Thinking of switching to Directv....some questions

[dhjean]

Hi all,

I moved from Colorado to Florida in mid-June (and loving it!) and cancelled our Dish Network service. The house came with the job and with Comcast service. It's TERRIBLE.

So I come to find out that I can switch if I wish, and I think DirecTV might just be the way to go (primarily because of MVR). I'm going to ask several questions in separate posts, just to make sure I've got it all dialed in.

SO, question 1: Can someone confirm that the Choice Xtra and Choice Ultimate include the Golf Channel in HD? I suspect they do, but DirecTV's site seems to indicate they include the SD version, but not the HD.

Thanks!

 

[Mr Tony]

Choice Xtra does have Golf HD...I can confirm that

 

[dhjean]

Question 2: MVR Wiring

Here's the next question: How exactly are multiple boxes connected with the MVR setup?

I just need to know what to expect and to tell an installer. I can't figure out clearly if I need CAT5 or RG6 or both.

Again,
Thanks!

 

[dhjean]

Should I sign up now or is there a good reason to wait a bit

Question 3: Is there any reason to think I'm better off waiting a bit before signing up?

I could muddle through for a bit with Comcast if I thought there was a good reason to wait.

It seems the promotions right now are pretty good, but i would be most grateful for others' opinions.

Again,
Thanks!

 

[Mr Tony]

lets keep all the questions in one thread please...way easier to follow along. Or just ask then all at once. We can figure it out

 

[dhjean]

Where will I get the best deal: bundling with my ATT, directly, or Dishstore?

Question 4 (and last): I would love some insight into where I will get the best deal: should I sign up through AT&T, bundling with my phone and internet? Should I call DirecTV or go through their web site? Should I call Dishstore?

Every site is set up so differently, I can't tell. So I'm hoping someone with more experience than I have can clarify.

Once again,
Thanks!

 

[Mr Tony]

Here's the next question: How exactly are multiple boxes connected with the MVR setup?

I just need to know what to expect and to tell an installer. I can't figure out clearly if I need CAT5 or RG6 or both.

Again,
Thanks!

I dont have MRV but from posts it looks like its all done through the cable..no ethernet needed

Question 3: Is there any reason to think I'm better off waiting a bit before signing up?

I could muddle through for a bit with Comcast if I thought there was a good reason to wait.

It seems the promotions right now are pretty good, but i would be most grateful for others' opinions.

Again,
Thanks!

right now looks like a good time. Free NFL ST this year with Choice Xtra (or next year if no season this year)....usually it requires the biggest package

 

[dhjean]

lets keep all the questions in one thread please...way easier to follow along. Or just ask then all at once. We can figure it out

I apologize, I was making a guess that these would work better as separate questions. I hope I didn't cause you too much of a headache. You're a huge help to me!

 

[Mr Tony]

Question 4 (and last): I would love some insight into where I will get the best deal: should I sign up through AT&T, bundling with my phone and internet? Should I call DirecTV or go through their web site? Should I call Dishstore?

Every site is set up so differently, I can't tell. So I'm hoping someone with more experience than I have can clarify.

Once again,
Thanks!

go through Directv or the DishStore. After you are all set up and get the rebates etc then move it to the Telco for bundling. Thats what I did which gave me $5 off a month on top of the existing promos I had. I have Qwest (well soon to be Centurylink)

 

[Mr Tony]

I apologize, I was making a guess that these would work better as separate questions. I hope I didn't cause you too much of a headache. You're a huge help to me!

no worries

 

[Hutch1814]

Here's the next question: How exactly are multiple boxes connected with the MVR setup?

I just need to know what to expect and to tell an installer. I can't figure out clearly if I need CAT5 or RG6 or both.

Again,
Thanks!

MRV (whole home) connects through RG6 cable. However for every tv you want to use the MRV with you MUST have either an HD or an HD DVR with the exception of an R-22. The CAT5 is only used if you go with a deca which hooks up your advanced receivers to the Internet but it's just 1 port in your router. Coax runs to the deca and a CAT5 from the deca to the router. Hope this answers one question. Iceberg answered it but I just wanted to clear up any confusion you had if any.

 

[mini1]

Question 4 (and last): I would love some insight into where I will get the best deal: should I sign up through AT&T, bundling with my phone and internet? Should I call DirecTV or go through their web site? Should I call Dishstore?

Every site is set up so differently, I can't tell. So I'm hoping someone with more experience than I have can clarify.

Once again,
Thanks!

