[robl45]

it seems this has been asked before, but the posts are a couple years old, the last time I checked which was at least a year and a half or so ago, there was no trial period. has that changed at all? Would make it so much easier to commit if I knew I could at least get out if its a disaster.

 

[kikkenit2]

it seems this has been asked before, but the posts are a couple years old, the last time I checked which was at least a year and a half or so ago, there was no trial period. has that changed at all? Would make it so much easier to commit if I knew I could at least get out if its a disaster.

No. It costs them a lot to install a system. Everything about directv is well known here. Is there some specific concern about subscribing?

 

[samrs]

No, Techs are supposed to have you sign a lease agreement before they start work.

There might be a minuscule time period in some states.

 

[dpeters11]

Neither DirecTV or Dish does. They are right, there are a lot of costs. Of course if there is no line of sight, or if you end up moving where you can get line of sight etc then you get out of the contract.

 

[lparsons21]

No, Techs are supposed to have you sign a lease agreement before they start work.

There might be a minuscule time period in some states.

I've never signed a thing until after the install was completed.

 

[samrs]

I've never signed a thing until after the install was completed.

I said "supposed to", experiences may differ.

 

[robl45]

No. It costs them a lot to install a system. Everything about directv is well known here. Is there some specific concern about subscribing?

Dvr doesn't work well, goes out 10 minasutes at a time in the rains etc. I have read as much as I can and talked to people around here that have it, but that still is different than trying it out. I know it costs to install, but other tv companies have trials.

 

[kikkenit2]

Dvr doesn't work well, goes out 10 minasutes at a time in the rains etc. I have read as much as I can and talked to people around here that have it, but that still is different than trying it out. I know it costs to install, but other tv companies have trials.

Those are valid concerns. The older boxes are painfully slow and remotes built cheap also. The newest dvr (34) finally has potential to work properly. Heavy rain or snow will periodically break up signals. When cable tv goes down it usually takes hours or days to get back. Best to have both, but too expensive. I stay for the programming. Not perfect but better than most.

 

[Rtm]

Those are valid concerns. The older boxes are painfully slow and remotes built cheap also. The newest dvr (34) finally has potential to work properly. Heavy rain or snow will periodically break up signals. When cable tv goes down it usually takes hours or days to get back. Best to have both, but too expensive. I stay for the programming. Not perfect but better than most.

Days?

But even in rain my DirecTV doesn't go out hardly

 

[TBlazer07]

it seems this has been asked before, but the posts are a couple years old, the last time I checked which was at least a year and a half or so ago, there was no trial period. has that changed at all? Would make it so much easier to commit if I knew I could at least get out if its a disaster.

While I don't think it was ever published, it used to be 24hrs (yes, 1 day) unless your State had other regulations (most don't). I haven't been "involved" in a few years so it may have changed.

 

[n3vino]

Days?

But even in rain my DirecTV doesn't go out hardly

It has to be pretty bad before it goes out, but not for very long. For the most part, I have a signal even when it's raining.

 

[robl45]

Days?

But even in rain my DirecTV doesn't go out hardly

as I've mentioned before, up in boston Dish never went out, only time it went out was twice a year during the sun thing passing by the satellites or whatever. When I had it for 4 years in south florida, it went out constantly. this was 4 years ago so i'm hoping maybe the technology is a little better.

I know it will go out, i watched my father in laws go out while we were watching in some rain, but a minute I can live with, 10 minutes twice a week during primetime is a bit much and thats what drove me to get rid of dish previously.

 

[Shades228]

With SWM installations weather impacts have been reduced significantly even on those who it was rare before. Most of the time weather impacts signals for HD now are usually in much more severe storms or when there is a faulty piece of equipment somewhere.

 

[domingos35]

as I've mentioned before, up in boston Dish never went out, only time it went out was twice a year during the sun thing passing by the satellites or whatever. When I had it for 4 years in south florida, it went out constantly. this was 4 years ago so i'm hoping maybe the technology is a little better.

I know it will go out, i watched my father in laws go out while we were watching in some rain, but a minute I can live with, 10 minutes twice a week during primetime is a bit much and thats what drove me to get rid of dish previously.

if you don't like losing picture ,go with comcast

 

[robl45]

if you don't like losing picture ,go with comcast

well you seem to say you are in south florida, how much do you lose it?

I was thinking of doing comcast, but the price is exhorbitant and the DVR technology is archaic.

 

[RunnerFL]

What are your signal strengths on a clear day?

I'm in South Florida, my signal strengths are in the mid 90's and higher and I barely ever lose signal during a torrential downpour.

 

[robl45]

What are your signal strengths on a clear day?

I'm in South Florida, my signal strengths are in the mid 90's and higher and I barely ever lose signal during a torrential downpour.

Is that for HD? I hear they go out easier. Torrential downpour is everyday here though .how quickly does it come back on?

 

[litzdog911]

I'm guessing your dish alignment is not optimized ....

Please post back with your signal readings for each satellite's transponders (and both tuners if applicable). You'll find these readings under "Menu" -> "Setup" -> "System Setup" -> Satellite -> "View Signal Strength". Note the "+" and "-" symbols next to the "Satellite" and "Tuner" entries where you can toggle the readings between the various satellites and both DVR tuners.

Fill in your readings for each satellite and tuner using these examples. A properly aligned dish will show 80-90s on most of the relevant transponders (although some will be low or zero):

Satellite transponders (32 total at 101º)
[Most of your standard definition channels are beamed from 101ºW]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # # # # # # # #
17-24 # # # # # # # #
25-32 # # # # # # # #

Satellite transponders (3 total at 110º)
[Not present with Slimline3 dish. No channels are currently beamed from this satellite]
1-8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA #
9-16 NA # NA # NA NA NA NA

Satellite transponders (11 total at 119º)
[Not present with Slimline 3 dish. Local SD channels for some cities, Spanish package]
17-24 NA NA NA NA NA # # #
25-32 # # # # # # # #

Satellite transponders (16 total at 99º(s)) [or 99º(b)]
[Local HD channels for some cities]
1-8 # # # # # # NA NA
9-16 NA NA NA NA NA NA # #
17-24 # # # # # # # #
[Note: these can be very slow to appear]

Satellite transponders (14 total at 99º(c)) [or 99º(a)]
[National HD channels]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # # # # # # NA NA
[Note, these can be very slow to appear]

Satellite transponders (16 total at 103º(s)) [or 103º(a)]
[Local HD channels for some cities]
1-8 # # # # # # NA NA
9-16 NA NA NA NA NA NA # #
17-24 # # # # # # # #
[Note, these can be very slow to appear]

Satellite transponders (16 total at 103º(ca))
[National HD channels beamed from D12 satellite]
1-8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
9-16 # # # # # # # #
17-24 # # # # # # # #

Satellite transponders (14 total at 103º(cb)) [or 103º(b)]
[National HD channels beamed from D10 satellite]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # # # # # # NA NA
17-24 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

Satellite transponders (9 total at SWM)
[You'll only see this if you have a Single Wire Multiswitch (SWM) dish]
1-8 # # # # # # # #
9-16 # NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

 

[robl45]

no numbers to upload as I haven't signed up yet.

 

[RunnerFL]

Is that for HD? I hear they go out easier. Torrential downpour is everyday here though .how quickly does it come back on?

That's for all channels. If it goes out it's out no longer than 5 minutes.