We recently replaced an older Standard Definition DVR with a HD DVR H24-500. We still use an 18 inch round sat dish for standard definition reception. The new DVR works fine EXCEPT it is trying to load new software every morning for the last three days. The screen shows as zero percent complete of software downloading, then eventually goes through the reboot process and the picture comes up working perfectly.Sequence of events:Installed and activated new DVR on Jun 18thSoftware downloaded on Jun 20th at 4:08 p.m. version 0x97fTried to download software on morning of Jun 21stTried to download software on morning of Jun 22ndTried to download software on morning of Jun 23rd.The software version still reads as 0x97f Jun 20th at 4:08 p.m.Spoke with two different very nice young ladies at DirecTV who were very pleasant but no help on this issue. The first wanted to send out a service tech but couldn't grasp that a motor home is a non-standard installation that the typical service tech's won't want to work on anyway. Plus the thing works except for this software download thing so unless the tech spends the night, not sure what he can do about it. We have the put this new DVR in the bedroom location and moved the bedroom DVR up to the front area so it isn't a problem with the location. (The bad DVR we replaced was in the front area - it just stopped receiving any signal at all - you could hear something rattling around in the bad one we replaced)The Satellite signal strengths on 101 are all at 93 to 99 except those one or two transponders that are always lower. The New DVR is connected to the TV via HDMI cable if that matters. Only one coxial cable connected to #1 Tuner. The Directv representatives said there was no way to force the software download to occur on demand so a service tech could monitor it occurring. Any suggestions?

Google: Force an updateMy limited experience is telling me your 99 and 103 sats are not being seen with that small dish. Bill.Satellite should be along to help.

Sorry, I have no idea why that would happen. Call DTV and have them send a tech to your "home". It just not your home of record as you have taken it to your camping cabin.

I've had DirecTV send a technician to us when we were on the road in an RV Park.I've heard that since ATT is buying (has bought ?) DirecTV, DirecTV is modifying their customer support to fit the ATT model (we've had ATT in the past - never again), so they are unlikely to give you onsite support away from your home of record.In many areas, you can find an independent shop that sells systems like music in stores and elevators, etc. and also shops that sell free to air satellite TV systems, etc. as well as DirecTV setups.Many of these places will have technicians that can come out and help you for a fee, but with no hassle about being in an RV park.Also, to get multiple satellites, you need something other than the 18" round dish setup.

ok thanks to those who have replied.Update - using the links provided above, I was able to "force" the DVR to go into Software update mode by pushing the front red button on the DVR and then entering 0 2 4 6 8 on the remote. This time, the software did show updating percentages and did reach 100% complete. That is progress. Downside is the software version and date did not change - still reads version 0x97f Jun 20th at 4:08 p.m. I guess I'll see what happens tomorrow morning.As for not receiving Sats 99 & 103, I don't need to receive those since I am only going for Standard definition. only 101 is needed for SD.I'm still reluctant to take the time to have a tech sent out to look at a system that is basically functioning correctly. We are leaving here on Saturday for 10 days. I may have to reconsider getting a tech once we are going to be in one place for a few days again. It does receive all the programming that I want so, it isn't so much a problem as it is a puzzle that I would like to figure out.

2chiefsRus wrote:As for not receiving Sats 99 & 103, I don't need to receive those since I am only going for Standard definition. only 101 is needed for SD..I realize that, but I mentioned it because I'm not sure which sat is used to transmit the update, and you do have a box which is 'supposed' to be getting those sats.

DirecTV Software Download | Good Sam Community

CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Jun 24, 2015
We junked our working in motion dome that gave good SD results. Three reasons:
1. We never watch TV while moving.
2. In central Oregon (and some other areas on the US) ALL locals are HD only.
3. The rig had a HD TV (720).

