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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.
 
#1,252 ·
Bob Coxner said:
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.
I think it's an upgrade every two years, not one.

Your DIRECTV™ PROTECTION PLAN includes an equipment upgrade every 2 years.
 
#1,253 ·
"tenn_" said:
My current equipment consists of two HR23-600 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!
HR23 or h23. How many DVRs do you have now? And how many tvs do you have now?
 
#1,255 ·
I was recently sent an HR-21 as an upgrade for a SD DVR. I don't want this old sucker if I am being put into another 2 year contract! I just recently had problems with 2 HR-23's that they finally swapped out under my protection plan with 2 HR-24's (very nice boxes!). I just now called to verify that I am out of contract (I am) and told the CSR that I wanted to cancel my service if I cannot be sent at least an HR-24 instead of this old HR-21. I do not want to have to deal with another older HD DVR. So I told the CSR to set my cancellation date for 2 weeks from today. I said that if I were offered the Genie in place of this HR-21 that they sent me then I would consider staying. But all she said was they could only offer it to me for $300. I politely declined and we went ahead and set up the cancellation for 2 weeks.

Can I now expect calls from DTV for offers to try and get me to stay? I am hoping this ploy will result in getting a Genie for free. I'll see how it plays out I guess.
 
#1,258 ·
sacflies said:
I was recently sent an HR-21 as an upgrade for a SD DVR. I don't want this old sucker if I am being put into another 2 year contract! I just recently had problems with 2 HR-23's that they finally swapped out under my protection plan with 2 HR-24's (very nice boxes!). I just now called to verify that I am out of contract (I am) and told the CSR that I wanted to cancel my service if I cannot be sent at least an HR-24 instead of this old HR-21. I do not want to have to deal with another older HD DVR. So I told the CSR to set my cancellation date for 2 weeks from today. I said that if I were offered the Genie in place of this HR-21 that they sent me then I would consider staying. But all she said was they could only offer it to me for $300. I politely declined and we went ahead and set up the cancellation for 2 weeks.

Can I now expect calls from DTV for offers to try and get me to stay? I am hoping this ploy will result in getting a Genie for free. I'll see how it plays out I guess.
So you get a free upgrade from a SD DVR to an HD DVR and you complain? Then you want to cancel if they won't give you an HR34? Wow....

Your phone won't ring.

Why not go to your boss on Monday and demand that he double your salary while you're at it?
 
#1,261 ·
sacflies said:
I was recently sent an HR-21 as an upgrade for a SD DVR. I don't want this old sucker if I am being put into another 2 year contract! I just recently had problems with 2 HR-23's that they finally swapped out under my protection plan with 2 HR-24's (very nice boxes!). I just now called to verify that I am out of contract (I am) and told the CSR that I wanted to cancel my service if I cannot be sent at least an HR-24 instead of this old HR-21. I do not want to have to deal with another older HD DVR. So I told the CSR to set my cancellation date for 2 weeks from today. I said that if I were offered the Genie in place of this HR-21 that they sent me then I would consider staying. But all she said was they could only offer it to me for $300. I politely declined and we went ahead and set up the cancellation for 2 weeks.

Can I now expect calls from DTV for offers to try and get me to stay? I am hoping this ploy will result in getting a Genie for free. I'll see how it plays out I guess.
The term has always been CR Roulette. Meaning you spin the wheel each time you call and get a different result. I would have not canceled - I waited three months because they offered me the same offer you got - but things have gotten better. I would try calling again and again just to see what they can do for you. Just be polite
 
#1,263 ·
dpeters11 said:
Not everyone wants to play those games.
I agree - I did not get my genie (due on Monday) for free but I felt I could have pushed them to make it so.
 
#1,264 ·
"tenn_" said:
Have two DVR's and two H23 receivers hooked up to four TV's. Sorry about that.

Thanks!
There is no real issue going any direction and swapping the HR34 for any of the receivers. however, what you do will make a difference on how you use your system.

Ok, next questions I'd have for you then.

Do you have plenty of recording capacity now? If so,one HR34 would actually give you more than you have now. Consider that.

Also, one HR34 with three non DVRs means one DVR to go to for all recording settings and series management, and any of the other Non DVRs could set recordings to the HR34. So having all DVRs manes you will have to keep track a little more if you want of be organized.

However, also consider that with DVRs you always have a live buffer to use, and it would allow you to record up to 9 things at once and you'd have more recording space.

Really its a decision you have to make, either way works. You just have to decide which route to go. Also do consider that non DVRs take less power, if energy is a concern, one HR34 and then just non DVRs is cheaper electricity wise.
 
