No Home Phone

[RandybinSC]

Currently we have our home phone setup through Comcast, but because we do not really use our home phone and just use cell phones we decided that we could probably save some money by getting rid of the comcast service. Has anybody done this with DirecTV? What happens to the service when the receiver is unable to call out?

[curt8403]

Currently we have our home phone setup through Comcast, but because we do not really use our home phone and just use cell phones we decided that we could probably save some money by getting rid of the comcast service. Has anybody done this with DirecTV? What happens to the service when the receiver is unable to call out?

technically all that will happen is that you cannot use the remote to order PPV

[Koz]

yup. It's not a big deal.

[Pink Fairy]

Exactly. And if you have older TIVO model receivers, you will get the annoying message stating that it has been yaddayadda days since it called.

[curt8403]

Exactly. And if you have older TIVO model receivers, you will get the annoying message stating that it has been yaddayadda days since it called.

I get the impression that the OP is thinking of Joining D* if that is the case, they would not get old Tivo units:D

[Skooz]

Currently we have our home phone setup through Comcast, but because we do not really use our home phone and just use cell phones we decided that we could probably save some money by getting rid of the comcast service. Has anybody done this with DirecTV? What happens to the service when the receiver is unable to call out?

We haven't had a home line since March. No problem here. You just need to order PPV through the website.

[Pink Fairy]

I get the impression that the OP is thinking of Joining D* if that is the case, they would not get old Tivo units:D

yeah, I see that now. I focused on the question, not everything else he said :D

[curt8403]

yeah, I see that now. I focused on the question, not everything else he said :D

That's OK, it's still cool

[rsforkner]

I was told by DTV Customer Service that it absolutely would not work without a phone line connected. The next person told me that it would work but that I wouldn't get any software updates. From lots of reading it appears that I was lied to both times.

I always assumed that was deliberate, trying to get me to order PPV, which I don't use. More reading and it seems that Customer Service just doesn't know any better. How sad!

When I call Customer Service or Tech Support I expect to get someone who knows more about the product than I do. These days it doesn't happen very often.

<BIG SIGH>

Bob

[Stuart Sweet]

Future releases of DIRECTV DVR software may have the ability to order PPV through the internet. See our Cutting Edge forum got more details.

[ProfLonghair]

I was told by DTV Customer Service that it absolutely would not work without a phone line connected. The next person told me that it would work but that I wouldn't get any software updates. From lots of reading it appears that I was lied to both times.

I always assumed that was deliberate, trying to get me to order PPV, which I don't use. More reading and it seems that Customer Service just doesn't know any better. How sad!

When I call Customer Service or Tech Support I expect to get someone who knows more about the product than I do. These days it doesn't happen very often.

<BIG SIGH>

Bob

I suspect that, on this front, it's more along the lines of upselling. The phone line can also be used to phone in your viewing habits (like Nielsen ratings, but I don't think they are a part of that), which can then be sold to advertisers.

And, you can get caller ID on the screen, if you have caller ID on your phone, FWIW.

[Elephanthead]

They don't care about the PPV money, they sell the information they gather about your viewing habits for big money, that is why they need the phone line, so the receiver can tell them what you watch. 1984 baby, I won't be suprised if they add a webcam to the HR 22.

[RandybinSC]

I get the impression that the OP is thinking of Joining D* if that is the case, they would not get old Tivo units:D

Actually I have had D service since August. So I was talking about my current service. Thanks for the tips though, glad to hear it will not be a problem.

[Xaa]

They don't care about the PPV money, they sell the information they gather about your viewing habits for big money, that is why they need the phone line, so the receiver can tell them what you watch. 1984 baby, I won't be suprised if they add a webcam to the HR 22.

You're just making things up......baby. :rolleyes:

[Jon Ellis]

We have DirecTV at the family cabin and dropped the landline there several years ago...still works fine. I was even able to add a new receiver last year when lightning blew out one of the old ones.

[BruceS]

If you have your receiver networked, they should be able to collect information about your viewing habits over the network just as easily as the phone.

I don't think it is there yet, but I expect this to be added in the future just like the ability to make PPV selections using the remote.

[ThomasM]

You're just making things up......baby. :rolleyes:

OH NO HE ISN'T!!

I have the "privacy preference" on my DirecTV account set up to "not collect personal viewing data". This actually shows up as a line item on my monthly billing statement!

