The best remote for DirecTV is your iPad

masraum · 04-11-2011, 09:07 AM

I think this only works with HD boxes. I've got 3 boxes, an HD DVR, an HD and a regular SD. I only seem to be able to control the 2 HD boxes.

There is a DirecTV app for Android and Apple. I've got it installed on my Android based phone, and also on my iPad. I'm not sure how an iPhone would compare. On my phone, I can search the guide and setup DVR. On my iPad, it's a whole different beast. I suspect that the iPhone would not be quite as nice as the iPad, but I don't know for sure. On the iPad, you can setup multiple windows with your "favorite" channels such that you can see what's currently playing on each of them (much easier than looking through the guide using the regular remote). It'll display what you're watching. (I get to select which of the 2 boxes I'm watching) From those "favorites" views you can poke a channel and it will allow you to either change to that channel or record the show. You can also browse the guide listing the channels either alphabetically or numerically. You can go to sections of the guide based on the leading letter of the channel (alphabetically) or to the number every 50 channels (1, 50, 100, 150....). Not only that, but you can click a button that pulls up the major functionality of the actual remote and control the "box" from your ipad (menu, guide, list, etc....).

In my short period of experience, it's much easier and faster than using the remote. The only issue is that you have to have the "right" boxes, have them setup correctly (under setup, you have to have "external devices" set to "on"), and you have to have an iPad.

The pics below I found on the net. In the first pic, there are 3 pages of options. You can add/remove/change the options and where they show up. For instance, I got rid of the "sports programs" column on the right.

stomachmonkey · 04-11-2011, 09:10 AM

I have the FIOS iPhone apps, Remote and DVR control.

Agree, connecting over WIFI/Net is much easier/faster than an IR remote.

My boxes are behind glass doors. Can be frustrating to find the right angle that does not bounce the IR off.

DVR functions like FF and Stop are much better with the app.

masraum · 04-11-2011, 10:19 AM

Hmm, I hadn't thought about using it to control the DVR functions. I did test that, but the remote is so much easier to pick up in one hand, and it doesn't take long to figure out where the buttons are by touch.

I really like it for browsing the channels and guides.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

If we are away from home I can set my home DVR to record any TV show I could record if I was at home. There is an app for that!

masraum · 04-11-2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

If we are away from home I can set my home DVR to record any TV show I could record if I was at home. There is an app for that!

Yeah, that's super cool.

Comcast needs to get it together. Not only can you not currently setup recordings over the 'Net. (well, they may be rolling that out in some places, but not Houston)

They just "upgraded" the software on the DVR that we were using (up until last Fri). The new software looks like it was programmed by the same folks that do the TV Guide Channel. The new software sucks! We'd had problems with a couple of items that we recorded via the DVR. One was a movie that would show that it recorded 2 hours, but would stop at 30 minutes saying that was the end of the recording. Also, the new software was REALLY slow. You had to pause in between pressing buttons because it would only get the first button.

I'm glad we've got DirecTV. It seems to be a huge improvement over Comcast (that actually was OK up until recently). One of the things that I really like about DirecTV is that the boxes are all networked in the house, so we can record on the DVR and watch the recording anywhere in the house. Even doing the thing that they show on TV where you start in one room and move to another.

The ability to schedule recordings remotely (via Android, iPad/phone/pod, or the 'Net) is pretty cool too.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Dish has had this stuff for a while, but it is device independent (Web Page based). I doubt it is that fast.

The new Comcast is called Xfinity and they have apps for everything. My neighbor 2 doors down had his pictuce in the Chron'ic with his iPhone which can control his security system, DVR, etc.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

We are on Cox cable. The DVR software is much improved from last year. It is still a bit slow, but it work OK.

stomachmonkey · 04-11-2011, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

Dish has had this stuff for a while, but it is device independent (Web Page based). I doubt it is that fast.

The new Comcast is called Xfinity and they have apps for everything. My neighbor 2 doors down had his pictuce in the Chron'ic with his iPhone which can control his security system, DVR, etc.

The old FIOS stuff was also web based.

The new apps work really well.

Once paired you get LAN/WAN access direct to your device.

gr8fl4porsche · gr8fl4porsche's Garage

I use an iPhone app to control my Tivo HD boxes - works great and much faster than ir.

App is called i.TV and the remote is merely one of the features of the app.

Porsche-poor · 04-11-2011, 01:37 PM

I went and got the app for the android but I do not see a way to control the box as in fast forward did I miss something? Great app for recording stuff while not at home

masraum · 04-11-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porsche-poor

I went and got the app for the android but I do not see a way to control the box as in fast forward did I miss something? Great app for recording stuff while not at home

I don't have that ability on my Android either. Only my iPad seems to be able to do that. My phone will pretty much scan the guide and setup recording. Only my iPad is able to do all of the cool stuff.

Porsche-poor · 04-11-2011, 02:36 PM

my bad. Sorry. Great app for remote recording. Have it set up now.

Super_Dave_D · Super_Dave_D's Garage

I agree, the iPad app is great but the iPhone app DTV iRemote is a little more practical but not quite as pretty but very functional. Check it out.

masraum · 04-11-2011, 03:44 PM

Yeah, that looks like it should work as well as the iPad app. Those wankers need to get to work on the Android app which has a tiny amount of the same functionality.

Moses · 04-11-2011, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Super_Dave_D

I agree, the iPad app is great but the iPhone app DTV iRemote is a little more practical but not quite as pretty but very functional. Check it out.

Just bought it. It won't connect. I copied the address and set remote permissions. Maybe the port isn't 8080? I'm stuck...

Super_Dave_D · Super_Dave_D's Garage

You have to enter your IP address

The commands below will show you the IP address of your computer. If you use a home router to connect to the Internet, the IP shown from these commands will not be your public IP address (it will be your internal IP address). Internal usually IP address start with a 10.10 or 192.168.

Windows 2000, XP:
Start/Run:
Enter in the command: cmd
At the command prompt enter in: ipconfig

Vista, WIndows 7:
Go to the command prompt by select the Windows logo and in the search box entering:
cmd
From the command prompt enter in the command: ipconfig

On Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, if you'd like to know your MAC address (physical hardware address of a your network card), at the command prompt you can enter the following command:
getmac -v

On Mac OS X:
1. Click on the Mac logo on the top left of the screen.
2. Open System Preferences
3. Under Internet and Network, click 'Network'
4. Select which adapter, such as AirPort or Ethernet.
5. Select TCP/IP and you'll see your IP address.. If you receive a dynamic IP address from your internet provider, it will likely be different on your next session. So if you need your IP address for later use, please check when you log on for that session.