DirecTV - Getting Slow?

buckeye · Jul 30, 2003

I have been noticing that our DirecTV service (Pegasus really) getting slower in recent months. The problems are:

* Long wait times (15 sec. or more) getting information from the program guide.

*Long wait times (10-15 sec.) for the channel entered to show a picture, although sound will usually come up somewhat quickly.

* Sometimes the guide will show "No information", even for things happening in the next 1/2 hour.

I was wondering if this is an effect of the increasing number of channels being added to the satellites? Or could it be that I have an early receiver (Sony SAT-A2, seven years old this November)? Has anyone else noticed any of the same problems?

Richard · Jul 30, 2003

Now that you mention it, I guess I have unwittingly sensed some of the same issues, but not put any awareness into it. hmm..... I have possibly the same receiver, I'm not sure of it's number, but about same age and has the wider remote with the thumb joystick and RF capabilities.

I'll start to pay some attention.... at least, when I'm not watching some exciting show (snow) on the screen at 3:30 a.m. with slobber drooling outta corner of my mouth and fabric patterns on my face /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Richard

SageBrush · Jul 30, 2003

No problems with our two houses and three boxes... Hughes type.

MossRoad · Jul 31, 2003

I have a receiver that is about 5.5 years old. It is a first generation receiver and it is sometimes very slow on the menus lately. The new boxes seem much faster. I have a contact at a company that makes DIRECTV receivers. I'll ask if something has changed the next time I talk to him.

Will_C · Jul 31, 2003

I, too, kave noticed the same things happening with my DirectTV. I recently received a new card for the receiver in the mail. It has semmed to help. Has anyone else got a new card? The information that came with it indicated it was because of security issues.
Will

jwstewar · Jul 31, 2003

I got the new cards on Monday. Yes they are for security purposes. They are the 4th generation access cards, it will allow DirecTV to do more to try to stop pirating. I haven't done it w/ the new cards yet, but I was seeing the Information screens slow down, but hadn't noticed a slow down in channel tuning.

BTW, for what it is worth, I hate Pegasus wish we could subscribe directly to DirecTV. Maybe the News Corp. merger.

Hollywood · Jul 31, 2003

Your older receiver only has a 16-bit chip in it while the newer boxes have at least 32-bit. The newer boxes will naturally be a bit faster because of this, but the main issue slowing down your older Sony is the amount of data to be processed is definitely more than it used to be.

I'm an installer for DirecTV and agree that Pegasus definitely is a downer. An un-needed middleman. They are worse for installers as well because of the added paperwork.

The good news is I very seldom replace the older boxes on service calls. They are made much better in my opinion and since they are larger they also dissipate heat better.
I haven't noticed new cards speeding things up any, but it is possible.
Jim

MadReferee · Jul 31, 2003

I have the same problem occasionally.

If you have a DirecTv with TiVo you can check out this forum. It is extremely active and just might help you with a non-TiVo question.

DirecTV with TiVo forum

You can also try at the DBS forum located here:

DBS forums

PBMAX · Jul 31, 2003

my 2 rca receivers are just over 2 yrs old and I have been noticing the slowdown and I also got new cards a few moths back... I noticed on one of there customer info channels they recommed unplugging the box if it gets jittery of sluggish. i'd imagine this is their idea of a reboot and memory clear.

Hollywood, do you know if they use the same sattilites for there internet service?as they do for dtv? I haven't kept up with it.
If so I would say it's bandwith or lack there of which would also fall into the question of new channels as well as transmitting more channels in HDTV quality.
HDTV is definite band with hog...

they could aslo be doing another sneak atack on hackers were they gradually down load pieces of a program in the back ground to all customers and then once there all up they crash and burn the illigal cards....

Hey hollywood do you know of a way to change the 1st user from family?
it annoys me that they keep spamming me with channels I had not selected to view. They only do it mostly with pay per view events like ball games. and only under the family user...I let them know was none to happy about it but basicaly was told tough...So i figure if I could change the 1st user or delete it I could stop it my self... spam is bad enough on the net...

buckeye · Jul 31, 2003

Thanks for your responses. On a similar note, the whole Pegasus issue drives me crazy. This NRTC act seems to impeed or hurt those it was supposed to help! With Pegasus, I have a limited number of receivers I can choose from when compared to DirecTV. And the $1.50/month feee drives me crazy! Hughes paid to put the satellites up in orbit, not Pegasus. The whole issue just frosts me and big time. I was getting better satellite service prior to the NRTC act. And I still don't have local channel unlike those famously rural areas like New York, Miami and Chicago.