PPV Reporting

[phil_9489]

Just looked up my current bill online and saw a number of PPV charges recently added. Turns out that our teenage son ordered the movies. He'll pay for them, but that's not my concern. What puzzles me is how the PPV charges were reported to DirecTV. The HR22 that was used to order and view the PPV is not connected via phone line or ethernet. Only one receiver in the house (R22) is currently connected to the internet, via hardwired ethernet, and that receiver shows nothing in the Purchase History. The PPV's weren't ordered by phone and he doesn't have access to order online. So how was he able to order PPV using the remote? Can the receivers communicate to each other via the SWM? I thought that PPV's would not be able to be ordered and charged using the remote if the phoneline and ethernet were not connected.

Our setup: 2 HR22's and 2 R22's with SWM LNB. None are connected to phone lines. One R22 is connected to the internet via hardwired ethernet. We have been with DirecTV since March of this year.

[Aztec Pilot]

A lot of times the reciever will allow a certain amount of PPV w/o communicating with D*. My recievers all have a $10 limit. Then it will call up and turn them all in. If the reciever has never been connected, it does not seem possible. That is curious.

[Tigerman73]

Are you sure he doesn't have online access?

[fortnerw]

Ask teenage son how it ordered them. Accept no BS

[phil_9489]

Are you sure he doesn't have online access?

I haven't given him the login and password to access online. I trust him when he tells me he ordered using the remote. We had cable previously and that's how PPV's are ordered with cable. The PPV charges on the online statement indicate the accesscard # of the HR22 used to order it. How would the statement show a PPV ordered by phone or online?

[bridge]

I would think that D* will be able to tell you how the order was placed. My first thought it that junior hooked that receiver to a phone line or ethernet and it enabled the remote ordering. However, when I've done this with older receivers (pre-ethernet connections at that), I would have to call D* and ask them to reset the box or wait a given period of time...either way, it wasn't immediate. I'm not certain how these newer boxes handle this.

If he's over 12 and motivated he's fully capable of figuring out and assembling a nuclear device...so I'm sure he can figure a way to beat the box!

[davring]

You will probably find a fifty foot phone line coiled up in the bottom of his closet, or under his socks:)

[JLucPicard]

I thought that PPV's would not be able to be ordered and charged using the remote if the phoneline and ethernet were not connected.
I'm not sure if that's functionally accurate, or if that's just what is said to encourage that they somehow do get connected. If there is no phone line (or internet connection), I believe you can still order using the remote but there is a dollar limit set on the cards that once the stored charges reach that limit you cannot order any more until the purchases are downloaded and the access card is cleared. I am still baffled as to how the box connected with the mother ship to download the purchases, though.

I do believe that you can call DirecTV and have them 'shut off' the remote ordering. Or you could set the parental controls on his box or on all of your boxes.

Wow - if you've only been hooked up since March, he didn't waste any time, did he? :eek2:

[cariera]

Are the ppvs in the "Movies Now" folder or whatever it is now called, reported differently to Directv when ordered?:):)

[Jeremy W]

I'm not sure if that's functionally accurate, or if that's just what is said to encourage that they somehow do get connected. If there is no phone line (or internet connection), I believe you can still order using the remote but there is a dollar limit set on the cards that once the stored charges reach that limit you cannot order any more until the purchases are downloaded and the access card is cleared.
DirecTV can and sometimes does automatically shut off remote ordering if a box hasn't called in after a certain period of time.
Are the ppvs in the "Movies Now" folder or whatever it is now called, reported differently to Directv when ordered?:):)
A PPV is a PPV, whether it's recorded off a linear channel, stored in Movies Now, or downloaded via VOD. It's all the same.

[Shades228]

DirecTV can and sometimes does automatically shut off remote ordering if a box hasn't called in after a certain period of time.

A PPV is a PPV, whether it's recorded off a linear channel, stored in Movies Now, or downloaded via VOD. It's all the same.

I believe that PPV are showing up different now when downloaded via VOD. I'll have to look on my last bill but it was labeled differently then it was before if I recall correctly.

[Shades228]

Just looked up my current bill online and saw a number of PPV charges recently added. Turns out that our teenage son ordered the movies. He'll pay for them, but that's not my concern. What puzzles me is how the PPV charges were reported to DirecTV. The HR22 that was used to order and view the PPV is not connected via phone line or ethernet. Only one receiver in the house (R22) is currently connected to the internet, via hardwired ethernet, and that receiver shows nothing in the Purchase History. The PPV's weren't ordered by phone and he doesn't have access to order online. So how was he able to order PPV using the remote? Can the receivers communicate to each other via the SWM? I thought that PPV's would not be able to be ordered and charged using the remote if the phoneline and ethernet were not connected.

