Time to upgrade to HD - tell me what I need.

[Beagle804]

I know that this is a dangerous request as there are a ton of opinions out there, but here goes.

I am a long time D* user, coming up on 11 years. I have my original dual LNB Sony dish, a 4x2 multiswitch, and 2 R15-500 receivers. I want to go HD on one of my receivers now, and then the other sometime in the next year. But just one of them for now.

I gather that if I want the latest and greatest receiver, I might be best served by purchasing one at the big box stores as opposed to calling D* and scheduling an upgrade. But I'm completely unclear as to what kind of dish I need and everything else to keep my second R15-500 operational. I know nothing about B band converters. Do I need a new multiswitch.

[miketorse]

I know that this is a dangerous request as there are a ton of opinions out there, but here goes.

I am a long time D* user, coming up on 11 years. I have my original dual LNB Sony dish, a 4x2 multiswitch, and 2 R15-500 receivers. I want to go HD on one of my receivers now, and then the other sometime in the next year. But just one of them for now.

I gather that if I want the latest and greatest receiver, I might be best served by purchasing one at the big box stores as opposed to calling D* and scheduling an upgrade. But I'm completely unclear as to what kind of dish I need and everything else to keep my second R15-500 operational. I know nothing about B band converters. Do I need a new multiswitch.

You should call D*. You will need a new dish (Slimline 3 or 5), and a new HD DVR. The reason you should call D* is two fold. One, you will automatically get free installation, which is important because you are getting a new, more complicated dish. And two, more than likely you can get a better price on a HD DVR directly from D*, especially if you've been a longtime good customer. The Big Box stores won't give you such a discount.

[bakers12]

I couldn't agree more with Mike on this. You don't want to install the new dish yourself unless you really know what you're doing and it would be expensive to hire someone to do it. DirecTV should install the dish for free.

[turey22]

you will need a wideband Multiswitch or they may just run the lines off the dish. Call directv, you maybe a loyal customer which they can give you a good price on the hddvr.

[Beagle804]

I understand the desire to have D* do the dish install, etc. But it appears from what I've read that they can send me any old HD-DVR. There isn't any way to make sure I get the latest and greatest. I'm not one for doing upgrades all the time. And once I've got something up and running, I usually leave it be. Hence the reason I still have my original dish. I bought the best Sony receiver there was back in early 1998 and it took until about 2 years ago before I thought about a DVR (can't live without it now).

Is mounting the newer dishes that much harder than the old dishes?

[mikeny]

Don't worry about the broad band converters. There are a couple HD receivers/DVRs that have them built in internally but if it's the external type (like most HD units) they will be included in the box. It wouldn't hurt to bring the issue up when the installer arrives. At this point, I think they all know the drill and connect them when necessary.

[turey22]

I understand the desire to have D* do the dish install, etc. But it appears from what I've read that they can send me any old HD-DVR. There isn't any way to make sure I get the latest and greatest. I'm not one for doing upgrades all the time. And once I've got something up and running, I usually leave it be. Hence the reason I still have my original dish. I bought the best Sony receiver there was back in early 1998 and it took until about 2 years ago before I thought about a DVR (can't live without it now).

Is mounting the newer dishes that much harder than the old dishes?

Yes the new dish is harder...with the equipment, i am seeing a lot of newwe HR23 being installed. you might get one of those. dont know if you will get a new one or maybe a refurb, usually refurbs.

[mikeny]

I might add that you would want to plan on how you will connect your HDDVRs to your home network. You could either hardwire to your router, (or switch) or use a wireless bridge or a powerline connection. With the devices on your network, you can access DirecTV On Demand, Media Share: (accessing your music, photos and videos from a media server running on your PC) and hopefully get to use MRV in the future.

[Beagle804]

dont know if you will get a new one or maybe a refurb, usually refurbs.

This is exactly the kind of thing I can't stand. If I sign up for an upgrade to new equipment, I don't want refurb equipment. Its like paying for a new car and then finding out it has 20,000 miles on it!

[turey22]

This is exactly the kind of thing I can't stand. If I sign up for an upgrade to new equipment, I don't want refurb equipment. Its like paying for a new car and then finding out it has 20,000 miles on it!