#1,265 ·
"sacflies" said:
I was recently sent an HR-21 as an upgrade for a SD DVR. I don't want this old sucker if I am being put into another 2 year contract! I just recently had problems with 2 HR-23's that they finally swapped out under my protection plan with 2 HR-24's (very nice boxes!). I just now called to verify that I am out of contract (I am) and told the CSR that I wanted to cancel my service if I cannot be sent at least an HR-24 instead of this old HR-21. I do not want to have to deal with another older HD DVR. So I told the CSR to set my cancellation date for 2 weeks from today. I said that if I were offered the Genie in place of this HR-21 that they sent me then I would consider staying. But all she said was they could only offer it to me for $300. I politely declined and we went ahead and set up the cancellation for 2 weeks.

Can I now expect calls from DTV for offers to try and get me to stay? I am hoping this ploy will result in getting a Genie for free. I'll see how it plays out I guess.
So you said cancel instead of calling back a different day and asking for retention to see if they could do better? How often do you ask for programing discounts?
 
#1,266 ·
Well, I should provide more detail on my situation I guess. I was charged $100 plus shipping for the HD DVR and 2 HD receiver upgrades from an SD DVR and 2 SD receivers. I have been a customer for 3 years and had never upgraded a receiver (had 2 crappy HR-23's finally replaced with HR-24's and an SD DVR replaced that went bad under my protection plan). So I had earned a free HD DVR upgrade. I was charged $50 each for the HD receivers. But when they sent out the old HR-21 I wasn't very happy, especially after having previously dealt with the 2 crappy HR-23's. But they refused to swap the 21 out with at least a 24 so I told them to set up my cancellation date. I wasn't going to deal with another crappy HD DVR. And the cancellation date was set for 2 weeks out.

This morning about 11 my cell phone rings. It is DirecTV. The CSR wants to know why I was cancelling my service. I told him and he said that they wanted to keep me as a customer. Without me even asking he offered the Genie and a client at no charge to me. I told him that I would need 2 clients to match the order I had placed last week to upgrade 3 TV's to HD boxes. He agreed. So I will be getting the Genie and 2 clients installed on Tuesday...at no charge to me! And will return the entire order from last week (that was never activated) for a full refund. Guess you just have to play the game with them to get what you want. This is what I should have been offered in the first place. They offer new customers the latest equipment, so why not a 3 year veteran that is out of contract? Well, they finally did, which was the right thing to do IMO.

So, even though I will be back in another 2 year contract, I am happy now. Took them a while, but DirecTV finally came through.

One question: Have the problems that I have read about the clients been cleared up now? I was wondering if I should keep the two H-24's instead of the (previously?) problematic clients? I know I would lose the ability to freeze live programming with the H-24's, but was just wondering if the problems with the clients have been cleared up? Thanks.

Edit: I call in to ask for any promotions I might qualify for 2 or 3 times a year. Nothing out of the ordinary I don't believe.

spartanstew said:
I doubt you'll get any calls.
RunnerFL said:
So you get a free upgrade from a SD DVR to an HD DVR and you complain? Then you want to cancel if they won't give you an HR34? Wow....

Your phone won't ring.

Why not go to your boss on Monday and demand that he double your salary while you're at it?
Reggie3 said:
The term has always been CR Roulette. Meaning you spin the wheel each time you call and get a different result. I would have not canceled - I waited three months because they offered me the same offer you got - but things have gotten better. I would try calling again and again just to see what they can do for you. Just be polite
inkahauts said:
So you said cancel instead of calling back a different day and asking for retention to see if they could do better? How often do you ask for programing discounts?
 
#1,269 ·
sacflies,

I cancelled my install due to the HR-24/Client software issues. I already have enough problems with my TWC DVR's and the last thing I need right now is to get locked into a 2 year contract with Direct with malfunctioning and buggy DVR's. At least with TWC, I can take my equipment back at any time and cancel service as there is no contract.
 
#1,271 ·
"sacflies" said:
Maybe not, reading about all the trouble some are having with their 34's and clients! Maybe I should wait for the 44! I guess you really can't win in this game.
The clients have a couple bugs, but nothing to bad. However, a genie with h24/25 has no real issues. If you have 2 h24s now I might change my order to keeping those two, and having just one client installed, and you can put it n your least used secondary set till you decide its worthy of being on your second most used set.

Just a thought.