Our setup: 2 HR22's and 2 R22's with SWM LNB. None are connected to phone lines. One R22 is connected to the internet via hardwired ethernet. We have been with DirecTV since March of this year.

Call in and they can tell you how it was ordered. My bet is that he connected it to the net to look at on demand stuff as well.

[Jeremy W]

I believe that PPV are showing up different now when downloaded via VOD. I'll have to look on my last bill but it was labeled differently then it was before if I recall correctly.
It may be labelled differently, but the reporting method is the same. I was not trying to imply that DirecTV doesn't know which method was used to view the PPV.

[Shades228]

It may be labelled differently, but the reporting method is the same. I was not trying to imply that DirecTV doesn't know which method was used to view the PPV.

I was just clarifying that the OP may look on his bill and see how it was ordered as well if it was done via VOD.

[Doug Brott]

Just looked up my current bill online and saw a number of PPV charges recently added. Turns out that our teenage son ordered the movies. He'll pay for them, but that's not my concern. What puzzles me is how the PPV charges were reported to DirecTV. The HR22 that was used to order and view the PPV is not connected via phone line or ethernet. Only one receiver in the house (R22) is currently connected to the internet, via hardwired ethernet, and that receiver shows nothing in the Purchase History. The PPV's weren't ordered by phone and he doesn't have access to order online. So how was he able to order PPV using the remote? Can the receivers communicate to each other via the SWM? I thought that PPV's would not be able to be ordered and charged using the remote if the phoneline and ethernet were not connected.

Our setup: 2 HR22's and 2 R22's with SWM LNB. None are connected to phone lines. One R22 is connected to the internet via hardwired ethernet. We have been with DirecTV since March of this year.

You know, anything is possible ...

[Tom Servo]

I'm not sure if that's functionally accurate, or if that's just what is said to encourage that they somehow do get connected. If there is no phone line (or internet connection), I believe you can still order using the remote but there is a dollar limit set on the cards that once the stored charges reach that limit you cannot order any more until the purchases are downloaded and the access card is cleared. I am still baffled as to how the box connected with the mother ship to download the purchases, though.


You can definitely purchase PPVs without connecting the unit to a phone line or ethernet — back in the good old days a friend gave me a spare RCA unit and when I activated it I was charged for his two queued PPV movies. :bang

[Mike Bertelson]

You can definitely purchase PPVs without connecting the unit to a phone line or ethernet — back in the good old days a friend gave me a spare RCA unit and when I activated it I was charged for his two queued PPV movies. :bangIn this particular case there is not connection to the outside world and yet the PPVs were received and charged to the OPs account.

The only possible ways this can happen(as it relates to the OP): Ordered online/cell phone, which didn't happen.
Some sort of communication between the receivers so the network connected box can "phone home".
Other then that I got nothin'. :grin:

Mike

[phil_9489]

Some more info on this:

Checking the purchase history on the receiver, it shows purchases made on different days throughout the month of April. The DirecTV online statement shows multiple PPV charges all dated 4/29, as if that was when the accumulated charges were communicated back to DirecTV. No PPV charges posted prior to 4/29. Coincidentally, our receivers' software was upgraded on 4/29 too, based on the System Info screen.

Also, in the System Info section, under Network, the status shows "Network Connected". Internet is shown as Not Connected. Why would it say connected when there is no ethernet connected to the box?

[RobertE]

I can neither confirm or deny that receivers on a SWM system are starting to talk to each other. ;)

[Doug Brott]

I can neither confirm or deny that receivers on a SWM system are starting to talk to each other. ;)

Robert, sounds like Phil has done some confirming for you :)

[dodge boy]

Isn't that what that whole LNB out thing that would always fail was for?

I know someone posted here that if you have 1 HR22, per say, hooked up to a phone line and another one that isn't, if they are connected with a SWM and have caller ID turned on caller ID info will display on both.....

MRV will be done through the SWM switches eventually aswell........

[dodge boy]

I have a question about the SWM communication, I have a regular mutli switch which feeds into my computer room, then downstream of that switch, I ran 4 lines from it to a SWM8, does it allow communication from it back to the other switch and to the box in the computer room?

[Jeremy W]

I have a question about the SWM communication, I have a regular mutli switch which feeds into my computer room, then downstream of that switch, I ran 4 lines from it to a SWM8, does it allow communication from it back to the other switch and to the box in the computer room?
No. The multiswitch will block all communications.

[dodge boy]

No. The multiswitch will block all communications.

