ACTIVE button - can they reprogram it?

[FlyBono24]

Can they reprogram it to actually do something that people USE?

I mean, how often does anyone actually use the horoscope and weather features on this channel? The weather is always vague and doesn't offer anything besides highs/lows, so you might as well just go to The Weather Channel, or go on the internet.

Seriously, this button is worthless and whenever I hit it on accident I have to wait for all that stupid enhanced crap to load in the background before I can exit. :nono2:

[funhouse69]

I can not agree with you more. I've considered ripping it out of my remote for all the times I've hit it accidentally and exited out of what I was watching. So very, very frustrating! Maybe we can put this on a wish list :D

[Michael D'Angelo]

Honestly it does not matter what the active button has because it is so slow. Unless DirecTV is able to speed it up I will never use it.

[skaeight]

What they really need to do is start using the internet for the interactive stuff (at least on HR20s which are mostly already connected to the internet). My fear is that the VOD screens will be as slow as the active content.

I agree that this is somthing that needs to improve. Bag the horoscope, get better weathers forecasts, possibly some screens like the old "Tivo Showcases" which hightlighed upcoming programs, or even customized recommendations. All of this of course would need to come down via the internet.

[bwaldron]

Can they reprogram it to actually do something that people USE?

I mean, how often does anyone actually use the horoscope and weather features on this channel? The weather is always vague and doesn't offer anything besides highs/lows, so you might as well just go to The Weather Channel, or go on the internet.

Seriously, this button is worthless and whenever I hit it on accident I have to wait for all that stupid enhanced crap to load in the background before I can exit. :nono2:

I never use it. Luckily I can avoid hitting it by mistake -- I use an MX700 programmable remote and moved the button to a second page of never/rarely used buttons for my DVR.

[Milominderbinder2]

Yes the obviously could reprogram the ACTIVE button.

Arguably it still has to bring up ACTIVE content but it could bring up a menu:
• DIRECTV on Demand
• Active Channel
• News Mix
• Sports Mix

Why wouldn't they show off all of their Active content, especially DIRECTV on Demand that can make them money?

- Craig

[Steveknj]

I agree, I don't use it, and it is SOOOO slow. I would agree, reprogram the button to something useful

[Stuart Sweet]

The big issue is consistency. The Active button works the same on every current model receiver. If they reprogrammed it for HR20 to show On Demand, that would be inconistent.

Sure they could reprogram it to a quick menu type thing, or they could put a "link" to mix channels on the active screen.

My suggestion, stated before, is that DIRECTV begin developing a home theatre remote with PC-based learning capability as well as buttons for On Demand, Closed Captioning, etc. As a show of good faith to the community they could designate the IR codes first (I would assume they could be downloaded into existing receivers) and release the codes to the makers of Harmony, Pronto, and other high-end remotes so users could have them now.

[lyonske]

Yes the obviously could reprogram the ACTIVE button.

Arguably it still has to bring up ACTIVE content but it could bring up a menu:
• DIRECTV on Demand
• Active Channel
• News Mix
• Sports Mix

Why wouldn't they show off all of their Active content, especially DIRECTV on Demand that can make them money?

- Craig

I agree. The current screen doesn't have much value to me. I have never thought to myself, let's see what's on the active channel...But, maybe some people use it.

I like Milominderbinder2's idea.

[Greg Alsobrook]

Honestly it does not matter what the active button has because it is so slow. Unless DirecTV is able to speed it up I will never use it.

+1

[armophob]

2 threads in one day on Active button? Tell us how you really feel FlyBono24.:lol:

[dmurphy]

My fear is that the VOD screens will be as slow as the active content.


They aren't. They're lightning-quick.

[the_batman]

Are there any plans to make the ACTIVE button REALLY ACTIVE? Any input from DirecTV themselves?

[kevinturcotte]

I like the Quick Menu idea. Press Active, and get a menu with Active, News Mix, Sports Mix, Kids Mix, DOD, and Cancel. And the receiver wouldn't slow down unless you select Active from the menu. This could be implemented on all current receivers (Leave out the DOD on receivers that can't be networked).

[Jhon69]

DirecTV makes a big button remote without the Active button.But it is a "bare bones" remote control.So if you like doing all of the functions of the regular remote
it's not for you.But if you get tired of hitting the active button or record button by mistake I highly recommend it.;)

[dorfmunder]

The slingbox software on my phone sends the command for this when I click on menu. Quite annoying when you are trying to do something on the menu via slingbox and have to wait for it to load before you remember that it makes the Active screen pop up.