View Full Version : Interesting Install Experience
the_antilog
03-23-09, 09:23 AM
I thought I'd post because THe installation experience I just had was very interesting and I want to get thoughts from others.
So, my parents just decided (with my advice) to switch to DirecTV. They bought a new 46" HDTV and were paying $60 a month for analog cable. I told them that instead of upgrading to digital cable and paying 20 bucks extra a month for 10 HD channels, they should consider DTV, where they could pay what they are now, but get most of the channels they watch in HD. They agreed, and scheduled a date for install.
When they placed the order, they ordered 1 HD receiver, and 2 SD receivers for the 2 other TVs in the house.
The guy came to install on Saturday, and he put up one of the new 3 LNB slimlines (very sleek) and when he came into the house, he had 3 HD receivers with him (H23 - 600). We were confused as to why there were 3 HD receivers when they only ordered one. They questioned him about it, and he explained that the HD receivers are the standard receivers now and he doesn't bother installing SD receivers anymore. He also said that our local channels were in HD only and the only way to get them was to have an HD receiver.
So now I am curious about something. I plan on placing my own order in a couple of months. Me and my roommates had been planning on getting 3 HD receivers and paying the 99 a piece after the 1st receiver. But should we just order standard receivers and try and get lucky, or what? I've never heard of something like this happening before. It would be nice to not have to pay 99 a pice for additional HD boxes, but we don't want to take a chance of being stuck with SD receivers.
What are your thoughts?
Brannayen
03-23-09, 10:05 AM
It's the same in our area. Our SD locals are on the 72.5, which is being shut down eventually. Our HD locals are on the 99, which standard receivers can't pick up. So, anybody in our area that orders a standard, gets an HD by default. If this is the same case in your area, just order standards, and you should get all HD as well. The only standard def receivers we install are the r22's because they can still pick up the 99.
Welcome to DBS talk!
This truly is an interesting install. First I have heard of an installer saying HD boxes are the standard install. With the slimeline3 it is nessary for the box to decode mpeg4 to read the guide data from an mpeg4 sat. I am not aware of a standard receiver that will get guide data off mpeg4 sat. The R22 is a standard dvr that will acomplish this. I am sure there are those with more experence than me to help with your questions.
This truly is an interesting install. First I have heard of an installer saying HD boxes are the standard install.As Brannayen notes, HD receivers are required in markets that get their LIL from a Ka satellite. DIRECTV doesn't have a Ka capable SD receiver.
The big question would be that if you order SD service only, will they require you to pay the HD Access fee.
Vermont is a similiar setup. I just had my SD receiver upgraded for free to a HD box so I could continue to get my locals. (There is a thread out there that discusses it at length)
Kudos to your parents, future proof setup as they upgrade TV's down the road!!!
Thanks harsh. In our area the 72.5 has been shut or will be shut down, my older dvr's were replaced with R22. Did not have any experience with standard receivers. All the rest were all ready HD. Very interesting indeed.
Brannayen
03-23-09, 10:40 AM
Yes, you still would have to pay the 10$ HD access fee for the HD channels, EXCEPT the locals. You would still get those for free.
rboyken
03-23-09, 11:54 AM
I did the 72.5 swap and only have SD service.. They brought me 3 H23-600s and put in a slimline 5lnb. I do not pay the $10 HD access fee but also don't get the HD versions of the channels. Only my locals are HD. The installers here only use HD boxes as the standard box now too since our locals are on 103 now.
RobertE
03-23-09, 04:03 PM
As Brannayen notes, HD receivers are required in markets that get their LIL from a Ka satellite. DIRECTV doesn't have a Ka capable SD receiver.
The big question would be that if you order SD service only, will they require you to pay the HD Access fee.
R22
SD only Mpeg4 receiver. Ka or Ku has little to do with it.
the_antilog
03-23-09, 04:31 PM
Well, I have done some research, and in the area where I will soon be ordering, charts show me that there are HD locals on 99 but claims that SD variants are on 119. So if I ordered standard boxes here, wouldn't I just be given SD boxes because there is still a satellite with SD locals? Or am I missing the point... :confused:
Brannayen
03-23-09, 04:41 PM
If your SD locals are on the 119, then ordering standards would only get you standard receivers. You would need to actually order the HD receivers.
dodge boy
03-23-09, 05:14 PM
My parents receivers are HD receivers because we have MPEG4 locals in our area.....
I guess they do not make standard SD receivers that get MPEG4 locals....
RobertE
03-23-09, 05:56 PM
My parents receivers are HD receivers because we have MPEG4 locals in our area.....
I guess they do not make standard SD receivers that get MPEG4 locals....
Other than the R22.
RobertE the R22 is a DVR I don't think they would send this as replacment.
R22
SD only Mpeg4 receiver. Ka or Ku has little to do with it.The R22 (a thinly veiled Plus HD DVR) doesn't seem like a economic alternative to an SD receiver. Requiring a DVR fee for a bargained SD receiver seems like something that would be difficult to push.
RobertE
03-24-09, 06:25 AM
RobertE the R22 is a DVR I don't think they would send this as replacment.
The R22 (a thinly veiled Plus HD DVR) doesn't seem like a economic alternative to an SD receiver. Requiring a DVR fee for a bargained SD receiver seems like something that would be difficult to push.
