DirecTV rolls out remote recording

We can't count the number of times we've gotten to work and remembered we forgot to schedule that night's American Idol football game to record on DirecTV, and wished we could do it using just our cell phone. Well, the satellite provider is adding the capability to do just that: with the DVR Scheduler (previously known as Remote Booking), you can log onto the mobile site at m.directv.com, and bounce a record signal from DirecTV's satellite down to your DVR in minutes. The soft launch has HR20-700 DVR models going live right about now, with more models and an official rollout scheduled for February. Even the venerable TiVo HR10-250 is scheduled to get this feature, and it's sure to be a big hit with commuters, travelers -- and the rest of us who don't properly set up our season pass recordings.

[Ry @ Jan 18th 2008 11:09AM]

I can only imagine how much THAT feature will cost you a month...

[Blair @ Jan 18th 2008 12:24PM]

FREE!!!!

[Timmy @ Jan 18th 2008 2:11PM]

I know i stating the obvious, you need a DVR and no eithernet connection.

(not a reply to this comment)

[maikel @ Jan 18th 2008 11:19AM]

Just tried it. Works well.You go DirecTV!!!

[paragraph @ Jan 18th 2008 11:26AM]

Hasn't TiVo had a web based feature like this for a while?

I could be mistaken though...

pretty neat... now i need to get me one of those new fangled DVR devices....

[Cory @ Jan 18th 2008 1:10PM]

Yes, Tivo's been able to do this for some time now. You can either go throught Tivo's website, or the TV listings on yahoo. It's as simple as go to the listings, click the show, click record.

[FlashGal @ Jan 18th 2008 2:05PM]

Yes, TiVo has had that capability for some time, but the TiVo boxes with built-in DirecTV receivers haven't had this feature before. DirecTV seems to control the features on these boxes more than TiVo does -- just like locking out the USB ports on the back of the Series 2 receiver so it couldn't be connected to a home computer network. Hey, but don't get me wrong. I've been with DirecTV now for nearly three years, and I absolutely love it with TiVo. I don't know how I lived without it for so long.

[Anthony Gentavoe @ Jan 18th 2008 11:29AM]

Just tried using the search and every attempt yielded no results. I don't know that I would ever record by channel number...as I have no idea what the channel numbers are, so search has to work. Anyone else have it work?

[Thomas @ Jan 18th 2008 2:30PM]

Go to directv.com and find the show and channel for manual entries.

[Woody @ Jan 18th 2008 11:30AM]

my ReplayTV unit had this from 4 years ago. Coolest thing ever. But it only synced at the end of the night. So if you were at work, and needed to record something during the day, you were SOL.

[JD @ Jan 18th 2008 11:34AM]

ReplayTv can schedule recordings immediately if you have DVArchive installed and expose the web hosting features appropriately.

[RicoSuave @ Jan 18th 2008 11:39AM]

I love my ReplayTv! But sadly as you know the company stopped developing this product. I just replaced it with a DirecTV HD DVR last night. This thing is sharp, it can record two HD shows at once and play a third recorded show at the same time.

I also understand that direcTV bough out the Replay las month. Hopefully we will get some of that Replay UI goodness that I will miss with this new machine. Let's hope they can incorporate some www.dvarchive.org

[Barry B @ Jan 18th 2008 11:33AM]

This is a great feature for sure!

[atomicmatt @ Jan 18th 2008 11:41AM]

you can also do it on the web based at directv.com go to tv listings click on the prgram you want hit record, works like a charm. The search worked for me on the mobile version as well.

[AJ in the East Bay @ Jan 18th 2008 11:42AM]

Just tried it. It works!

[Zak @ Jan 18th 2008 11:46AM]

I wish I still had my DirecTV. I loved it. When I moved I couldn't use it in my new place so I had to switch to cable, which is horrible in comparison. This feature would really be nice to have.

[jason @ Jan 18th 2008 11:52AM]

Oh cool - now I can remotely have DirecTV record an hour of black screen because the software wasn't able to receive the HD signal without a system reset. Then, when I get home all jazzed to watch the remotely-recorded show, I can realize the at-home frustration of missing yet another show due to D-TV's crappy system.

Wow - I'm so lucky!

