Package Questions

[wcwman18]

This is my current package.

PLUS DVR™ — Locals Included
Get over 200 channels, including locals Record, pause and rewind live TV Get 68 XM radio channels
$62.99

DIRECTV Protection Plan
$5.99
Advanced Product $7.99 Monthly

DIRECTV DVR Service
$0.00
at no cost with base package

DIRECTV on DEMAND
$0.00

HD Access
$9.99

Should I upgrade to PREMIER will any of these extra's that I am currently paying for be included? I am also looking for subscribers opinions on which package is best to go with.

[SteveHas]

no question

[wcwman18]

no question

No question?

[morbid_fun]

Sorry, I was the one that selected Choice Xtra before reading your thread. Please ignore that. If you do not really need the movies that come with Premier and DoD, then stay with Plus HD DVR.

[wcwman18]

Sorry, I was the one that selected Choice Xtra before reading your thread. Please ignore that. If you do not really need the movies that come with Premier and DoD, then stay with Plus HD DVR.

Should I upgrade to PREMIER will any of these extra's that I am currently paying for be included?

[d max82]

Should I upgrade to PREMIER will any of these extra's that I am currently paying for be included?

NO

[wcwman18]

Does anyone feel I need the protection plan? Is it really worth the money?

[FlBillsfan]

Does anyone feel I need the protection plan? Is it really worth the money?

I would recommend it, especially living in Fla.

[carl6]

Plus HD DVR will give you exactly what you now have (at the same price as far as I know).

Upgrading to Premier will NOT give you a cost savings. It will give you the premium channels (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz and Sports). You do not currently subscribe to any of those. Premier does NOT include HD or DVR (DVR is included in grandfathered packages, but not new ones).

As to the protection plan: If you can align your dish by yourself, test and repair/replace a coax or bad connector, etc., then you don't need it. Otherwise it's a good idea.

Carl

[rudeney]

Plus HD DVR will give you exactly what you now have (at the same price as far as I know).

Upgrading to Premier will NOT give you a cost savings. It will give you the premium channels (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz and Sports). You do not currently subscribe to any of those. Premier does NOT include HD or DVR (DVR is included in grandfathered packages, but not new ones).

I agree - stay with what you have unless there is something in those other packages you want that you don’t get today.

As to the protection plan: If you can align your dish by yourself, test and repair/replace a coax or bad connector, etc., then you don't need it. Otherwise it's a good idea.

The PP also covers your multiswitch(es), LNB’s, and remotes. Without the PP, none of that is covered, but D* does generally swap defective receivers for $20 S&H, but they may require an $80 $80 service visit to verify the defect. If your goal is to save money on your monthly bill, and you are capable and willing to handle your own equipment repairs (except for the receivers), then you could gamble a bit and drop the PP.

[waynebtx]

Does anyone feel I need the protection plan? Is it really worth the money?

Plus HD DVR it includes the HD fee and DVR fee. Protection plan I would recommend it, covers everthing,dish,cable ect.

[JLucPicard]

wcwman18,

You indicate you now have the Plus DVR package, and then you pay the $9.99 HD Access fee. There is a Plus HD DVR package (that others have mentioned) that includes both the HD Access and DVR fees. That package is $72.99, so there's really no savings, just a different package.

If you do upgrade to Premier, in addition to whatever that package costs, you would have to pay $5.99 for the DVR fee and $9.99 for the HD Access, so you're looking at $15.98 more than whatever the Premier package cost is.

As for the Protection Plan, it's merits and "foolishness" have been debated in several threads, so hopefully this thread won't degenerate into that debate. I did want to mention that if you do sign up for the PP, the cost should only be $5.99 per month - no matter how much or what type of equipment you have. You should not have to pay $7.99 for it because you have advanced (HD and/or DVR) equipment. I happen to have the plan myself and I'm glad I do.

[wcwman18]

wcwman18,

You indicate you now have the Plus DVR package, and then you pay the $9.99 HD Access fee. There is a Plus HD DVR package (that others have mentioned) that includes both the HD Access and DVR fees. That package is $72.99, so there's really no savings, just a different package.

If you do upgrade to Premier, in addition to whatever that package costs, you would have to pay $5.99 for the DVR fee and $9.99 for the HD Access, so you're looking at $15.98 more than whatever the Premier package cost is.

As for the Protection Plan, it's merits and "foolishness" have been debated in several threads, so hopefully this thread won't degenerate into that debate. I did want to mention that if you do sign up for the PP, the cost should only be $5.99 per month - no matter how much or what type of equipment you have. You should not have to pay $7.99 for it because you have advanced (HD and/or DVR) equipment. I happen to have the plan myself and I'm glad I do.


Thank you for all the great info with my questions.

[wcwman18]

If you do upgrade to Premier, in addition to whatever that package costs, you would have to pay $5.99 for the DVR fee and $9.99 for the HD Access, so you're looking at $15.98 more than whatever the Premier package cost is.

