Here is a rule of thumb about moving. It is definately not to be taken as an exact science or what you should do. You take all risks of moving when you do so.
1. Determine your current DMA and size. If its somewhere around 50, you will be getting HD locals sooner rather than later. What date, we dont know but the larger markets are more likely to get HD locals when D10 lights up. That being said, most new markets will not be going live until D11 is operational next year.
2. If you are in a scenario where your DMA is not in the top 50 or so, then determine if OTA is an option. You can determine your location and channels at antennaweb.org.
3. If you cant get OTA and your market will be a long way out, determine the closest major market to you. For example, I am in the Hartford DMA but physically only 90 miles from both New York City and Boston. So the likelihood of spotbeam overlap is high. Folks even further than me have reported getting those markets. So if you are within 200 miles or so of the expected center of the nearby spotbeam market, then its worth a try.
4. The SD channel versions are mostly on 101 and 119 satellites and have a greater coverage range than the Spaceways at 99 and 103 (HD versions). So if you want HD versions, closer to the 150 miles is better while the SD ones may be an option even further away.
5. If you are ready to try, all you need to do is call Directv and talk to a first level CSR. Just politely mention you want to update your service address, keep your current billing and phone. Make sure you hang out to see if locals show. It usually takes several resets. Just mention your dish and receivers are already in place.
6. Go through the setup wizard again on your receivers to denote the SERVICE address. It will give you different azimuth readings and such but it may take your market from 99 to 103. We've seen it happen where the zip on the receiver has to be matching the service zip. You can put any zip you want for OTA which is separate. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REALIGN YOUR DISH.
7. Pick a valid zip and town in the desired DMA. You can use any street or number.
8. Any moved scenario results in no onsite support or installs. They will try to do installs at your service address. If you need something badly, you can move to your billing address and move back the next month. Just be very careful about this.
Again this is info I have read over the years and supposedly works.
You take all the risk.
