[adam1115]

My parents have DirecTV and are getting an HDTV next month.

I told them to call in advance to get the HD DVR's installed.

DirecTV told them that it won't work with an SD TV and they won't install it. Doesn't the HR-2x DVR's have RCA outputs?

They offered her two HD DVR's for $200, is that a good deal?

 

[sbl]

Yes, it has composite and S-Video outputs. But it is DirecTV policy not to install a HD DVR unless you have a HDTV because the installer can't verify that it works. I ran into this when I moved to HD.

 

[kevinturcotte]

I have 2 HR20s and 2 H21s all connected to SDTVs

 

[davring]

My sister in law had an HR installed before she had her new HD set. The installer didn't care, he hooked up her old CRT and checked things out with that. I can't blame D* though, because once she gor her new set, she had no idea how to go into the menu and set it up, I had to do it for her.

 

[adam1115]

Yes, it has composite and S-Video outputs. But it is DirecTV policy not to install a HD DVR unless you have a HDTV because the installer can't verify that it works. I ran into this when I moved to HD.

Can you elaborate?

Why can't the installer not verify it works?

I assume you can tune to the HD channels and it down converts it to sd?

 

[Grentz]

They can not confirm it works outputting and HD signal to and HD TV like it is sold as (you getting an HD signal).

It will work fine though on a SD set, it does down convert HD channels as well on the fly to the SD outputs.

 

[davring]

Can you elaborate?

Why can't the installer not verify it works?

I assume you can tune to the HD channels and it down converts it to sd?

You are exactly correct. If the installer sets the output to 480i he can set it up with any TV set.

 

[russdog]

My parents have DirecTV and are getting an HDTV next month.

I told them to call in advance to get the HD DVR's installed.

DirecTV told them that it won't work with an SD TV and they won't install it.

Don't talk to the D* people about what kind of TV's they have. Keep it simple.
If they ask, tell'em you've got HDTV's.
Then, when the installer shows up, he won't care. If he asks, just say "ooops, they're in the shop".
If you start asking D* people about unusual circumstances, you're asking for trouble.
The normal situation is that people order HD-DVR's when they have HDTV's. That's what D* people expect, so just play along.
Don't go making it complicated by explaining the circumstances. The fewer words you say, the better.

 

[adam1115]

Thanks!

Any thoughts on the two HR2x's for $200 deal? I told her to call retentions, but I have no idea what they're offering these days...

 

[davring]

I think two for $200.00 installed is a very good deal.

 

[Grentz]

2 for $200 sounds great to me. Usually you are lucky to get 1 for $99 (and then usually they will want the full price ($199) for the second).

 

[TomCat]

You are exactly correct. If the installer sets the output to 480i he can set it up with any TV set.

"Set it up" does not equate to "verify that HD works". The output path for SD is not the same as the output path for HD. Verifying the SD path does nothing to verify the HD path. While it is unlikely that the HD path would not work in light of the SD path working, it is still a real possibility, and the only real way to verify HD output is to connect to an HD set.

Even more of a possibility are callbacks because once the customer gets an HD set they may have no idea how to connect it.

Seems like a valid policy. CSRs should indicate this to new subs before they are installed, so there would be no confusion. Dollars to donuts, they often don't.

 

[adam1115]

I conferenced her in with Customer Retentions and told them Dish was offering two free HD DVR's (True), they gave her one HD DVR for free, one for $199, 6 months of $20/mo credits, free HBO & cinimax for 3 months, free Starz for 6 months, free HD for 1 year.