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Schedule DirecTV recording with your iPhone

by Mel Martin Jan 12th 2009 at 9:00AM

A lot of people may know about this, and a lot may not. Here's the straight skinny. Last year DirecTV rolled out the ability to go to a web page and give instructions to your DVR to record a program. TiVo and Replay TV also had this ability for quite some time. Meanwhile Dish Network just announced integration of Slingbox technology into some of their new DVRs.

DirecTV has a mobile web page that makes this easy on web enabled devices like the iPhone. It should also work on the iPod touch. Using Safari you go to m.directv.com. That will put you on a page called "DVR Scheduler." Then you log in and search for the show by name or by channel. You can also search by actor names or host name. Any eligible DVRs will show up and you can ask for the recording to be made. In my experience this can be done very closely to the scheduled air time of the show. Shortly after, you'll get a confirmation that DirecTV has your request. It is not a guarantee that the recording will work, however, but it always has for me. DirecTV then sends your request from the website to your DVR and all should be well.

You don't need an iPhone to do this. It works from a laptop or desktop computer, and DirecTV provides a list of mobile phones that work. Here's the FAQ that tells you all about it. (You'll need to be a DirecTV customer to see this.) This page should give you information if your are not logged in or a DirecTV customer.

So if you haven't tried this, give it a go. It has saved me a few times when I forget to record something while I was away from home. It might save you too.

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A lot of people may know about this, and a lot may not. Here's the straight skinny. Last year DirecTV rolled out the ability to go to a web...
 

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Rudy

this is why i hate cable companies. they never attempt to be even remotely innovative.

January 12 2009 at 6:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dean

I've used this from my iPhone and my Mac. The web-based UI sucks and is barely useable unless you know what you want to record, when, and on what channel. The iPhone UI is retarded and slow.

Not to mention, the last time I used it I scheduled two shows, got the email confirmation, and they both failed to record. They were in the record history with a comment that recording failed, but with no reason given. There were no conflicts with other scheduled showings, and there was plenty of disk space. IOW: there was no normal reason for recording to fail.

Did I mention the usability of this thing sucks...

January 12 2009 at 5:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Peter

Two things quickly. One, this is not news. This has been a function of DirecTV for well over a year. and Two, I have been told by at least two DirecTV empoyees now that the new HD TIVO DVR's are already in some DirecTV homes. Just wait, they're coming to a town near you!

January 12 2009 at 4:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Peter's comment
DB

I wish it were in my setup now. I would gladly beta test.

January 12 2009 at 5:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chad

It's news for some.

Ah, no. DirecTV didn't have a booth at CES and given how recent the agreement was made, I doubt they are beyond a prototype. You won't be seeing them in homes until 2010

January 13 2009 at 4:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
elby


Quote from DishTv site:

If you have access to the Internet, you
can see and manage your DVR as if you were sitting in your living room. Effortlessly find exactly what you
like from any PC, Macintosh or even the iPhone.

January 12 2009 at 1:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
greg

Is this proprietary stuff or can the DISH network do this down the road sometime soon?

January 12 2009 at 12:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jrobcet

I've been using this with my iPhone for a while now. If you know exactly which show you want to record, it can sometimes be quicker than using the remote to schedule a recording. Especially since the HR21 I have has such a god-awful interface. Come on Tivo! How about full support for satellite again?



January 12 2009 at 11:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jash Sayani

Nice. The iPhone is becoming the device of central control!!

What's next: Home automation?

January 12 2009 at 11:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Jash Sayani's comment
lbchs22

There is already some home automation apps in the appstore.

January 12 2009 at 12:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
now4real954

"whats next home automation"

actually there is already iphone apps that are free for those that have the home automation installed from a couple different manufacturers

so yes there is home automation

really cool if you already have that

January 12 2009 at 1:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
m wasserman

ATT UVERSE has been able to do this from day one...

January 12 2009 at 10:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to m wasserman's comment
Andrew

*golf clap*

January 12 2009 at 10:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eric Matisoff

Sucks that Comcast can't do this. Stupid Comcast.

January 12 2009 at 9:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Galley

Huh? I always thought your DVR had to be networked to do this. I tried it, but I got this message:
"Your request to record that channel could not be completed because it is not part of your subscription package. Please visit directv.com for more information."

January 12 2009 at 9:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Galley's comment
Tony

Were you trying to record something on a channel that you don't subscribe to? Like, say, HBO or Showtime?

January 12 2009 at 11:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Galley

No, I was trying to record the Baseball Hall of Fame announcement at 1:30 today. Perhaps the MLB Network is too new that it's not listed in their database.

January 12 2009 at 11:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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