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scb147

10-29-08, 02:36 PM

mookittybark

10-29-08, 02:40 PM

Based on your area your standard recievers require the HD expanded MPEG-4 to view locals in standard definition on 99/103 satellites. It doesn't cost anything extra on your billing.

Ken984

10-29-08, 02:41 PM

The 5 lnb is standard in most installs. If you live in certain areas the HD receiver may be the standard receiver also, it depends on which satellite your locals come from. The biggest problem I see there is you asked for 3 receivers and it shows only one. I would keep an eye on that and if it doesn't change in a few minutes call back and verify what exactly you are supposed to get.

scb147

10-29-08, 02:42 PM

sore_bluto

10-29-08, 02:44 PM

:welcome_s

I think mookittybark may be right. You are getting the HD receivers to pull in Mpeg4 locals. You are going to be HD ready. You won't need to upgrade anything when you make the leap into HD. You'll just have to start paying the HD Access fee ($9.99/mo.) and for the HD Extra Pack if you choose ($4.99/mo.)

David MacLeod

10-29-08, 02:59 PM

the issue is without hd tv some installers may balk at hookup. is it possible to borrow/rent an hdtv for a day?

flipptyfloppity

10-29-08, 03:22 PM

Why wouldn't they send the D23 or whatever that one receiver that does MPEG-4 (and secretly HD) but is listed as an SD receiver instead of sending HD receivers?

bjflynn04

10-29-08, 04:40 PM

Wasn't there a timeline or something posted earlier this year that said Directv was going to move away from SD receivers and go with strictly HD installs by late 2008 or early 2009.

beavis

10-29-08, 05:24 PM

the issue is without hd tv some installers may balk at hookup. is it possible to borrow/rent an hdtv for a day?

If HD equipment is required for MPEG-4 SD locals then the installer has no say in it. It can be hooked up with composite or S-Video.

rahlquist

10-29-08, 05:42 PM

the issue is without hd tv some installers may balk at hookup. is it possible to borrow/rent an hdtv for a day?

I dont think thats as much of an issue as it used to be. Especially since D* will drop ship HD DVR's now.

David MacLeod

10-29-08, 05:46 PM

discussed 2 weeks ago, just be aware.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=142468

bjflynn04

10-29-08, 05:53 PM

Wasn't there a timeline or something posted earlier this year that said Directv was going to move away from SD receivers and go with strictly HD installs by late 2008 or early 2009.

Ok I found the pic I was talking about and it was 2009 but maybe they decided to start earlier.
16198

Mertzen

10-29-08, 06:12 PM

You might be in an old 72.5 market or a new SD MPEG4 market.
Make sure all your set have at least RCA inputs. If not get RF converters.

BattleZone

10-29-08, 06:21 PM

As Mertzen notes, if you have any TVs that lack line inputs (either S-Video or yellow RCA composite video), you'll need to purchase an RF Modulator to convert the receiver's composite outputs to coax, because HD receivers don't have coax outputs. RF Mods are cheap (<$20) at any electronics store.

SiliconGuy

10-29-08, 08:29 PM

I just signed up for D* today. Here is what I got, which is what I expected:

ChoiceXtra package:
$57.99 / month
- $10.00 / month for 24 months (AAA discount)
- $18.00 / month for 12 months (current D* promotion)
- $5.00 / month for 12 months (auto debit)
- $10.00 / month for 5 months (referral discount)

I also asked for 3 SD receivers, as I have no HD sets, and have no idea when I actually will.

I looked at the installation order and see this:

Are they giving me an HD dish and receiver?

Hey - how did you get a copy of the installation order? I just recently did almost exactly what you did above. I'm getting an install on Sunday, so I called them to ask about getting the name/number of the installer, and they said they couldn't give it to me. They asked me what I wanted and they put it in the notes.

I'm not sure if that will work - I need the installer to do some wall fishing, and I wanted to let them know ahead of time so they planned accordingly (and give me estimate for how much extra that will cost, as I know that's not part of the free standard install).

Also, I wanted to have them send me an e-mail confirming the deal that I got (almost identical to yours above), and 2 different representatives said they would. But as of yet, nothing in my e-mail. Would that by on the install order? Any suggestions of how I can get my deal in writing?

Thanks!!!

Mertzen

10-30-08, 07:08 AM

Hey - how did you get a copy of the installation order? I just recently did almost exactly what you did above. I'm getting an install on Sunday, so I called them to ask about getting the name/number of the installer, and they said they couldn't give it to me. They asked me what I wanted and they put it in the notes.

I'm not sure if that will work - I need the installer to do some wall fishing, and I wanted to let them know ahead of time so they planned accordingly (and give me estimate for how much extra that will cost, as I know that's not part of the free standard install).

Also, I wanted to have them send me an e-mail confirming the deal that I got (almost identical to yours above), and 2 different representatives said they would. But as of yet, nothing in my e-mail. Would that by on the install order? Any suggestions of how I can get my deal in writing?

Thanks!!!

