[GopherIce]

I still feel like a newbie even though I've been a subscriber for almost 10 yrs...anyway, I would like to add a second dvr and was wondering if there would be an extra monthly charge...this would be a replacement. I am pretty sure once you have one dvr on the account, you can add another as a replacement to a standard receiver at no additional monthly cost.

 

[curt8403]

I still feel like a newbie even though I've been a subscriber for almost 10 yrs...anyway, I would like to add a second dvr and was wondering if there would be an extra monthly charge...this would be a replacement. I am pretty sure once you have one dvr on the account, you can add another as a replacement to a standard receiver at no additional monthly cost.

no additional monthly cost is correct for a replacement. the cost to have it added, however, is a different story. that is 99 for the rcvr and 99 for install plus shipping

 

[cdizzy]

You are correct. If you have a dvr already and your new one will be a replacement then there will be no added fees.

 

[ToiletKitty]

Maybe you can get a dvr for only the delivery and handling charges ($19.95), but you'll have to call. Also, please remember that when a dvr is activated, a 24 month commitment is added to the account.

 

[GopherIce]

Thanks everybody...if I can get a dvr on my own without a card, is there a cost to get a card? And is there some sort of activation fee? I am trying to get a dvr on my own and can handle the install myself...I am just not sure about any activation and/or access card issues.

 

[inkahauts]

Thanks everybody...if I can get a dvr on my own without a card, is there a cost to get a card? And is there some sort of activation fee? I am trying to get a dvr on my own and can handle the install myself...I am just not sure about any activation and/or access card issues.

Be careful... where are you getting this dvr from? Cars will cost around $20 or so... Are you after an HD DVR? being around for 10 years, you may want to call in and see if they will set you up with a new one for free... they might do it if your a good customer... And it never hurts to ask.

 

[rudeney]

They generally charge $20 S&H for a new access card. Since you are a long-time customer, if your account is in good standing they might waive that of you ask. Of course if you are in good standing, you may be able to “negotiate” a new leased receiver upgrade, especially if you are not currently under a commitment.

 

[GopherIce]

I am under commitment, I believe, because within the last year I used a promo code I found on the boards here to do an upgrade for our first dvr (non hd and not looking to hd yet). But I suppose it would not hurt to call and see if they are willing to deal. The problem is, like a lot of us in today's economy, I really cannot afford to spend much on this. So I thought if I could find a dvr at a low price, I would consider adding one if I could do so without running into additional charges. I have found a few on CL for near nothing so I wanted to have everything covered before I do some serious looking.

 

[Starchy77]

no additional monthly cost is correct for a replacement. the cost to have it added, however, is a different story. that is 99 for the rcvr and 99 for install plus shipping

If he has been around for 10 years, is it safe to assume that he owns his standard receiver now? If that is the case, then he would still have a $4.99/month lease fee added to his account, just no more DVR fee as that is already paid for the DVR he is using now. Please correct me if I am wrong on this - I think he may get another $4.99 charge monthly.

GopherIce - do you own or lease the receiver you are looking to replace?

 

[curt8403]

If he has been around for 10 years, is it safe to assume that he owns his standard receiver now? If that is the case, then he would still have a $4.99/month lease fee added to his account, just no more DVR fee as that is already paid for the DVR he is using now. Please correct me if I am wrong on this - I think he may get another $4.99 charge monthly.

GopherIce - do you own or lease the receiver you are looking to replace?

owned vs leased makes no difference here. the cost is for the new unit which is replacing the old, not the old.

 

[GopherIce]

I own the standard receiver that will be replaced (and also another standard receiver)...the only one I don't own is my newest addition, which is the dvr. With my original set-up, I had 3 standard receivers installed. I was billed and extra $4.99 for two of them (first one is free and $4.99/month for each additional receiver)...and since I added the dvr, I am billed an additional $5.99 for the dvr service...is the way I have interpreted it. So I was thinking that, since I already pay a $4.99 fee for the one I would like to replace, I would not have any extra monthly charge, since I also already pay the $5.99 dvr service.

 

[rudeney]

I own the standard receiver that will be replaced (and also another standard receiver)...the only one I don't own is my newest addition, which is the dvr. With my original set-up, I had 3 standard receivers installed. I was billed and extra $4.99 for two of them (first one is free and $4.99/month for each additional receiver)...and since I added the dvr, I am billed an additional $5.99 for the dvr service...is the way I have interpreted it. So I was thinking that, since I already pay a $4.99 fee for the one I would like to replace, I would not have any extra monthly charge, since I also already pay the $5.99 dvr service.

When you subscribe to DirecTV service, you will have one receiver marked as the "primary". The monthly charge for that first or primary receiver is covered under your monthly package price. For each *additional* receiver you pay $4.99 per month, regardless of its brand, capabilities, or if it's owned vs. leased. If you have a receiver with DVR capabilities, then you need to subscribe to DVR service which is an *additional* $5.99 per month and covers your entire account, regardless of how many DVR's you have.

In your case, you originally had 3 owned standard receivers. Each month you would have paid your package price (which would include receiver #1), plus a $4.99 "mirror fee" for receiver #2, and another $4.99 "mirror fee" for receiver #3.

