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Why Can't Slow Receivers be Fixed?

60K views 445 replies 99 participants last post by  Stuart Sweet 
#1 ·
I know this subject has been discussed on other threads many times, but my search has not come up with an answer to my question. I have (2) R22-100s w/HD and an HR24-200. The R22-100s are extremely slow, especially when I first turn them on in the morning. I've done the RAM clearing, and they are still slow. It is obvious that DTV can and has corrected other flaws in the past. Why can't they seem to fix this glitch? I would appreciate any useful solutions to this problem. Also does anyone know if DTV is working on this problem? Thanks.
 
#302 ·
My HR20-700 is getting slower and slower. I did complain to DirecTV, and they gave me a limited time offer. For only $50, they would sell me a standard definition receiver! I don't like to brag about the great offer I was able to get out of them, but WOW! I think they could care less about their customers - I made it very clear I was very unhappy.

I'd say at least 50% of the keypresses I do on the remote take longer than 5 seconds. It's very common for a response to come after 30 seconds. And several times a night it can take around 60 seconds. This of course isn't too good when the key I'm trying to press is Play when it's fast forwarding.

I also have to agree with one of the first posters on this thread, they do not have the skill to fix these receivers. I'm a programmer and have done lots of low level coding, tons of assembly language. He was right, one second is an eternity for a CPU. I think the code is sloppy and bloated. I've programmed with many other people, and it's rare to find a programmer that cares anything about efficiency.
 
#303 ·
sjord7 said:
I'd say at least 50% of the keypresses I do on the remote take longer than 5 seconds. It's very common for a response to come after 30 seconds. And several times a night it can take around 60 seconds. This of course isn't too good when the key I'm trying to press is Play when it's fast forwarding.
same here with my HR22-100. and then what happens is I think the receiver didn't get the signal so I press the remote again and this seems to make matters worse--like it locks up or something. then I go crazy and keep pressing buttons as fast as I can while nothing happens and try to calm myself as I visualize throwing the remote through the screen...
 
#304 ·
Rich said:
You'd think they would run out of things to put on the HRs, no? All I ever wanted was a DVR that did what a DVR is supposed to do....:nono2:

Rich
I'm with you! It seems assinine to me to add Pandora, a no video at all feature, and YouTube (mostly poor video especially on a big screen), not to mention the 'apps', and 'home media' that is twitchy on good days, when you don't have all the basic functions of the operation running lickety-split and always paying attention to the remote.

And of course, all of those were much more important than a single, unified to-do list and series management for their MRV system.
 
#305 ·
lparsons21 said:
I'm with you! It seems assinine to me to add Pandora, a no video at all feature, and YouTube (mostly poor video especially on a big screen), not to mention the 'apps', and 'home media' that is twitchy on good days, when you don't have all the basic functions of the operation running lickety-split and always paying attention to the remote.

And of course, all of those were much more important than a single, unified to-do list and series management for their MRV system.
Reeks of poor planning, no? Just trying to squeeze too many innovations in at one time. I can understand D* trying to stay on top, but to ignore all these other issues is just wrong.

I will say this about D*'s MRV system: It should have been their pride and joy. All they had to do was refine the MRV and fix the HRs after the HD GUI came out (it was needed) and they could have rested on their laurels for a while.

I've got so many gizmos in my home that give me YouTube and Pandora that the last thing I needed was for my HRs to have them. If anybody's listening, I, and I'm sure I'm not alone, think it's time to stop this willy-nilly expansion of products on platforms that don't work correctly and fix all the basic stuff.

Rich
 
#306 ·
Now I know why it takes sooooooooo long to delete from the List; the DVR has A.D.D. (Attention DVR Disorder) which is induced by all the functionality! Just too much to think about before it addresses a remote control's delete request. Best wishes!
 
#307 ·
Rich said:
Reeks of poor planning, no? Just trying to squeeze too many innovations in at one time. I can understand D* trying to stay on top, but to ignore all these other issues is just wrong.

Rich
I can't imagine that adding Pandora, YouTube and Media Share has added even one subscriber, or kept many. The very most they accomplish is to give some marketing pinhead something to bray about! :)
 
#308 ·
sjord7 said:
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I'd say at least 50% of the keypresses I do on the remote take longer than 5 seconds. It's very common for a response to come after 30 seconds. And several times a night it can take around 60 seconds. This of course isn't too good when the key I'm trying to press is Play when it's fast forwarding.
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skoolpsyk said:
same here with my HR22-100. and then what happens is I think the receiver didn't get the signal so I press the remote again and this seems to make matters worse--like it locks up or something. then I go crazy and keep pressing buttons as fast as I can while nothing happens and try to calm myself as I visualize throwing the remote through the screen...
I agree, and I see this all the time. I have to consciously take a breath and wait, because if I press too many keys too quickly, after about the third one, it makes my HR22s just seize up. Then it takes a while before I can get a key-press recognized. If I keep pressing a key, or keys, it will stay locked for a VERY long time.:mad::(
 
#310 ·
lparsons21 said:
I can't imagine that adding Pandora, YouTube and Media Share has added even one subscriber, or kept many. The very most they accomplish is to give some marketing pinhead something to bray about! :)
It's hard to understand why they make the decisions they do. I guess all this extraneous crap does make for good advertising. Must, or why would they do these things?

