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Jack Foster · 10-27-2006, 04:25 PM

Good Evening

I have a DVR (like TIVO) on Direct TV in my rig. It's not hooked up to a telephone line which is something Direct Tv "Requires". Recently I've been getting a message from receiver/DVR that the system has been unable to call Direct TV for x number of days and telling me to connect to a phone line. Obviously, this is difficult to do. What I've been doing is just deleting the messages and continue to use my system. What is the downside / ramifications of not hooking up to a phone line? Will my system suddenly crash on me or will Direct TV disconnect my service. I haven't had any problems with the service for the 6 months or so that I've had it, but I'm now wondering if I'm creating a future problem for myself.

TIA

Jack

Jack Foster · 10-27-2006, 04:25 PM

Good Evening

I have a DVR (like TIVO) on Direct TV in my rig. It's not hooked up to a telephone line which is something Direct Tv "Requires". Recently I've been getting a message from receiver/DVR that the system has been unable to call Direct TV for x number of days and telling me to connect to a phone line. Obviously, this is difficult to do. What I've been doing is just deleting the messages and continue to use my system. What is the downside / ramifications of not hooking up to a phone line? Will my system suddenly crash on me or will Direct TV disconnect my service. I haven't had any problems with the service for the 6 months or so that I've had it, but I'm now wondering if I'm creating a future problem for myself.

TIA

Jack

racer0624 · 10-28-2006, 12:42 AM

I've had my system since 2/05 w/o a phone hookup and like you get the same message. I hook up to a phone line every 6 months or so for updates. Never had a problem. I've seen this topic on other boards in the past; it's common.

John, 2005 4502 Essex now in Calhoun, Ga., going to the Moonshine Festival today

tinkercb · 10-28-2006, 05:39 AM

I have not hooked up for a year and a half now with no problems yet. You might miss an update to software or something like that but if it works let it. tinker

Jetsmania · 10-28-2006, 05:42 AM

Hi! Just keep erasing the message. Your unit will not crash. We also have been doing it for over a year. Paul

Chinaberry · 10-28-2006, 05:45 AM

I have Direct TV both in my house and the RV, although I am relatively new to the RV. So far, my DVR is only in the house (standard receiver in the RV) but it will go to the RV when we leave for a six week trip in February.

Although you do receive software updates on the phone line, I believe Direct TV's true motivation in pushing the phone line is to make it easy for you to order pay per view.

Jack Foster · 10-28-2006, 06:03 AM

Thanks to all for your answers

Jack

jeeprubi · 10-28-2006, 06:27 AM

If I go and buy a direct tv receiver with dvr today, will it work if I never hook it up to a phone line?

Jack Foster · 10-28-2006, 06:35 AM

Ben

I know I had to hook my to a phone line to do the initial setup. After that it's been unplugged. I just started getting the error messages a few days ago.

Jack

jeeprubi · 10-28-2006, 06:39 AM

Thanks Jack. Thats the info I was needing.

Jack Foster · 10-28-2006, 11:12 AM

Ben

Don't forget that to get the DVR / TIVO to work, you need to have two cables from the satellite dish running to the receiver / DVR. Many RV dishes do not have the provision for two cables. If you don't have two cables, you won't get any benefit of the DVR features.

Jack

Jetsmania · 10-28-2006, 11:29 AM

Hi Jack! You don't need two cables to make the DVR work. It can be programed to work off one feed. The disadvantage of that is you can't watch one program while recording another. The advantage is a least you can record stuff while you are away from the RV or if you like watching programs a little later than when they start (so you can avoid the commercials). Paul

Jack Foster · 10-28-2006, 01:15 PM

Ben

You're right. You do lose the ability to pause live tv and record one program while watching another. The advantage you would have over using a VCR is that the DVR will fast forward, rewind etc a lot faster and you don't have to be messing with magnetic tapes.

Jack