New Install Questions

[shocky]

Ok, so I have a pending order with DTV for a new installation.

I got the following deal:

Leased DVR ($84.99)
Leased HD DVR. ($269.99)
5LMB Oval ($0.00)
Delivery & Handling ($0.00)

$100 instant rebate.
$50 credit card to costco.

$10/mo credit for 12 months.
$5/mo credit for 4 months.

Also oddly enough my paperwork does not show that I will be charged a lease fee for the second DVR. (Maybe just an oversight).

Is this an 'ok' deal? Currently I have planned to have two wall fishes for 52.50 each.

I was thinking about switching the regular DVR for a HD DVR because I heard that installers near me have SWMs so I would need the wall fishes and would be able use the existing cables (I'm near the DFW area). But I don't know if I can 'change the equipment I want' at the time of installation. The lady at MasterTec couldn't tell me who the contractor was that was coming out or any specifics what-so-ever. Only thing she said she could do was put a note on the order to make sure to have a technician experience with wall fishes. (New construction and I'm not about to let them start punching holes through walls and routing ugly cables around my house.)

Are there any huge benefits of having an HD DVR on a SD TV? My living room TV is HD, thus the HD DVR, but my bedroom only has a SD TV.

[techrep]

Ok, so I have a pending order with DTV for a new installation.

I got the following deal:

Leased DVR ($84.99)
Leased HD DVR. ($269.99)
5LMB Oval ($0.00)
Delivery & Handling ($0.00)

$100 instant rebate.
$50 credit card to costco.

$10/mo credit for 12 months.
$5/mo credit for 4 months.

Also oddly enough my paperwork does not show that I will be charged a lease fee for the second DVR. (Maybe just an oversight).

Is this an 'ok' deal? Currently I have planned to have two wall fishes for 52.50 each.

I was thinking about switching the regular DVR for a HD DVR because I heard that installers near me have SWMs so I would need the wall fishes and would be able use the existing cables (I'm near the DFW area). But I don't know if I can 'change the equipment I want' at the time of installation. The lady at MasterTec couldn't tell me who the contractor was that was coming out or any specifics what-so-ever. Only thing she said she could do was put a note on the order to make sure to have a technician experience with wall fishes. (New construction and I'm not about to let them start punching holes through walls and routing ugly cables around my house.)

Are there any huge benefits of having an HD DVR on a SD TV? My living room TV is HD, thus the HD DVR, but my bedroom only has a SD TV.

That looks like a very good deal to me.
The DVR vs HD DVR question depends on how much TV you watch in the bedroom.
I am not sure if it is worth the extra expense but HD from a HD receiver looks a little better than standard digital even on a standard definition TV.

[paulman182]

I am not sure if it is worth the extra expense but HD from a HD receiver looks a little better than standard digital even on a standard definition TV.


And you will get the HD/only channels that you can't get on a standard receiver.

[shocky]

My install is this morning. DTV would not let me cancel the install for the regular DVR (bummer). They told me they would have to do a whole new order and my price would increase (wouldn't get costco pricing) and they would have to bump the install date up, and the next available install would be in november (And I just simply didn't want to wait.)

What I'm going to try is to get the install done and call DTV up and say I don't like the regular DVR and ask to return it. Then I'll go to costco and buy a leased HR20-700 unit.

I'm on the fringe for OTA (48 miles) so going to see if I can find an installer that can set me up a pretty good system for OTA. There are several locals I'de like to have in HD that directv doesn't carry.

Installer called and said he would be here at 10:30.. Here's hoping.

[shocky]

This is what I pull up for locals. Can I do it with OTA?

