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Official: HR34 pricing as of 2/9/2012

248K views 1K replies 353 participants last post by  Stuart Sweet 
#1 ·
Since a lot of people have been experiencing confusing from DIRECTV CSRs today, here is the official word on HR34 pricing from someone who really knows.

  • The HR34 box is $399 and is available starting today for existing customers
  • There is a $300 rebate for NEW customers only.
  • Select customers may be eligible for a lower price. This varies depending on your history with DIRECTV.

There is no rebate program for existing customers.
 
#1,229 ·
So I didn't really push for the HR34 last year, when Direct TV didn't offer me deals like the ones reported here and elsewhere. I didn't threaten to cancel or anything.

I was going to entertain moving to Comcast, signing a cheap deal. A co-worker said he keeps calling to cancel and they renew his introductory pricing there. Even if that didn't happen, I figured I'd come out ahead. Plus, the data should be much better than the U-Verse data I have now.

But the Ceton DVR turned out to be vaporware and so did the Tivo extender. Even if I got those products, I'd need some kind of networking.

So I may re-up with D* if I can get the HR34 for no upfront fees and WholeHome and MoCA installed.

However, my question is, after the 2-year contract, would I be able to use that MoCA wiring for cable DVRs?

Way my townhouse is set up, there's really no way to run cable directly between the living room and bedroom. Currently, there are separate runs of RG-6 that D* installed from those two rooms going to the multiswitch outside.

So presumably the MoCA box would replace the multiswitch and MoCA would work through those RG-6 cable runs?

Would I be able to use this setup with other DVRs besides D* some time down the line?
 
#1,230 ·
"wco81" said:
So I didn't really push for the HR34 last year, when Direct TV didn't offer me deals like the ones reported here and elsewhere. I didn't threaten to cancel or anything.

I was going to entertain moving to Comcast, signing a cheap deal. A co-worker said he keeps calling to cancel and they renew his introductory pricing there. Even if that didn't happen, I figured I'd come out ahead. Plus, the data should be much better than the U-Verse data I have now.

But the Ceton DVR turned out to be vaporware and so did the Tivo extender. Even if I got those products, I'd need some kind of networking.

So I may re-up with D* if I can get the HR34 for no upfront fees and WholeHome and MoCA installed.

However, my question is, after the 2-year contract, would I be able to use that MoCA wiring for cable DVRs?

Way my townhouse is set up, there's really no way to run cable directly between the living room and bedroom. Currently, there are separate runs of RG-6 that D* installed from those two rooms going to the multiswitch outside.

So presumably the MoCA box would replace the multiswitch and MoCA would work through those RG-6 cable runs?

Would I be able to use this setup with other DVRs besides D* some time down the line?
Why would you ever go to cable? :)

There is no moca box. The equipment used in your setup, lnb or multi switch and the DVR and other recivers will all have a " deca/moca". (Extreme simplification ) built in or an adapter if you have an older DVR your also keeping. Then dtv simply uses the coax forte sat an network signals. Very complex stuff on there end but not much to plug in on our end. :)
 
#1,232 ·
wco81 said:
Ok looked around and realized that D* is using DECA, not MoCA.

So I'm guessing the SWiMs that they'd install would not work with DVRs and client boxes like extenders which are not for playing D* content.
DECA is MoCA, just DirecTV's flavor of it. Others have been able to hook up non-DirecTV devices to the DECA boxes and use them without issue. Search around you'll find many posts about it.
 
#1,233 ·
I'm getting ready to move one of my DVRs to another room soon and will have to call to have that done. While I'm at it, I may see about getting a Genie. So I have a few questions I hope you guys can help me out with.

I have a HR23 and a HR20 (the 20 is the one that will be moved). If I go with the Genie, will one of those be replaced?

Does the system need to be set up through my home network? I currently have my 23 connected to it.

Are there any additional charges to my current bill to use the Genie? That's one of Comcast's pitches to keep people away from it.

I only have two TVs that will be connected. Is it worth it to get a Genie or just do the whole-home network thing?
 
#1,234 ·
MRM said:
I have a HR23 and a HR20 (the 20 is the one that will be moved). If I go with the Genie, will one of those be replaced?
If that's what you want, then yes.

Does the system need to be set up through my home network? I currently have my 23 connected to it.
If you want multi-room viewing (which it appears that you do based on your last question), then yes.

Are there any additional charges to my current bill to use the Genie? That's one of Comcast's pitches to keep people away from it.
It's $3 per month for multi-room viewing regardless of whether you have the Genie or not.

I only have two TVs that will be connected. Is it worth it to get a Genie or just do the whole-home network thing?
Do you ever need more than 4 tuners? If 4 tuners is enough (but 2 isn't) would you prefer to do the majority of your recording on one DVR, rather than having to handle conflicts across multiple boxes? Is Picture-in-Picture important to you?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then it may be worth it for you to get the Genie.
 
#1,235 ·
Well if you have to sign a 2 year contract, you might as well update one of your DVRs.

I have a HR20 as well, so that thing is like 7 years old with only 250 GB of storage.

Genie has 2 TB plus you would expect faster processors with the potential to have faster menus. More series recording capacity too.

Now, HR44 is suppose to be due soon too.
 
