DirecTV Tivo question

Brandon777 · Post by **Brandon777** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 4:50 pm

Do you really have to keep the DirecTV Tivo receiver plugged up to the phone line at all times to use it. I want to order one, but they told me it has to be hooked up at all times to the phone jack. My phone jack is on the other side of the room from where my T.V. is and I don't want to have the receiver hooked up to the phone jack. I don't see why you have to do that to have the Tivo.

Texas Hog · Post by **Texas Hog** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 4:52 pm

I've had a Directv subscription for years for the sole reason of receiving Sunday Ticket....and yes, you have to keep it connected or otherwise they'll close your account and have done so to me several times....noting that they pinged my phone line and received no response from my receiver.

cvillehog · Post by **cvillehog** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 5:13 pm

Yes you have to keep it plugged into the phone line for TiVo. However, it works fine with phoneline extenders that plug into power jacks.

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 5:15 pm

get one of the things that you plug into an AC outlet to turn it into a phone jack... then you won't have to worry about running it across the room, you can just plug it in where the satellite receiver is plugged in.

Not the cheapest solution in the world, but nothing exhorbitant. It's 80 bucks at best buy, but I did a quick search and found one on Amazon for a shade under 50 bucks:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... vi=reviews

... and there was a used one there for 30 bucks.

... or you could just run a cheap regular phone extension and try hiding it.

cvillehog · Post by **cvillehog** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 5:27 pm

BossHog wrote:get one of the things that you plug into an AC outlet to turn it into a phone jack... then you won't have to worry about running it across the room, you can just plug it in where the satellite receiver is plugged in.

Not the cheapest solution in the world, but nothing exhorbitant. It's 80 bucks at best buy, but I did a quick search and found one on Amazon for a shade under 50 bucks:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... vi=reviews

... and there was a used one there for 30 bucks.

... or you could just run a cheap regular phone extension and try hiding it.

That's exactly what I was talking about. Check for it on froogle, I found this for under $50: http://www.electronicsoutfitter.com/store/rc926.html

NikiH · Post by **NikiH** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 6:04 pm

Or you could do like we do. We pay an extra 3 dollars to our cable company to get a DVR which has identical capabilities of the TIVO receiver. No phone line required to be hooked to it at all.

cvillehog · Post by **cvillehog** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 6:13 pm

NikiH wrote:Or you could do like we do. We pay an extra 3 dollars to our cable company to get a DVR which has identical capabilities of the TIVO receiver. No phone line required to be hooked to it at all.

Only problem with that is that Cable sucks. :twisted:

Seriouslly, though, digital cable is much more expensive than DirecTV or Dish Network, and many of the channels on digital cable aren't even digital -- they are the same you would get with standard cable.

So, I go for less money for a better product.

NikiH · Post by **NikiH** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 6:19 pm

See we stick with cable because we get the deal with the cable modem and the entire package. With factoring in how much high speed internet would cost us if we didn't do this package it makes it a great deal. We also had trouble with DirecTv reception. So we'll stick with cable.

wormer · Post by **wormer** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:07 pm

Brandon777
I have had DirectTV for 3 years and it's never been hooked to a phone line. No problems. TIVO is a flat fee right? I'd be shocked if they did anything to your account. Wost case if they ever hastle you call them up and tell them it's pluged back in. When they confirm it then take it back out. Th only reason they UESD to want it plugged in was to pull your pay per view charges but I think you do that on-line now anyway so it should go rith tto your account.

Brandon777 · Post by **Brandon777** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:07 pm

Thanks for the info guys and gals :wink:

. I would be seriously upset if they cancelled my account because I didn't have the tivo plugged in the phone jack.

cvillehog · Post by **cvillehog** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 10:26 pm

wormer wrote:Brandon777
I have had DirectTV for 3 years and it's never been hooked to a phone line. No problems. TIVO is a flat fee right? I'd be shocked if they did anything to your account. Wost case if they ever hastle you call them up and tell them it's pluged back in. When they confirm it then take it back out. Th only reason they UESD to want it plugged in was to pull your pay per view charges but I think you do that on-line now anyway so it should go rith tto your account.

I have regular DTV not hooked to a phoneline as well, and my dad is a DirecTV and Dish Network dealer. He tells me that TiVo requires a phone connection.

NC43Hog · Post by **NC43Hog** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:02 am

I have had DirectTV for about 9 years and have the phone line running under the baseboards. No Biggie.

Texas Hog · Post by **Texas Hog** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:19 pm

NikiH wrote:Or you could do like we do. We pay an extra 3 dollars to our cable company to get a DVR which has identical capabilities of the TIVO receiver. No phone line required to be hooked to it at all.

We do the same Niki....really enjoy the DVR....but it costs us $5/month.

I've been thinking about buying my own...the cable company's is a piece of crap really.

Anyone own their own DVR??