Do you still need telephone service with DirecTV?

[blurredvision]

I used to have DirecTV 2-3 years ago, but switched to local cable mainly because of overall price (I wanted to get rid of my home phone service and switch exclusively to cellular), HD picture quality, and a couple of other small things. However, with the influx of HD channels getting ready to be added, I'm wanting to play a cautious approach to possibly getting back in league with DirecTV if the price is right and the HD channels are halfway decent looking (i.e. not compressed as hell).

However, I've not had home phone service since I originally enacted my plan to save money. I got rid of my $50 home phone bill every month since my wife and I already had cell service. So, since I've been gone with DirecTV, do you still need a home telephone to hook into the receiver so it can communicate with DirecTV? Or has that been done away with, or can it be done over the internet (which I'll still keep cable internet with my local cableco)?

Thanks guys. If I can get away with not having home telephone service, and the HD channels get decent reviews in picture quality, I may switch back to them, and save $15 a month. I assume the HR20 device is the machine to get at the moment?

 

[Shawn]

I think you only need it if you plan on buying pay-per-view content.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: Shawn
I think you only need it if you plan on buying pay-per-view content.

Which I never do..... I may give DirecTV a call today and confirm directly with them. Just figured I'd post this last night before I went to bed to see what was said.

Thanks for posting Shawn.

 

[etrin]

don't they use the phone line if you call in with trouble on a receiver.
That is all I have ever heard from them (BESIDES the pay for view that was already mentioned)

Just plug one in if you have receiver problems, I don't have my tivo plugged into a phone something about hacked or something like that LOL

but my other receiver has not been plugged in since I got service in the 90's

 

[Modelworks]

When directv first started out they required that every box in the home had a phone line connection so they could verify that the boxes were actually all at the same address. No buy three boxes, give two to friends, split the bill type thing.

Over time though they did away with the requirement.

 

[Genx87]

Wasnt the phone line also required to get show information? I know TiVo requires a connection of some time, network or phone, so the box can phone home with its cable information and get show information back. Also allows for updating the box ect ect.

 

[Queasy]

No, the phone line connection is no longer required. The older boxes needed it to get updates but the newer boxes (like the HR20) don't. Even then, if you call DirecTV and tell them that you don't have a phone line they'll make sure you get updates anyways. I have a friend who only has a cell phone and no landline and that is what they did with him.

The worst that will happen now is that you will get the nag screen about dialing out and you won't be able to order PPV through the receiver. You will be able to order PPV through the DirecTV website or over the phone.

 

[Modelworks]

The boxes get there program information off the satellite, same with firmware updates.
Remember that the satellite stream is essentially a digital bit stream so transferring data on it is simple.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
The boxes get there program information off the satellite, same with firmware updates.
Remember that the satellite stream is essentially a digital bit stream so transferring data on it is simple.

Yep but the older DirecTV receivers required a phone line to dial out before receiving the update via the satellite transmission. They've done away with this with the H2X and HR2X receivers.