DirecTV and HD Channels

[richardycc]

whats the monthly fee for HD with DVR? I am paying about $57/month with comcast, with one premium (HBO) channel, HD and DVR, and I just got a letter from comcast that DVR price is going up rom $9.95/mon to ~$13/month!

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Muadib
Sounds like it's time to say goodbye to my Directivo HD box. Can someone tell me how many hours their new HD DVR records in HD? I will miss my Directivo as it could record over 70 hours in HD since I added another hard drive to it.

Everything you ever wanted to know about it and then some.

You can also plug in an external e-sata drive but it disables the internal while it is plugged in so it is not additive space.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: Muadib
Sounds like it's time to say goodbye to my Directivo HD box. Can someone tell me how many hours their new HD DVR records in HD? I will miss my Directivo as it could record over 70 hours in HD since I added another hard drive to it.

Everything you ever wanted to know about it and then some.

You can also plug in an external e-sata drive but it disables the internal while it is plugged in so it is not additive space.

Thanks Linflas!!!:beer:

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: ric1287
so will comcast be getting these channels too? I neeeeed FX in hHD

 

[Rage187]

ok, I made the switch.

HD Extra package with HDDVR, cost me $199 as I couldn't get 2 reps or a supervisor to budge on the price.

Install time is 3 weeks away though which is ok since they won't get the new HD channels until September.

 

[49erinnc]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Haui

Originally posted by: 49erinnc
Has DirecTV changed their equipment policy yet? I was with them for a LONG time but then I bought a HDTV in 2005. They wanted me to spend a buttload of money up front to purchase my own DVR/HD box. So, reluctantly, I switched to cable which provides me with free equipment. I'd love to go back to satellite but I was just curious that the scoop was on equipment.

DirecTV HD receiver is free

The DVR costs like $100 ($200 - $100 MIR).

Yep. And you usually can get the HD DVR for free if you harass DirecTV enough (ie talk to the right rep).

Didn't work for me and I was a customer of theirs for close to 10 years. I reluctantly switched to cable a few years ago simply because DTV wanted me to buy my own equipment. They sent me a letter last week, asking me to come back so I called today to see what I could get out of them. They refused to give me a HD DVR as part of the 2-year contract agreement. They said I could have either the HD or the DVR but not the combo. And it would be $200 out of my pocket to get it.

I told them to send me another letter when they change their ridiculous policy and that I would stick with cable. Can't believe they won't provide those boxes for free, considering how much money they are making on their programming packages, HD monthly fee, DVR monthly fee, taxes/fees, etc.

 

[Rage187]

My install is tomorrow.
Hoping it goes well.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: 49erinnc

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Haui

Originally posted by: 49erinnc
Has DirecTV changed their equipment policy yet? I was with them for a LONG time but then I bought a HDTV in 2005. They wanted me to spend a buttload of money up front to purchase my own DVR/HD box. So, reluctantly, I switched to cable which provides me with free equipment. I'd love to go back to satellite but I was just curious that the scoop was on equipment.

DirecTV HD receiver is free

The DVR costs like $100 ($200 - $100 MIR).

Yep. And you usually can get the HD DVR for free if you harass DirecTV enough (ie talk to the right rep).

Didn't work for me and I was a customer of theirs for close to 10 years. I reluctantly switched to cable a few years ago simply because DTV wanted me to buy my own equipment. They sent me a letter last week, asking me to come back so I called today to see what I could get out of them. They refused to give me a HD DVR as part of the 2-year contract agreement. They said I could have either the HD or the DVR but not the combo. And it would be $200 out of my pocket to get it.

I told them to send me another letter when they change their ridiculous policy and that I would stick with cable. Can't believe they won't provide those boxes for free, considering how much money they are making on their programming packages, HD monthly fee, DVR monthly fee, taxes/fees, etc.

You have to try over and over again. It literally took going through 5 CSRs for me to find one willing to give me a HD DVR for free + shipping costs ($20).

 

[CtK]

I dont mean to hijack this but is your DirecTV HD receiver really slow??
Like when i press the guide button it takes a good 2-3 seconds before it comes up!!

 

[Atvar]

Originally posted by: CtK
I dont mean to hijack this but is your DirecTV HD receiver really slow??
Like when i press the guide button it takes a good 2-3 seconds before it comes up!!

I have been noticing the same exact thing. Also, check out the yes network on 622. Not the HD channel...the regular Yes network. Its stretched. Very odd and annoying.

The lag drives me nuts. Sometimes I will be flipping and try to land on one channel and I keep missing it because of the lag.

 

[Rage187]

Got it installed today,

Absolutely love the HR20 interface, so much better than the comcast one (cablevision is the same).

Every channel is awesome, I can't tell the regular channels from the HD ones I got with Comcast, it is that much of a difference.

With The new HD channels, OnDemand and Remote Booking being implemented soon, I am set...

 

[Rage187]

Rumor is the new HD channels go Live September 19th; sat 110 is now in the correct position.

 

[JRich]

Had a signal on 103b TP11 yesterday, but then it went away. What a tease! 😀

 

[Acanthus]

some of those channels make no sense to me.

Cartoon network HD? come on.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Acanthus
some of those channels make no sense to me.

