DirecTV's Rules for SWMs

I moved into my house and it had the 3 LNB original HD dish. I tested with a my old room mate's (whom didn't move with me) equipment and had 2 D TiVo's working fine with all 4 cables.

I setup an installation as a new customer through Best Buy to get the the HD receive and $350 in Best Buy rebates. I got an HD DVR and a standard def receiver, with the intention of using the gift cards to get another reciever. They cut off 3 of the coax lines and installed SWM, but only configured the DVR for a single tuner. Later I figured out what was up and reconfigured it.

I was initially disappointed because I was planning on adding two DTiVo's to my account, but got over it because I want to go 100% HD.

I then bought a 2nd DVR from Best Buy (HR22 with a manufacture date in lat e November?) and went around and around with activations, because they neglected to flag my account. I wasn't seeing 5 birds because I have the SL3-S dish. At least I don't have to use the BBCs.

 

I'm in Portland, OR, where MRV is being offered. Apparently, this offer requires a SWM set-up, which I have scheduled for installation next week. I have an international package (Chinese). Is it still true that SWM will not support international programming?

 

Thanks. My current programming requires only one dish, so I guess I should be OK anyway.

 

I bought a SWM SL5 dish and had an installer that lives in my neighborhood align it for me for $20. I have and R22 and R16. What do I have to do so D knows that I have a slime SWM dish installed? The original installation had an 18" dish.

 

I think your best bet is to do emails for this. From other users posts it doesn't seem like a rep over the phone can actually add the flag.

 

Thanks LUCK255.I plan on adding the splitter to it. When I make the connections do I need to unplug the receiver and then make the connections? What about the power inserter?

 

I've dealt with this issue personally and D* does not have an "easy" way of updating this flag for the DIY'er. The flag is designed to automatically update when SWM is installed on a D* workorder. From talking with someone "in the know" the process to update the flag for a DIY'er is a bit cumbersome... Whatever route you take (phone or e-mail) you will likely find confusion on this issue. Don't be surprised if you are notified that the "flag" has been set only to receive a non-swm receiver upon replacement...

 

I replaced two R-15's with an R22 and R-16. Will this make a difference if I have to have one of these replaced. After all I paid for it and should get back what I paid for.

 

D* considers all SD DVR's to be equal, so it's entirely possible to have an R15 replace an R16. The SWM flag exists to ensure a replacement/order is SWM compatible, but as I stated, it's not an easy process to set in a DIY situation...

The simple answer to your question is "no" it will not make a difference unless you can get the SWM flag set. And even then, the R22 could be replaced by an R16...

 

if they send me equipment i can't use then what is the solution?

 

Get the equipment yourself. The risk of doing a DIY is that you are going outside of their system and therefor outside of their support.

 

So if they don't want people to DIY then why are dishes available for purchase? It doesn't make sense. In a way they are not keeping their end of the contract. I paid for the receivers out of my pocket and should get back what I paid for. This seems to be a no win situation.

 

You can't buy them from DirecTV. It's just like getting getting parts from a shop and installing them on a car it didn't come with. Just because the company used that part on something doesn't mean it was approved for your car. This is the same thing. They said "this is what you're setup will be" you went out and changed that setup. For people in your situation I would highly recommend that you get the MRV upgrade once it goes national. Then they will come out and install a SWM and your account will be flagged properly. If not then you will have to get all of your own equipment going forward.

 

What is someone to do that didn't get the flag when DirecTV's installer did it?

 

I called in last week and the CSR flagged my account with SWM. How can I verify that they did it?

 

I didn't previously have an SWM setup. The system I moved had four total tuners - an HR-20 and an HR-21. I added a standard def DVR to bring the tuner count to 6.

I didn't ask what I was going to get until the order was placed and still wasn't "counting on it" until the installer showed up with the slimline SWM dish on his truck.

At any rate, it's possible to get SWM through the mover's program.

 

The only way you'll really know is if you ever have to replace an SD box. I've researched this particular situation (including going through it myself) and it seems to be fairly difficult for D* to set the flag manually. From talking with someone "in the know" the system is designed to trigger the flag when SWM is on the workorder (and installed by D*.) There are other ways, but you'll be hard pressed to find someone with the capabilities...

P.S. I was told repeatedly that my flag was set, but when I received a replacement SD receiver it was not SWM capable.

 

The rules change with MRV coming out. Ordering MRV requires a SWM. So essentially even on an upgrade you can get a SWM now as long as you're willing to pay for the MRV upgrade. The flag would also get set because the SWM would be on the work order. For people with their own SWM installed I'm betting they will be able to get that flag set if a tech goes out to do an upgrade as well after the MRV is national.