[bmlocal175]

Saw some threads but they were 4 years old and I had some questions.

Right now I'm paying around $100 month with Time Warner. I have 1 HD DVR and 1 HD box. I was looking at the Choice Extra Package and it seems to have all the channels I watch now, for a lot less.

1.) HBO is free for 3 months. Will this be in HD or SD? HD HBO seems to be listed only in the premier package.

2.) Right now I have coax cable to each TV. Is this what the DirecTV receivers hook up with? How do the receivers connect to the internet? I have wifi throughout the house?

3.) Should I ask for a certain dish or receiver? Are some better than others or is DirecTV pretty much have one's that everyone will get?

4.) I have some friends telling me don't switch because you will lose signal more than you think. I live in Central NY on a one acre with no trees. I have a tree line on the west of my house but is 100' away. It is windy, snowy, rainy 8 months out of the year here. Any thoughts?

Thanks for the help. I'm trying to cut back a little this year and this is step 1 in many I hope.

 

[AquiringSat]

I Switched from Cox Cable 2 weeks ago and DirecTV is So Much Better!!

Answers:

1.) All Premiums are in HD with the exception of HBO Family West (for some odd reason) and the Encore Channels. Everything Else is HD!

2.) Yup, it's RG6 Coax Cable. All you need is a modem and a router, they take care of everything else. They connect your receiver to the internet using a small black box (I think it's called a "Deca") but your installer takes care of all that

3.) Get the HMC HD DVR, It has 5 tuners! Which means it can record 5 shows at once (or 4 while you're watching TV). And they'll bring you a "Slimline" dish with a "SWM LNB" Basically that means that it looks at 3 different satellite locations and can send those signals to multiple tuners

4.) I haven't lost signal. And my friends who have DirecTV here in the desert don't have any issues, even during our Summer Monsoon Season. That's not to say that you will never lose signal, but I think that the cable people over exaggerate that a lil bit

Hope this helps, I think you'll be impressed with DirecTV, especially if you like sports and movies

 

[doctrsnoop]

In SE Michigan I have lost signal while watching TV on maybe three occasions per year for maybe 15-30 minutes for the most intense of rain/snow storms.

But it's predictable and we know it's coming back on when it passes unlike cable which goes down a few times a year here for unknown reasons, maybe someone down the block did some work and cut something, or something happens at the local office, and it can be for longer.

 

[ffemtreed]

Saw some threads but they were 4 years old and I had some questions.

Right now I'm paying around $100 month with Time Warner. I have 1 HD DVR and 1 HD box. I was looking at the Choice Extra Package and it seems to have all the channels I watch now, for a lot less.

1.) HBO is free for 3 months. Will this be in HD or SD? HD HBO seems to be listed only in the premier package.

2.) Right now I have coax cable to each TV. Is this what the DirecTV receivers hook up with? How do the receivers connect to the internet? I have wifi throughout the house?

3.) Should I ask for a certain dish or receiver? Are some better than others or is DirecTV pretty much have one's that everyone will get?

4.) I have some friends telling me don't switch because you will lose signal more than you think. I live in Central NY on a one acre with no trees. I have a tree line on the west of my house but is 100' away. It is windy, snowy, rainy 8 months out of the year here. Any thoughts?

Thanks for the help. I'm trying to cut back a little this year and this is step 1 in many I hope.

#1 if you have HD enabled on your account every channel that is HD will be in HD.

#2 Possible, depending on the type/condition of the cable and number of splitters used.

#3 The dish doesn't matter anymore, pretty much all the receivers are the same, the HR and H 24's are faster then the older models. If you can get the HR34 go for it!

#4 I doubt weather will be much of a problem. Try to make sure to have the dish mounted where you can clear the snow off it easy. Tell your friend that your satellite might fade out for a couple minutes, but at least it doesn't take days / weeks to get it back because a tree fell on some power lines 5 miles down the road

 

[trh]

:welcome_s

Since you only have two receivers right now, I'd go with the Home Media Center (HR34) ($99) and either 1 HD DVR ($99) or 1 HD receiver (free) along with Multi Room Viewing. You can even even add 2 HD receivers for free (but with monthly lease fees for each receiver). Currently there is a "lock in two years of savings on every package" that ends this month. "Save $31/month in the first year; $16/month in the second year"

Trees shouldn't be an issue if they are to your west.

You will get some rain (and I guess in your location, snow) fade. But usually only lasts for minutes for the rain. Mount your dish where you can easily access it to clear off any snow accumulation. Wind? I've been through seven hurricanes and the wind never impacted my dish -- some rain fade during some of the stronger rain bands, but never wind (there was the 3 weeks we were without power, but not a satellite issue).

Enjoy.

 

[PCampbell]

Satellite outages last minutes, cable outages lasts hours to days. If set up correct fade is not much of a problem.

 

[bmlocal175]

Thanks for the replies.

I was on the website and put together a package. Now HBO, Showtime and etc are free for 3 months. I changed the package to take them out and the final monthly payment was like 5.99 for 3 months. That didn't sound right, or is it?