At that point we used our HR24 with the new SWM MH dish or our portable 18" dish and at home with the Slimline 3.
2chiefsRus
Explorer
Jun 24, 2015
I have restarted the DVR several times, unplugged it for 15 minutes, etc. We'll see how it does tomorrow morning. As I mentioned in my second post on this thread doing the forced software update with the 02468 did get the software download to reach 100% completion so I have high hopes for tomorrow. I will post again tomorrow.
RVhiker
Explorer
Jun 24, 2015
When a DirecTv receiver is re-started twice in 30 minutes, the program guide data is flushed from the receiver and it begins to download it again from 101. What I don't know, but seems reasonable, is that re-starting the receiver twice in 30 minutes may also flush whatever marker is in the receiver about what software it should download; if it does this, it may solve your issue; but the double re-start will not hurt anything.
2chiefsRus
Explorer
Jun 24, 2015
2chiefsRus wrote:
I have restarted the DVR several times, unplugged it for 15 minutes, etc. We'll see how it does tomorrow morning. As I mentioned in my second post on this thread doing the forced software update with the 02468 did get the software download to reach 100% completion so I have high hopes for tomorrow. I will post again tomorrow.

Still no joy this morning, the DVR again tried to download software and again did not go past 0% downloaded. I again did a force software download with the 02468 mentioned before and it again downloaded the software reaching 100%. But again, it did not update the software version or download date/time.

I changed the Power Save mode from ON to OFF so it will not go into Power Save mode after 4 hours. We'll see if that helps things tomorrow morning. What makes this so frustrating is having to wait a day each time to see what happens. As mentioned earlier, at least it receives the signal fine otherwise.

Oh by the way, the directv rep who promised to call me first thing when she came in at 9 a.m. today has yet to call and it is 1:35 so guess that isn't going to happen.

We are going to be on the move for the next couple weeks so I'm going to wait until then to try to arrange for a service tech to come out once we are in one place for a few days.

I'll keep you posted on the progress.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jun 24, 2015
Would it be possible to obtain a Slimline dish/SWM lnb and try? You need HD anyway!
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Jun 24, 2015
It's also possible that if you take the receiver to the local DTV installers office he could connect it to his antenna and do the download to see if that helped. Assuming you were going to be around a couple of days you could bring it back the next day if it did not. It's not your antenna so having someone come to you is not critical. You just need to get an installer and the receiver together at a mutual location.
2chiefsRus
Explorer
Jun 24, 2015
2oldman wrote:
Would it be possible to obtain a Slimline dish/SWM lnb and try? You need HD anyway!

I'm smiling as I write this remembering the day my Dad (God rest his soul) sat me down and explained the difference between a Want and a Need. So far HD hasn't made it up to a Need yet off my list of Wants.

We'll see who we run into the next couple weeks, we might meet someone in a campground who has a Slimline we can try it on.
2chiefsRus
Explorer
Jun 25, 2015
Bill.Satellite wrote:
It's also possible that if you take the receiver to the local DTV installers office he could connect it to his antenna and do the download to see if that helped. Assuming you were going to be around a couple of days you could bring it back the next day if it did not. It's not your antenna so having someone come to you is not critical. You just need to get an installer and the receiver together at a mutual location.

Interesting idea. We'll be visiting the grandkids near Baltimore MD next week so it should be pretty easy to find an installer near such a large city. Thanks for the suggestion.
mchero
Explorer
Jun 26, 2015
I have DirecTV in the Discovery. I have added a SWM8 and a broadband adapter. I have it connected to a KVH in-motion dome. Everything working 100%. I had to set the dvr to only display std. Def. Channels. Before I made the change the eve would try to record in high Def but since it did not see the hi Def bird I would get blank programs. No, won't record high-definition via the Sat. I can still record on-demand via the broadband downadapter as long as my Peplink router NOT connected to Verizon broadband. Next step is getting hi-Def box for bedroom working via whole home.
2chiefsRus
Explorer
Jun 27, 2015
Original Poster here with an update -
Now I am really confused, this morning I turned it on and ta-da, it worked. No attempt to download software, it just came on just the way it is supposed to do.
Funny thing is the last software downloaded version and date/time still has not changed from what it showed on the 20th.

It unsuccessfully attempted to download new software on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and then suddenly on Saturday it didn't. We didn't move, we didn't change the dish, or the cables, or have a tech come out. Signal strength was always in the 90's everytime I checked, and I checked frequently over the past week.

We'll see what happens tomorrow.

UPDATED AGAIN:
The DVR worked fine for another day on the same set up without trying to download software so that's two days total.

Then we moved locations and changed to our traveling 18 inch round dish (same type as the other one we have permanently mounted at my Mom's house). This also meant we used a different set of cables. The next day, the DVR again did NOT try to update software. On the second morning, in another location, the DVR did download new software so now it is reading the 0x994 version.

No question at this time, just posting what happened for anyone who might be searching posts later.

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