Never said it was a practical replacement for a basic box. Just correcting the incorrect information that there are no Ka SD boxes. There is, it just happens to be a SD DVR. ;)
Never said it was a practical replacement for a basic box. Just correcting the incorrect information that there are no Ka SD boxes. There is, it just happens to be a SD DVR. ;)That's why I carefully used the term "receiver" as opposed to "box" or "DVR". As long suspicioned, the R22 may be a full-on HD device with the HD output mode disabled.
houskamp
03-24-09, 08:45 AM
That's why I carefully used the term "receiver" as opposed to "box" or "DVR". As long suspicioned, the R22 may be a full-on HD device with the HD output mode disabled.
could be since it runs the same software :rolleyes:
Johnnie5000
03-24-09, 06:09 PM
So now I am curious about something. I plan on placing my own order in a couple of months. Me and my roommates had been planning on getting 3 HD receivers and paying the 99 a piece after the 1st receiver. But should we just order standard receivers and try and get lucky, or what? I've never heard of something like this happening before. It would be nice to not have to pay 99 a pice for additional HD boxes, but we don't want to take a chance of being stuck with SD receivers.
What are your thoughts?
My parents receivers are HD receivers because we have MPEG4 locals in our area.....
I guess they do not make standard SD receivers that get MPEG4 locals....
Ok I can actually help since I work in a market that is HD only. Welcome to life in a 72.5 market...
If it's a new install, just order standards and you will get HD's. Plain and simple. No HD programming will be on there at first, (call after the installler leaves and add it on if you want). If you want to add another one, its $69 instead of $99. The key is to do not under any circumstances ask for HD equipment. Then you get charged $99 a pop.
If it's an upgrade, ask for the "MPEG4 Local Upgrade". That means free Slimline3 dish and HD receivers to replace your standards, R22's for your DVR's, etc. If you're in a old 72.5 market, this is a just the way it is. Again, do not ask for HD equipment lest ye be charged $$$.
Yes, you still would have to pay the 10$ HD access fee for the HD channels, EXCEPT the locals. You would still get those for free. Not in a 72.5/Mpeg4 market. That part of the contract does not apply since the HD receiver part is essentially pushed upon you by DTV with or without your consent. You can opt out of the HD channels w/out any contractual repercussion, actually most people here do.
The only downside is "channel not purchased" everytime you tune to a channel outside of the guide. Sure its a pain in the ass, but its a pain in the ass that saves $10/month.
Johnnie5000
03-24-09, 06:12 PM
That's why I carefully used the term "receiver" as opposed to "box" or "DVR". As long suspicioned, the R22 may be a full-on HD device with the HD output mode disabled.
It is..... :D If you have one, and a HD receiver of any variety, (works easiest with a HD-DVR) call DTV and ask them to mirror the HD service onto the R22. They will get confused and tell you that you can't do it, be persistent, it does work. Get transferred to someone else if you have to.
Johnnie5000
It sounds as if you have had this done. This is the first I have heard of anyone getting the R22 mirrored as an HD. A few others have reported that they were sent R22 with the HD already enabled. I have 2-r22 at some point will replace the old TV's with HD sets. This would be welcome info.
Shades228
03-25-09, 02:00 PM
Ok I can actually help since I work in a market that is HD only. Welcome to life in a 72.5 market...
If it's a new install, just order standards and you will get HD's. Plain and simple. No HD programming will be on there at first, (call after the installler leaves and add it on if you want). If you want to add another one, its $69 instead of $99. The key is to do not under any circumstances ask for HD equipment. Then you get charged $99 a pop.
If it's an upgrade, ask for the "MPEG4 Local Upgrade". That means free Slimline3 dish and HD receivers to replace your standards, R22's for your DVR's, etc. If you're in a old 72.5 market, this is a just the way it is. Again, do not ask for HD equipment lest ye be charged $$$.
Not in a 72.5/Mpeg4 market. That part of the contract does not apply since the HD receiver part is essentially pushed upon you by DTV with or without your consent. You can opt out of the HD channels w/out any contractual repercussion, actually most people here do.
The only downside is "channel not purchased" everytime you tune to a channel outside of the guide. Sure its a pain in the ass, but its a pain in the ass that saves $10/month.
You do not get charged $99 for a HD receiver in a 72.5 market. It's $69 dollars even in the stores.
If you want HD you do have to specify when you order a DVR.
You cannot opt out of HD Access if you have a leased receiver. With that said there are of course always people who have done something that shouldn't be done but that is the exception not the rule.
Johnnie5000
03-26-09, 05:29 PM
You do not get charged $99 for a HD receiver in a 72.5 market. It's $69 dollars even in the stores.
If you want HD you do have to specify when you order a DVR.
You cannot opt out of HD Access if you have a leased receiver. With that said there are of course always people who have done something that shouldn't be done but that is the exception not the rule.
Both Best Buy's here still sell them for $99. When people here order 1 hd box and 3 sd's, they raise hell about having to pay $100 for what they were going to get anyway.
HD Access is not required in a 72.5 market, and yes, you can opt out of it, after the fact. I see more people piss and moan about the 721's when the type in a channel number than anything else with this all-HD business.
Memo's get sent out to installers ordering them to set all the receivers they install to "Show HD Duplicates", because otherwise, a service tech is out there two days later doing it for them since not doing that hides all the good channels. We've also been begging the engineering dept. for a "Hide HD Duplicates" option for six months now.
People that do actually pay for the HD channels are the minority here. There is a programming packet (or whatever you call it) called "MP4 Locals for SD" that they slap on to these no-hd accounts. Free HD locals, no HD Access contract.
The key to this is to remember that not every rule applies to every DMA. YMMV.
LOCODUDE
05-04-09, 09:20 PM
Very interesting.....Indeed..... :)
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