[ben3]

I had a DirectTV DRV several years ago. It was a HUES 100 GB model. I was quite happy with it.

I am just about to sign up with DirectTV again. After a lot of frustration, I have a R15-500 DVR unit at my house and I am waiting on an installer (Due Dec. 12th).

I saw a lot of bad posts about the R-15.

My big questions is about the phone line. I do NOT have a land based phone line. It is not an option for me to get one either. I was told by DirectTV that this unit will not require one, but that the R-20 does.

Can anyone confirm that the R-15 works without a phone line? (I know no PPV).
Can anyone confirm that the R-20 work's without a phone line?

Assuming the R-15 works, is the picture quality, performance, etc. as good as the old HUES DVR (I don't know the model number, but it was the first 100GB model).

If so, I can probably get the R-20 instead.

Any help or advice would be appreciated. I would prefer answers from people who actually use these unites without a phone line (better yet, with never being connected to a phone line).

Thanks,
Ben

 

[walters]

The R15 works just as well without a phone line as with one

 

[ben3]

Thanks. Also, another quick question. Do the software updates happen over the satellite?

 

[walters]

Yes.

By the way, all the same applies to the HR20 (which I assume was what you were talking about--the high definition DirecTV Plus DVR).

 

[ben3]

Thanks. I did not realize the HR20 was the HD DVR. I guess I am not getting one of those seeing as there are none available!

I got so many different answers from DirecTV about the phoe line on the R-15. Every other time I asked I got a different answer. They also signed me up without me completing the transaction. Anyway, I finally got it all sorted out, and soon TimeWarer will be gone!

 

[Wolffpack]

Read some other top threads in this forum. I'm not sure how dedicated DTV is to the R15. Problems have been fixed on the HR20 that exist on the R15 yet the R15 is > a year old. Updates to the R15 seem to be in limbo since August. The HR20 has received 9 updates since August....R15 = 0.

If you liked your Tivo, find one on eBay or somewhere else. Once you activate your R15 you are committed for two years to DTV. Purchase a DTivo on eBay, activate it and you have no commitment.

 

[burl]

Direct TV's tech forum mentions nag screens about not having land line attached - any info? My r15 install is 12/11.

 

[Wolffpack]

Not on the R15, yes on Tivos.

 

[Staszek]

I have both the R15 and the HR20 and dont have a phone line on either they both work fine.

 

[lz7rdg]

I installed and commissioned my R-15 with no phone line and no problems. To date, I have not connected a phone line.

John