Will I always have a HD channel credit as long as I have auto pay? Will I always have a credit of $6 for first receiver free?

What additional fees are there or is it just state tax?

So if the DVR was downstairs my wife could watch a show upstairs from the recorded list and I could watch live TV downstairs?

 

[bmlocal175]

My cart shows $199 for the HD DVR and $99 for the HD receiver. Both credited so they are free.

 

[trh]

Thanks for the replies.

I was on the website and put together a package. Now HBO, Showtime and etc are free for 3 months. I changed the package to take them out and the final monthly payment was like 5.99 for 3 months. That didn't sound right, or is it?

Will I always have a HD channel credit as long as I have auto pay? Will I always have a credit of $6 for first receiver free?

What additional fees are there or is it just state tax?

So if the DVR was downstairs my wife could watch a show upstairs from the recorded list and I could watch live TV downstairs?

The first receiver has always been free. Doubtful it will change. There is a $3/month for MRV/whole house. The DVR can stream to one remote location. So yes, your wife could be upstairs and watching something previously recorded; you could be at the DVR watching either live TV or something also previously recorded. The advantage of the HMC/HR34 is it can record 5 shows simultaneously; one 2 shows from the DVR you're planning on ordering. [EDIT] On your Check Out page, it should show you your entire bill and last time I looked, you can 'scroll' to future months/years out to see the changes.

 

[bmlocal175]

The first receiver has always been free. Doubtful it will change. There is a $3/month for MRV/whole house. The DVR can stream to one remote location. So yes, your wife could be upstairs and watching something previously recorded; you could be at the DVR watching either live TV or something also previously recorded. The advantage of the HMC/HR34 is it can record 5 shows simultaneously; one 2 shows from the DVR you're planning on ordering. [EDIT] On your Check Out page, it should show you your entire bill and last time I looked, you can 'scroll' to future months/years out to see the changes.

Yes I see that. First time it let me delete HBO and others making my payment for the first 3 months 5.99. Probably a error because I did a reset and now it doesn't let me delete them.

Which satellites will I be using being from central NY? SD and HD channels

 

[carl6]

There is a monthly DVR fee per account (not per DVR). So the monthly cost to have 2 or 3 DVRs is the same as the monthly cost to have 1 DVR and 1 or 2 other receivers. But do be sure to include the DVR fee in your calculations.

The first receiver is part of the base package for cost, and as noted above not likely that will change. Each additional receiver (DVR or non) has a $6 monthly fee.

HD fee "should be" free if you set up auto pay.

Not sure how the web site is set up, but I'm sure your monthly fee will be more than $5.99. Probably some glitch where the system is crediting you the full package price rather than just the "free" 3 month addition. Call and discuss with a CSR.

 

[bmlocal175]

Would the HMC/HR34 be the receiver I'm getting or isn't it out yet? I have 17 days before this promo ends to decide to sign up.

 

[carl6]

Which satellites will I be using being from central NY? SD and HD channels

The satellite at 101 orbital slot provides all SD. HD comes from both the 99 and 103 orbital slots. There are actually multiple satellites at each slot, but that is transparent to the user.

 

[carl6]

Would the HMC/HR34 be the receiver I'm getting or isn't it out yet? I have 17 days before this promo ends to decide to sign up.

If you order a DVR, you will get an HR2x series DVR. If you order the HMC, you will get the HR34.

 

[n3vino]

Yes I see that. First time it let me delete HBO and others making my payment for the first 3 months 5.99. Probably a error because I did a reset and now it doesn't let me delete them.

Which satellites will I be using being from central NY? SD and HD channels

Something most people don't know. All the premiums are free for three months, but if you cancel them, they will credit your bill for the amount of the unused portion, pro rated. I canceled a week early, and I got a 9 dollar credit off my bill. But be sure and verify that with the CR if you call to cancel them.

 

[bmlocal175]

I see if I want the HMC it will cost me a additional $100. How many shows can the regular DVR record at once? Looking at the comparisons this seems to be the only real difference besides twice the capacity.

 

[trh]

Five tuners in the HR34/HMC; only two in the HRXXs. Also hard drive size it larger and your Series Links (e.g. Record All First Run American Idol shows) doubles. IMHO it is well worth the $99.00. But it really depends on your viewing habits.

EDIT: If you order an HD DVR, you'll get the model that the installer has on his truck. It could be a refurbished unit (although most people report new installs are getting new HR24s). If you order the HR34, you know you're getting a new box.

 

[Drucifer]

Satellite outages last minutes, cable outages lasts hours to days. If set up correct fade is not much of a problem.

Fellow New Yorker here. Only rain fade I get are from those nasty summer thunderstorms that line up correctly between your dish and the satellite. And those only last at most for a few minutes.

My neighbor still had no cable two days after the power was restored when Irene went matching thru here. The crews that fix power lines after storms do not fix cable lines.

 

[onan38]

http://www.dishpointer.com/ This will help give you a idea the direction the dish will point.

 

[bmlocal175]

For those who have been around for awhile, is the offer they have now for new service a pretty good deal? I'm looking at the choice xtra with a HD DVR and a HD receiver.