Here is the best deal to sign up. Get an AAA card if you don't already have one. Call the AAA DirecTV special number to sign up for new service. You will get $200 off over 20 months. You will automatically get all the new customer promos on Directv.com. The discounts stack. Make sure to get your new account number and write it down. Then, after you get off the phone with AAA, call up the DirecTV refer-a-friend a line or regular DirecTV customer service. Get a current customer, such as myself to give you a refer-a-friend (PM me for more info), tell the CSR that you forgot to add the refer-a-friend discount when you signed up. They will add the RAF discount on top of the AAA discount, which works out to an additional $100 off ($10/m for 10 months).

THEN, after all this, call up AT&T customer service and ask to bundle DSL/phone and DirecTV on one bill. They will bundle it and you will save another $5 per month for the life of the account.

You just saved a whole bunch of money!

Here's the next question: How exactly are multiple boxes connected with the MVR setup?

I just need to know what to expect and to tell an installer. I can't figure out clearly if I need CAT5 or RG6 or both.

MRV is connected via RG-6. They communicate over the coax line. You can connect the receivers to the internet using CAT5, but its not required and not supported by D*. The receivers should be connected to the internet via the Cinema box. That will get all your receivers online using just one connection. The internet signal will travel over the coax line to the receivers.

 

[dhjean]

Thanks for all the input.

I had already had a friend ask me to be a referral. But this has been a huge help. I started through AAA, as you advised, Mini1, and then called back and gave my referral. The only thing that one doesn't get through AAA is the free shipping (at least, I didn't). But that's a small concession for the break AAA members get.

I have the install on Monday (first day I could make it work), and then, once it's done, I'll do the bundling thing with AT&T. I just hope all goes well with the install on Monday.

Thanks again both of you!

 

[mini1]

Thanks for all the input.

I had already had a friend ask me to be a referral. But this has been a huge help. I started through AAA, as you advised, Mini1, and then called back and gave my referral. The only thing that one doesn't get through AAA is the free shipping (at least, I didn't). But that's a small concession for the break AAA members get.

I have the install on Monday (first day I could make it work), and then, once it's done, I'll do the bundling thing with AT&T. I just hope all goes well with the install on Monday.

Thanks again both of you!

That is great. I'm glad I was able to help. I couldn't get the $19.99 shipping fee waived either, but I didn't really push it because I knew I was going to stack the RAF promo and I didn't want to blow the entire deal over $20.

 

[dhjean]

The install went perfectly yesterday, and the service is wonderful. I thought I would really miss Dish (I'll never miss Comcast, they were awful). But I really like these DirecTV boxes, and the interface isn't too bad.

I got it all bundled with AT&T this morning with no problem.

This is great information!

 

[lparsons21]

I've been following this thread lately. I'm looking at adding a 3rd TV spot and my contract with Dish is up very soon, so I've been shopping a bit.

It appears that I can save some money with switching and I pick up MRV, which is nice. How much savings is predicated on how much flexibility I can get from D* on HDDVRs in pricing. I'll need 3 to keep the functionality I have now. I don't need or care about the free football subscription, so I figure I should be able to negotiate some better HDDVR pricing.

but a question on MRV, I have been reading and I thought I read that you can set a program to record on a remote HDDVR from a receiver but not from another HDDVR. That seems rather odd, but I can find nothing that tells me different. Is that the way it is?

 

[mdram]

I've been following this thread lately. I'm looking at adding a 3rd TV spot and my contract with Dish is up very soon, so I've been shopping a bit.

It appears that I can save some money with switching and I pick up MRV, which is nice. How much savings is predicated on how much flexibility I can get from D* on HDDVRs in pricing. I'll need 3 to keep the functionality I have now. I don't need or care about the free football subscription, so I figure I should be able to negotiate some better HDDVR pricing.

but a question on MRV, I have been reading and I thought I read that you can set a program to record on a remote HDDVR from a receiver but not from another HDDVR. That seems rather odd, but I can find nothing that tells me different. Is that the way it is?

iirc first hd-dvr is free, second is $99, third is $199. i dont think they move much on this

you can set it to either dvr using the web or phone client
not sure on the unit itself

 

[lparsons21]

I've read a few postings in various places that indicate they might give up a little. Frankly at $300 for equipment, it wouldn't be a very good deal.

I had forgotten about the remote app, I suppose it will work on the iPad?

 

[mdram]

I've read a few postings in various places that indicate they might give up a little. Frankly at $300 for equipment, it wouldn't be a very good deal.

I had forgotten about the remote app, I suppose it will work on the iPad?

no clue, i know nothing about apple products.
but it works fine on my android phone

 

[mdram]

how many streams do you need to record at 1 times? 2 dvr is 4, 3 is 6

and also remember the receiver fees are cheaper per month then dish
but yeah $300 up front is alot