DirecTV Users & Power Savings

[Skirge01]

I just ran into this last night, so I figured I'd mention it for others. DirecTV rolled out an update over the past 2 nights to both my DTV boxes. This update turned ON the power savings feature by default, which puts the boxes to sleep after 4 hours of inactivity. SageTV does not wake the boxes from this state, so I wound up with a bunch of errors about my HD-PVRs not producing data while recording.

Just go into the DTV box's settings and turn off the power saving feature and you'll be good to go.

NOTE: Several people have confirmed below that using HTTP tuning will also eliminate this issue, as it seems the boxes will wake up when a channel change request is sent over HTTP.

[graywolf]

Looks like it might only be for the HD receivers from Directv Answer Center but thanks, need to check my boxes later today.

I'm seeing a message on my TV screen saying "No user activity for the last 4 hours. Going into Power Saving mode." What does this mean?

DIRECTV HD DVR, HD, and DVR (R22 only) receivers have a power-saving feature that automatically puts the receiver in standby after four hours of inactivity. It's to prevent the receiver from using up any more energy than it has to when you've left it on but are not actually engaged in watching TV. If you are actually watching and do not want it to go into standby, just select Cancel. If you do nothing, your receiver will go into standby after two minutes.

[HelenWeathers]

I'm using the HTTP tuning and it's changing channels without issue w the new DTV firmware.

I am seeing a brief message for a couple of seconds at the beginning of the first recording after wakeup about the receiver having been in power saver mode.

[Skirge01]

Interesting. I am using the serial tuning on both of these boxes, so that may be partially responsible. Maybe I'll do some testing with the HTTP tuning and see if they wake up without issue.

[phelme]

I got burned by this a couple nights ago and turned it off.

[Steve52]

This hit me in the middle of my new Sage server changeover. I went in and changed the H23 boxes to turn off power save. One of my boxes did not turn off on the first try but seems to be staying on now.

[jchiso]

I had this happen yesterday and again today. I checked the settings menu and saw the info about the Power Savings feature. I like how they say they want to "save the environment". If they want to save the environment they should shut down their mullti-billion MWh broadcast facility ...

[SHS]

Originally Posted by jchiso

I had this happen yesterday and again today. I checked the settings menu and saw the info about the Power Savings feature. I like how they say they want to "save the environment". If they want to save the environment they should shut down their mullti-billion MWh broadcast facility ...

You can disable it under the menu setup setting it wasn't in the frist GUI update they add that feature in new 2nd new GUI update.

[ewelin]

Glad I was browsing the forums today... just had this happened last night and wasn't sure what happened. Thanks!

[sdsean]

Its only (from what I can tell) for HD-21 STBs and up. .I too ran into the same issue, and have 3 of them but one is an HD-20 which doesn't receive anything. ...

Easy enough to fix luckily. . . although I do find this a strange move. . .certainly a football game or other programs can last longer than 4 hours. . .8 hours I could understand. . .but 4 seems a little too quick even though admittedly would still be rare.

[RazorUK]

Originally Posted by HelenWeathers

I'm using the HTTP tuning and it's changing channels without issue w the new DTV firmware.

I am seeing a brief message for a couple of seconds at the beginning of the first recording after wakeup about the receiver having been in power saver mode.

Same here. HTTP tuning with no issue.

A friend of mine is using the serial tuning and had the issue described also.

[MrD]

Grrrrr, and I thought my power supply / unit had died and bought a new one

btw, the new unit's colors are fubar.

[mtpudelko]

Originally Posted by RazorUK

Same here. HTTP tuning with no issue.

A friend of mine is using the serial tuning and had the issue described also.

Same here. HTTP tuning is working perfectly for me with an HR24. Surprisingly, I have not noticed the banner in any recordings -- yet. I have noticed it when powering the thing up outside of Sage. Now I can, with a clear conscience, continue driving my 13mpg diesel F250, knowing I am still doing my part to save the environment with my DirecTV receiver, 10 watts at a time .

[trini0]

I was just about to give up on it, and purchase a new hdpvr. And per chance, I figure to check here to see if anyone else had these symptoms.
Wow. I didnt event think to check the receiver...
I'm back up and running. Contemplating switching over to http tunning..

[DRB]

Well I am using http tunning and I did have a problem on one of my boxes. The H25 was ok but the h23 [i think] had to have power savings turn off in D-tv menu.

DRB

[Polypro]

Two days of my life and two new HD-PVR's, and 3 OS re-installs later....I found this out myself....I WISH I checked the forum! I guess I can return the two new ones back to Amazon. Friggen DTV. How about "Click now to enable power savings" and don't enable it if the user doesn't select it! Grrrrrrr. Well, I have a fresh Sage install after....oh 5 years

P.S. One thing: My 'Bling Lights' don't turn on when recording now. The option is NOT checked in the driver (TME2) but they still don't light? Brand new and I have 2 of them.

P

[Olias]

This bit me several days ago. I got home from work and the wife said "Sage is broken". Found out my two H23's were powered off but all the other equipment was still on. Hmmm, maybe there was a power glitch and my battery backup unit was failing. So I powered everything down, removed the BBU and turned it all on.

Next day I come home from work and you guessed it, "Sage is broken again". Sure enough, both H23's are off. I turn them back on and cross my fingers.

Third day I come home....

By this time I realize something has got to be up the the H23's so I pull out the DirecTV remote and navigate around until I see the new power save feature. Grrrrrrrr.
BTW, I do use serial tuning.

[drewg]

Has anybody with a kill-a-watt or similar measured the power draw to see how much savings there really are from this power-saving mode?

Drew

[Beefcake550]

I think there may be a new update to the boxes. I have been using HTTP tuning and everyday for the past week (about) I've gotten HDPVR errors and when I go to power cycle them (normal fix), I find the direcTV boxes are all powered down. I turn them back on and it's good to go.

I guess I'll have to go searching for the menu option to turn off the power savings mode...anyone got a menu traversal map for me? lol

[jchiso]

I haven't seen any recent changes; the power settings appear to be intact. For safety, you could alter your tuning batch file to send a "poweron" command prior to a channel change.

http://<ipaddress>:8080/remote/processKey?key=poweron