Do you really have to have a home phone line to use a DVR? Some say yes, some say no. Need to know, Thanks?

Question

We have direct tv, and thinking of going to best buy and buying a dvr. Will it work? No phone line

Answer 1

No, you do not HAVE to have it. Direct TV and Dish push VERY HARD for you to have it connected because of updates and such, although I believe that you can now receive updates without.. at least I can on my Dish Network DVR. The phone line is required if you want to order PPV with your remote, otherwise simply go online and order them from your account or call them to order it, although they will charge you a fee for doing so.

Answer 2

I had a DirecTV TiVo DVR for two years without a phone line connected. Needed it to set up, but not after that. No problems, except no software upgrades and no on-screen pay-per-view ordering. Plus lots of messages that I delete.

The new DVR (HR20) does not need a phone line at all, either for setup or upgrades.

Answer 3

i take advantage of the DVR to checklist specific shows that i desire to observe even although they're on throughout the time of the artwork day or late at evening. besides the fact that time they originate will become beside the point. Then for the duration of top time while no longer something rather worth watching is on I merely bypass with the aid of my backlog of recorded video clips, recorded sequence, and specials. i will consistently discover something this is greater effective to observe than what's on stay television. the top effect is that I infrequently watch stay television (different than in keeping with risk a newscast or something I never observed till now). because of the fact the DVR does HD as nicely as nicely-known definition there is not any reason to be a slave of community programming. If I initiate watching a prepare and it gets to be too late at evening I merely hit the DVR checklist button and that i will work out the the remainder of it day after immediately. and of direction i will rapid forward with the aid of classified ads or bypass lower back to a keyword some actor mumbled so i might nicely be advantageous I have been given it. So it has thoroughly replaced my interplay with the television and that i might never get television provider without DVR.

Answer 4

I don't. I use a wireless receiver with a USB port. Connect that to the DVR. Go to your network settings on the DVR and add your home network.

If you don't have a wireless network, you can get a gadget at Best Buy that allows you to connect the DVR to your phone line wirelessly.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=3926657&type=product&productCategoryId=cat08274&id=1051384177248

Answer 5

Depends on what DVR you are talking about. If you are talking about a Tivo Series 2. Not affiliated with any cable company. You'll need a phone line to activate it. After that, with an additional cost, you can buy a compatible wireless adapter or get an ethernet .
DVRs provided by most cable companies don't require dial up. I have actually yet to see one that does from a cable company.

Answer 6

it depends on the model of the DVR. some require a phone line, most do not

Answer 7

I have a DVR box through Comcast (formally Adelphia) and it is *not* hooked up to any phone line.

It used to be that you would have to hook your cable box up to a phone line to order PPV movies. I don't know if that still holds true for Pay-per-View; but we order movies via Video On Demand and don't need a phone hookup for that.

Answer 8

i also have a DirecTV system with the dvr and you need the phone line hook up for system upgrades and we have the nfl sunday ticket and to get the 30 minutes replays we needed the phone hook up..i tried to unplug it and the upgrades would not come through

Answer 9

Dish Network and Direct TV require it, mostly to update your program guide, and to keep track of the movies you're recording.

Answer 10

No, it depends between service providers.

If you have windows media center, and a tv card. well.. your set.