[kathie]

I just found this site and I'm so glad, I thought maybe I was the only one who was having crazy problems with the R15-300, software 104B.

I am on my second R15-300, within 2 months of installation I had problems with the first one (numerous resets, not recording, etc) and DTV sent the installer out and they talked them into sending me a new box - not a refurbished one. It has worked great for about 3 months, then the same problems, the worst was not recording programs I asked it to. I called DTV and they said they would send me another box.

I then found this site with all the information on it and realized that it wasn't just me having problems and there were some solutions. I reformatted my box and and it is working great (as good as it ever did). I have received the new box and don't know whether I should used the one the sent me or the one I have.

Is there a way you can tell if the replacement box is a refurbished one or a new one?

 

[paulman182]

It should have a "refurbished" sticker on the bottom, although not all do, and the box would probably have been a more basic shipping box.

Also, the refurb standard receiver I got had a photocopied owner's manual with it.

By the way, welcome to the site! We have 3 R15s and have had no problems to speak of.

 

[walters]

If it has someone else's recordings on it, it's a refurb

 

[kathie]

thanks, the only thing on the bottom of the recorder is a sticker with the mfg date of 10-16-06 and the serial number, etc.
Came in a new Directv Plus shipping box and everything inside is wrapped up and looks new. Would I be better off keeping the new one? The one I have now has a mfg date of 8-30-05

 

[paulman182]

No one can really advise you with any certainty on that--it is a toss-up, crapshoot kind of thing.

If it were in MY house (and remember, this is based on MY thoughts,) I would try the new one for a few days and see how it worked. If it didn't work, I would call D* and say "Good think I didn't send the other one back yet, because the new one you sent is messing up." If it worked to my satisfaction, I'd send the old one back.

I think you have ten days to send it back, don't you?

 

[Gary Toma]

If the Model number on the underside of the ends with a "-R", you have a refurbished unit.

Examples:
New: Model #300C

Refurb: Model #300C-R

My only advise: a 'new' unit will have a new hard drive, compared with a refurbished unit hard drive which will have some number of hours on it. It's your best guess.....