View Full Version : DVR Service not active
IF I had an R15, or an HR*, and I had recorded movies to it, would I have an issue watching those movies if I no longer had service...? For example, lets say I took it on the road (I know, its leased, not supposed to do it), if I didnt have a satellite dish (therefore, SFSS), would I still be able to watch what I recorded?
What if the receiver recognized that the card was deactivated, would I still be able to?
Davenlr
11-03-07, 02:12 PM
Pretty sure it will play back recorded programs for a while, since it works during storms when the sat signal is out. I'm almost positive it won't work at all if the card is deactivated. I was able to watch and tune OTA channels before authorizing a new receiver, but it wouldn't record them.
Pretty sure it will play back recorded programs for a while, since it works during storms when the sat signal is out. I'm almost positive it won't work at all if the card is deactivated. I was able to watch and tune OTA channels before authorizing a new receiver, but it wouldn't record them.
SO essentially, if I ever cancel service with D*, im toast when it comes to my recorded programs?
Anyone ever yanked the drive out and played with it before?!?
ncxcstud
11-03-07, 02:24 PM
I thought, whatever you recorded was still able to be viewed.
I've recorded stuff, moved it to another room without a connection to the dish and was able to watch stuff fine...
Didn't try taking out the card though.
gully_foyle
11-03-07, 02:26 PM
Anyone ever yanked the drive out and played with it before?!?The recordings are encrypted, so good luck with that.
Davenlr
11-03-07, 02:26 PM
Really wouldn't matter. It records the encoded bitstream directly from D* to the drive. When you play it, it decodes it with the authorized key on the access card. No valid access card, you just have a lot of useless bits on the drive. Believe me, I would love to be able to copy recorded movies to my computer from the HR20 but it just can't be done directly.
Really wouldn't matter. It records the encoded bitstream directly from D* to the drive. When you play it, it decodes it with the authorized key on the access card. No valid access card, you just have a lot of useless bits on the drive. Believe me, I would love to be able to copy recorded movies to my computer from the HR20 but it just can't be done directly.
What about the eSATA option that everyone seems to be using? When you move it from one receiver to another it reformats the drive, but what about receiver to computer?
AND, without trying to hijack this thread towards legalese... DVD Decryption software, but for DVRs?
What I am really trying to figure out right now is this.
Im going to OWN an R15. Im going to record things to it. If I decide to cancel my service completely in 2 months, will I still be able to watch what I've previously recorded on my DVR, or is it going to give me an error?
What if I unplug the sat connection so the card can never update to realize that instead of SFSS its not active... Will the card eventually time out and not allow me to watch what I've recorded?
Pink Fairy
11-03-07, 05:05 PM
Without an active account AND dvr service active on the account, it will not work.
If you are just taking it somewhere, then it will work, as long as the services are active on the account.
Without an active account AND dvr service active on the account, it will not work.
If you are just taking it somewhere, then it will work, as long as the services are active on the account.
If I throw it in my toy box, go out to dumont, (remember, im saying I dont have a dish), turn it on, even though im getting SFSS, will I be able to exit, then menu, then playlist?!?
//
Thanks everyone for your responses.
Pink Fairy
11-03-07, 05:21 PM
Yes, you should be able to. When we were having really severe weather I was/am still able to watch my recorded shows.
2rivers
11-03-07, 05:33 PM
Why don't you test it? Turn the box off, unplug, take out the card, disconnect the satellite feed. Plug box in, turn box on, see what happens. If necessary, insert card, see what happens.
IIRC, once the card is out of the data stream for so long, it is "suspended". You must call them to un-suspend the card. However, I seem to remember that I was able to get to my playlist on my SeriesII DirecTivo even though the card was "suspended" one time for being unplugged for too long. I don't think it will work at all with no card whatsoever though, and you won't be able to get past the "insert access card" screen.
Why don't you test it? Turn the box off, unplug, take out the card, disconnect the satellite feed. Plug box in, turn box on, see what happens. If necessary, insert card, see what happens.
IIRC, once the card is out of the data stream for so long, it is "suspended". You must call them to un-suspend the card. However, I seem to remember that I was able to get to my playlist on my SeriesII DirecTivo even though the card was "suspended" one time for being unplugged for too long. I don't think it will work at all with no card whatsoever though, and you won't be able to get past the "insert access card" screen.
Oh I plan to leave the card in the receiver... I was just curios to see how I would need to make it all work... because the card gets the authorization via SAT1, so, if I unplugged SAT1, the card couldnt update to find out that it didnt have ANY programming. Eventually, the card would time out because it needed to update, but Im wondering if that time out would effect my recordings.
Im also interested to see if theres a difference between the TIVO's and the DVR Plus's in regards to that.
I have neither receiver now, but, I THINK, that on the Tivo, even if you dont have service, you can watch your recordings, but with the R15... Im pretty sure it'll lock you out!
So, in due time, I will know (haha)
itguy05
11-03-07, 08:52 PM
This is the way it worked for my DirecTIVO:
We had DTV until Sept 05 when we had a fire at our house (nothing major), but were out of the house for 2 months. I called and suspended DTV. The restoration people took our DTivo and didn't give it back until Dec 05 when we moved back in. At that time, we had Comcast installed because DTV wanted way too much for HiDef for our new TV.
The DTivo sat in storage until this summer when I sold it on ebay. I fired it up and was able to play the shows I had recorded. It had been out of the stream for almost 2 years at that point, so any keys probably were long expired.
Not sure if they changed this on the new DVR boxes though.
I'm pretty sure with the HR20's at least that if I cannot find a sat during start up you will also not be able to play back anything already recorded. Older Tivos you can however. No idea about the R15
For the R15 if DVR service gets shut off, you can still watch what is already record but
just play and stop works no FF or REV or pause, and if you press stop it starts at the beginning, it also will drop service if it is not hookup to the satellite for more than a week or so.
For the R15 if DVR service gets shut off, you can still watch what is already record but
just play and stop works no FF or REV or pause, and if you press stop it starts at the beginning, it also will drop service if it is not hookup to the satellite for more than a week or so.
I don't think this is correct.
If you disconnect the R15 from the dish before you have it deactivated, and leave it disconnected, it will work for some period of time to let you play back previously recorded shows. All trick play functions should still work. I think it will eventually shut itself off (all receivers and DVRs get periodic re-authorization via the satellite, so when it fails to get this, it will stop working).
If you deactivate the R15 while it is still connected to the dish, it will get the deactivation signal and all DVR functions will stop working at that time.
If the unit is leased, then when you deactivate it you will most likely be required to return it, so it kind of doesn't matter if it plays or not.
Carl
I don't think this is correct.
If you disconnect the R15 from the dish before you have it deactivated, and leave it disconnected, it will work for some period of time to let you play back previously recorded shows. All trick play functions should still work. I think it will eventually shut itself off (all receivers and DVRs get periodic re-authorization via the satellite, so when it fails to get this, it will stop working).
If you deactivate the R15 while it is still connected to the dish, it will get the deactivation signal and all DVR functions will stop working at that time.
If the unit is leased, then when you deactivate it you will most likely be required to return it, so it kind of doesn't matter if it plays or not.
Carl
Yea, thats my point... the unit will be OWNED so im looking at the benefits of having it there afterword.
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