[TUKIN18S]

Ok, I hate to be this person, but I have over several hours reading and researching and I'm still confused as ever.

I am currently with Dish and have one VIP722k DVR. I live in a ranch home and only have one RG6 going from the attic to the basement where my DVR is located. The distribution panel for the rest of the home cable is also in the attic. All RG6 and Cat6 that I ran/fished myself to each bedroom.

Right now I have the DVR splitting HDMI to our basement family room and to the main level living room. Mainly because we aren't usually watching something different in each room. We have extra RF dish remotes. Does the HR34 come with RF remote or remotes?

We also have the tuner 2 feeding the rest of the bedrooms in the house with RF remotes.

I also watch my DVR recordings on my PC and Ipad with the Sling adapter. I know you can watch select shows on D*'s website but do they allow watching your DVR'd programs remotely?

My question is I'm seeing acronyms CCK DECA etc. and I have no clue what I need. I think minimally I am wanting an HR34. But does this have an SD output for tuners in the home like the Dish box where you tune to a cable channel and you can watch and control tuner 2? Do I need extra to watch recordings on my iPad like the CCK DECA?

If I wanted to add an HD tuner and separate our living spaces from the same channel what would I need for that? How much extra per month? What does Whole Home DVR service allow?

Sorry if these are dumb questions, I haven't found exact answers and hate calling in. Thanks!

 

[PK6301]

I am not one for technical stuff, I am glad you are looking at Directv for your viewing options.
I was with Dish for 4 years and with Direct for just over 2 months now and am I ever happy I made the switch.
Your questions were not dumb and will be answered very quickly, I can assure you of that.
Hope you enjoy..

 

[The Merg]

The HR34 with a HD receiver in tow will do mostly what you want...

In the DirecTV world, you cannot steal the second tuner of a DVR like you can with Dish. While all the outputs on the DirecTV DVR are active, what is being watched on one TV is what is watched on all TV's then. This can also cause problems though due to HDCP being instituted by programmers since if you have the TV with HDMI turned off and are watching on the TV with component hooked up, you will get a nasty message and cannot watch your show.

With the HR34, you will have 5 tuners available (with a HR2x DVR, you will have 2 tuners available) for recording. By having a HD receiver on another TV, that TV will have its own tuner to watch Live TV, but will be able to access the HR34 (or HR2x) to view previously recorded shows, plus the HD receiver can set a recording to take place on the HR34 (or HR2x).

The CCK (Cinema Connection Kit) is a unit that will bridge your coax network of receivers to your home network. Depending on the type installed, it can be placed near your router and hardwired to your router or can connect wirelessly back to your router.

The iPad app is great in that you can watch Live TV on the iPad itself for certain channels and can set up recordings. It currently cannot stream previously recorded shows from a DVR (although we believe it will in time).

As mentioned, hooking up a HD receiver to the second TV will give that TV its own tuner to use for Live TV. Every receiver after the first is $6/month. Also, as mentioned, with Whole Home, you will be able to watch any recorded content on the DVR via the HD receiver.

HTH,
Merg

 

[mdavej]

To duplicate what you have today, 722k + Sling Adapter = HR2x + H2x + RF modulator + Slingbox.

You can get as many RF remotes as you want to control the H2x from different rooms. They're pretty cheap on ebay. However, the range isn't nearly as good as Dish because they have no external antennas. So you may want to be thinking about other remote solutions if you're more than 30' or so away.

 

[carl6]

I would seriously consider adding an SD receiver to the mix to feed the remote SD sets. There are issues when using an SD output from a DVR that is set to an HD resolution (the guide does not render in SD and you get a big box on the screen telling you to change the resolution to SD). Or, maybe even better, another HD receiver but set to SD output. That way it can also share in whole-home (view recordings from the DVR).

 

[TUKIN18S]

Thanks everyone. Gives me something to think about.

 

[steveT]

I'm in the same boat with the thread starter here, and am about to make the switch to Direct. I'm also currently using a 722 on my main TV. How about the actual installation itself? I guess my questions are:

- Does the DirectTV installer just switch out the dish/lnb, switch, and receiver? I'm assuming I'll need no changes to existing cabling?

- How about the logistics of it all? Do I schedule the DirectTV guy to come out first, then he'll just remove the Dish equipment, then I call Dish and cancel them? Or do I have to get the Dish equipment out first, before DirectTV can do their thing?

Thanks for the help...

 

[kevinturcotte]

I'm in the same boat with the thread starter here, and am about to make the switch to Direct. I'm also currently using a 722 on my main TV. How about the actual installation itself? I guess my questions are:

- Does the DirectTV installer just switch out the dish/lnb, switch, and receiver? I'm assuming I'll need no changes to existing cabling?

