So...
as it happens, I often just turn off my HR21 when I go to bed, and leave the audio system on.

Something like 1:30 this morning, sound from the system woke us up. The receiver was back on. A notice on the screen when we first used the receiver told us that Pandora is now an extra with DirecTV and there's a new power save mode that turns the receiver off if there's no remote control action for four hours.

This also tells me that software updates might turn the satellite receiver on or off.

So much for simplifying systems by just leaving the power on! We've had discrete power commands for quite a while, but I, for one, have not updated all of my clients' systems to include Power On as part of the turn-on macros.

Thank you, DirecTV, for some unplanned service calls. My wallet appreciates it. My clients don't.

I love when they do this stuff, particularly channel lineup changes. Allows for quick and easy billable service calls and also gets you back in front of people you may have lost touch with. We won't get any for this one though, I can't think of any reason p-on wasn't issued in a macro for DTV.

I have had power on in my "sat" macro for years, just in case.
So if you leave it o. Pandora for your dogs, it will shut off
Or go to screen saver mode?

Does it turn it all the way off or does it put the screen saver on and say press menu to watch tv?

I think it turns it off. At least there's no screen saver when it's in this mode. A simple button press does wake it up though. I haven't paid a lot of attention to it, but I'm pretty sure you can turn this mode off in the settings.

Yes there's a power setting in the menu which you can just switch off.

since directv has discrete power codes, i always send a power on command in my activity macro.  i just don't send the power off command to it during the shutdown macro if it is shared with another room.

I guess I don't understand why everyone wouldn't already be using a discrete Power On command for the DIRECTV box in a system turn on macro?

It puts it in standby. I think you need to power On again.

You can turn this "feature" off. Menu>Settings>Power Saving>Off

Mine (HR21) goes to a screen saver mode. It does not shut power off.

Leave your display on and I think you'll find yours does the same.

I have several clients that use their DTV for background music in their house; mostly because it was cheaper than getting proper device.
I'm sure I'll be getting phone calls that the music stopped playing, as some clients leave it on a specific channel for weeks/months on end.

It's not about the turning on or off. Imagine having a party and all of a sudden your music just turns off. Or your watching sports and the sat box just turns off. Quick what wpuld your average client do? Mine would probably hit guide or info. If that didn't work they'd be calling me.

cpchillin:

I love it. Imagine the fury there would have been, nationwide, if they had done this just before Superbowl. Anybody going to NBC for the pregame show and the game would have had the receiver on the same channel for more than four hours, and would have been surprised and PISSED at losing their program. It matters not at all that you can just turn it on again. The issue is that it turns off.

I wonder if it displays a message for ten minutes or something like that before it turns off.

I wish I could get mine to turn off. If I turn it off, usually in 2-3 minutes it powers itself back on.

I have my RTI setup with a power off event at 2:00 am every day and it works but powers back on, same happens with the remote, turn if off...then it comes back on

stupid electronics!

You sure there aren't any interfering signals from the "wife" or "kid" elements of the house that bring it back on?