[videobruce]

Questions;

1. I know you normally 'lease' the receiver, but can you still outright purchase one?
2. Who makes these receivers and DSVR's for DTV?
3. How much hassle will DTV get someone that dosn't want the receiver connected to a phone line (no interest in PPV and a phone jack is not nearby)?
4. How about the antenna itseld and the LNB/multiswitch assembly. Is that owned or leased?
5. Are all the new LNB assemblies a combination LNB and mutiswitch?
6. Can you install the equipment yourself including the receiver and access card, or do they force you to have someone come out and do so?

 

[rahlquist]

Questions;

1. I know you normally 'lease' the receiver, but can you still outright purchase one?

yes but the cost is $500 or more

2. Who makes these receivers and DSVR's for DTV?

the -xxx in the model denotes the manuf -100 is Thompson/rca -600 I think is samsung/lg

3. How much hassle will DTV get someone that dosn't want the receiver connected to a phone line (no interest in PPV and a phone jack is not nearby)?

Zero under the condition you mention.

4. How about the antenna itseld and the LNB/multiswitch assembly. Is that owned or leased?

Thats yours to keep or leave at your residence when you move

5. Are all the new LNB assemblies a combination LNB and mutiswitch?

No

6. Can you install the equipment yourself including the receiver and access card, or do they force you to have someone come out and do so?

I believe all initial orders require a install but I could be wrong.

 

[MartyS]

Questions;

1. I know you normally 'lease' the receiver, but can you still outright purchase one?

I haven't seen a place where you can outright purchase one. But if you can it will cost somewhere around $700 - $800 for an outright purchase

2. Who makes these receivers and DSVR's for DTV?

There are a number of manufacturers including Pace, Thompson/RCA. These are differentiated by the HRXX-XXX where the last three numbers are the manufacturer. For all intents and purposes the units are the same.

3. How much hassle will DTV get someone that dosn't want the receiver connected to a phone line (no interest in PPV and a phone jack is not nearby)?

None at all. If you don't have a network connection you'll have to order PPV over the phone or via www.directv.com, and you may incur additional charges for that. I'm not sure when or how much those charges are.

4. How about the antenna itseld and the LNB/multiswitch assembly. Is that owned or leased?

It's part of the D* package. If you have the stuff installed and move, D* will not make you take the dish/LNB assembly with you. Via the Mover's Connection, they will tell you to take your receiver(s) to your new place and they will install a new dish/LNB assembly. Not sure about the multiswitch, though.

5. Are all the new LNB assemblies a combination LNB and mutiswitch?

Not all of them include the multiswitch, but if you need one they will install it at the time of installation, or at whatever time you need the WB68. I had my WB68 installed almost a year after my initial installation when I decided to wired D* throughout my house.

6. Can you install the equipment yourself including the receiver and access card, or do they force you to have someone come out and do so?

I've heard of people doing their own installs, but I'm not sure if D* will send you the dish/receivers or if you'll have to get them yourself.

 

[raoul5788]

The 5 lnb dishes DO include a built-in multiswitch. They have four outputs. If you want more, then you must get a separate switch.

 

[videobruce]

Thanks for that.

7. Regarding the receiver manufactures, then it is a single design that they 'farm out' to a actual manufacture that builds the identical receiver just as UPS does for their trucks? Here are the specs, build this exact model.
8. The reason for the 'phone line ' question was I read the EULA and they make a big deal about the phone line and additional charges for extra receivers along with cloning packages to other receivers. Is all of that just 'scare tatics'?
9. I have been told DTV won't allow DIY installs, at least for the receiver. This was told to a few over the phone. Someone has to come out to set up a receiver even when swaping out a existing older receiver for a newer one.

 

[Ken S]

Questions;

1. I know you normally 'lease' the receiver, but can you still outright purchase one?
2. Who makes these receivers and DSVR's for DTV?
3. How much hassle will DTV get someone that dosn't want the receiver connected to a phone line (no interest in PPV and a phone jack is not nearby)?
4. How about the antenna itseld and the LNB/multiswitch assembly. Is that owned or leased?
5. Are all the new LNB assemblies a combination LNB and mutiswitch?
6. Can you install the equipment yourself including the receiver and access card, or do they force you to have someone come out and do so?

1. Yes, the easiest way is to purchase the HR-21 Pro unit.
2. Different manufacturers based on the three-digit code at the end of the model number. HR21-200 is made by Samsung for instance.
3. None
4. Owned to the best of my knowledge.
5. Yes
6. You can buy and install all of the equipment yourself. They won't send you a dish for a self install, but I bet it wouldn't be hard to convince an installer to just leave the dish with you.

 

[Ken S]

Thanks for that.

7. Regarding the receiver manufactures, then it is a single design that they 'farm out' to a actual manufacture that builds the identical receiver just as UPS does for their trucks? Here are the specs, build this exact model.
8. The reason for the 'phone line ' question was I read the EULA and they make a big deal about the phone line and additional charges for extra receivers along with cloning packages to other receivers. Is all of that just 'scare tatics'?
9. I have been told DTV won't allow DIY installs, at least for the receiver. This was told to a few over the phone. Someone has to come out to set up a receiver even when swaping out a existing older receiver for a newer one.

