only $9.95 plus tax to have the new box shipped and they are paying the postage to return the old HR20. Fortunately, I didn't have to extend my service contract with them to do this. I mentioned that four-letter word "DISH" and that made them very cooperative.

                          Just thought I'd let you know how it all turned out. This indeed was a failing hard drive.

                          By the way, when the new Directivos come out next year, I'll be getting 2 of them from you guys. I like the tivo interface much better than the directv software.

                          Thanks again for your help and happy holidays.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Thanks for the update!

                            Yup - we can't wait for the new boxes also . . .
                            Been here a long time . . .

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              The problems with stuttering on my HR-20 seemed to have coincided with the software upgrade that allowed the double play feature.

                              It does seem to be more prevalent on some channels than others. For example, my HD coverage of the Masters on CBS was gorgeous and never stuttered once. I watched almost all the coverage with lots of FF and RWs.

                              But anything on ESPN and my local fox for two examples stutter pretty consistently, sometimes very badly.

                              The twist is that I do think my harddrive is on it's last legs, I'm getting a grinding sound from it maybe 10% of the time now, whether the unit is on or not.

                              But it is just so odd that this all seems to have initiated with the software upgrade.

                              Any ideas on if any of this sounds like something you've heard of before?

                              Comment

                              Previous template Next
                              Working...
                              X