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kndlindsey

Last reply Sep 21, 2004 · posted in DIRECTV General Forum

Started with Primestar in 1995 grandfathered, they must buy out equipment to get tivo

We started with primestar in 1995, got moved to directv in 1999. Found out 2 years ago we were granfathered in. We called them up to tell them that Dish had pitched us a great deal with more boxes and we wanted a better offer from them.

They offered us a free Tivo but said if we did we would have to buy them out and own all the equipment. We have rented since primestar and don't want to own the equipment.

They wanted me to pay $35/box and we passed. Instead we got 3 more boxes along with the new dish and multiswitch to work with it.

Since we are grandfathered i only pay $4.99 for the first box, rest are free for programming and all are covered under rental plan.

Is there a way around this? I want to get the DTV tivo but i don't want to buy them out or own.

I have not done a lot of research on the tivo vs. dtv tivo but am i right in understanding that a regular tivo will not be able to decipher the dtv digital signal?

Any options, suggestions?

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Darin

Sep 15, 2004

Oh, I get it now. Yes, under current (non-grandfathered) plans, you pay $4.95 per box beyond the first box for mirroring fees. And unless you get Total Choice Premiere, you pay another $4.95 for TiVo service (it's waived with Premiere). But that's a single monthly charge, not per TiVo. A stand-alone TiVo is something like $12/month, per TiVo.

I guess you need to find out exactly what would cause you to lose grandfather status. Since you were able to get three more boxes, apparently just adding receivers doesn't do it. It's odd that the fact that one of your receivers is a TiVo would. Is it because they're giving you a deal on the TiVo, or does the simple activation of a TiVo onto your account take you out of grandfather status? If it's the former, just go to BB or Circuit City - sometimes you can get a good deal on them for $50 or so, then activate it yourself. If possible, you need to get written confirmation of the rules of your grandfather status.

kndlindsey

Sep 15, 2004

The way they put it just adding the Tivo service would take away my grandfather status but it's been a year since i spoke with them, think i will give them another call and see what's cooking. will post in case this info can help anyone else.

mini1

Sep 16, 2004

I am surprised to hear that DirecTV is still allowing someone to rent. I have heard from many people that DirecTV forced them to buy their recievers after they took over for PrimeStar, and discontinued the rental program.

lowjeep

Sep 17, 2004

Actually all former primestar customers are allowed to rent unless they choose to own their equip. But once the acct is changed to ownership it cannot be reversed. As far as I know the buy out feature is now just a simple matter of changing the acct type from rental to ownership. You do not have to actually pay for the recievers you currently have D* just gives them to you. You will still be able to be grandfathered in for the mirroring fee you currently pay. So the only thing you would have to pay in addition to your current bill is the tivo fee of $4.99/month. Depending on how much you pay for rental fees right now that would be removed upon acct type change, you might actually end up saving money. BTW the protection plan is $5.99 if you have standard recievers or $7.99 if you have an advanced reciever such as hd or a tivo.

Almost forgot, the reason your acct would have to be changed from rental to ownership is because D* does not offer rental of advanced products only purchase and you cannot have owned equip and rented equip actv on the same acct.

minorthr

Sep 21, 2004

It sounds to me like they allowed you to add 3 more boxes right? and you got to keep the rental program and you are only paying a $4.95 mirror fee on one box. Why not go to Circuit city or best buy and buy a DirecTv Tivo and install it yourself. I think they are selling for $45 after rebate. You would just be adding another receiver. Granted unless you have total choice premium you will have to pay $4.95 for the Tivo service but thats just one more $4.95 not $4.95 per tivo.

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dfergie

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!