7. No, the designs vary albeit not all that much. The software that DirecTV installs looks identical on all units.
8. I have never seen a post on this forum about anyone having a problem for not being connected to a phone line. You could do a search if you're still unsure.
9. Go to Costco buy a receiver...you get to install it.

You really may want to spend some time reading the forums here.

 

[videobruce]

As an eample, question #5 has had two different answers so far.

I do plan on doing more reading, but these questions are hard to do a search for.

 

[rahlquist]

Thanks for that.

7. Regarding the receiver manufactures, then it is a single design that they 'farm out' to a actual manufacture that builds the identical receiver just as UPS does for their trucks? Here are the specs, build this exact model.
8. The reason for the 'phone line ' question was I read the EULA and they make a big deal about the phone line and additional charges for extra receivers along with cloning packages to other receivers. Is all of that just 'scare tatics'?
9. I have been told DTV won't allow DIY installs, at least for the receiver. This was told to a few over the phone. Someone has to come out to set up a receiver even when swaping out a existing older receiver for a newer one.

7. Exactly just like some video cards for PC's based on a reference design.

8. Yes the Eula is ugly on this but they dont enforce it that I am aware of for anyone other than some subcontractors for D* require their employees to have the phone like hooked up.

9. Like I mentioend before a new install I dobut it. Upgrades to existing, I havent heard of any issues with them not allowing this. But why not let them do it since its free?

 

[paulman182]

In manufacturers, 200 is Samsung, 600 is LG, I believe.

 

[videobruce]

I should of stated , this was for HD DVR systems.

I am now told with HD DVR's, someone has to come out to install them, even with existing systems.

But why not let them do it since its free?

You have to be home and wait for them. Just inconvenient. Besides, I'd wather do it myself.

 

[paulman182]

I should of stated , this was for HD DVR systems.

I am now told with HD DVR's, someone has to come out to install them, even with existing systems. You have to be home and wait for them. Just inconvenient. Besides, I'd wather do it myself.

That narrows it down. The LNB assembly has a built-in multiswitch with four outputs. If you need more than that, the Zinwell WB68 is used to give 8 outputs. If you need more than that, the ideal is the Zinwell WB616, but I understand that installers often don't have them and are forced to parallel two WB68s.

 

[Ken S]

I should of stated , this was for HD DVR systems.

I am now told with HD DVR's, someone has to come out to install them, even with existing systems. You have to be home and wait for them. Just inconvenient. Besides, I'd wather do it myself.

As I stated earlier. Go to Costco or any other CE retailer and buy the DVR (lease actually). You can then take it home and install it yourself.

 

[videobruce]

Ok, does that include the HD DVR's?
The card is included with the receiver, correct?

 

[joed32]

Ok, does that include the HD DVR's?
The card is included with the receiver, correct?

Yes and yes.

 

[Ken S]

Ok, does that include the HD DVR's?
The card is included with the receiver, correct?

There ya go.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=abcat0105000&type=category

Costco, Circuit City and several others carry DirecTV receivers and DVRs. yes, the card is in the box.

 

[Newshawk]

Manufacturer codes:

100- Thomson (RCA brand)
200- Samsung
300- Philips
400- Hughes Network Services (now part of Thomson)
500- Humax
600- KG
700- Pace
800- Acer (I think)

Edit: I found out that the 500 code is Humax, so the list is complete!

 

[rudeney]

As I stated earlier. Go to Costco or any other CE retailer and buy the DVR (lease actually). You can then take it home and install it yourself.

Also, sometimes, if you buy (well, "lease") the receiver from the DirecTV website, they give you the option of delivery and self-install or professional install. Sometimes, depending on your account status, you might find a "deal" online at directv.com. If not, then Costco seems to have the best price.

 

[JLucPicard]

I don't know if it's been mentioned and I missed it as to what DirecTV equipment you might have already. My sense is you don't yet and this would be your first?

Anyway, the receivers you could get at BB, CC, Costco, places like that do not include the dish, and I don't know of any Brick & Mortar shops that carry them. In fact, I don't know if you can even buy them from DirecTV. You would need one of a couple of types of dishes, not just any DirecTV dish. There is a little more to the installation of these dishes than the previous single, dual or 3 LNB dishes.

 

[BattleZone]

Going to a big-box retailer (except some Costcos who don't know what they're doing) should NOT result in a NEW customer being given equipment. NEW customers are simply signed up and given an installation date, just as if you called DirecTV directly. The receivers at big-box retailers (BB, CC, Costco) are intended for UPGRADES ONLY, and are supposed to be added to your DirecTV account (under "pending" status) upon checkout.

An independent retailer could sell you a system and let you do your own install, but many will be wary, because if you have problems, they are responsible, and if you cancel (like, say, due to installation problems), they lose a lot of money. You'd probaby need to convince someone that you'd be able to do it, and do it right, and they might require activation of the receivers up-front.