Filed under: Video, Cool tools, Internet Tools, iPhone, iPod touch
Schedule DirecTV recording with your iPhone
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.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Andrew said 9:12AM on 1-12-2009
Yeah, now if only they could hire a design team. I've been using this for a while now and it's terrible to have to navigate through. They need to get someone to build something like AOL's mobile TV listings.
Reply
JayC said 10:41AM on 1-12-2009
yes, the interface should be easier to navigate. maybe even have a iphone dedicated page.
tivo is making a comeback this spring/summer with a new DVR. my wife loves the tivo DVR and we can't wait. I think the HD DVR really sucks after using the Tivo version.
Tony said 11:46AM on 1-12-2009
"I think the HD DVR really sucks after using the Tivo version."
Absolutely agree. I have both (moved the old HD DirecTivo to the bedroom and will continue using it for OTA HD once the old HD sat's are turned off...which is coming soon. They're starting to put up warnings on the lower channel numbers.)
Anyway, the HD DirecTivo has saved my bacon more than once with the POS DirecTV HD DVR screwed up and either didn't record something or recorded an hour of nothingness. The good ol' black screen of death. And when I'm in the living room with the POS, I *really* miss the dual live buffers. I'll be getting rid of the POS and getting the *new* HD DirecTivo as soon as it comes out.
Andrew said 12:31PM on 1-12-2009
Yeah, the DirecTV boxes really do suck. Why is it so hard for these satellite and cable companies to just put enough power in a box that it can browse a guide without lagging for 5 seconds on every click. My old Time Warner box was just as bad. I'll look into a Tivo once they settle down with new versions and get everything where I like it.
pal said 9:27AM on 1-12-2009
I thought directTV uses TIVO software.. and hence features all things tivo...
tivo has this for a while now.
pal :)
Reply
Sean said 10:26AM on 1-12-2009
They did... until they stopped a couple of years ago when (News corporation mandate) they tried their own software. Now this year TIVo is supposed to make a comeback with DirecTV now that News Corp no longer runs the show. I'm one of the many many customers who kept on to their TIVO boxes in the hope they would come back in.
Sam said 10:21AM on 1-12-2009
No, DirecTV moved away from Tivo equipment almost 3 years ago. Their new HD DVR's and the software is really very nice.
Tony said 11:45AM on 1-12-2009
I wasn't forced to move to the new box until late summer of 2008. And the DirecTV box and software doesn't hold a candle to the HD DirecTivo. There are some nice features, but overall it's worse in almost every way.
Galley said 9:51AM on 1-12-2009
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."
Reply
Tony said 11:46AM on 1-12-2009
Were you trying to record something on a channel that you don't subscribe to? Like, say, HBO or Showtime?
Galley said 11:50AM on 1-12-2009
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.
Enrique said 9:57AM on 1-12-2009
Sucks that Comcast can't do this. Stupid Comcast.
Reply
m wasserman said 10:26AM on 1-12-2009
ATT UVERSE has been able to do this from day one...
Reply
Andrew said 10:52AM on 1-12-2009
*golf clap*
Jash Sayani said 11:23AM on 1-12-2009
Nice. The iPhone is becoming the device of central control!!
What's next: Home automation?
Reply
lbchs22 said 1:30PM on 1-12-2009
There is already some home automation apps in the appstore.
scott said 1:30PM on 1-12-2009
"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
jrobcet said 11:38AM on 1-12-2009
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?
Reply
bebopredux said 12:21PM on 1-12-2009
Is this proprietary stuff or can the DISH network do this down the road sometime soon?
Reply
zeero said 1:23PM on 1-12-2009
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.
Reply