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andunn27
09-28-07, 04:16 PM
Well I decided not to buy another Tivo off ebay. Instead, I called Directv today and told them that I had received an advertisement from Dish Network and was thinking about canceling, but if Directv could match their offer I would probably stay. They are offering me the following:

6 free months of HD programming

HBO and Cinemax free for 6 months

And a free HD DVR have to pay $19.95 delivery charge

2 year agreement, but that doesn’t bother me

The rep made some notes on my account so when I called back I would get the same offer. However, I have a couple of questions before I make a decision to plunge into HD.

Will the installer remove my old dish? I do have some concerns because I originally had two different installers come out to my house on different dates when I first moved in. The first one said he had to install the dish in my front yard due to trees. The second came out and said that wasn’t necessary and installed it on the back of my house on the roof which from what I can tell has a clear line of sight. We have had absolutely no problems with the location where the dish is currently located. How much more line of sight fo you need for the new dish versus the old dish?

I currently have only two cables running into the house from the dish. How many new cables will need to be installed?

What type of multi-switch will be required? I have a Samsung SIR-S4040R Tivo and plan on keeping it and a regular receiver. I know that neither of these are capable of receiving HD, but my wife will hurt me if we get rid of them, especially the Tivo. So all together I will have 3 receivers (HD-DVR, Tivo, and regular receiver.) I already have two lines going to each room outlet inside my house for each DVR receiver so I want to connect two cables to the HD-DVR and two cables to the Tivo as well.

Will I need to buy my own HDMI cable or does the Directv HD DVR come with one?

Sorry for all the questions. I just want to be prepared as much as possible when they come out to install. Anything else I need to know?
mephisto
09-28-07, 04:45 PM
1. The installer should remove the old dish. Recently some people posted that their installer claimed they aren't allowed to remove it but that's not correct. My installer removed the dish earlier this week.

2. You need 4 cables from dish to multi-switch so he'll have to run 2 more cables into the house to where you want to place the multi-switch.

3. Installer will provide the Zinwell WB608 switch which will replace your existing multi-switch. Connecting your legacy SD receivers is no problem.

4. HDMI cable is included with the HR20-700 DVR.
carl6
09-28-07, 06:31 PM
1. I would recommend you have the installer take the dish itself down, but leave the mounting plate just so you don't open up holes in your roof. The new plate is larger, and will have to go someplace slightly different (adjacent, but not on top of existing).

3. That should say WB68. Make sure they do replace the multiswitch, the old one won't work.

Carl
andunn27
10-01-07, 11:42 PM
Thanks for all the information. I have another question which I completely forgot about. I have my install set up. I am receiving the HD DVR, but will I need a phone line to activate this? I have Vonage as my provider so if a phone line is required will Vonage work?
carl6
10-02-07, 10:16 AM
Vonage is a coin flip on whether it will work, maybe, maybe not.

But the good news is you don't need a phone line. Go ahead and hook it up, and if it works, great. But if it doesn't, the only thing you lose is the ability to order pay per view by remote (you can still order on-line).

Carl
msmith
10-02-07, 11:34 AM
And ..... if you can run a network connection (either a wire or wireless with a bridge/game adapter) you really don't need the phone line at all.

You'll need that network connection in the future for Video on Demand, and can use it today for media (music and pictures) from your PC.
andunn27
10-03-07, 11:30 PM
I looked at my install details on Directv and it says the following:

Description Unit Price Quantity Price
Swap ReplaceImplied DVR IRD
$0.00 1 $0.00
Standard Professional Install
$0.00 1 $0.00
DIRECTV 5-LNB Multi-Satellite Dish
$0.00 1 $0.00
DIRECTV HD DVR (Expanded HD Prog. Capable)
$0.00 1 $0.00
Handling
$19.95 1 $19.95
Subtotal: $218.95
Tax: $15.27
Total: $234.22

What do they mean by Swap/ReplaceImplied DVR IRD? I hope that doesn't mean swap out my Tivo for the HD DVR because I told the ladt I am keeping it. Does anyone have any ideas?
Philthy
10-03-07, 11:36 PM
Do you have an older DVR?? an HR10-250 perhaps? If so is it owned or leased?
andunn27
10-03-07, 11:55 PM
Do you have an older DVR?? an HR10-250 perhaps? If so is it owned or leased?


I have a Samsung Tivo which I paid for.
Philthy
10-04-07, 12:07 AM
They are just going to install the HD DVR in its place. If its owned they aren't gonna do anything with it besides unhook it and leave it there.
andunn27
10-04-07, 09:21 AM
Do you have an older DVR?? an HR10-250 perhaps? If so is it owned or leased?

I was just wondering because I got the feeling that they were going to try and take it
andunn27
10-04-07, 09:26 AM
1. The installer should remove the old dish. Recently some people posted that their installer claimed they aren't allowed to remove it but that's not correct. My installer removed the dish earlier this week.

2. You need 4 cables from dish to multi-switch so he'll have to run 2 more cables into the house to where you want to place the multi-switch.

3. Installer will provide the Zinwell WB608 switch which will replace your existing multi-switch. Connecting your legacy SD receivers is no problem.

4. HDMI cable is included with the HR20-700 DVR.


I just want to verify that only 2 new cables (4 cables all together) are going to be ran. I need to run a portion of the 2 new cables myself because I know the installer won't do what I need to do or will charge extra because it won't be considered "standard installation."
newsposter
10-08-07, 03:46 PM
4. HDMI cable is included with the HR20-700 DVR.


new to HR20 here (this saturday will be installed). I'm always cognizant of what is/isn't included and according to the manual i downloaded, hdmi isnt listed. Now i'm not going to complain that it's there, but will i be in my rights to demand one if it's not in the box (i hope they open up a fresh box in front of me)

i see component and composite are included. I just heard horror stories when hdtivos were installed about installers trying to charge for stuff.
rirwin1983
10-11-07, 07:20 PM
new to HR20 here (this saturday will be installed). I'm always cognizant of what is/isn't included and according to the manual i downloaded, hdmi isnt listed. Now i'm not going to complain that it's there, but will i be in my rights to demand one if it's not in the box (i hope they open up a fresh box in front of me)

i see component and composite are included. I just heard horror stories when hdtivos were installed about installers trying to charge for stuff.

the 100 and 700 i've been getting to install have the hdmi cables in them
rirwin1983
10-11-07, 07:22 PM
I was just wondering because I got the feeling that they were going to try and take it

i never do, our policy is once the equiptment is activated its the customers problem, that means if wrong eqipt was put in, directv will send u the box to return the wrong reciever, i dont remove nothing, had too many tech get blamed for stealing.now directv may make u think were going to take them, but unless u have a current, read: directv branded, reciever, they dont want them back