hr20 problem with recorded shows

[darthemma]

About 3 weeks ago I started having problems with one of my 2 hr20 dvrs. The problem seems to coincide with a software update (but I'm not sure of that). The receiver works fine when watching live programs, but when I record a show, the recording seems to stutter a lot. It doesn't always happen, but frequently when watching a recorded show.

It also happens when I pause a show and then come back and start playing it again. If I fast forward to catch up with the live broadcast, then it's fine again.

This only happens on one of my two hr20s. Any thoughts on a fix would be most welcome. Thank you.

I'm really hoping the new Directivos come out before I need to replace my DVR.

[WK-Jeff]

Did you try a red-button reset? Press the red button near the access card and see if that helps matters.

[darthemma]

Thank you. I will try that and get post back here again tomorrow.

[nsolot]

As best I can tell, there are a number of similar reports with the 0x368 software update, but I can't tell if the problem is related to those using external drives.

Anyone know about a fix or a work around?

TIA

[darthemma]

I reset the receiver using the red button near the access card and it did not fix the problem. Any other suggestion? I am not using an external drive.

I have 2 identical boxes I got from Directv about 2 years ago. Only one of them is having this problem.

Again, it is only a problem when watching recorded content: either a recorded program from my play list, or if I pause a program and come back in push play. It is fine if watching live.

If I can't get it working soon, I may need to contact Directv about getting a new dvr. I was really hoping that these boxes would last until an HD directivo is available.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[WK-Michael]

Pretty strange, but it does sound like a DVR problem. You could actually try an external and see if that helps. It may be that the internal drive is failing, and an external would mean not using the internal anymore.

[darthemma]

I had thought about that, but isn't it true that even when watching a "live" show I'm actually watching it off of the hard drive? Am I wrong?

I tried uplugging it for 20 seconds and plugging it back in. I've done that once already, but from what I've read sometimes a second time fixes issues.

Also, I emailed Directv about it and they said I would have to call tech support and have them trouble shoot it over the phone before they'd consider replacing it. Oh joy.

I'll let you know what happens. I may go with the external drive. Thanks for the suggestion. I will contact you nice folks if I decide to get the external drive.

[WK-Michael]

Well, it may be that with software updates, the HR line isn't caching live TV - I really don't know for certain that that's still the way they work, and the disparity in your posts between live and recorded TV suggest that maybe live TV isn't cached in your unit.

[darthemma]

It is recording the show when I pause, but when I push "play" the recorded content stutters so badly it's unwatchable. When I fast forward to the end and catch up to real time, then it plays fine. It also does this with shows I've recorded. It's very odd.

I'll let Directv try to trouble shoot it over the phone with me sometime soon when I have 5 or 6 hours to spend on hold and talking to one of their moron techs. They won't send me a new unit until I suffer through this.

WK-Michael, if I send it to you folks, can you have a look at it and see if you can figure it out? (I realize there would be a fee to diagnose and repair it.) It would be easier than suffering with Directv techs.

Thanks for your help.

[WK-Michael]

We can certainly try, but the problem is, with those units, we can't fix all problems.

Do you specifically need the functionality of an HR20, i.e. OTA?