If you then replaced receiver #2 with a DVR, and it was leased, then each month you would have paid your package price (which would include receiver #1), plus a $4.99 "lease fee" for receiver #2, and a 4.99 "mirror fee" for receiver #3, plus a $5.99 DVR service fee. Note that the difference between the $4.99 lease fee and the $4.99 mirror fee is only in the semantics. They note it that way so you can tell a receiver is leased vs. owned.

If you now replace receiver #3 with another DVR, then each month you will pay your package price (which will include receiver #1), plus a $4.99 "lease fee" for receiver #2, and a 4.99 "lease fee" for receiver #3, plus a $5.99 DVR service fee. Note there is no additional DVR service fee - the $5.99/mo covers DVR service for all DVR's on the account.

 

[GopherIce]

Yeah, that is the way I thought it would work (the $4.99 stays the same, whether I get a dvr on my own or lease it through Directv) but I wanted to be sure...thanks for making it crystal clear.

 

[JLucPicard]

GopherIce,

If you are registered at DirecTV.com, I would log into your account (click the login link even if it says "Hello [your name] so you can actually access your account info) then under "My Setup" click "Add Receiver". Take a look there and see if it shows a charge for an SD DVR. Based on your account, it may actually shows as $0.00. If so, you can just choose one there. If it does show a cost, you could call and possibly negotiate it down.

 

[GopherIce]

I'll check again...and keep checking, but the last time I did so, (a few days ago), it was $99.

 

[GopherIce]

I have not received it yet...but a big thank you to all who advised me to inquire about upgrading a standard for a dvr. I made the call and sure enough, they are sending one out, free of charge. Now all that is left for me is to run a second line...the install will not be a problem but should I be concerned about set-up and activation?

Thanks again everybody!

 

[JLucPicard]

As long as your cable work is good it shouldn't be a problem to set up and activate. As a 10 year subscriber, I would guess you've had some experience with the activation process.

The one caution I would toss out here (and I haven't gone back and read through the thread to see if it was addressed already) is if the standard receiver you are replacing is currently listed on your account as the "primary" receiver, the CSR usually rebuilds your account when replacing that receiver. If you have any credits, grandfathered status, etc., be very careful that things are the same after the activation as they were before.




OK, I did go back and read now. It looks like you currently have two standard receivers and the new DVR will replace one of them. If one of those standard receivers IS your primary receiver (which would be the case unless you had the prior DVR set up as your primary at the time you got it), I would do this. Log into your account at DirecTV.com. and click on "Activity Since Last Bill". Find the charge there for the package you subscribe to. The xxxxxxxxxxXXXX you see there (with the XXXX part being actual numbers) is the card number of the receiver that is listed as the primary receiver. I would confirm which of your receivers has that card number and REPLACE THE OTHER ONE. It may mean moving the primary to the other location depending on where your receivers are, but swapping out the DVR for the standard receiver that is NOT your primary will save you many potential headaches.

Good luck with everything! Sounds like it's working out pretty well so far!

GO VIKES!

 

[rudeney]

A year or so ago, I deactivated my primary (an old UTV). The CSR was able to properly rebuild my account and keep my grandfathered Total Choice Plus account. My primary receiver is now the HR20 in my living room, which is two years old.

 

[JLucPicard]

Yes, some CSRs are able to properly replace a primary receiver without blasting the hell out of the customer's account. As is evident from posts on this board, there are a fair number of CSRs that cannot. If someone can avoid having to even mess with their primary, I find it prudent to advise them not to. Sometimes it just can't be avoided, but when it can, why not avoid it?

 

[GopherIce]

As long as your cable work is good it shouldn't be a problem to set up and activate. As a 10 year subscriber, I would guess you've had some experience with the activation process.

The one caution I would toss out here (and I haven't gone back and read through the thread to see if it was addressed already) is if the standard receiver you are replacing is currently listed on your account as the "primary" receiver, the CSR usually rebuilds your account when replacing that receiver. If you have any credits, grandfathered status, etc., be very careful that things are the same after the activation as they were before.

OK, I did go back and read now. It looks like you currently have two standard receivers and the new DVR will replace one of them. If one of those standard receivers IS your primary receiver (which would be the case unless you had the prior DVR set up as your primary at the time you got it), I would do this. Log into your account at DirecTV.com. and click on "Activity Since Last Bill". Find the charge there for the package you subscribe to. The xxxxxxxxxxXXXX you see there (with the XXXX part being actual numbers) is the card number of the receiver that is listed as the primary receiver. I would confirm which of your receivers has that card number and REPLACE THE OTHER ONE. It may mean moving the primary to the other location depending on where your receivers are, but swapping out the DVR for the standard receiver that is NOT your primary will save you many potential headaches.

Good luck with everything! Sounds like it's working out pretty well so far!

GO VIKES!

Well no, I do not have any experience with activations (I overstated my years of service, not on purpose, I'm getting old and forgetful)...but thanks for the heads-up on locating the primary receiver. I found that the one that is our primary is NOT the one we are going to replace. But I did find something interesting...while looking at my account using the instructions you gave, I noticed that the handling charge for the new DVR, which has since been credited, uses the same last four #'s as our primary does under the access card column. Does that mean that they are expecting me to replace the primary receiver? And what can happen to cause headaches if I do swap out the primary?

Thanks again for all of the great advise!