True but the equipment is not yours anyways. I see it like this...if i have to return it back why should i care if its a refrub or not? not trying to be rude man but thats how i see it.

The refurb will look like the new one and be shiny black color. the only difference is that its a refurb. different than a car, thats for sure.

Its all up to you...try it out. some states you have 15 to cancel if you return the equipment. you can do that. look into it more about that cancellation thing. but i would say go for it. it will eventually go bad and probably still get a refurb. nothing is made to last forever.

[turey22]

Are your R15's new or i mean were they new?

[Pepster]

I know that this is a dangerous request as there are a ton of opinions out there, but here goes.

I am a long time D* user, coming up on 11 years. I have my original dual LNB Sony dish, a 4x2 multiswitch, and 2 R15-500 receivers. I want to go HD on one of my receivers now, and then the other sometime in the next year. But just one of them for now.

I gather that if I want the latest and greatest receiver, I might be best served by purchasing one at the big box stores as opposed to calling D* and scheduling an upgrade. But I'm completely unclear as to what kind of dish I need and everything else to keep my second R15-500 operational. I know nothing about B band converters. Do I need a new multiswitch.

You should absolutely go through DirecTV. When I did my HD upgrade in the early fall of 2007, I got the HD box for free since I was near the end of a commitment. I can't say for sure, but if the 2nd box you want later is also for upgrade purposes, you might want to take that now also depending on what price you're offered and what hook up arrangements you have now or will have then.

Also, there are some crappy installers who don't really totally follow through on what they should when there are multiple receivers in the home & make sure that EVERYTHING is working like it should.

As the installation approaches, check the other forums here as well as the one at http://forums.directv.com/pe/index.jsp?channelID=1&portalPageId=1002
so that you know exactly what should be done before an installation tech leaves your home. It took four visits before my upgrade\integration was actually done correctly. I didn't know a switch needed to be changed & an extra line needed to run. Apparently either the first 3 techs didn't know or didn't care either. DirecTV sub-contracts a lot of installations.

[Beagle804]

Both my R15's were new when I got them just about 2 years ago. I don't remember what my commitment was so I don't know if I'm right at the end of commitment, past, or more years to go.

From where my current multiswitch is installed, I have 2 R6 coaxes going to each receiver. Will that be enough or do they need to run more than that for HD?

And if by chance I was able to get a deal on 2 receivers at the same time, would the new HD-DVR receiver be able to send signal to my non-HD TV, at least until I could afford to upgrade that TV later this year?

[bakers12]

There is a 4x4 multiswitch built into the new dishes. This will provide two pairs of coax cables for two DVRs. If more receivers are planned, DirecTV will provide a new multiswitch (or you will have to if you DIY).

[turey22]

Both my R15's were new when I got them just about 2 years ago. I don't remember what my commitment was so I don't know if I'm right at the end of commitment, past, or more years to go.

From where my current multiswitch is installed, I have 2 R6 coaxes going to each receiver. Will that be enough or do they need to run more than that for HD?

And if by chance I was able to get a deal on 2 receivers at the same time, would the new HD-DVR receiver be able to send signal to my non-HD TV, at least until I could afford to upgrade that TV later this year?

They will probably give you one hddvr for free and the second one 199. The HDDvr does have RCA cable connections which you can hook up to your non high-def tv.

[Mike Bertelson]

I know that this is a dangerous request as there are a ton of opinions out there, but here goes.

I am a long time D* user, coming up on 11 years. I have my original dual LNB Sony dish, a 4x2 multiswitch, and 2 R15-500 receivers. I want to go HD on one of my receivers now, and then the other sometime in the next year. But just one of them for now.

I gather that if I want the latest and greatest receiver, I might be best served by purchasing one at the big box stores as opposed to calling D* and scheduling an upgrade. But I'm completely unclear as to what kind of dish I need and everything else to keep my second R15-500 operational. I know nothing about B band converters. Do I need a new multiswitch.You'll need a new dish. Either the 5LNB or 3LNB Slimline is likely.

I assume you'll be using a HD-DVR so that will be one of the HR2x's so here is some good info about the hardware.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=117744
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=144256

If you have only four tuners(two DVRs) you won't need a multiswitch. I don't have any idea if your current multiswitch is compatible.

