Switching to DirecTV

[SychoBC]

Right now I have digital cable through Cox cable. I have
-In my living room a digital cable box
-In my spare bedroom a digital cable box
-In my kitchen a digital cable box
-In my basement a high definition box and a digital cable box w/ tivo.
-In my bedroom a high definition box and a digital cable box w/tivo.

I want this setup with DirecTV, but is it very hard to wire this setup with 2 different types of boxes in the same room?

I know I could eliminate 2 boxes because of the box built into the DirecTivos. Is this something that can all be setup during installation?

[SychoBC]

Oh one more qustion can I even have that many lines(3, 1 HD/2 for Tivo) running into one room?

[Link]

Right now I have digital cable through Cox cable. I have
-In my living room a digital cable box
-In my spare bedroom a digital cable box
-In my kitchen a digital cable box
-In my basement a high definition box and a digital cable box w/ tivo.
-In my bedroom a high definition box and a digital cable box w/tivo.

I want this setup with DirecTV, but is it very hard to wire this setup with 2 different types of boxes in the same room?

I know I could eliminate 2 boxes because of the box built into the DirecTivos. Is this something that can all be setup during installation?

Hi, you would just hook up the Tivo to the Directv box, although you couldn't view the HD channels through the Tivo. Directv boxes can be hooked up to the Tivo with a serial cable so the tivo remote will also change the Directv channels. It is like it is intregrated together even though you have 2 separate boxes.

Do you have Lifetime service on your Tivos? I'd get Directv w/built in Tivo to pay $4.99 a month, otherwise regular Tivos cost more and probably both have separate fees.

I'm impressed you even have a digital cable box in a spare bedroom....I wouldn't mind being a guest at your house with all that LOL! Most people don't even provide a TV!

[SychoBC]

Hi, you would just hook up the Tivo to the Directv box, although you couldn't view the HD channels through the Tivo. Directv boxes can be hooked up to the Tivo with a serial cable so the tivo remote will also change the Directv channels. It is like it is intregrated together even though you have 2 separate boxes.

Do you have Lifetime service on your Tivos? I'd get Directv w/built in Tivo to pay $4.99 a month, otherwise regular Tivos cost more and probably both have separate fees.

I'm impressed you even have a digital cable box in a spare bedroom....I wouldn't mind being a guest at your house with all that LOL! Most people don't even provide a TV!


No I would dump the Tivos I own for the directv ones. So

-My Bedroom- DirecTivo and HD Reciever
-My Basement-DirecTivo and HD Reciever
-Spare Bedroom- Standard Reciever
-Kitchen- Standard Reciever
-Living Room- Standard Receiver

Is this a tough install or is it even possible having 3 lines run into one room.

[Geronimo]

Maybe I am missing something but you seem to have 5 rooms and 5 receivers. Where would you have lines into one room?

[SychoBC]

No I would need 3 different lines into my room and 3 into the basement. Like a Tivo needs 2 and an HD needs 1.

Or do i use a splitter to split up the signal? I'm new to this so I need some help understanding how I would do this.

[todcox]

By my count you will need a total of 9 lines. Yes you can run 3 lines to the rooms where you want HD + Tivo. You may consider running one of the Tivo boxes with just a single line (and go without the second tuner). This would keep you at 8 lines so you can use a 5x8 multiswitch.

BTW, check out valueelectronics.com (I am in no way affiliated with them but I recently ordered my new package from them) for a great deal on the Tivo boxes for new customers. I got 2 Philips DirecTivo's, one standard receiver, triple lnb dish, 5x8 multiswitch all delivered for $90. The only thing I had to pay for was the multiswitch. I already have 1 DirecTivo and an HD box so I will end up with 8 lines to 4 rooms.

[SychoBC]

Ok I pretty much decided to go without 2 lines on 1 TiVo. But another question, it seems like it will cost an arm and a leg to install, is it something we can do ourselves? do they activate the access cards when they install? can we only have them install parts of it?

Cause i was told to run an additional 2 lines to a room and another line to another room it'll cost alot.

[todcox]

The "Advanced Receiver" install, which includes Tivo, should include running 2 cables to the room. This won't include fishing through the walls. How easy it is all depends on what kind of access (basement, crawl space, attic, one or two story). You can have the installer give you a quote once they are at your house. Some are very reasonable while others may try to take you.

As for activiating cards, the installer will activate what ever he installs. But you can activate others later simply by calling D*. They will walk you through it over the phone.

[SychoBC]

OK, thanks.


I have one last question, I currently get MLB Extra innings thru digital cable but If I switch to DirecTV, can they do anything to give me like the last 2 months without me paying like 80 bucks.

[todcox]

Not sure on this one. I think they offer the NFL ST later in the season at a reduced rate. Maybe they would do the same with MLB. Can't hurt to ask.

[SychoBC]

They offer a half season of MLB but it's 110 dollars. I was hoping for like the 50 dollar range.