- How about the logistics of it all? Do I schedule the DirectTV guy to come out first, then he'll just remove the Dish equipment, then I call Dish and cancel them? Or do I have to get the Dish equipment out first, before DirectTV can do their thing?

Thanks for the help...

Existing cable PROBABLY won't need to be changed. The Directv installer MAY switch out the dish, or may not. Dish receivers are your problem. Do NOT let the installer take them-Dish will want them back.

 

[steveT]

Existing cable PROBABLY won't need to be changed. The Directv installer MAY switch out the dish, or may not. Dish receivers are your problem. Do NOT let the installer take them-Dish will want them back.

Interesting; I never thought that Direct and Dish would use the same actual dish itself... Also, can you expand a bit on the cabling? I've got RG6 throughout the house, but the builder insulated all the walls after running cables with this foam insulation. Great for the electric bill, but makes running new cables extremely difficult.

One other question: how about the dish's view of the sky? My Dish points southwest and has a clear view, but if I have to point much more east or south, I might have a tree problem. Does the D* dish point to a much different section of the sky, or is it similar to Dish's?

 

[TUKIN18S]

Well, just chatted with Dish account loyalty and got $10 off for 12 months, A Roku XD, and no contract extension.

David (ID: B6B):  As an option for you, you can stream the new AMC shows on your tv if  you have a Playstation, Xbox, Apple, TV, or ROku.  Do you currently have  any of these devices?
Chad: No we have none of those devices
Chad: Nor are we going to purchase them
David (ID: B6B):  If you have a Highspeed internet connection in your home we are happy  to offer you a free Roku media Player for your Home TV so you can still  watch the newest AMC shows, how does that sound?
Chad Harwick: What model Roku player?
David (ID: B6B): I will see if I can get this information, one moment.
Chad: Thank you
David (ID: B6B): You are welcome.
David (ID: B6B): Roku XD
Chad: That is a nice offer, but then I still have to purchase the shows I want
Chad: correct?
David (ID: B6B): Yes.
David (ID: B6B): As one more incentive to stay with Dish I could also get you 5 dollars off for 12 months, how does that sound?
Chad:  I might as well go to DirecTV pay a bit more for whole home dvr and not  have to worry about having extra devices
David (ID: B6B): I am sorry to hear.
David (ID: B6B): How would you like to proceed today?
Chad: How about $10 off for 12 months and the roku? If I accept that does my contract extend?
David (ID: B6B): Yes we can do 10 dollars off for 12 months without contract.
Chad: as well as the Roku?
David (ID: B6B): Yes./
Chad: And just to be sure, there is no extension of my current contract? It will still be up in September?
David (ID: B6B): Right.
Chad: Ok, that will be fine
David (ID: B6B): One moment.
David (ID: B6B):  Amazon.com does require a valid credit card to order the shows, you  currently have an active card that you can use, is that correcT?
Chad: Yes we do have an amazon account
David (ID: B6B): Great!
David (ID: B6B): We will ship the roku to your physical address on file, is that okay?
Chad: yes, that is perfect
David (ID: B6B): One moment.

 

[kevinturcotte]

I misspoke. You will need a directv dish and LNB. Whether or not the installer will swap out the mount and dish, or put a whole new one up depends and varies.
For the dish, go to www.dishpointer.com, select the closest city to you, and select Directv 5 LNB (99, 101, 103, 110, 119) and see if there are any obstructions. Without you actual zip code, can't tell you if you'll need the 5 LNB as described above, or the LNB that looks at just 99, 101, 103.

 

[The Merg]

@TUKIN18S:

So Dish is actually sending you a Roku XD? I wonder if that is specifically because of their issues with AMC. Sounds like they gave you a good deal to stay, although not extending your contract makes it even better.

- Merg

 

[dpeters11]

@TUKIN18S:

So Dish is actually sending you a Roku XD? I wonder if that is specifically because of their issues with AMC. Sounds like they gave you a good deal to stay, although not extending your contract makes it even better.

- Merg

Not to go off topic, but if they are doing that, sounds like it may be for the long haul.

 

[TUKIN18S]

Yes sir. There is a long amc thread at satguys and there are quite a fe getting the same offer. I probably won't use the roku but the 10 off is nice for now until I decide what I'm doing.

 

[joed32]

There is actually quite a bit of free content on the Roku. such as "Crackle, etc. I love using "Netflix but that's $8 per month.

 

[The Merg]

I probably won't use the roku but the 10 off is nice for now until I decide what I'm doing.

I can hold onto it for you if you want then. I mean there's no reason for it to take up space at your place if you're not using it.

- Merg

 

[TUKIN18S]

I'll try it! Still plan on switching to DirecTV I think. With the free sunday ticket promo now it's hard to resist.

 

[rapidturtle]

I will be switching this month to Direct also. Tired of loosing channels with Dish, and yes I agree with the fact that Dish is handing out free Roku's, sounds like they are in this for the long haul.