So for whatever reason, my
DirecTV has been on the blink. I'm not getting about half the channels (which has been kind of refreshing since I'm watching stuff I've never seen before) but that joy came to an end a few hours ago when I realized I couldn't get the
TCU/
BYU game tonight.
Unacceptable.
I'm kind of weird because I went out five years ago and bought one of those fancy flat panel
HD televisions. That's not the part that's weird. The fact that I've never subscribed to an
HD provider is weird.
But this technical glitch was the incentive I needed. So I went over to the new Best Buy off of Heritage Trail in north Fort Worth to sign up for
HD DirectTV. First I looked at all the
HD TVs just for fun and realized they were selling for about a 1/3 of what I paid a few years back. OK, I can deal with that. I was going high-tech. I was going to be a new man.
But then I walk over to the "
DirecTV HD" booth (yep, they've got one) only to find no one there. No biggie. I looked around and saw the above receivers (those are my pics) and instantly contracted a severe case of Confused Head. Yeah, I understand the
DVR. I understand the dual
DVR. But do I need one of those
HD receivers for every television? What if one of my other televisions isn't
HD? Do I really have to buy this equipment? Ugh.
But a nice salesman showed up so I told him I wanted
DirecTV HD but I had a question about this receiver business.
"How's all this work?" I asked.
He says, and I'm not making this up, "I'm not sure. Basically you buy the box from us and then go home and call them."
I'm pretty sure you could you see the life force drain from me. I was there. I was ready to spend money. I just wanted someone to tell me what I needed to do. Heck, rip me off! Just give me some solid information that I could believe in.
"Uh, OK, " I said - still not willing to give up. "Do I need a receiver for every TV?"
He leans down and looks at the dual
DVR (which I think means you can watch one channel while a different channel is recorded) and he says, "
Naaa, I'm pretty sure you can hook two TVs up to this. "
Not only did that not answer the question, I'm pretty sure that answer was flat out Crazy Talk.
I was done.
"OK, let me look around a little bit." And then I high tailed it out of there (Editor's note: That's what we call a Random Thoughts "call back joke.")
Can anybody help a brother out?
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So for whatever reason, my DirecTV has been on the blink. I'm not getting about half the channels (which has been kind of refreshing since I'm watching stuff I've never seen before) but that joy came to an end a few hours ago when I realized I couldn't get the TCU/BYU game tonight.
Unacceptable.
I'm kind of weird because I went out five years ago and bought one of those fancy flat panel HD televisions. That's not the part that's weird. The fact that I've never subscribed to an HD provider is weird.
But this technical glitch was the incentive I needed. So I went over to the new Best Buy off of Heritage Trail in north Fort Worth to sign up for HD DirectTV. First I looked at all the HD TVs just for fun and realized they were selling for about a 1/3 of what I paid a few years back. OK, I can deal with that. I was going high-tech. I was going to be a new man.
But then I walk over to the "DirecTV HD" booth (yep, they've got one) only to find no one there. No biggie. I looked around and saw the above receivers (those are my pics) and instantly contracted a severe case of Confused Head. Yeah, I understand the DVR. I understand the dual DVR. But do I need one of those HD receivers for every television? What if one of my other televisions isn't HD? Do I really have to buy this equipment? Ugh.
But a nice salesman showed up so I told him I wanted DirecTV HD but I had a question about this receiver business.
"How's all this work?" I asked.
He says, and I'm not making this up, "I'm not sure. Basically you buy the box from us and then go home and call them."
I'm pretty sure you could you see the life force drain from me. I was there. I was ready to spend money. I just wanted someone to tell me what I needed to do. Heck, rip me off! Just give me some solid information that I could believe in.
"Uh, OK, " I said - still not willing to give up. "Do I need a receiver for every TV?"
He leans down and looks at the dual DVR (which I think means you can watch one channel while a different channel is recorded) and he says, "Naaa, I'm pretty sure you can hook two TVs up to this. "
Not only did that not answer the question, I'm pretty sure that answer was flat out Crazy Talk.