Does the SWM communicate to units hooked into the Legacy ports of the unit? Just want to know incase I hook up a receiver there for a TV in the basement... I have an R22 I don't want to network and I don't feel like running a phone line to. I just want to be sure if I order PPVs on it's remote D* will get the signal, if not I will disable the ability to order PPVs via that unit's remote.
Thanks....

[RobertE]

Does the SWM communicate to units hooked into the Legacy ports of the unit? Just want to know incase I hook up a receiver there for a TV in the basement... I have an R22 I don't want to network and I don't feel like running a phone line to. I just want to be sure if I order PPVs on it's remote D* will get the signal, if not I will disable the ability to order PPVs via that unit's remote.
Thanks....

I don't have any additional information either way about the legacy ports or paralled SWiMs.

[ThomasM]

Still can't figure out how you got billed for the PPV shows if the receiver that supposedly ordered them did it via remote but here are a few observations.

If a PPV is ordered online, it still only costs $4.99 but it appears on ALL TV's on the account. So check the history file in your other receivers and if the PPV movies are on (or were on) all receivers it was ordered online.

If the automated phone system is used, there is an EXTRA charge (I think it's $1.50) If a PPV is ordered by speaking to a live person, there is a $5 EXTRA charge. In any event, either method again will result in the PPV showing up on ALL the receivers on the account.

If these PPV films are ONLY on your son's receiver, they WERE ordered via remote. The big question is how that remote reported the purchases back to DirecTV.

One tip you might find helpful-you can call DirecTV and have IPPV (ordering via remote) DISABLED on your account so this doesn't happen in the future. The receiver will display a "check phone line" error message if an attempt is made to purchase anything via remote. I have this on my account so surprise PPV purchases from visitors can't happen.

[phil_9489]

If a PPV is ordered online, it still only costs $4.99 but it appears on ALL TV's on the account. So check the history file in your other receivers and if the PPV movies are on (or were on) all receivers it was ordered online.

None of the other receivers show any PPV history.

If the automated phone system is used, there is an EXTRA charge (I think it's $1.50) If a PPV is ordered by speaking to a live person, there is a $5 EXTRA charge. In any event, either method again will result in the PPV showing up on ALL the receivers on the account.

There were no additional charges on the account to indicate online or phone ordering surcharges.

If these PPV films are ONLY on your son's receiver, they WERE ordered via remote. The big question is how that remote reported the purchases back to DirecTV.

That is the main question of the OP. I get the impression from RobertE and Doug Brott that there is communication over coax to the receiver with connection to the internet.

One tip you might find helpful-you can call DirecTV and have IPPV (ordering via remote) DISABLED on your account so this doesn't happen in the future. The receiver will display a "check phone line" error message if an attempt is made to purchase anything via remote. I have this on my account so surprise PPV purchases from visitors can't happen.

Thanks for the tip, but no need to disable PPV. He's responsible, has a job (he's 18) and will pay for them. In fact he paid my wife for PPV's he viewed before we even got the bill.

[RobertE]

That is the main question of the OP. I get the impression from RobertE and Doug Brott that there is communication over coax to the receiver with connection to the internet.


With Software versions (0x02F4/0x02F5/0x2F6) the following models will communicate PPV and other call back data back through one or more receivers that are connected to a phone line or have an internet connection on a SWiM system.

HR20-100 • HR20-700
HR21-100 • HR21-200 • HR21-700 • HR21Pro
HR22-100 • HR22-200 • HR23-700
R22-200 • R22-100

[JoeTheDragon]

None of the other receivers show any PPV history.


That is the main question of the OP. I get the impression from RobertE and Doug Brott that there is communication over coax to the receiver with connection to the internet.


Will the boxes be able to use that link for MVR, VOD, and Diagnostics info?

[Jeremy W]

I don't have any additional information either way about the legacy ports or paralled SWiMs.
There's no way it could work on the legacy ports or parallel SWMs.
Will the boxes be able to use that link for MVR, VOD, and Diagnostics info?
Without knowing too much about the underlying communications, I would say it's highly doubtful that the connection has enough bandwidth for MRV or VOD. Diagnostics information is probably already being reported along with the PPVs.

[RobertE]

There's no way it could work on the legacy ports or parallel SWMs.



Theres no hard evidence either way at this point. So to say there's no way it could work, is a little premature at this point. Several swore that communications between boxes wasn't possible either and yet here we are.

[Jeremy W]

Theres no hard evidence either way at this point. So to say there's no way it could work, is a little premature at this point.
If you just think about it and use some logical reasoning, you'll come to the conclusion that there's no way it could work. Aside from the fact that the legacy ports are designed for legacy receivers that don't have the ability to communicate in the first place, the frequency they use to communicate is not available.