DirecTV wants to upgrade me for free

[imref]

Hi All,
I got a call tonight from DirecTV offering to upgrade my equipment to support MPEG-4 HD. I currently have two SD TiVo's, and one HD-TiVo. The rep couldn't answer any questions that I had, she just scheduled the install and gave me the installer's # to call for details.

What can I expect? Will they just replace the HD-TiVo and not touch the SD TiVo's or do they need to replace everything? I use an off-air antenna with my HD TiVo for things like local weather and extra PBS channels, will they throw in an AM21 or try to charge me the $50?

I've been a DirectTV subscriber for about six years, my contract is up in August.

Thanks in advance!

[curt8403]

Hi All,
I got a call tonight from DirecTV offering to upgrade my equipment to support MPEG-4 HD. I currently have two SD TiVo's, and one HD-TiVo. The rep couldn't answer any questions that I had, she just scheduled the install and gave me the installer's # to call for details.

What can I expect? Will they just replace the HD-TiVo and not touch the SD TiVo's or do they need to replace everything? I use an off-air antenna with my HD TiVo for things like local weather and extra PBS channels, will they throw in an AM21 or try to charge me the $50?

I've been a DirectTV subscriber for about six years, my contract is up in August.

Thanks in advance!

they will replace the HD Tivo with a new HD DVR, They will install a new Dish, They may give you an AM21 (You may need to call and order one and ask them for a discount since it is replacing a HD TIVO that gets OTA.)

[imref]

they will replace the HD Tivo with a new HD DVR, They will install a new Dish, They may give you an AM21 (You may need to call and order one and ask them for a discount since it is replacing a HD TIVO that gets OTA.)

so no changes to my existing non-HD TiVos?

[Jhon69]

so no changes to my existing non-HD TiVos?


DirecTV still supports the SD Tivos.Now if you need them changed out because you have other HDTVs you will need to discuss that with DirecTV.:)

[ralphfurley]

I had the swap this week. tech came out, installed the proper multiswitch and installed a shiny black HR21. He left the HR10-250; stated that they werent allowed to take them and I should request a recovery kit.

We did discuss the OTA issue. He said it wouldnt matter in Feb 2009 because Directv would offer all HD locals. I wont hold my breath.

[imref]

DirecTV still supports the SD Tivos.Now if you need them changed out because you have other HDTVs you will need to discuss that with DirecTV.:)

Thanks - we only have one HD at the moment and the kids don't want to lose the stuff they have on the SD TiVo, so this comes as welcome news!

[imref]

btw, is that true even if we are getting our locals via DirecTV (we live in the D.C. area). Will they continue to provide SD locals through our current SD TiVo?

[tcusta00]

Yes, you will still get SD locals.

[OverThereTooMuch]

There's a long thread stickied in the top of the legacy receiver forum here that talks about people's experiences so far with this swap. Some installers say they're required to take the HR10-250. Others don't seem to care and will let you sign some form saying they didn't take it. Others won't even ask for it. Many people have mentioned that it's getting harder to convince the DTV phone reps that they should be allowed to keep the old receiver, since this is just a swap. Many people have had the same receiver "swapped" many times, and that's costing DTV a lot of money.

they will replace the HD Tivo with a new HD DVR, They will install a new Dish, They may give you an AM21 (You may need to call and order one and ask them for a discount since it is replacing a HD TIVO that gets OTA.)Unless you discussed the need for OTA with the person when you set up the order, don't expect the installers to provide an AM21. You'll need to call DTV and complain, and they might give you a free one. If they don't, they're pretty cheap I think ($40 or $50).

We did discuss the OTA issue. He said it wouldnt matter in Feb 2009 because Directv would offer all HD locals. I wont hold my breath.I don't think DTV has made any such claim. Anyone else here see that? Even with an extra satellite, I believe this would be impossible to offer to all regions. Seems more likely that the guy is confusing this with the digital TV switchover date.

[BattleZone]

Hi All,
What can I expect? Will they just replace the HD-TiVo and not touch the SD TiVo's or do they need to replace everything? I use an off-air antenna with my HD TiVo for things like local weather and extra PBS channels, will they throw in an AM21 or try to charge me the $50?


This is strictly an update of MPEG2 HD equipment to MPEG4 HD equipment; SD equipment is not included. Normally, AM21s are not free, but the one known exception is if you were upgraded from an HR10-250 within the last 90 days. You'll need to call DirecTV directly to get it, though, as the local installers won't have them to bring. DirecTV is handing AM21 sales directly.

[Notme53]

I recently went thru the switch from my HD-Tivo to the HR-21. Yea, I wanted the HR-20 for the antenna connection, but I got the HR-21 and followed up with a call to Customer Service for the free AM21 kit. The installer didn't know I had a multi-switch, so after I had problems getting all the new HD content, I finally learned myself about the need for WideBand Multi-Switch. Customer Service set me up with a service call, but I still had the direct phone number of my installer and he dropped one off for me this weekend. No cost. So other than my unhappiness about no longer having the dual live tuner capability, I'll survive the switch.

Personally, I want my antenna hook-up. Doesn't happen often, but when a storm wipes out the sat transmission, I want the antenna back-up. Not to mention, there's a bit of a better picture off the antenna due to less compression. Although the Sat feed is, in my opinion, quite good.