Rich
 
#311 ·
lparsons21 said:
I can't imagine that adding Pandora, YouTube and Media Share has added even one subscriber, or kept many. The very most they accomplish is to give some marketing pinhead something to bray about! :)
I like those features, and since they don't actually do anything until activated - I don't think they're the problem. In fact, they suffer from the same slowness and inattention to detail that the rest of the system does.

Hopefully this thread keeps rolling because DirecTv isn't going to dedicate resources to things like polish and optimization until the powers that be within the organization realize that it's a serious problem, it's hurting their reputation, and costing them customers.
 
#312 ·
JonW said:
Hopefully this thread keeps rolling because DirecTv isn't going to dedicate resources to things like polish and optimization until the powers that be within the organization realize that it's a serious problem, it's hurting their reputation, and costing them customers.
In the spirit of keeping "the thread rolling", I'll add that I'm becoming very frustrated with the DVR experience. A few of my HR-2xs are becoming almost unusable. The time I select something to play from the list, to the time it actually starts playing in full screen mode (starts immediately in the PIG) can be measured with a minute hand.

At times changing channels with the numbers is impossible due to the slow response, that I have to go to the guide to scroll to my channel.

My 24 is still pretty quick, as is one of my 22s, so it is not all receivers, but whatever is going on with the slow ones is too much for them to handle.

I've never thought of leaving DirecTV, and am still not likely to do so, but with my recent switch to FIOS for phone and internet, they offered to but me out of any ETFs, so I at least have a tempting offer on the table.
 
#313 ·
What they should do is do more software upgrades since my last NR rollout was in February on 59e, what happened they used to upgrade every 2-3 months:confused:
 
#315 ·
acostapimps said:
What they should do is do more software upgrades since my last NR rollout was in February on 59e, what happened they used to upgrade every 2-3 months:confused:
I'd rather wait a long period between NRs if the cause of the delay is getting the firmware right. In this case, I think that's what's happening.

Rich
 
#316 ·
Rich said:
Reeks of poor planning, no? Just trying to squeeze too many innovations in at one time. I can understand D* trying to stay on top, but to ignore all these other issues is just wrong.

Rich
I have always wondered it the CEO and other Top Management have DVRs at their homes and then don't the experience the same Sluggishness as some of us do and then why wouldn't they direct their IT People to speed the DVR up.

My HR24-500s are Fast but what Puzzles me is that some complain about their HR24-500s and if it was Bad Code then I would have Sluggishness.

I can understand if they have another Model HR24 such as an HR24-100 as that Model has a Different Chipset than the HR24-500 and that may make a difference.

I have heard from a "Little Birdie" that has known a lot of things in the past and he had told me that very shortly there will be a FIX for the Sluggishness so I will just wait and see if his Prediction comes True. Apparently, he is Testing it right now and says it will Fix the Problem.

We'll See If He Is Correct (he has been in the Past).
 
#317 ·
Richierich said:
My HR24-500s are Fast but what Puzzles me is that some complain about their HR24-500s and if it was Bad Code then I would have Sluggishness.
Assuming that bad code would make all receivers behave in the same wrong way is not correct. Yes, it can happen but that would be a very easy bug to find. The problem with Directv firmware is that the behavior of the receivers is sometimes not predictable. You update the FW and your guide data is wiped out, mine isn't. My receiver is slow pulling up the playlist yours is not and so on. This is more of an issue because it points to badly written code more than to a buggy code.
 
#318 ·
"Richierich" said:
I have always wondered it the CEO and other Top Management have DVRs at their homes and then don't the experience the same Sluggishness as some of us do and then why wouldn't they direct their IT People to speed the DVR up.

My HR24-500s are Fast but what Puzzles me is that some complain about their HR24-500s and if it was Bad Code then I would have Sluggishness.

I can understand if they have another Model HR24 such as an HR24-100 as that Model has a Different Chipset than the HR24-500 and that may make a difference.

I have heard from a "Little Birdie" that has known a lot of things in the past and he had told me that very shortly there will be a FIX for the Sluggishness so I will just wait and see if hid Prediction comes True. Apparently, he is Testing it right now and says it will Fix the Problem.

We'll See If He Is Correct (he has been in the Past).
There are hundreds of variables within the code itself that could cause your HR24s to not exhibit issues while others do, all related to poor coding. Are you using double play, networked, rebooting weekly for CEs, using Apps etc.

I hope your birdy is right, but it's a song I've heard before. The HDGUI was suppose to be the panacea for speedy DVRs and it has been a debacle.
 
#319 ·
raott said:
There are hundreds of variables within the code itself that could cause your HR24s to not exhibit issues while others do, all related to poor coding. Are you using double play, networked, rebooting weekly for CEs, using Apps etc.
I do not use DoublePlay as I found when it first came out it slowed down my DVR.