PBS Affiliate KDTNDT 2.1 43 PBS Affiliate Licensed 449.2 1000.0 46.9 mi. 82°
Fox Affiliate KDFWDT 4.1 35 Fox Affiliate Licensed 456.0 857.0 46.2 mi. 79°
Independent KDFWDT2 4.2 35 Independent Licensed 456.0 857.0 46.2 mi. 79°
NBC Affiliate KXASDT 5.1 41 NBC Affiliate Licensed 448.0 891.0 46.8 mi. 79°
NBC Affiliate KXASDT2 5.2 41 NBC Affiliate Licensed 448.0 891.0 46.8 mi. 79°
ABC Affiliate WFAADT 8.1 9 ABC Affiliate Licensed 473.0 18.6 46.2 mi. 79°
Independent WFAADT2 8.2 9 Independent Licensed 473.0 18.6 46.2 mi. 79°
Independent WFAADT3 8.3 9 Independent Licensed 473.0 18.6 46.2 mi. 79°
CBS Affiliate KTVTDT 11.1 19 CBS Affiliate Licensed 451.0 695.0 47.6 mi. 79°
PBS Affiliate KERADT 13.1 14 PBS Affiliate Licensed 451.0 475.0 47.6 mi. 79°
Independent KTXADT 21.1 18 Independent Licensed 490.0 220.0 46.9 mi. 82°
Univision (SI) Affiliate KUVNDT 23.1 24 Univision (SI) Affiliate Licensed 457.0 190.0 46.7 mi. 78°
MyNetworkTV Affiliate KDFIDT 27.1 36 MyNetworkTV Affiliate Construction Permit 450.0 1000.0 46.9 mi. 82°
Independent KMPXDT 29.1 30 Independent Licensed 490.8 1000.0 46.9 mi. 78°
CW Affiliate KDAFDT 33.1 32 CW Affiliate Licensed 490.1 780.0 46.9 mi. 82°
Independent KDAFDT2 33.2 32 Independent Licensed 490.1 780.0 46.9 mi. 82°
TELEMUNDO (HBC) Affiliate KXTXDT 39.1 40 TELEMUNDO (HBC) Affiliate Licensed 436.0 1000.0 46.8 mi. 79°
Independent KTAQDT 47.1 46 Independent Licensed 449.0 600.0 46.9 mi. 82°
Telefutura Affiliate KSTRDT 49.1 48 Telefutura Affiliate Licensed 490.1 225.0 46.9 mi. 82°
Independent KFWDDT 52.1 51 Independent Licensed 494.0 375.0 46.9 mi. 78°
Independent KLDTDT 55.1 54 Independent Construction Permit Modification 449.0 75.0 46.9 mi. 82°
Independent KDTXDT 58.1 45 Independent Construction Permit Modification 449.0 1000.0 46.9 mi. 82°
Independent KDTXDT2 58.2 45 Independent Construction Permit Modification 449.0 1000.0 46.9 mi. 82°
Independent KDTXDT3 58.3 45 Independent Construction Permit Modification 449.0 1000.0 46.9 mi. 82°
Independent KDTXDT4 58.4 45 Independent Construction Permit Modification 449.0 1000.0 46.9 mi. 82°
Independent KDTXDT5 58.5 45 Independent Construction Permit Modification 449.0 1000.0 46.9 mi. 82°
i Affiliate KPXDDT 68.1 42 i Affiliate Licensed 304.8 1000.0 46.6 mi. 78°
Independent KPXDDT2 68.2 42 Independent Licensed 304.8 1000.0 46.6 mi. 78°
Independent KPXDDT3 68.3 42 Independent Licensed 304.8 1000.0 46.6 mi. 78°

[Tonedeaf]

Good luck on your install. with the proper antenna and install you would be able to pull in the DFW locals with no problem. I just re-connected my antenna as I didn't think I could have it connected and diplexed with the new b-band convertors.

Regarding the SWM though, my installer this past Saturday did not have them and said they are not ordering them as they cost them too much.

[techrep]

My install is this morning. DTV would not let me cancel the install for the regular DVR (bummer). They told me they would have to do a whole new order and my price would increase (wouldn't get costco pricing) and they would have to bump the install date up, and the next available install would be in november (And I just simply didn't want to wait.)

What I'm going to try is to get the install done and call DTV up and say I don't like the regular DVR and ask to return it. Then I'll go to costco and buy a leased HR20-700 unit.

I'm on the fringe for OTA (48 miles) so going to see if I can find an installer that can set me up a pretty good system for OTA. There are several locals I'de like to have in HD that directv doesn't carry.

Installer called and said he would be here at 10:30.. Here's hoping.

Post your zip code for me.

[shocky]

Post your zip code for me.

76049

As for the SWM.. Installer said he didn't have any SWM's. (bummer).

I atleast requested a skilled installer that is experienced doing wall fishes, and they are doing 2 wall fishes for me (52.50) each.

The unit though.. Is an HR21.. So no OTA with that unit. I'm going to call up DTV and see if I can return the regular DVR and buy a HR20-700 from costco.

[shocky]

BTW, really like the installer. He's a good guy. I trust him and he walked me through everything he was going to do. Originally he wanted to put the dish on the front of the house but we found a way to make it work on the back of the house so it can't be seen from the road.

Does anyone know if DTV will take back a unit from a new install so I can replace it with another one?

Called CostCo.. They are out of the HR20-700 now.. There was like 10 of them last week but they all got bought up.

