HR10-250 Requires Phone Line? (& More)

1152 Views 9 Replies 4 Participants Last post by firemantom26, Dec 24, 2006

TheTechChik

Discussion Starter · Dec 22, 2006

I just had DirectTV installed this morning and since I ordered the HD DVR, they also installed a HR10-250. I was surprised since I had been reading about HD DVR's for the last week and was under the impression that the HR10-250 was discontinued.

Anyways, I can't get it to record anything because it insists on a phone line. It's installed in my RV and since I'm traveling for 6 months I don't have a land line. I asked the installer about it while he was still here but he just called his boss who said it would be fine. (I get the impression that neither of them has installed one of these before)

1st Question: Do I have nothing more than an expensive reciever with no ability to record without the phone line?

2nd Question: Should I insist on the newer HD DVR (I believe it's a HR20)? I've read about a lot of people being unhappy with that one. Should I consider myself lucky to have come across a HR10-250?

3rd Question: I noticed that the HR10-250 doesn't have an ethernet jack and I'm used to a ReplayTV with the ability to move my shows to a pc on my network. I've seen pictures of the HR20 with an ethernet jack on the back. Does that model have the ability to take the files off of it?

I'd appreciate any helpful suggestions as I'd like to call the installer before the day's over to sort it all out.

Thanks,
Amanda

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old7

· #2 · Dec 22, 2006

TheTechChik said:
1st Question: Do I have nothing more than an expensive reciever with no ability to record without the phone line?

No, the HR10-250 only needs the phone line for the initial phone call to setup the box. After that it will remind you to plug the phone line in, but it will continue to work. I have 2 HR10-250s and both work great without the phone line.

TheTechChik said:
2nd Question: Should I insist on the newer HD DVR (I believe it's a HR20)? I've read about a lot of people being unhappy with that one. Should I consider myself lucky to have come across a HR10-250?

That is only a question you can answer. Everyone here will gladly give their opinion. My opinion, if I were to purchase another HD DVR today it would be the HR20, because currently it is the only HD DVR capable of receiving the new MPEG4 Hd channels. DirecTV will only add more and eventually plans to move all HD to MPEG4. I love my HR10-250s, but eventually they will only be able to record SD and OTA HD.

TheTechChik said:
3rd Question: I noticed that the HR10-250 doesn't have an ethernet jack and I'm used to a ReplayTV with the ability to move my shows to a pc on my network. I've seen pictures of the HR20 with an ethernet jack on the back. Does that model have the ability to take the files off of it?

No, the HR20 does not have to ability to transfer files to your computer via the ethernet.

TheTechChik said:
I'd appreciate any helpful suggestions as I'd like to call the installer before the day's over to sort it all out.

Thanks,
Amanda

Hopefully, I have helped,

Old7

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TheTechChik

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 22, 2006

old7 said:
Hopefully, I have helped,

Old7

Tremendously, Thank You!

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firemantom26

· #4 · Dec 23, 2006

How do you get updates without a phone line than?

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old7

· #5 · Dec 23, 2006

If you want it to update then you let it call in. Right now one HR10-250 is at 6.3a the other is at 3.1.5f. I plan on leaving them there for a while. When I want to update them I can.

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Wolffpack

· #6 · Dec 23, 2006

TheTechChik said:
Anyways, I can't get it to record anything because it insists on a phone line. It's installed in my RV and since I'm traveling for 6 months I don't have a land line. I asked the installer about it while he was still here but he just called his boss who said it would be fine. (I get the impression that neither of them has installed one of these before)

You need the phone line just for the first call. If you can find a land line anywhere that will do. You don't need to have the SAT hooked up when making the call. If you can bum the use of a line and TV you can get it going.

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Wolffpack

· #7 · Dec 23, 2006

firemantom26 said:
How do you get updates without a phone line than?

The update itself comes over the SAT. A phone call is required to "activate" the update.

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firemantom26

· #8 · Dec 23, 2006

What bugs doed the HR10-250 6.3a have?

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Wolffpack

· #9 · Dec 24, 2006

firemantom26 said:
What bugs doed the HR10-250 6.3a have?

I'm really not trying to be rude here, but it may help if you read through the threads that detail the problems with 6.3 (missing some SATs) and 6.3a (OTA audio dropouts).

Start with this: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=63634

Also, 6.3b is the current release they may be coming out.

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firemantom26

· #10 · Dec 24, 2006

Wolffpack said:
I'm really not trying to be rude here, but it may help if you read through the threads that detail the problems with 6.3 (missing some SATs) and 6.3a (OTA audio dropouts).

Start with this: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=63634

Also, 6.3b is the current release they may be coming out.

Thank You

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