[dudester]

It is what it is , but i got to thinking of why are they charging for mrv? I am on unsupported, ran all cat 6 myself, using my own network switch and connecting through my own internet service, and watching it on boxes i am already paying a leasing fee for.There isn't a charge for connecting a ethernet to a dvr for use without mrv. I am just not getting where the expense is to have to charge for mrv and the only thing it allows me to do is watch the drv recordings on my non dvr h21 connected to my own network.I still have 3 other h20's and cannot get mrv on them.( no ethernet on those). They will not send me refurbed 21's for those whenn 2 of them fried so i could hook mrv in those rooms unless I upgrade. I have the premier package and am at 180 a month and starting to think about dumping Direct and going to a Netflix setup. Already have the locals hd on over the air. Just don't see the value in it anymore.

 

[MikeW]

There is a cost to DirecTV to provide help for this service. There are many people who don't understand some of the basics of networking and now DirecTV needs to provide tech support for those users who can't get MRV working. There is also the ongoing R&D. If they couldn't make any money on it, why would they do it.

I too am at a pretty high level for programming. Now that Sunday Ticket has been added to the bill, I am north of $200. The extra $3 isn't going to make me leave.

 

[veryoldschool]

Very old news.
$3/month for using your own networking is because the feature can be charged for.
You don't want to pay it, drop the line item from your bill.
There is no support for "unsupported" MRV.

The connected home networking/DECA is another story.
There were deals to upgrade when it first came out.
Those that chose to not take advantage of it have found "the deals" have passed.

I too *****ed like hell as to why $3, but marketing found a gold mine and is mining it for all it's worth.

 

[armophob]

Like VOS said. The answer is pretty much that they will charge what the market will allow. If no one signed up and payed $3, they would try $2 and then $1. But it is popular. When they increase it to $4 or $5, that will tell how many people really want it.

 

[CCarncross]

If you call and move to supported MRV they will replace the 20's for free as part of the upgrade...Pay for the supported MRV install(usually around $149-$199) and they will hook up everything for you and fully support your setup that way.

 

[veryoldschool]

Like VOS said. The answer is pretty much that they will charge what the market will allow. If no one signed up and payed $3, they would try $2 and then $1. But it is popular. When they increase it to $4 or $5, that will tell how many people really want it.

HD fee $10
DVR fee $8
MRV fee $3

With new customers these are now grouped into one $20 fee for ARS.

 

[Beerstalker]

Actually, if his H20s really are broken then DirecTV should replace them for free (but they usually charge $20 for shipping). They should be replaced by H21, or newer receivers since they no longer send out H20s as far as I know.

Now if they are not broken then they won't replace them unless he switches to supported Whole Home DVR like CCarncross said.

Now that I think about it though, I imagine they would also be replaced for free if they were hooked up to 3D TVs since they won't work with 3D.

 

[unixguru]

Pardon if this is answered elsewhere - I just didn't search long enough.

Is MRV required to have an HR34?

Any opinions on whether it will be required in an HR34 & RVU client arrangement?

I have MRV now and an HR34 (and HR24). MRV is a nice feature, which should be free, but of no use in our household.

 

[dennisj00]

If your bill is $180 a month, I'm not sure why you're complaining about a $3 a month charge when you have 2 H20s that are 'fried'.

 

[wahooq]

+1

 

[veryoldschool]

If your bill is $180 a month, I'm not sure why you're complaining about a $3 a month charge...

Well after all it's 2% of the bill. :lol:

 

[MRinDenver]

Well after all it's 2% of the bill. :lol:

So, what happens if I turn the supported MRV off, now that I have a full setup installed? Can they shut it off from on high?

Just curious.

 

[veryoldschool]

So, what happens if I turn the supported MRV off, now that I have a full setup installed? Can they shut it off from on high?

Just curious.

Check your whole home menu and at the top it says authorized.
Drop the line item from your bill and watch that change.
This isn't any different than any of the other things like you program package, HD service, DVR service, etc.

 

[dudester]

Ha , well if you guys want , go ahead and start donating a extra 2.% a month to your bill and maybe that would offset future price increases and pay for future technology . Yes my h20's truly went dead. No, they refused to replace them with refurbed 21 and they sent 20's. Was told i would have to upgrade and lock in for 2 more years to get refub 21. No they did not want the 20's back, ask them twice. I payed the shipping charges and the old ones went to a recyler the other day along with a couple older boxes. And remember, you guys laughing about it only being 2 % , slip on down to your local bank and see what they are paying interest for on YOUR money.

 

[wahooq]

Ha , well if you guys want , go ahead and start donating a extra 2.% a month to your bill and maybe that would offset future price increases and pay for future technology . Yes my h20's truly went dead. No, they refused to replace them with refurbed 21 and they sent 20's. Was told i would have to upgrade and lock in for 2 more years to get refub 21. No they did not want the 20's back, ask them twice. I payed the shipping charges and the old ones went to a recyler the other day along with a couple older boxes. And remember, you guys laughing about it only being 2 % , slip on down to your local bank and see what they are paying interest for on YOUR money.

I think what everyone is getting at is that pay TV is a luxury not a right.... and yes DTV should be paid for services they provide...look at how many services you get for no extra charge....If the $3.00 is a major deal then drop Whole Home...it is a choice to have it..... not required

 

[Bill Broderick]

Yes my h20's truly went dead. No, they refused to replace them with refurbed 21 and they sent 20's. Was told i would have to upgrade and lock in for 2 more years to get refub 21.