#1,237 ·
wco81 said:
Well if you have to sign a 2 year contract, you might as well update one of your DVRs.

I have a HR20 as well, so that thing is like 7 years old with only 250 GB of storage.

Genie has 2 TB plus you would expect faster processors with the potential to have faster menus. More series recording capacity too.

Now, HR44 is suppose to be due soon too.
That is not true. It has 1 TB.
 
#1,240 ·
jchanson said:
Even off contract that's all they are offering right now.... At least it was as of right before New Years.
Umm no, remember the deal you get is often up to the rep. It also used to be scored on a points system that was in part based on your time with D*/Amount of monthly bill/Payment promptness.

Our bill was running right around $98/mo for 3 dvr and programming. We were out of contract, I emailed D* and asked what DVR's we had that were owned(answer should have been 2), the email contact told me they couldn't answer that Q over email. The next day the calls started coming, because I set off a flag somewhere that indicated to them I may be wanting to leave and they had no contract to hold me down. Being a 9 year customer they wanted to keep me. Our account is in my wife's name so they finally managed to catch us at home one day and spoke with the wife. They offered the Genie at $299 and $49 install and wife said no, that was way too expensive. The rep waived the $299. We hummed and hawed and said well I guess, but would rather not pay for the install. The rep knocked the install down to $29 and asked if that was ok, wife said, I'd rather pay zero but..... The rep said ok, I will waive the install fee.

So $0. Netted us the HR34, moving our HR22 to another room, they took the R16 from that room. Whole home install including DECA for the HR20 and HR22. In addition I got a new LNB, SWiM16 and BB DECA unit. Now granted the installer had issues, the first day the SWiM16 he brought was defective so my install was botched from the even of the 31st of Dec till the morning of the 2nd.

I probably could have scored some extras with the letter I sent to e.filipiak's office over the install issues but I didn't even talk with the rep who called, it wasn't about getting anything free at that point, just wanted them to know their installer did the best he could with their poor holiday inventory management.

So $0 is possible when out of contract, it just depends on several factors how friendly the rep is, your calm patient but 'i don't care' tone, and how badly they fear your leaving.

Initial contact by me dec 21st, they reached us by phone dec 28th, first day install dec 31st, install finished jan 2nd.
 
#1,242 ·
I'm a long time DirecTV subscriber and after seeing Genie commercials I called and asked about upgrading. The agent on the phone was very nice and she said they would upgrade me to the Genie, and install a Genie client on my other TV. No cost to me. Install is scheduled for Friday.
 
#1,243 ·
thptrek said:
I'm a long time DirecTV subscriber and after seeing Genie commercials I called and asked about upgrading. The agent on the phone was very nice and she said they would upgrade me to the Genie, and install a Genie client on my other TV. No cost to me. Install is scheduled for Friday.
If you currently have an HR24 I highly recommend keeping it rather than swapping it for a Genie Client if you want a couple extra tuners(7)and even more important extra storage (1.5 terabytes).
 
#1,244 ·
Couldn't find an info thread, so I'll post this here, please move it if it is not in the right place.

I have my existing 2 HR22s hooked up by unsupported ethernet directly to a switch and then that is connected to my router.

When I have the HR34 installed to replace 1 of the HR22s, can I just use the existing ethernet connection or do I have to use deca, connection kit, whatever, etc? I've done some searching and I think I can, just want to confirm.
 
#1,246 ·
prushing said:
Couldn't find an info thread, so I'll post this here, please move it if it is not in the right place.

I have my existing 2 HR22s hooked up by unsupported ethernet directly to a switch and then that is connected to my router.

When I have the HR34 installed to replace 1 of the HR22s, can I just use the existing ethernet connection or do I have to use deca, connection kit, whatever, etc? I've done some searching and I think I can, just want to confirm.
From a technical standpoint, there is no reason why you can't do this. But I don't know why you would. Unless you get your HR34 from Solid Signal (or another retailer), DirecTV is going to require that it be installed by a technician. They will setup SWM, DECA, etc... In order to go unsupported, you will need to undo what the technician does.
 
#1,249 ·
I just wanted to add my experience. Tried back in November to get a Genie but they would not upgrade me for anything off. Tried yesterday - knowing some have gotten it for free recently. I was offered US$49 and install for US$24. That was fair to me as I did not want to deal with trying further and was in the limits I had set for myself before I called. Also got my HR22 replaced since the HD failed a few months ago and I had just stopped using that receiver.
 
#1,250 ·
My current equipment consists of two H23-600 receivers, one HR22-100 and one HR-23-700 and an 8 port SWM. I want to add a HR34 to the mix and delete one of the 4 existing boxes.

Trying to determine which of my existing boxes to replace?

Is there a downside to having 9 tuners and 3 DVR's versus 5 or 7 tuners and 1,2 or 3 DVR's?

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thank you!
 
#1,251 ·
Was speaking to Retention earlier today on another issue and decided to ask about Genie. Was offered free Genie and C31 with $99 install. I said that was a bit more than I wanted to pay so the CSR reduced it to $49 and I took it. I suppose I could have argued down to $0 but $49 sounded more than fair.

I'm in Texas, with the Protection Plan, but I've only had the PP for a month. I assume that means I can upgrade again for free in a year if there is something newer and better by then.
 
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