I have no phone line, installation of new D* service soon

[gocanes719]

I signed up for DirecTv the other night and I am currently scheduled for a August 25th installation unless I get it moved up in Houston,TX. I had a VOIP phone (Sunrocket) that closed with no warning which left me without a home phone. When I called to order directv we were told we didn't need to have a phone line. My neighbor has dish network and he told me he didn't use one he just ordered online. I already have ordered the Sunday Ticket and the Gameplan. Do I have to have a phone line? I don't want to get a landline if I can help it.

[chevroletman20042000]

without a phone line hooked up you want be able to order ppv with your remote

[max190]

No. A phone line is not required.

[gocanes719]

without a phone line hooked up you want be able to order ppv with your remote


I can just get online and order PPV right? For the gameplan and the sunday ticket it is already there.

[chevroletman20042000]

I can just get online and order PPV right? For the gameplan and the sunday ticket it is already there.

yep you can

[valleygreen22]

without a phone line hooked up you want be able to order ppv with your remote

I disconnected my phone line as soon as the installers left. I can order ppv with no problem. The software updates come through the satellite. The only use I can see for the phone line is caller id...if you care. Pick up your phone or not and caller id is irrelavant.

[Kansas Zephyr]

I had a VOIP phone (Sunrocket) that closed with no warning which left me without a home phone.

Vonage has an offer for former SunRocket users.

http://www.vonage.com/sunrocket.php

I use it with my D*, with no problems.

[Kansas Zephyr]

I disconnected my phone line as soon as the installers left. I can order ppv with no problem. The software updates come through the satellite. The only use I can see for the phone line is caller id...if you care. Pick up your phone or not and caller id is irrelavant.

The ability to order PPV via your remote control will fail, if it isn't dead already.

The receiver periodically checks to see if you are connected to a phone line. If not, it will disable your ability to order via the remote.

The receiver needs to call D* to tell them what you ordered, so they can bill you for it.

You can always order online or via telephone. But, I think there is a surcharge for using the phone system.

If you've got a phone line easily available, why not use it?

But, no, you are not forced to use one.

[thughes114]

When will they get on board with technology and add some sort of wireless internet device (through the usb port) to communicate with there receivers???? Tivo has been doing this for years. If you don't have a phone line you can connect it to the internet through a wireless usb adaptor.

[ATrainIU24]

This may be a stupid question, but do you need phone service, or just a line for the box?

[Stuart Sweet]

No stupid question there... and welcome to the forum!

You don't need a phone line connected unless you want to use the box to order PPV, use Caller ID or use Game Lounge. If you do connect a line, I would presume it would need to be active.

[ATrainIU24]

Thanks! Another question, if I subscribe to Directv and want to later order say, ESPN Full Court, I could do that online, or would I need a phone line in that instance?

[Michael D'Angelo]

Thanks! Another question, if I subscribe to Directv and want to later order say, ESPN Full Court, I could do that online, or would I need a phone line in that instance?

:welcome_s to DBSTalk

You can order it online or call DIRECTV. You don't need a phone line for.

[JMCecil]

Unless something has changed recently, I believe you need a phone line for the sports packages to authorize.

[VeniceDre]

Unless something has changed recently, I believe you need a phone line for the sports packages to authorize.

Nah, don't have any probs with my sports packages.

[VeniceDre]

Also, from what I understand, if you order PPV Movie or Event over the internet it authorizes the purchase to all your boxes, as opposed to just the one box using remote.

[Flippie]

If you ask D* they will tell you that you NEED a phone line.

[generalpatton78]

If you ask D* they will tell you that you NEED a phone line.

It's the official don't ask, don't tell policy :lol:.

[Stuart Sweet]

If you ask D* they will tell you that you NEED a phone line.


Right. They really, really want you to have a phone line, but you plain old don't need it.

[ATrainIU24]

Thanks for the responses guys. One last question; if we ordered the sports pack premium channel, it would be available on every box in the house right?

[Michael D'Angelo]

Thanks for the responses guys. One last question; if we ordered the sports pack premium channel, it would be available on every box in the house right?

Yes

[DawgLink]

No such thing as a stupid question on here.

I believe I asked what "HDTV" meant when I first joined.

[windycity]

I will challenge your "no stupid question" belief with my 1st question:

I have searched and although I understand from numerous postings that the landline is not needed there seems to be some descrepancy related to the software updates.
Could somebody please spell it out for me because I obviously just don't get it.

For the HR20 DVR and standard non-DVR non-HD receiver:

1) Are the software updates streamed through the satellite feed?
2) Do you need the landline to "activate" the updates?

Sidenote: I will be honest it seems as thought the landline is needed to at least activate for the standard receiver because std receiver was not hooked up in March and I have received no updates since installed.

Thank you for your patience with my question.

[RegGeek]

windycity,
It sounds like you got confused by the requirements for the different boxes out there. Here's my understanding of it all...

For the DirecTivo units (like HR10-250) the software comes down through the satellite, but you need the phone line connected because, as you mentioned, the phone call "activates" the software.

For the HR20 the download and activation (such as it is) is all done through the satellite. As others have mentioned, the only reason to have the phone connected on an HR20 is to order PPV via the remote.

[windycity]

Thank you so much! It all makes sense now.

[bakers12]

For the "standard non-DVR non-HD receiver" do you know what model you have? The D11 I think had an upgrade recently, but the D10 and D12 models haven't upgraded for a while.

Somebody, please correct me if my facts are off.

[Blackz06]

I have never set up a phone line on my HR-20, the installer even said it was unnecessary. I am still able to order PPV via remote. Don't know how it gets done, but it does.