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Hacking The Directv DVR R15

Submitted by tcblack on Tue, 10/09/2007 - 1:43pm
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Since I'm an incurable tweaker I thought I might look into finding ways to hack my relatively new DirecTV R15 DVR recorder. It's so far listed as unhackable. Well I'm not ready to break out the soldering iron to change that just yet but I will write down a few discoveries.

  1. To force a software download: Reset and on the first blue screen type 02468.
    It's the luck of the draw with this one. You'll probably just get the software version you already have unless you hit what I've seen called the CE (cutting edge) window - in which case it appears you'll get the newest (beta?) right now.
  2. Select-play-select-9-select
    this will turn on a timer during playback and also a realtime clock at bottom right of screen.
  3. In full video mode on a live channel...From the front panel press and hold the RIGHT directional, and then press the active button
    This brings you to an Advanced Feature menu with options for an Internal Destacker, Phone Settings, Service Settings, System Diagnostics.
  4. Active and UP
    SystemSetup and System info and test screen
  5. Active and RIGHT
    System setup /diagnostic hidden menu

Comments

Submitted by Dr Bob (not verified) on Sat, 10/13/2007 - 6:38pm.

You have time to watch TV?

I must admit, I'll be losing sleep throughout the baseball playoffs as long as the Rockies are in it. I'm in Haiti April 2 - 15, 2008. How about you?

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Submitted by tcblack on Tue, 10/16/2007 - 2:51pm.

Good to hear from you Bob! It looks like we'll be able to meet and greet it when I come in. I'll be teaching April 16-29. Factor in travel time and I'll be there on the 15th.

As for time to watch TV... not so much. Which explains the DVR. Now I can watch those things I want to when I have the time. Plus I get to skip past all those commercials. :-)

Submitted by sctn4elk (not verified) on Mon, 04/07/2008 - 9:56pm.

For hidden menu's you need to press the ACTIVE button and the directional jog buttons AT THE SAME TIME. I searched all over the internet and tried many different options until I found that out...hopefully someone else can use this comment.

Submitted by totherezq (not verified) on Tue, 08/19/2008 - 2:53am.

I have a DirecTv DVR Plus Receiver R15 MFR:500. I have no line dropped in the room where I currently intend to use it yet. However, I would like to hook it up and at least take advantage of a ton of previously recorded material that's on this DVR. Does anyone know a way I can access those previously recorded programs without adding this receiver to my current service? This is strictly for viewing purposes only. I intend to add it to my DirecTv service later in the future. For now all I want is the ability to view what's been recorded to the hard drive without it being hooked up to any Satelite feed. Any ideas? A solution here will help tremendously! Thanks...

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Submitted by tcblack on Wed, 08/20/2008 - 6:40am.

I certainly haven't tried it so I can't answer you. This is the type of question that you might well find already answered by searching the dbstalk forums.

Submitted by vampirocubano on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 7:25pm.

is easy to change the size of the hard drive in the drv r15 any model, is any one want to know who to do it, just let me know, but is simple, just take out the hard drive from the dvr and conected to your pc desktop, and tell me what you see inside. see you next time.

Submitted by vampirocubano on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 9:59pm.

is you look back in the receiver you going to see the usb port, with that port you can pass all programs to your pc, until i know now that the only way, or using a laptop, from usb receiver to laptop and then tv card hardware to your tv.

Submitted by katy on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 5:06pm.

I also have Direct Tv R15. Could I connect it to my PC via USB and use it as an external drive?

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Submitted by tcblack on Thu, 02/19/2009 - 8:32pm.

I was asking for that capacity a long time ago, sadly that capacity was never included as part of the software updates. Pity though. As far as I know all that the USB port is good for is for the tech to run some tests on it. Waste.

Submitted by bobby d (not verified) on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 9:38pm.

hey, i was buying a payper view early and decided i wanted to cancel it then the movie started when i was on the cancel page. so i prolonged it by pushing up and down on my controler for about 15 min. i clicked on the cancel and it told me it was unable. so i hurried to record it. i left my house and the movie was over and on the screen for the next movie saying buy or record you know what im saying, i turned it off for about a minute, turned it back on and noticed it was not on my purchases. i checked on the recording and it was there with the dollar sign by it . i clicked play and it worked and never showed up on my purchases. just thought id tell yall, so maybe u can figure out exactly what i did. peace!!

Submitted by Secret Identity (not verified) on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 7:04pm.

These hacks seem to be gone with one of the latest firmware upgrades.

Submitted by mikese on Thu, 04/16/2009 - 9:19am.

Our satellite tv installation was done horribly we had to get another company to come move our dish and run new cables. We just upgraded to DVR's as well.

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Submitted by parkernathan on Mon, 08/16/2010 - 7:52pm.

I wish there was a way to hack it so that it wouldn't go out every time it storms. :-) We're on DirecTV now and both it and Dish goes out when severe weather hits, which is when we usually need it the most (good thing I'm a WeatherBug Reporter and can track my own storms when the TV's out).

I'll be so glad once UVERSE or Fiber gets in our area. I hope it's more reliable since it'll be underground.

Nathan Parker

StillTruth.com Editor and Mac Specialist