There are actually three "settings":

1. Collect viewing habits, but nothing connecting it with your account (default).

2. Allow personal collection of viewing data INCLUDING information about your account.

3. Do NOT allow collection of personal viewing data.

In the past, you could choose your preference on the DirecTV web page in your profile but this setting mysteriously disappeared ;) when the web page was redesigned.

Well, guess what? Every 2-3 days my DVR's call in to "big brother" for some reason even though my older legacy receivers only called in once a month per box. Gee, I wonder what they are telling "big brother"? (despite my privacy choice)

If you need further convincing, hit the ACTIVE key on your remote and when the page loads highlight the "What's Hot" selection. Hey!! You can see what other DirecTV viewers are watching right now in real time!!! How do they do that since the satellite is downlink only??? DUHHHHH!!! :rolleyes:

[Xaa]

If you need further convincing, hit the ACTIVE key on your remote and when the page loads highlight the "What's Hot" selection. Hey!! You can see what other DirecTV viewers are watching right now in real time!!! How do they do that since the satellite is downlink only??? DUHHHHH!!! :rolleyes:

I stand corrected on the privacy settings, but I highly doubt real time phone calls are generating the what's hot list. That seems counter intuitive to me. Would take a lot of phone calls all day and night.

[vfr781rider]

Exactly. And if you have older TIVO model receivers, you will get the annoying message stating that it has been yaddayadda days since it called.

Is there a workaround for going through initial setup with no phone line?

We also took out our land line. Bought a new HR20 so did a 'delete and reset everything' on the HR10. Now it wants to dial out before it will activate the DVR service. I'm still using the receiver in the kitchen, but I can't record anything because it can't call out. Anyone know a way to get it working wothout a phone line? TIA

[BGreen965]

The HR10 actually does require a phone line for an initial activation. Once activated the lack of a phone line is no longer an issue. The HR/H2X never requires a phone line...

[rdiedrich]

Well, guess what? Every 2-3 days my DVR's call in to "big brother" for some reason even though my older legacy receivers only called in once a month per box. Gee, I wonder what they are telling "big brother"? (despite my privacy choice)



If they are Tivo based DVR's they are calling home for Extended Electronic Program Guide Info.

Randy

[Xaa]

That's not true Randy. All DirecTv integrated TiVos always, since day one, got their guide data via the sat. Only stand alone TiVos got their guide data via the phone.

[Pink Fairy]

Is there a workaround for going through initial setup with no phone line?

We also took out our land line. Bought a new HR20 so did a 'delete and reset everything' on the HR10. Now it wants to dial out before it will activate the DVR service. I'm still using the receiver in the kitchen, but I can't record anything because it can't call out. Anyone know a way to get it working wothout a phone line? TIA

No, the initial call has to be able to go through on a phone.

I would see if you have friends with DIRECTV and a home phone, so you can record again.

[Tom Servo]

I take it that DirecTV no longer shuts off mirrored receivers that are not connected to phone lines? At my previous residence they got cut off two or three times because I didn't want to run a phone cable across the room. We didn't have sports subscriptions or PPVs via remote, so it was always a mystery.

In my current residence it's not an issue but all except the living room is disonnected out of laziness. So far, they haven't cut any off in almost 2 years.

:confused:

[frederic1943]

They're going to have to make changes. In just a few years most households won't have a landline.:D

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently checked households for cell phone use.
In 2003, only 1 out of every 28 (3.5%) adults lived in wireless-only (cell phone) household, by the end of 2006, one out of every eight (12.5%) adults lived in wireless-only households.
Approximately 26 million adults and 8.5 million kids live in households with only wireless telephones.
One-half of all wireless-only adults were less than 30 years of age. One in four adults aged 18-24 years (25.2 percent) lived in households with only cell phones.
Nearly 30 percent of adults aged 25-29 years lived in households with only wireless telephones.
Adults living in the South (14.0 percent) were more likely than adults living in the Northeast (8.6 percent) to be living in households with only wireless telephones. In the Midwest it was 11.4 percent and 11.0 percent of those in the West lived in wireless households.
The CDC checked households to determine if they used only cell phones, for the sake of accuracy in gathering statistical data. CDC reasoned, given the growing numbers of homes that only use cell phones, if cell phone owners aren't included in health studies (or other surveys, for that matter) conducted by phone, the results could be skewed.

[rdiedrich]

That's not true Randy. All DirecTv integrated TiVos always, since day one, got their guide data via the sat. Only stand alone TiVos got their guide data via the phone.

I stand corrected then I always thought it was that way for both.

Thanks!

Randy