I am Networked with MRV or WHDVR Service. I do not Reboot weekly as I have not been able to participate in the CE Program for over 3 months now.

I also do not use Apps because I have found that it also Slows down my DVR so maybe I am doing some things the right way to avoid having my DVR Slow Down.

After all I just want the DVR to do what it was originally designed to do which is to allow me to select a channel, view a Guide or a Playlist, be able to Record a Broadcast, etc.

I do Not need DoublePlay, Apps, Widgets, etc. I just want to be able to watch TV, Record Programs, Change the Channel and Select Recordings to Watch.
 
#320 ·
Richierich said:
I have heard from a "Little Birdie" that has known a lot of things in the past and he had told me that very shortly there will be a FIX for the Sluggishness so I will just wait and see if hid Prediction comes True. Apparently, he is Testing it right now and says it will Fix the Problem.

We'll See If He Is Correct (he has been in the Past).
While I will hold out hope that this is the case, I'm afraid that it's going to be more lipstick on a pig.

The HR20-700 was introduced in August of 2006. That means that we are going on 6 years for a piece of equipment now.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=61862

The units that came after the HR20 are based on that equipment. That piece of equipment wasn't meant to play songs and videos and pictures from external sources and run apps and do all the other stuff that has been crammed into it. It was designed with pretty much the sole intention of recording and playing content from a satellite - primarily video content. Asking it to do all the additional stuff that has been thrown at it is asking too much. It's a woefully underpowered computer.

The new GUI was supposed to resolve the sluggishness. In the final analysis, it would appear that isn't the case. They have had several opportunities to get it done and haven't had any success in doing so. That would tend to indicate that they aren't going to be able to do so within the parameters that they have to work in currently.

The solution for these problems is going to be a new hardware platform. Is the HR34 that platform? Can DirecTV afford to make the investment to upgrade everyone to that new platform? If they can, will they?

Meanwhile, many of us are stuck with not being able to successfully and consistently change the channel on our receivers - a basic function that we shouldn't even have to think about.
 
#321 ·
Wilhite said:
While I will hold out hope that this is the case, I'm afraid that it's going to be more lipstick on a pig.

The HR20-700 was introduced in August of 2006. That means that we are going on 6 years for a piece of equipment now.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=61862

The units that came after the HR20 are based on that equipment. That piece of equipment wasn't meant to play songs and videos and pictures from external sources and run apps and do all the other stuff that has been crammed into it. It was designed with pretty much the sole intention of recording and playing content from a satellite - primarily video content. Asking it to do all the additional stuff that has been thrown at it is asking too much. It's a woefully underpowered computer.

The new GUI was supposed to resolve the sluggishness. In the final analysis, it would appear that isn't the case. They have had several opportunities to get it done and haven't had any success in doing so. That would tend to indicate that they aren't going to be able to do so within the parameters that they have to work in currently.

The solution for these problems is going to be a new hardware platform. Is the HR34 that platform? Can DirecTV afford to make the investment to upgrade everyone to that new platform? If they can, will they?

Meanwhile, many of us are stuck with not being able to successfully and consistently change the channel on our receivers - a basic function that we shouldn't even have to think about.
Perfect post!

But and for starters,
Read around this site.
24/34's are Not a solidified cure to anything.
 
#322 ·
Wilhite said:
While I will hold out hope that this is the case, I'm afraid that it's going to be more lipstick on a pig.
I Actually Think the Pig Looks Pretty Good With Lipstick!!! :lol:

And there are two sources who have told me that the Fix is currently being successfully Tested and that Soon we will have a Final Fix to the Problem of Sluggishness so I will be Patient and wait to see if it holds out to be True.

In the meantime, I will Not Use DoublePlay, Apps, Widgets or anything else that this DVR was not originally intended to do as I believe all of the DVRs except the HR24s are Underpowered and need More RAM. :)

Thank God my 5 HR24-500s work Reliably and Fast with No Problems at all. I must have Better Firmware on mine than the others who are experiencing problems. :lol:
 
#323 ·
Wilhite said:
..........Meanwhile, many of us are stuck with not being able to successfully and consistently change the channel on our receivers - a basic function that we shouldn't even have to think about.
Changing channels and deleting programs are variable optional features on my HR24s. The event may or may not occur, and if it does, it will be slow in execution. I am glad to hear, at least, the channel change is supposed to be a basic function. Thanks and have a great day!
 
#326 ·
jkaetz said:
I wouldn't hold my breath. They've had six years to fix them and it hasn't happened yet. Your only options are to buy HRx4-xxx units from amazon, solid signal, or another place that acknowledges the difference between HR units, leave dtv, or live with it...
Yeah no kidding. It isn't like this is something that just appeared out of the blue. It's been slowly but surely worsening throughout entire lifespan of every model ever made. It's only just been recently amplified exponetially with the introduction of the HD GUI. The 24's probably have an improvement in hardware that helped counteract the never ending supply of crap code being churned out, but even they are being brought to their knees now.

...and AGAIN not seeing any complaints with the speed of THR22's so the hardware is not the limitation. It's DTV's code monkey department failing to write efficient code for the available hardware.
 
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