View Full Version : Phone line question
leannza1
07-03-07, 02:35 PM
I realize this question has probably been posted before. Please bear with me, as I'm a new user of this forum.
I have had Directv's DVR service for about a year now. I want to disconnect my landline, as I never use it. I am going to get cable internet service, so I won't even need the landline for DSL anymore.
My question is: will Directv DVR still work without a phone line?
Thanks, and sorry if there is any repetition in my question!
Michael D'Angelo
07-03-07, 02:39 PM
I realize this question has probably been posted before. Please bear with me, as I'm a new user of this forum.
I have had Directv's DVR service for about a year now. I want to disconnect my landline, as I never use it. I am going to get cable internet service, so I won't even need the landline for DSL anymore.
My question is: will Directv DVR still work without a phone line?
Thanks, and sorry if there is any repetition in my question!
:welcome_s to DBStalk
If you have a Directv DVR you will not need a phone line. All Directv DVR's get there updates by the SAT's. If you have a Directv TiVo you will need the phone line to receive software updates. Also with out a phone line hooked up you will not be able to order PPV from your remote.
leannza1
07-03-07, 02:41 PM
:welcome_s to DBStalk
If you have a Directv DVR you will not need a phone line. All Directv DVR's get there updates by the SAT's. If you have a Directv TiVo you will need the phone line to receive software updates. Also with out a phone line hooked up you will not be able to order PPV from your remote.
Thanks, Mike, for your quick reply! I do have the DVR and not the Tivo. I hardly ever order PPV, and when I do, I always order it online, so it sounds like I should be good to go. Excellent!
Thanks, Mike, for your quick reply! I do have the DVR and not the Tivo. I hardly ever order PPV, and when I do, I always order it online, so it sounds like I should be good to go. Excellent!
The only catch is you may come home to find your receiver shut off by D* (it has happened to me personally). You are still technically required by contract to have a phone line installed, however, I believe you can call and get them to waive that requirement.
IMO, the phone line rqmt is one of the sillier D* rqmts.
Michael D'Angelo
07-03-07, 03:45 PM
The only catch is you may come home to find your receiver shut off by D* (it has happened to me personally). You are still technically required by contract to have a phone line installed, however, I believe you can call and get them to waive that requirement.
IMO, the phone line rqmt is one of the sillier D* rqmts.
I have had Directv for years and only a little while of that time I had one or two receiver's connect to a phone line and none of the others receiver's were ever connected to a phone line and I have never had a problem.
I have had Directv for years and only a little while of that time I had one or two receiver's connect to a phone line and none of the others receiver's were ever connected to a phone line and I have never had a problem.
I've been with them since 1997 and have only been hit with it the one time. I don't know if was a random audit they were doing or what. The receiver was actually accidently unplugged from the phone line, but I came home and it had been deactivated, had to call them to reactivate it.
Michael D'Angelo
07-03-07, 03:54 PM
I've been with them since 1997 and have only been hit with it the one time. I don't know if was a random audit they were doing or what. The receiver was actually accidently unplugged from the phone line, but I came home and it had been deactivated, had to call them to reactivate it.
That sucks. At least you only had to reactivate them.
MLBurks
07-03-07, 06:41 PM
The only catch is you may come home to find your receiver shut off by D* (it has happened to me personally). You are still technically required by contract to have a phone line installed, however, I believe you can call and get them to waive that requirement.
I don't believe that to be true. I have three of my four receivers not plugged into a phone line and have not had a problem. I only have a phone line connected to the one receiver for Game Lounge. When I signed up with D* almost a year ago, they told me that a phone line is NOT REQUIRED. And that I would not be charged or penalized for NOT having one plugged in. They say that they prefer that you have a line plugged in to get the full benefit of the receiver. That is one thing I like about DTV over E*. E* charges you a monthly fee if you don't have line plugged in. DTV does not.
twistedT
07-03-07, 09:40 PM
My R-15 is above the garage in the game room with no phone line. I told D* and they said no problem, we will just disable the reciever to order ppvs. I am not sure if I can order ppv's online for it, I never tried. I imagine it would still work because it is sent down from the sat.
MLBurks
07-04-07, 05:41 AM
I am not sure if I can order ppv's online for it, I never tried. I imagine it would still work because it is sent down from the sat.
It would work.
paulman182
07-04-07, 06:17 AM
I don't believe that to be true. I have three of my four receivers not plugged into a phone line and have not had a problem. I only have a phone line connected to the one receiver for Game Lounge. When I signed up with D* almost a year ago, they told me that a phone line is NOT REQUIRED. And that I would not be charged or penalized for NOT having one plugged in. They say that they prefer that you have a line plugged in to get the full benefit of the receiver. That is one thing I like about DTV over E*. E* charges you a monthly fee if you don't have line plugged in. DTV does not.
I realize they normally do not enforce it, but the contract I signed said it was required.
No problem for me, as I intend to always have a landline and my installer put the phone jacks in for free.
CobraGuy
07-04-07, 09:45 AM
raott...did you have an old Tivo receiver? I've never heard of a phone line issue on the non-Tivo stuff.
whalerfan
07-04-07, 09:51 AM
I have had Vonage for almost 3 years now and have not been able to make a call with my DVR40 ever since. I've never been cut off and I've never had a problem. The nag screen however...
No phone line needed and no nag screen on the HR20 non-tivo HD DVRs.
The only problem I ever had was years ago when one receiver got accidentally disconnected from the phone line, but the rest were still connected. That one got shutoff and had to be reauthorized. After that, I unplugged ALL the receivers and never had a problem since then.
IMO, the phone line rqmt is one of the sillier D* rqmts.
One of the reasons for the phone line requirement was to prevent Customer #1 from getting 10 receivers, and placing them in 5 different peoples houses.
If all boxes are required to call in they will see they are calling in from different phone numbers, and as it dials an 800 numbers to DirecTV it uses ANI so there is no blocking the number.
The new boxes also report what you're watching to D*, unless you opt out of this in your Account Profile at the D* web site.
SubaruWRX
07-04-07, 10:39 AM
report without a phone line? How does that work?
*edit oh I see
I have 10 active DVRs and none of them have been plugged into a phone line. One or two of retired Sony T60s were plugged in for the initial install, but not after that.
I have Sunday Ticket, NBA LP and MLB EI. Never a problem or a question from DirecTV for 5+ years.
2 (HR20)
2 (HR10)
4 (HDVR2)
2 (SAT T60)
10 active DVRs
1 (HDVR2) retired
3 (SAT T60) retired
One of the reasons for the phone line requirement was to prevent Customer #1 from getting 10 receivers, and placing them in 5 different peoples houses.The bigger problem is that some business owners sign up for a large number of residential receivers and use them in their place of business. I know of at least one local sports bar that gets service in this way. The negative impact on revenue is substantial.
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