Oh, and while asking for discounts a clue times year isn't out of the ordinary, it does ordinarily keep you from getting as good a deal on hardware as often, so that may have had something to do with it. Obviously you don't get to ridiculous a deal though, or they would have let you cancel, they do that sometimes for people who complain to get to much discounts.
 
#1,272 ·
Thought about keeping the H24's instead of getting the 2 Genie clients, but the small form factor and being able to pause, rewind, and fast forward live TV is worth a few bugs I guess. Hopefully they get the bugs ironed out over the coming months.

Was just kidding about waiting for the 44. I am sure it will have its own problems upon release as well. Plus other than the apparent speed increase I'm not sure I would really benefit from the additional features it will have over the 34.

I suppose the installer is going to have to bring in some additional equipment to do the install because I will have a total of 9 tuners in the setup? I assume it will require a SWM 16 and a different LNB? With the HR34 installed would I no longer need the Cinema Connection Kit that was installed when they swapped out my 2 HR23's with HR24's, seeing as (I think) the 34 has a DECA built in? Also, I have a wireless repeater located where the 34 will be installed. Can I just use an ethernet connection from the 34 to this repeater to get internet access to all the other receivers/clients via coax?

Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to get an idea on how involved this install will be. Thx in advance for any insight!

inkahauts said:
The clients have a couple bugs, but nothing to bad. However, a genie with h24/25 has no real issues. If you have 2 h24s now I might change my order to keeping those two, and having just one client installed, and you can put it n your least used secondary set till you decide its worthy of being on your second most used set.

Just a thought.

Oh, and while asking for discounts a clue times year isn't out of the ordinary, it does ordinarily keep you from getting as good a deal on hardware as often, so that may have had something to do with it. Obviously you don't get to ridiculous a deal though, or they would have let you cancel, they do that sometimes for people who complain to get to much discounts.
 
#1,274 ·
"sacflies" said:
Thought about keeping the H24's instead of getting the 2 Genie clients, but the small form factor and being able to pause, rewind, and fast forward live TV is worth a few bugs I guess. Hopefully they get the bugs ironed out over the coming months.

Was just kidding about waiting for the 44. I am sure it will have its own problems upon release as well. Plus other than the apparent speed increase I'm not sure I would really benefit from the additional features it will have over the 34.

I suppose the installer is going to have to bring in some additional equipment to do the install because I will have a total of 9 tuners in the setup? I assume it will require a SWM 16 and a different LNB? With the HR34 installed would I no longer need the Cinema Connection Kit that was installed when they swapped out my 2 HR23's with HR24's, seeing as (I think) the 34 has a DECA built in? Also, I have a wireless repeater located where the 34 will be installed. Can I just use an ethernet connection from the 34 to this repeater to get internet access to all the other receivers/clients via coax?

Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to get an idea on how involved this install will be. Thx in advance for any insight!
Ok, wait... I thought you where replacing your entire system with a genie and three clients. What exact equipment will you ave after the install?

As for the DIRECTV Wired Broadband Internet Connection Kit, it can be left as is, or they can plug an Ethernet cable into the HR34 and be done. ,if your only going to have genie stuff, then that's the way to do it. Of your going to have hr24s still as well, then you could make an argument for either way, I'll explain that after I know what you are going to end up with. :)
 
#1,275 ·
I currently have 2 HR24's (which have been great since I got them a few months ago to replace the very slow HR23's...under the Protection Plan...no new contract), an SD DVR, and 2 SD receivers. I will be getting rid of all three SD boxes and replacing them with the Genie and 2 clients. So I will have the Genie, 2 HR24's, and 2 clients. I still have the receivers from the order I placed last week that I wasn't happy with (the HR21 and 2 H24's). I will be returning those (and the 3 SD boxes) after the install of the Genie and 2 clients on Tuesday. Confused yet?! So once again, to sum up...I will have the Genie. 2 HR24's, and 2 clients installed on Tuesday. And I am just trying to get a feel for how involved this install will be. My initial install was back in Feb 2010, and nothing has changed except a Cinema Connection Kit was installed when they brought out the HR24's a few months ago. Thx for the replies.

inkahauts said:
Ok, wait... I thought you where replacing your entire system with a genie and three clients. What exact equipment will you ave after the install?

As for the DIRECTV Wired Broadband Internet Connection Kit, it can be left as is, or they can plug an Ethernet cable into the HR34 and be done. ,if your only going to have genie stuff, then that's the way to do it. Of your going to have hr24s still as well, then you could make an argument for either way, I'll explain that after I know what you are going to end up with. :)
 
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