Cartoon network HD? come on.

Why? Cartoon Network shows movies somewhat frequently.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Acanthus
some of those channels make no sense to me.

Cartoon network HD? come on.

Why? Cartoon Network shows movies somewhat frequently.

I must miss when theyre on, i only really watch adult swim when i catch one of the few shows i like in passing.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: Acanthus
some of those channels make no sense to me.

Cartoon network HD? come on.

The reason I'm going to keep my HD cable? Because all the bolded stations below, I will never watch and it would add over $20.00 to my now $55.00 per mth cable bill. Not worth it to me. Hell, I have so many of my cable tv channels blocked already as most of them are crap :laugh:


September 2007
10. A&E
11. Animal Planet
12. Big Ten Network
13. CNN
14. Discovery
15. Food Network*
16. HGTV*
17. History Channel
18. MHD (MTV brand channel)
19. National Geographic
20. NFL Network
21. The Science Channel
22. TBS
23. TLC
24. Versus
25. Weather Channel
26. Cinemax-E
27. Cinemax-W
28. MoreMax
29. HBO-W
30. HBO2-E
31. HBO2-W
32. HBO Family-E
33. HBO Family-W
34. HBO Signature
35. The Movie Channel
36. SHO-W
37. STARZ-E
38. STARZ-W
39. STARZ-Edge
40. STARZ-Comedy
41. STARZ-Kids
Fall 2007
42. Bravo
43. Cartoon Network
44. Chiller
45. CNBC
46. FX
47. SciFi Channel
48. Sleuth
49. Speed
50. USA Network
December 2007
51. The Tennis Channel
Spring 2008
52. ABC Family
53. Disney Channel
54. ESPN News
55. MGM (If this is a toon channel, add this to the list)
56. Toon Disney


Regional Sports Networks
Available nationally, but local blackout rules still apply.
Fall 2007

1. Altitude
2. Comcast SportsNet Chicago
3. Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
4. FSN Arizona
5. FSN Bay Area
6. FSN Detroit
7. FSN Florida
8. FSN New England
9. FSN North
10. FSN Northwest
11. FSN Ohio
12. FSN Prime Ticket
13. FSN Rocky Mountain
14. FSN South
15. FSN Southwest
16. FSN West
17. New England Sports Network
18. SportsNet New York
19. SportsSouth
20. Sun Sports
21. YES

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Acanthus
some of those channels make no sense to me.

Cartoon network HD? come on.

Why? Cartoon Network shows movies somewhat frequently.

I must miss when theyre on, i only really watch adult swim when i catch one of the few shows i like in passing.

They're usually on during prime time hours and earlier. They've even shown non-cartoon movies that are of the same relative target audience. This past weekend, they showed the first Naruto movie which I think is supposed to be available in HD as well? I know the third one is.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: CorCentral

Originally posted by: Acanthus
some of those channels make no sense to me.

Cartoon network HD? come on.

The reason I'm going to keep my HD cable? Because all the bolded stations below, I will never watch and it would add over $20.00 to my now $55.00 per mth cable bill. Not worth it to me. Hell, I have so many of my cable tv channels blocked already as most of them are crap :laugh:

You pay only $55/month for HD cable? Who do you have? Every time I do a price comparison with Comcast in Atlanta, the bill ends up being north of $100 a month to get the HD channels.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: CorCentral

Originally posted by: Acanthus
some of those channels make no sense to me.

Cartoon network HD? come on.

The reason I'm going to keep my HD cable? Because all the bolded stations below, I will never watch and it would add over $20.00 to my now $55.00 per mth cable bill. Not worth it to me. Hell, I have so many of my cable tv channels blocked already as most of them are crap :laugh:

You pay only $55/month for HD cable? Who do you have? Every time I do a price comparison with Comcast in Atlanta, the bill ends up being north of $100 a month to get the HD channels.

I have Charter Cable, use a cablecard and don't have a DVR/Box. Remember, if there were no sports channels, all of us that use Dish/Cable would see lower prices. It is these sports channels that drive up the price you pay.

If only there was an A' la carte system. I'd pay like $15.00-$20.00/mth for the channels I chose 😉

 

[MrChad]

Is DirecTV still sending low-res HD signals on their new satellites (aka HD Lite)?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Is DirecTV still sending low-res HD signals on their new satellites (aka HD Lite)?

No. The new satellites use MPEG4 so they don't have to skimp for bandwidth anymore. The local HD channels are in MPEG4 and look fantastic to me. The current non-local HD channels are staying MPEG2 for the forseeable future though.

 

[Muadib]

I guess it's time for me to say bye - bye to my directivo.🙁

 

[mrizvi66]

i sent them an email asking for a hr20 + 5LNB dish + 6 months of hbo, showtime and cinemax for free and they called me back and said pay 19.95 shipping and handling and you got it. needless to say that the install is on saturday morning. most painless deal ever.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Muadib
I guess it's time for me to say bye - bye to my directivo.🙁

I still use the hell out of mine. It is connected to the same TV as my HR20 but unless the program is HD I use the DirecTIVO box almost exclusively. Until a point is reached where the majority of programming is in HD I don't see me letting go of the TIVO box.