I agree with you. If you're paying for MRV service. You should have MRV compatible equipment. The supported/unsupported part is the home network, not the receivers.

 

[unixguru]

I think what everyone is getting at is that pay TV is a luxury not a right.... and yes DTV should be paid for services they provide...look at how many services you get for no extra charge....If the $3.00 is a major deal then drop Whole Home...it is a choice to have it..... not required

Luxury eh? At the risk of taking this thread way off topic...

The line for essential and luxury is very very fuzzy. Is local phone service a luxury? Apparently not since it's a highly regulated utility service. Is internet service a luxury?

I think history proves that what is luxury at one point becomes essential service at another. Gas, electricity, phone. I would suggest that TV is nearing that transition. (Sure, there is free over-the-air if you happen to live within range of a transmitter; that range is less with digital TV than it was with analog; lots of people that cannot get over-the-air.) Cable TV may not be regulated yet but it has been moving in that direction - cities have some control over that, maybe not programming and price but certainly monopoly status. Is internet service a luxury? Again I think the transition is in sight (most people get it through cable or local phone!).

Agree DTV should be paid for services provided - and with a reasonable profit. Can't say I think they should have a better deal than gas, electric, phone companies. They are just a distribution company.

DTV is in for a crude awakening. It's only a matter of time until the over-the-air/cable/sat distribution lock on programming is broken. Once internet delivery is on an equal footing then the business model will get interesting. (Any time Apple.) Spare me the "ain't never gonna happen" speech. No reason that it won't go the way of books, music, and movies.

Many services at no extra charge... also put another way, through massive bundling paying for many services that I don't want.

These nickel-n-dime feature charges are fine for the early-adopter stage. Helps pay for development and measures demand. But at some point they need to become included in the base. At this point who thinks that the HD conversion hasn't been more than paid for? Yet we "existing" (scum) customers are still paying $120/yr for it. Clearly gravy since DTV is now giving it away to new customers forever. DVR fee is likewise getting to be a joke. Whole Home is just a hack to fill the void until a correct solution came along. The HR34 and the RVU client are the correct way. nono2: is how I'll feel if I have to keep paying a Whole Home fee for RVU clients to use a HR34.)

 

[veryoldschool]

Once internet delivery is on an equal footing then the business model will get interesting. (Any time Apple.) Spare me the "ain't never gonna happen" speech.

Let me know when U-who gets that working on par with DirecTV.

 

[wahooq]

Luxury eh? At the risk of taking this thread way off topic...

The line for essential and luxury is very very fuzzy. Is local phone service a luxury? Apparently not since it's a highly regulated utility service. Is internet service a luxury?

I think history proves that what is luxury at one point becomes essential service at another. Gas, electricity, phone. I would suggest that TV is nearing that transition. (Sure, there is free over-the-air if you happen to live within range of a transmitter; that range is less with digital TV than it was with analog; lots of people that cannot get over-the-air.) Cable TV may not be regulated yet but it has been moving in that direction - cities have some control over that, maybe not programming and price but certainly monopoly status. Is internet service a luxury? Again I think the transition is in sight (most people get it through cable or local phone!).

Agree DTV should be paid for services provided - and with a reasonable profit. Can't say I think they should have a better deal than gas, electric, phone companies. They are just a distribution company.

DTV is in for a crude awakening. It's only a matter of time until the over-the-air/cable/sat distribution lock on programming is broken. Once internet delivery is on an equal footing then the business model will get interesting. (Any time Apple.) Spare me the "ain't never gonna happen" speech. No reason that it won't go the way of books, music, and movies.

Many services at no extra charge... also put another way, through massive bundling paying for many services that I don't want.

These nickel-n-dime feature charges are fine for the early-adopter stage. Helps pay for development and measures demand. But at some point they need to become included in the base. At this point who thinks that the HD conversion hasn't been more than paid for? Yet we "existing" (scum) customers are still paying $120/yr for it. Clearly gravy since DTV is now giving it away to new customers forever. DVR fee is likewise getting to be a joke. Whole Home is just a hack to fill the void until a correct solution came along. The HR34 and the RVU client are the correct way. nono2: is how I'll feel if I have to keep paying a Whole Home fee for RVU clients to use a HR34.)

lux·u·ry (lgzh-r, lksh-)
n. pl. lux·u·ries
1. Something inessential but conducive to pleasure and comfort.
2. Something expensive or hard to obtain.

Yes pay TV is a luxury...you don't need it to survive

 

[hasan]

lux·u·ry (lgzh-r, lksh-)
n. pl. lux·u·ries
1. Something inessential but conducive to pleasure and comfort.
2. Something expensive or hard to obtain.

Yes pay TV is a luxury...you don't need it to survive

Clearly a luxury.

It really comes down to:

D* charges for MRV because they can.

It's then up to the consumer to decide if the feature is worth the $3/mo.

For me, it is, as it is nearly the most used feature of the boxes, other than doing the recordings in the first place. I guess I'd rank things like this:

1. Recording/Time shifting
2. Playback/Trickplay
3. MRV

in terms of what features/functions I use and value the most.

It's well worth the three bucks to me (although I resented it when they decided to charge for the home network setups). I use it so much, I no longer care whether I am being charge for home networking, and I eventually went DECA for nearly everything anyway.