I was done.
"OK, let me look around a little bit." And then I high tailed it out of there (Editor's note: That's what we call a Random Thoughts "call back joke.")
Can anybody help a brother out?
27 comments:
I don't have the same set up as you, but I do have an HDTV and an HDTiVo Receiver - and it doesn't work with anything else.
The set up I have is, HDTV/HDTivo in the Living room and another TV/Tivo in the bedroom. The TV in the bedroom is HD, but in order to get HD Channels I either have to buy another HDTivo (I'm not in love with their HD Technology thus far, so I'm holding off) OR contact my cable provider and get a box.
Basically, if you want HD and you're getting it any other way than through the airwaves, you have to have the HD Receiver...at least that's the way I understand it.
I think if you're only wanting HD on one TV, then you just need the HDDVR, which will act as both rcvr and DVR...but I am not a DircTV user and I am not a professional :) (But that's ok, it doesn't sound like they are either!)
the dual DVR you can hook up to two tv's. you can record on both of them and watch tv on both of them. if one show is recording on one tv you can't change the channel, but you can watch the other tv. if something is recording you can still watch previously recorded shows on that tv without interupting the recording.
i probably just confused you more
Hook it up to a fish.
Zero problems with Dish Network's HD setup. I had to do nada, nuttin' on setup, their tech did it, took about 30 minutues. Set on my arse and watch great HD.
You can hook multiple TV's to one box. Where your screwed is you need a different dish and a second coax installed. Call DirecTv and get it professionally installed.
Sorry you'll miss the game tonight.
Barry, before you call DirecTV, go to Dishnetwork.com and configure what you need, and note the cost. Then when you call DirecTV, if they try to charge you more threaten to leave. Otherwise, there going to try to charge a bunch of money for the upgrade.
Call Joe Neil at Radio Shack!!!!!
Dish Network is the way to go great tv. We have 1 reciever with dual controls + DVR instant record or long term. Love it.
I AGREE - I'VE HAD DISH NETWORK FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS AND WE HAVE AN HD/DVR RECEIVER. IT'S GREAT AND THEIR SERVICCE IS WONDERFUL. IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE CALL THE 800 # AND THEY HELP US IN A MINUTE.
Recommend you browse:
http://forums.directv.com/pe/action/forums/defaultview?msgBoardID=10100105
and:
http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=112
and:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=25
We have signed up with ATT U-verse and love it. Can record up to 4 shows at once and still watch another on the same tv. Yes we have a HD on the main tv, but the other TV's aren't HD and if we get them then all we do is program the boxes to begin sending it to them.
They may not have U-Verse out there yet though.
I can't go into any Best Buy/Circuit City with out thinking about The Forty Year-Old Virgin and wondering whether or not they play a Michael McDonald video sometimes.
If you're hellbent on staying with DirecTV, call an installer like Dish Direct and see what kind of deal you can get. They'll tell you exactly what you need and probably give you most of the equipment for free. You seem like a pretty smart guy. I'm surprised you would even bother with an overpriced, low customer service retailer like Best Buy.
I have to agree with the others. Dish is the way to go. Less confusing remote, better program guide and cost is same if not cheaper than DirectTV. You can get dual dvr which will control one HDTV and one regular tv. Record two programs at once and replay on either tv. You can even watch a recorded program on either or both tvs while recording two other shows. Find a friend who has dish and they can get a credit for signing you up.
Now you know how it feels to debate Obammy.
Dish Network fans...I called ready to convert and the wanted 200 dollars...refunded at a later date. BUT new customers get it for free. ??? Should I threaten to leave?