[techrep]

DTV Antenna
Type Call Sign Channel Network City State Live
Date Compass
Orientation Miles
From Frequency
Assignment
* blue - vhf WFAA-DT 8.1 ABC DALLAS TX 72° 44.1 9
* blue - uhf KXAS-DT 5.1 NBC FORT WORTH TX 72° 44.6 41
* blue - uhf KXTX-DT 40.1 TEL DALLAS TX 72° 44.6 40
* blue - uhf KERA-DT 13.1 PBS DALLAS TX 73° 45.4 14
* blue - uhf KTVT-DT 11.1 CBS FORT WORTH TX 73° 45.4 19
* blue - uhf KDAF-DT 33.1 CW DALLAS TX 76° 44.6 32
* blue - uhf KDFW-DT 4.1 FOX DALLAS TX 72° 44.1 35
* violet - uhf KSTR-DT 49.1 UNI IRVING TX 76° 44.6 48
* violet - uhf KFWD-DT 52.1 IND FORT WORTH TX 72° 44.7 51
* violet - uhf KTXA-DT 21.1 IND FORT WORTH TX 76° 44.6 18
* violet - uhf KDTN-DT 2.1 DAY DENTON TX 76° 44.6 43
* violet - uhf KPXD-DT 68.1 ION ARLINGTON TX 71° 44.4 42
Note:
The above listing is a conservative prediction of stations received. Depending on the specifics of your installation, you may be able to receive stations that do not appear in this list.

It looks pretty good as all your digital stations are within a few degrees of each other.

Several companies make good antennas, and it is a little like "Ford vs Chevy."
I like these for your needs:

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=TD-42XG
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=TD-43XG&xzoom=Large#xview

[Canis Lupus]

hi shocky,
There's a discussion here about this very issue (HR21 vs. HR20).

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=106644

This is a new issue and it's hard to tell where it's going and what your solution may or may not be.

[shocky]

Here's my install story.

First of all.. I applaud the tech.. His name was Geraldal. (I think I spelled that right). He works out of the Granbury area and I must say he was an excellent technician and did a quality job.

Too bad DirecTV didn't do such a good job. I purchased my service from CostCo and they entered it through the retailers online system. My promotion was supposed to be as follows:

$5/mo credit for 4 months (instant)
$10/mo MIR for 12 months.
3 months free Starz & Showtime.
$50 costco giftcard.
$100 instant rebate on equipment.

Once installation was complete and I was surfing through channels on my new HR21 receiver I wanted to watch showtime.. I tuned over to showtime and it didn't work. I tried starz.. Nothing worked.

So I called DTV and spoke with a CSR. She said those channels didn't come free for 3 months and I argued saying I have a printed receipt statement right here from CostCo with a flyer clearly showing they did.. I was very nice and polite and she said, ok, I'll give you showtime for 3 months but I cannot give you starz.

Since it seemed the best I could do I went ahead with the agreement. She also gave me 6 months of a $5 credit beginning on my 5th month of programming.

Showtime activated but I wasn't getting showtime HD.. So I had to call back and tell them about that issue and be passed around on hold from CSR to CSR till finally I got to technical support theat once again had to delete my package and readd it. Hooray showtime HD now working.

I called the local CostCo to let them know what happen. The rep there was very helpful and contacted his regional DirecTV Retail manager. The DTV manager contacted retail support and they determined there was a system flaw and I should have been getting starz in addition to showtime. They redid my programming to make it work and I was happy.

So I decide to start using my nice new system (bear in mine I've spoke to at least 6 different CSRs now and have been on the phone for close to 3 hours -- ACTUAL PHONE TIME.) Guess what.. DVR service is not activated for this account. Please call 1-800-DIRECTV..

Ok same deal, 1 CSR rep couldn't fix the issue, thought I was doing something wrong, over to technical support, they fix the issue after about 20 minutes on the phone. Total time was about 40 minutes again of the phone.

I tell the CSR rep I want to upgrade the second receiver install (plain DVR) to an HD DVR. I am told it will cost me $379.99 + tax for another HD DVR. I told her that's an outrage and when I originally spoke to installation about the issue of wanting two HD DVRs they told me to let the install go through because they would have to cancel the install and reschedule to make any changes. I asked her if she could do it for 269.99 - 85.00 (I just paid 85.00 for the regular DVR that I don't want) and she told me no.

(I was very nice and friendly, and never raised my voice throughout this process, and thanked them for there help..)

Finally I was giving up. I called american express up because I need an 'out'. I was getting fed up with DTV. American Express agreed they would reverse charges if DTV would not fix the issued highlited. (Really nice lady at AMEX helped me). She conferenced called me back to DTV and got a gentleman there in cancellation. She said that what had happened was against amex policy and they would cover me. The gentleman offered me a $60 credit for 6 months, and $199.99 HD DVR + 19.99 delivery fee. I accepted the offer and all was squared away.

The only that scares me about this ordeal is to get anything done I had to bring amex into the picture. So... I started this process at 2pm and finally got it working at 8pm.. Took me 6 hours with over 4 hours 57 minutes of on phone time (measured by Vonage).

They'll be out on Wednesday to just switch receivers.. (seriously, and installer has to come out to just SWITCH receivers..)