Litzdog911's Top 11 DIRECTV FAQ’s

Greetings!   Jim, aka “litzdog911” here.   I’ve been a DirecTV customer almost since the beginning and have volunteered on their various support forums for over 10 years.   In that time I’ve learned a lot about their equipment and how to help folks when things don’t go right.   I was asked to share some of my learnings with you all in the form of my “Top 10” frequently asked questions and answers.   I actually came up with 11, although the first one mostly offers guidance on what information you should to provide to get the best answers when posting a question in the Support Forum.   I hope you find this information useful and look forward to helping you in the Support Forum!

 

 

What information should I provide when posting a question in the DirecTV Support Forum?

 

Realize that you are our eyes & ears when requesting troubleshooting help, so the more information you can provide initially, the faster we can help you solve your problem.  Here’s the kind of information that will really help:

• What model(s) DVR/Receivers do you have? You can find the model number on the rear panel, or behind the front panel access card door, or in the DVR/Receivers System Information Menu.
• What model numbers are your other equipment? TV?  AV Receiver?  Soundbar?  Remote Control?  Modem/Router?  PC?  Mobile device?
• What exact on-screen error message(s) do you see?
• What are the exact symptoms? The more details, the better.   You can even post a photo or two.
• How are your devices connected to each other? Which Inputs/Outputs are connected where?
• What troubleshooting have you tried so far?
• When was your equipment installed?
• Have you always had this problem? Did it start suddenly?  When?

 

What do the on-screen error messages mean?

 

There are lots of different error codes that you might see.   A great resource that shows them all in one place along with likely causes is at the DBSTalk Forum here ….

http://www.dbstalk.com/topic/211186-diagnostic-error-codes-solutions/

 

How can I move my recordings from an old DVR to a new DVR?

 

It’s an often-asked questions, but unfortunately there’s no way to move recordings when upgrading or replacing your DVR.   Recordings are encrypted to the DVR hardware that recorded them, even if you’re using an external eSATA hard drive.   So what to do?  You can copy any valuable recordings to a VCR/DVD Recorder, or PC with audio/video capture hardware/software.   Or, if you’re upgrading to a newer DVR, consider keeping the old DVR to replace a standard Receiver, or installed in a new room, or simply active on your account until you can watch those valuable recordings.  

 

Why does my TV say “No Signal”?

 

99% of the time this happens when your TV is set to the wrong Audio/Video Input.   That message is actually coming from your TV, not the DirecTV DVR/Receiver.  Usually cycling the TV’s INPUT or SOURCE selection will get you back to your DirecTV DVR/Receiver.   Also double check that your cables are securely attached. 

 

Why doesn’t DirecTV provide oldies networks like MeTV, Antenna TV, Cozi TV, Retro TV Network, etc?

 

These “networks” aren’t really nationwide networks like CBS, ABC, etc.   They’re specialty services that are broadcast on over-the-air TV station sub-channels in certain cities.   While DirecTV provides the major over-the-air stations in most US cities, they don’t have the satellite capacity to provide all of these specialty networks to every city.  You’ll need an off-air antenna connected to your TV to receive these channels.  Learn more about the numerous local TV sub-channels and networks here ….

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_subchannel

 

Why did my bill suddenly increase?

 

We see this question a lot.   Many factors can affect your monthly bill, but the most common reason for a sudden increase is that you had a promotion offer that has expired.  Typically these include offers like free movie channels (HBO, Showtime, etc), or free NFL Sunday Ticket.   DirecTV does NOT automatically cancel these after the promotion period ends, so you may be surprised when they’re no longer free.   If you don’t want to keep them, you must call DirecTV before the promotion ends to ensure they’re not automatically renewed.  And be prepared for sales tactics to convince you to keep them.

 

How can I program my DirecTV Remote to control my XYZ device?

 

There are two families of DirecTV Remotes, the RC6x and RC7x remotes.  The RC7x remotes are designed for use with the newer Genie DVRs (HR44/54) and Genie Clients, while the RC6x remotes are designed for the non-Genie equipment.   When asking about programming the remote, it’s important to specify what remote model you have, and what brand/model device(s) you’re trying to program.   A great starting point is here ….

https://forums.att.com/t5/Remote-Controls/Program-your-DIRECTV-remote-control/m-p/4291887#M1

 

How can I get my Genie Remote Control (RC7x) to power on/off my AV Receiver?

 

The RC7x Genie Remote Controls can’t be programmed to power on/off an AV Receiver.   But many modern AV Receivers and HDTVs support “HDMI CEC”, which can provide this capability.  “CEC” stands for “Consumer Electronics Control” and provides a way for devices connected via HDMI cables to control things like Power On/Off.   On your DirecTV/DVR, you can enable “HDMI CEC” in the HDMI/Video Setup Menu.  You’ll need to check your HDTV and AV Receiver Owner’s Manual to enable “HDMI CEC”.  

 

Why won’t my OnDemand videos stream smoothly?

 

This can be a tricky issue to troubleshoot.   There are two main causes, and neither is easy to fix.  The most likely cause is that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) download speed is too slow.  Smooth video streaming requires at least 6-10Mbps download speed (despite what you might see on DirecTV’s help pages).   You can check your actual download speed via www.speedtest.net , but realize that a WiFi-connected DVR might actually be seeing much slower download speeds depending on things like the distance from your WiFi Router.   The second most likely cause is the OnDemand stream itself.  These video streams actually come from computer servers owned by the various networks, and their streaming speeds can vary by time-of-day and other factors.  Often it seems that some networks purposely “throttle” their video streams in an attempt to be just “fast enough” for continuous streaming.  But that doesn’t always work so well.  Search the Support Forum and you’ll find lots of posts with a variety of troubleshooting tips for this problem. 

 

How can I view my DVR recordings on-the-go on my mobile devices?

 

The original solution was the GenieGo accessory, which has been discontinued.  DirecTV is currently rolling out a new software-based solution that’s built into the HR44/54 Genie DVRs called “Mobile DVR”.   When used with your smartphone, tablet or PC, the DirecTV App can transfer recordings from your DVR for offline viewing, or stream recordings from your DVR when connected to the internet.    More information here ….

www.directv.com/mobiledvr

 

My landlord or condo/homeowner’s association won’t let me install a satellite dish, or told me to remove dish.  What can I do?

 

The FCC actually has regulations that limit how your landlord, condo or homeowner’s association can  restrict your access to satellite TV services like DirecTV.   In a nutshell the FCC’s Over the Air Reception Devices (OTARD) rules allow you install a satellite dish wherever you need to, provide it’s located in an area for your “exclusive use”, such as a patio, balcony or deck.   More details here ….

www.directv.com/fcc and https://www.fcc.gov/media/over-air-reception-devices-rule

 

 

 

Thanks!  And see you in the DIRECT community! @litzdog911