Any idea why this is? Why would I have to pay for them on a higher package but not with Plus HD DVR package?

[HDTVFreak07]

wcwman18,

If you do upgrade to Premier, in addition to whatever that package costs, you would have to pay $5.99 for the DVR fee and $9.99 for the HD Access, so you're looking at $15.98 more than whatever the Premier package cost is.



Really? $5.99 for the DVR fee if you have Premier? I have Premier and my DVR fee is waived.

[Grentz]

Really? $5.99 for the DVR fee if you have Premier? I have Premier and my DVR fee is waived.

You are grandfathered in ;)

[joshjr]

My thoughts are how much do you like the movie channels? The sports pack is not that good since everything is blacked out all the time. But that being said I love the DOD so far. I work overnight and log in to set stuff up to download alot. If you have the premier pack then the Starz DOD is pretty good. Dont wait for them to come on tv and DVR them just download them and watch when you want. If you are not into the movie channels and the sports channels do nothing for you then its not worth the moeny for DOD.

[SatliteHD]

Get Premier it is only $40.00 per month more than choice extra. There are ALOT of the movies in HD now and more to come you won't be sorry!:)

[SatliteHD]

My thoughts are how much do you like the movie channels? The sports pack is not that good since everything is blacked out all the time. But that being said I love the DOD so far. I work overnight and log in to set stuff up to download alot. If you have the premier pack then the Starz DOD is pretty good. Dont wait for them to come on tv and DVR them just download them and watch when you want. If you are not into the movie channels and the sports channels do nothing for you then its not worth the moeny for DOD.


Well the sports pack is not the greatest due to allot of blackouts. But..... Its the only way to get ESPNU if you like College Football etc. We SHOULD be getting ESPNU in HD soon lets hope!

[SatliteHD]

Plus HD DVR will give you exactly what you now have (at the same price as far as I know).

Upgrading to Premier will NOT give you a cost savings. It will give you the premium channels (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz and Sports). You do not currently subscribe to any of those. Premier does NOT include HD or DVR (DVR is included in grandfathered packages, but not new ones).

As to the protection plan: If you can align your dish by yourself, test and repair/replace a coax or bad connector, etc., then you don't need it. Otherwise it's a good idea.

Carl


The DVR fee is only $5.99?

Why is that a big deal when your already paying$104.99 for Premier?
Its like the cost of popcorn at a movie? Stay home skip the popcorn it will pay for the $5.99. JMO

[paulman182]

If you do upgrade to Premier, in addition to whatever that package costs, you would have to pay $5.99 for the DVR fee and $9.99 for the HD Access, so you're looking at $15.98 more than whatever the Premier package cost is.

Any idea why this is? Why would I have to pay for them on a higher package but not with Plus HD DVR package?

They are included in Plus HD DVr--hence the name--and are not included in Premier for those who switch to it now.

It does seem to be an inconsistency, but that's how it is.

[Bofurley]

I am considering changing packages and would appreciate any suggestions.
This is what I have now:
Total Choice $50.99
HBO & Starz $25.00
Protection Plan $ 5.99
HD Extra Pack $ 4.99
HD Access $ 9.99
NetWork Fox $ 0.00
NetWork CBS $ 2.99 East Coast
NetWork ABC $ 2.99 East Coast
DVR Service $ 5.99
Additional Receiver $ 4.99
Sales Tax $ 5.87
Total $119.79
I am sure I will loose my distant network feeds pretty soon, and when this happens I will have to update my programming.
Thanks

[JLucPicard]

If you do upgrade to Premier, in addition to whatever that package costs, you would have to pay $5.99 for the DVR fee and $9.99 for the HD Access, so you're looking at $15.98 more than whatever the Premier package cost is.

Any idea why this is? Why would I have to pay for them on a higher package but not with Plus HD DVR package?
Because that's the way DirecTV has put together the packages.

If I'm doing my math right, Premier is $32.00 more than Plus HD DVR. "A la carte" purchasing of the premium packages that make up the "Premier" portion costs $52.00 total. That seems like a $20 savings. But add the fact that you're paying $5.99 for DVR service and $9.99 for the HD Access, your savings are down to around $4.02. I would think that seems to be pretty much in line with savings on a package deal for TV services.

[rudeney]

I am considering changing packages and would appreciate any suggestions.

I am sure I will loose my distant network feeds pretty soon, and when this happens I will have to update my programming.
Thanks

Why will you have to change packages when you lose the national networks? They should just cut them off and stop charging you. Unless there is some channel you are missing in Total Choice that you just must have, my advice is don’t switch to the new packages because they are more expensive. I still have the old Total Choice Plus (and movies and DVR and HD and HD Extra) and it’s still several dollars less than the current packages.

[Bofurley]

I thought that was what would happen if you changed anything on your account?