A Question for Freepers with DirectTV

Jan. 11, 2008 | MississippiMasterpiece

[NautiNurse]

It worked! Somehow it had been changed to the crop format. At least we know how to fix it the next time it happens.

Thank you!

[Son Of The Godfather]

"I like the on-demand feature, but I want to use the USB/SATA cable options to move the MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 to my laptop. Also, I want to add external storage capablity and not pay to upgrade my unit to 1TB internal."

I think (hope) the USB may come with a later upgrade, but I agree that would be awesome.

[Eva]

Hit the format button, under the tv input. Someone accidently changed the format on your tv. I know because my husband did it and made me call Direct tv to fix it.

[Tatze]

You have to change the Screen format from Crop to Pillar Box or Stretch.

[Samwise]

Do you like the NASCAR package? I’ve thought about ordering it. Hubby seems to think you don’t get to see the whole race though. How does it work?

[SaucyCranberry]

MM, I’m having this exact problem, it started late last week.
It took a few days to notice, since some things recorded perfectly. It’s strange.

I played around with the menu yesterday, and found something I think worked on my DVR, time will tell. I deleted the timers that didn’t work, deleted any shows from the DVR that were the same as the timer, then redid the “Record All” option on the shows. As of this morning they all recorded. (My problem channel seemed to be Discovery Kids). If it comes up again, I’ll bite the bullet and call DirecTV.

[SaucyCranberry]

I should say, it didn’t highlight or record multiple copies of shows, which it has been doing lately. (What I get for trying to coherently post, with my kids and puppy wrestling a foot away, LOL.)

[N. Theknow]

Do you like the NASCAR package? I’ve thought about ordering it. Hubby seems to think you don’t get to see the whole race though. How does it work?

I never liked NASCAR. LOVE Indy racing!

Then a friend of mine who can no longer go to Daytona because of poor health was asking about DirecTV. I checked and they had a "FREE" NASCAR preview race from Daytona last Fall, so I invited him and his wife over to watch.

They had 7 channels for each of 5 different racers, the main feed with speed, RPM, inside car cams and the TNT feed. Only the TNT feed had commercials. Stewart was one channel and it showed, without commercials, his car from three different angles and the live feed from TNT in split screen format. Glad I had a big screen TV. We could switch between driver channels or the TNT feed with a click of the remote and the directional keys to select the desired channel.

TNT feed was HD but the driver channels were standard definition and not HD, but still interesting, especially when it was time to pit. We could also hear the audio between the drivers and their crews, uncensored. Very little "adult language" BTW even when one of them crashed. If one crashes they switch to another driver in the race that they have as a backup.

I guess they have different drivers each race, but still pick the ones who are the cream of the crop.

Needless to say, I picked up the package for the remainder of the season.

[N. Theknow]

It worked! Somehow it had been changed to the crop format. At least we know how to fix it the next time it happens.

Thank you!

You're welcome!

Ain't FR grand!

[SJSAMPLE]

I had USB ports on my previous RCA DVR, but I never found out what it was for.

I’ve seen original reviews of the HR21 from 2005 where guys were running WMP11 through the unit to play videos, pictures and music. If it’s basically a PC, it would be nice to see extended software features matched with all that hardware (NIC, USB, SATA, etc.).

And, the ability to dial into my unit and record from the road (Mexico, Korea, China, et al) would be great. Maybe I could delete all my wife’s Oprah’s from China?

[RoseofTexas]

Book mariking for hubby when he gets home. He needs to read some of these informative posts!

[gunnedah]

Thanks for all the info FReeper. I guess I will have to wait a while longer. I am in a small town with only one cable company and you cant talk with a human at AT&T that will give me the info I need. They could put a hurting on the local cable company here if they would just try or care but I guess we are not big enough for them.

[gunnedah]

Thanks for all the info FReeper. I guess I will have to wait a while longer. I am in a small town with only one cable company and you cant talk with a human at AT&T that will give me the info I need. They could put a hurting on the local cable company here if they would just try or care but I guess we are not big enough for them.

[wolfcreek]

“I guess we are not big enough for them.”

We live on the outskirts of 1.5 million people but, not close enough for even the lousiest DSL connection.We're on the *waiting* list.

[Samwise]

You may have just picked out Hubby’s Birthday present.

[arizonarachel]

I know that something happened with our TiVo from DirecTV - is that what you have? They told us we’d need a new one.

[Son Of The Godfather]

"Maybe I could delete all my wife’s Oprah’s from China?"

I'll deliver your eulogy! lol

[SJSAMPLE]

I never said I was prepared to return ;)

[Samwise]

Geeez. I just got a call from DirectTV. (I sent a blistering letter about it.) Some girl was reading from a script about the price hike. “I DO apologize for the inconvenience.”

The bottom line, tuff turkey. If you want the channels, pay the extra five bucks. We can package them anyway we want.

What ticks me off the most is that I have been such a fan of DirectTV—until now. It’s not about the five bucks, it’s about screwing around with customers.