Barry...Long time viewer First time commenter
I just upgraded from the standard Directv dvr to an Directv HD/dvr. It was seemless. The first thing is that if you do not have a dvr you will need a second caox line for the 2nd tuner input(ie video input) I ran the 2nd line my self and saved 50 bucks, rather than the installer doing it. The way the dual tuner input works is essentially you have 2 video inputs into the box. So you could have one video output to 1 tv and the 2nd output to another if you so choose. The way I have mine setup is I have 1 HDTV and one regular tv. I have the HD box on the hdtv with both output to it. So I can record a show and watch a show on the same tv/box. On my 2nd reg. tv I have just a plain dvr so I can watch tv on the 2nd tv I just do not get HD, which it is not an HDTV anyways. Because of my setup I had to have 2 lines per dvr, so I have 4 lines coming off of the satelite. With Directv you will have a monthly fee for a dvr which is I think 5 bucks and there is a HD fee of 9.99 a month as well. I will tell you that if you need any lines put sown thru a wall there is a fee to do so...just fyi
Hope this helps...Jamie
If it is available in your area UVERSE is the way to go....4 streams per location-either 4 standard streams or HD takes up 2 streams. Combine with internet and it is a cost savings as well. None of those pesky storm outages either.
6:01 I feel your pain. A couple of years ago I wanted (needed because mine was not working) a new DVR and wanted the new receiver they had out. They told me I couldn't get for the promo price of $49 for new customer and I couldn't even pay full price ($249) because I wasn't a new customer. I said fine cancel my service (I had been with Dish for 10 years). She transferred me to that department and I asked why I was leaving after 10 years, I told her and I got it for free (with 2 year commitment).
Don't buy the receivers at Best Buy. If you sign up for new service with any provider they will give you the receivers for free.
I hope you can visualize all of this in your head as there is all kinds of information thrown at you. I have installed several DirectTv receivers, coax drops, and dishes and get confused head when reading this stuff. Just order the stuff and let them take care of the rest. BTW, you'll need a new dish on the roof also. Watch out for the extra charges for additional coax drops...expensive.
If you live in the same area as the Best Buy, then you and I live fairly close to each other. I have One Source Communications (a cable company)and my cable has never gone out during a storm since I signed up with them. I have cable internet, telephone with unlimited long distance calls and 2 HD DVR's in the house and it cost me $150 per month. I know everyone is going to say that cable doesn't offer as many HD channels as Satellite, and they are right, but I have the major channels in HD and the other ones I probably wouldn't watch anyway. This company is local and is based in Keller.
Just something to think about.
Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
John 16:24
Ok BuBear, you can mark that one off your list. Your loyal followers came through for you, again. Even scared up a first timer.
Double Fake King James
Okay- We're all changing out our Tvs/Dvrs etc, What is everyone doing with their old equipment? Where do you have to take it to be recycled? I don't think our county takes that stuff, or is everyone going to take it out to the county backroads and dump it late at night hoping no one sees you? I hope not.
I upgraded about 3-4 months ago.
Step one, call DirecTV. They will send an installer out for FREE to replace your dish with the new HD dish, run your lines, hook up your box, position your satellite. DVR box costs about $200. It is a piece of shit and pretty buggy. BUT, tivo is coming back to DirecTV with an HD model mid-2009. So you can dump the direcTV dvr then and go with tivo.
Multiple TVS : There is only one HDMI out on the back of the box. So you will need more than one box. But these boxes allow multiroom viewing which means you can transfer shows between boxes in other parts of the house via CAT lines. Or you can just get a non-DVR box for the other room and save a little.
Signal is great. New MPEG-4 compression is great. They just activated a new satellite in the last few months and they are adding more and more channels. Even with the problems with the current DVR, I would highly recc going with DirecTV based on channel selection and picture quality.
Packages are the same as before. You just add $10 a month for an HD charge and you get the available channels that come in that package in HD or SD if they don't broadcast in HD yet. Then you pay $5 a month or so for the DVR fee. Dual tuners are no extra charge. Only charged if you have a second box for another TV and then it is like $5 a month.
You will love it and never EVER go back.
if you are getting 1/2 the channels, your lnb on the dish has gone bad..
call dtv, they will send someone out and replace it for free.. they dont want to loose you as a customer..
thanks to jim and dana, i'm lucky to have basic cable
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