[CaptCaveman @ Jan 18th 2008 11:52AM]

works like a dream. And took less then 30 seconds to send the record command to the DVR.

Oh, also you can just go to their regular site, look through the program grid guide and record also.

[Canadian Bacon @ Jan 18th 2008 11:59AM]

AT&T Uverse has this feature as well. I love it, even though I've only used it a couple of times.

[OneLove @ Jan 18th 2008 12:02PM]

MSN TV remote record, webguide4...yawn. What took so long?

[whatishalo? @ Jan 18th 2008 12:06PM]

BeyondTV has had this feature forever...welcome to the year 2003 DirectTV

[Kon @ Jan 18th 2008 12:14PM]

Everyone criticizing this functionality doesn't realize that it is the first of it's kind commercially for a CE DVR (it's been around for years if not over a decade for professional gear though).

When you schedule a program to be recorded a packet is carouseled via true one-way push over the bird to your receiver. There is no two-way network here. You can't just slap a webserver on one end and call it quits.

Now maybe DTV can make this really useful and allow PPV recording over the air, and start datacasting other content to receivers.

[maikel @ Jan 18th 2008 12:17PM]

Take it back. I have two boxes. One is a H-15 model and the other is a Directv Tivo box.
The recording went to the H-15 box. It doesnt give you the option to choose what box to record the program on.But I still applaud them though.Now I have no excuse to miss on something even when I'm out and about.

[Jeremy W @ Jan 18th 2008 7:53PM]

The reason it doesn't give you the option to choose a receiver is because you only have one (the R15) that works with DVR Scheduler at this time. When they add the feature for your Tivo, you'll be able to choose which receiver.

[hayesb2 @ Jan 18th 2008 12:17PM]

I just tested...worked instantly. Nice.
Except I'm sure Directv will end up charging for it, in which case they can shove it.

[Greg @ Jan 18th 2008 3:14PM]

I doubt they will charge since ATT Uverse is not charging for the service. Hopefully they don't get together and decide to both start charging.....that would suck!

[*AJ* @ Jan 18th 2008 12:31PM]

This feature comes with the DVR service and works on all the DIRECTV DVRs - except the new HR21. I tried it on both my HD and SD DVRs and it worked great - took 5 seconds to get to my box. I can even record shows that are have already started!

[Captain Obvious @ Jan 18th 2008 2:09PM]

Okay, what I am doing wrong. We have the HD Tivo and the HR-21 (that's the HD one, right), and we also have an old Samsung Tivo unit. I try to log in and it tells me I need to upgrade my receivers. What gives?

[ayemac @ Jan 18th 2008 2:13PM]

I didn't realize *TV purchased ReplayTV - I'll have to look into that. I was speaking to a *TV rep, though, and she told me that negotiations were already in the works with Tivo again. FINALLY. I hope this means another DirecTivo HD DVR as I'm not entirey fond of the *TV HD DVR. Ultimately, though, as long as I can record any time, any place - I'll be happy. Now if they could only get the remote viewing/slingbox-like process going...

[Timmy @ Jan 18th 2008 2:18PM]

I was able to choose, online you need to designate which DVR is which, like Living room and bedroom in your account, then you can choose from the record screen online.

[Zzephyr @ Jan 18th 2008 4:50PM]

Sure would be nice to have this feature with Dish Network.

[Dandy @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:42AM]

Zzephyr, just get a Slingbox. I've had my slingbox
connected to my DishNEtwork DVR for years and I can
schedule recordings and watch shows in real time
over the web. I can also watch all the previously
recorded content on the DVR so it's win-win situation.
Plus no fees!

[CustomAV @ Jan 19th 2008 2:31AM]

I have uVerse and the AT&T remote recording is pretty cool, although it could use some polish. When you search for a show it goes through the program guide from top to bottom, so it might find the show on channel 120, but you wanted the same show on channel 1120 which is the HD Feed. So, you need to keep hitting next until it goes through ALL the shows in the current program guide (usually 2 weeks) until it goes to the next channel. It should be in date order or at least let me choose what channel first!

[Kevin Nelson @ Jan 19th 2008 1:32PM]

Totally sweet... I just read the post, then went to the site and tried it out. It works perfectly. Very cool!