It may be possible to get SWM-ODU LNB for the Slimline which will allow for running one line from the dish and split(just like cable) for upto eight tuners.

You could always add the SWM LNB later if you're handy with coax and a couple of tools. It took me about fifteen minutes to climb up swap the LNB and climb down.

Hope this helps.

Mike

[Pepster]

Both my R15's were new when I got them just about 2 years ago. I don't remember what my commitment was so I don't know if I'm right at the end of commitment, past, or more years to go.

From where my current multiswitch is installed, I have 2 R6 coaxes going to each receiver. Will that be enough or do they need to run more than that for HD?

And if by chance I was able to get a deal on 2 receivers at the same time, would the new HD-DVR receiver be able to send signal to my non-HD TV, at least until I could afford to upgrade that TV later this year?

The typical commitment is 2 years & if you call in, the CSR should be able to tell you the exact date.

[turey22]

You mean agreement. they dont call it commitment now lol

[babzog]

I understand the desire to have D* do the dish install, etc. But it appears from what I've read that they can send me any old HD-DVR. There isn't any way to make sure I get the latest and greatest. I'm not one for doing upgrades all the time. And once I've got something up and running, I usually leave it be. Hence the reason I still have my original dish. I bought the best Sony receiver there was back in early 1998 and it took until about 2 years ago before I thought about a DVR (can't live without it now).

Is mounting the newer dishes that much harder than the old dishes?

I was like you... longtime Sony dual LNB dish holdout (from '96) till this year.

Unlike some of the above posters, I would never allow D* to enter my premises. I do all my own installs and will go out of my way (even if it costs me a bit extra) to avoid dealing with their installers (who, no insult intended to those installers here who actually do good work, are typically a bunch of underpaid wire-monkeys with no real understanding of low-voltage infrastructure installation or the desire/knowledge/time to perform a clean and neat job). I've seen too many crap jobs posted here and IRL to even consider so-called "professional" installation. Again, my apologies to the good pros here who do care about their work and their customers... a shame you're so few in number.

With all that said, the new dish is pretty easy to hook up. I installed mine using my R15 (after very carefully setting things up on the ground and meticulously leveling the mast (using my own level, not the built-in one). I barely touched any of the az/el settings as I had good signal almost as soon as I plunked the dish onto the mast. When I plugged in my HR22, I had good signal on the HD sats so figured I'd leave it till after the winter wreaked its wrath to bother making further adjustments.

My advice - if you're handy, buy the dish and do it yourself. You then know what you're getting. Then, go to BB or CC and pick up the receiver(s) you require. Ask D* for rebates to cover the cost (you'll probably commit to a 2yr contract to get this... I don't consider that too much to ask)l

[turey22]

If you go his way...there are always installation videos on Solidsignal.com which may help you and you can always get the dish there.

[Beagle804]

My advice - if you're handy, buy the dish and do it yourself. You then know what you're getting. Then, go to BB or CC and pick up the receiver(s) you require. Ask D* for rebates to cover the cost (you'll probably commit to a 2yr contract to get this... I don't consider that too much to ask)l

Thanks VERY much for your reply. I had no problems at all with previous installations and like you, don't really want anyone else to be doing it. I've put hundreds of connectors on coax with my own tools. I've still got about 750' of R6 on the spool in the basement! I've never bought a pre-made cat5 cable either. Having installed multiple of the old-style dual lnb saucers, I just couldn't understand how this could be much different. Mount, level, aim, done.

[t_h]

True but the equipment is not yours anyways. I see it like this...if i have to return it back why should i care if its a refrub or not?


Two reasons. For one, a refurb may be someone elses unit with a transient problem that the refurbishing process didnt detect or repair, so you may end up with a unit that gave someone headaches for months before they replaced it, and a refurbished (aka 'used') receiver will also have some mileage on the disk drive, fan, and power supply if those werent replaced.

If you dont have the protection plan, replacing that receiver if it drops dead in 2 years instead of 4-5 will cost you another chunk of change or another 2 year commitment.

If directv didnt charge for their receivers at all and replaced them at no charge when they broke, I'd agree. Since they charge up front, charge a monthly fee, and charge to replace them...I think I'd rather have a new unit than a refurb.