Wallfishes are $65 a piece per D* policy. But cash in the hands of the tech might give you a discount.
The deal will come from D* and not on the order. The HSP has nothing to do with the programming just hardware.

scb147

10-30-08, 07:33 AM

Hey - how did you get a copy of the installation order? I just recently did almost exactly what you did above. I'm getting an install on Sunday, so I called them to ask about getting the name/number of the installer, and they said they couldn't give it to me. They asked me what I wanted and they put it in the notes.

I'm not sure if that will work - I need the installer to do some wall fishing, and I wanted to let them know ahead of time so they planned accordingly (and give me estimate for how much extra that will cost, as I know that's not part of the free standard install).

Also, I wanted to have them send me an e-mail confirming the deal that I got (almost identical to yours above), and 2 different representatives said they would. But as of yet, nothing in my e-mail. Would that by on the install order? Any suggestions of how I can get my deal in writing?

Thanks!!!
At signup, the CSR asked me for my email address so she could email me a copy of the order. It was in my email inbox probably 3-4 hours after I signed up. Also, using your account number, you can go online and check out your order.

scb147

10-30-08, 07:35 AM

I am in the market of Johnstown/Altoona, PA. I know some of the locals are on 72.5, but I don't know where the ones that have gone HD are.

The one TV I have already has composite/S-video inputs. My other TV only has RF input, but I have an RF modulator, so I should be all set.

Can't wait, tomorrow (10/31) between 12-5. Weather is suppose to be 65F and sunny, so weather shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks for all the input everyone.

SiliconGuy

10-30-08, 08:19 AM

At signup, the CSR asked me for my email address so she could email me a copy of the order. It was in my email inbox probably 3-4 hours after I signed up. Also, using your account number, you can go online and check out your order.

Yeah - I gave my e-mail address and got nothing (after specifically asking), and I called back and they said they'd resend...but that didn't happen either.

Does the e-mail specify the deals they gave you also? I want something in writing so that if they come back later and haven't given me the discounts they agreed to, I have an e-mail explicitly stating them.

Also, for going online to check, do I just setup an account at DirecTV.com?

Thanks for your help!

SiliconGuy

10-30-08, 08:20 AM

Wallfishes are $65 a piece per D* policy. But cash in the hands of the tech might give you a discount.
The deal will come from D* and not on the order. The HSP has nothing to do with the programming just hardware.

Good to know that there is an expected price from D* - thanks for the info.

scb147

10-30-08, 08:22 AM

Also, for going online to check, do I just setup an account at DirecTV.com?Yep, it shows quite a bit on the order, but unfortunately, your discounts don't show. You just have to hope they got them all, and I had the CSR tell me twice what all discounts I had, for how long and how much.

FHSPSU67

10-30-08, 08:34 AM

I am in the market of Johnstown/Altoona, PA. I know some of the locals are on 72.5, but I don't know where the ones that have gone HD are.

Our local HD's (I'm in Johnstown-Altoona DMA, too) are most likely coming from D11 . It's been a long wait - even for SD for me since I never installed the 72.5 dish.
[edit] Thanks to GCT, I've found that the Johnstown-Altoona HD locals are coming from TP 6 on Spaceway 1 at 103 W.Long. SD locals will be coming from 101W when moved off of 72.5W.
BTW
:welcome_s
to dbstalk!

SiliconGuy

10-30-08, 08:39 AM

Yep, it shows quite a bit on the order, but unfortunately, your discounts don't show. You just have to hope they got them all, and I had the CSR tell me twice what all discounts I had, for how long and how much.

Ok, I was able to get online and get a copy of the order. It at least listed the HBO/Starz freebie, free HD for 3 months. And some other ambiguous stuff ("DirecTV Q4 2008 offer" and "B6291/020")...I'm guess that refers to the $23 off/month. Didn't list AAA or the referral discount. I will do as you did - I'll call a CSR and ask them to detail my discounts so that I can verify.

Thanks for your help!!!

BattleZone

10-30-08, 01:09 PM

Wallfishes are $65 a piece per D* policy. But cash in the hands of the tech might give you a discount.

That may be what your local HSP guidelines are, but DirecTV allows more. And even then, circumstances may dictate a higher (or lower) charge.

I've done wall-fishes for $25 because it was easy (huge crawlspace in that part of the house), and I've done wall-fishes for $300 because it took 4 hours. I even did one for $1100, because it was a 2-story fish that required 5 wall cutouts that required professional sheetrock repair, texture and paint matching. Granted, those last two are exceptions, but the point is to not set up false expectations.

Every situation is different.

MartyS

10-30-08, 04:16 PM

the issue is without hd tv some installers may balk at hookup. is it possible to borrow/rent an hdtv for a day?

Hmm... if they do that, then they might get hit with the HD fee when the installer calls in to get everything activated.

I'd be careful with that one.

arxaw

10-31-08, 09:29 AM

the issue is without hd tv some installers may balk at hookup. is it possible to borrow/rent an hdtv for a day?Where locals are in MPEG4, or in the process of being migrated to MPEG4, the system no longer allows MPEG2 receiver activation.

No issue.

scb147

11-02-08, 07:51 PM

Installer showed up around 1:15PM on Friday. Install went great. Probably took him about 2 hours to do everything.

I ended up with a single dish, and I received three H21-100, even though I didn't sign up for HD.

Everything looks great so far!