Can I have a HD reciever and not use or be charged for HD

[peanutSFO]

Hi. I have six year-old Direct TV equipment that no longer works reliably. Sadly, my Tivo unit (which I love) only has one "satellite cable" that works so I can no longer record one channel and watch another (I wish I knew how to fix this). I am going to try to get new equipment from Direct TV, or switch to cable or Dish. I would like to wait for the new Tivo units but no one seems to know when those will be available.

My question: If Direct TV gives (leases) me a HD reciever and I decide that I no longer want to pay the extra $10/month, can I "downgrade" to remove the HD but keep the same receiver, or do I have to change to a non HD reciever? :confused: Thanks!

[carl6]

I believe the policy is you need HD service to have HD equipment. I don't know what they would do if you downgraded, but there is certainly a risk you would have to swap equipment (and possibly at some cost to you to do so).

If you intend to go with SD on an ongoing basis, I would just start with the SD DVR and not worry about HD at all. Up front cost would be lower.

[coldsteel]

Not trying to cause a flame war, but Dish doesn't force an HD package with HD equipment. No clue if DirecTV does or not, honestly.

[Beerstalker]

Current policy is that you have to pay for HD access if you have HD receivers\DVRs, unless you live in a MPEG4 locals market (which San Fransisco is not).

However, there is the chance that this policy may change in a few months when MRV is released from beta (you have to have the new HD receivers/DVRs to use MRV).

[boba]

Try www.weakknees.com for TiVo solutions, tuner 2 not working is possibly a power supply starting to fail.

[matt]

I have been down this road personally.

An HR10-250 (and other MPEG2 HD receiver) will not require HD access. Some CSRs will tell you it does, until you find one that actually knows there are MPEG2 and MPEG4 channels and will turn the HD access off for you. It automatically adds it when you add any H or HR receiver, MPEG2 or MPEG4.

Any time you make any change to your service, like add a receiver, it puts HD acess back on there and you have to call and call to find one of those rare MPEG2 knowledgeable CSRs who will turn it back off.

With any MPEG4 HD receiver, you have to have HD access, UNLESS you are in a MPEG4 locals market