Last reply 21 minutes ago · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Gas Price Info With National Gas Temperature Map

Stumbled across this ... http://www.gaspricewatch.com/USGas_ZipSearch.asp
I found no local prices, although it did show stations at my location...
Added these to this post...
USA National Gas Temperature Map
State By State Gasoline Taxes
Gas Buddy

Ethanol Free Stations

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harshness

Sunday at 11:30 AM

I wonder if California is getting into the Winter formula.

dishstaller

Today at 12:45 PM

Diesel is all over the place around here. Saw it yesterday from $5.37 to $6.17...not sure what the obsession was with ending in 7

dfergie

Today at 1:07 PM

$4.09 - $4.29, real gas $4.69...

harshness

Today at 5:32 PM

harshness said:
I wonder if California is getting into the Winter formula.

It turns out I was justified in my suspicion.

Gavin Newsom somehow authorized the temporary move of the distribution date of the Winter blend to September 28th.

Foxbat

47 minutes ago

harshness said:
It turns out I was justified in my suspicion.

Gavin Newsom somehow authorized the temporary move of the distribution date of the Winter blend to September 28th.

Does that raise, or lower, the overall price? Our State Government has been doing everything it can to minimize the impact of the current situation and put a freeze on the State Taxes on fuel sales at the pump. That's why we're still under $4.00/gal. while across the border in Michigan it's much higher.

Bobby

21 minutes ago

Foxbat said:
Does that raise, or lower, the overall price? Our State Government has been doing everything it can to minimize the impact of the current situation and put a freeze on the State Taxes on fuel sales at the pump. That's why we're still under $4.00/gal. while across the border in Michigan it's much higher.

Winter blend is cheaper than Summer blend.

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jokeworm

Last reply 25 minutes ago · posted in What's Cooking?

What's for dinner ?

Ok, I'm bored .... actually - to be more precise - I'm bored of eating the same rotation of 9 or 10 meals that are currently my "go-to" meals. My wife works the long hours - I work from home as and when i feel like it ... which means i generally do most of the cooking ... and so by default - i also make out the shopping list ...

We cook at home 5 or even 6 nights a week - but we always seem to fall back on the same old tried and tested "quick and easy but tastes ok" meals. Week in week out.

Pot Roast - mash and Peas.
Spaghetti
Chicken Pasta in cheese sauce.
Curry & rice
(these are some of mine)

Now it's not that I'm not adventurous in the kitchen ... I'll try anything once or twice ... but we all do it. Unless your name is Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray .. we all eventually fall back on our 8-10 favorite "meals"

So i thought - if we shared some of our own go-to meals with each other ... we might be able to add a few "new" ones to our own arsenal of meals.

So again - I ask you ...

What's for dinner tonight ?

Please give me something new to add to my rotation ... its our weekly shop tomorrow - so i want to pull together a few idea's and try and eat a meal each day next week that I've never had before .. or at least something that is not on my current "go-to" meal plan.

What meal do you always seem to fall back on in your house ? Maybe its something that I've never tried or not had in a while. I need inspiration !! I've got a blank shopping list in front of me - and nothing sounds good .. HELP !

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Bobby

Oct 12, 2026

Chili Cheesebugers, Tater Tots.

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TRG

Oct 12, 2026

I made shrimp parmesan with spaghetti and a salad.

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slow_poke_pete

Sunday at 9:47 PM

venison lasagna

Reactions: Bobby

dishstaller

Sunday at 10:03 PM

Smoked some salmon on the grill while enjoying some Blue Moon beer. Kinda cool tonight so I fired up the heaters. Here in FL, we fire up heaters once the temps get below 60 :cool

As for the salmon, I seared them first, then flipped them off to the side not over the coals and brushed on some lemon pepper marinade followed by some salmon seasoning. Threw some hickory chips on the coals and then closed the vents to about 10% airflow. Yum.

Reactions: slow_poke_pete, dfergie and Bobby

TRG

25 minutes ago

Light dinner tonight before fasting for blood-work tomorrow. Salad and a half turkey sandwich. Water.

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meStevo

Lifetime Supporter

Last reply 52 minutes ago · posted in The Sports Section

NFL 2026-2027 Season

Schedule drops tomorrow. Mandatory mini camps in June. Hall of Fame game August 6th.

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Foxbat

Yesterday at 6:19 PM

I guess even the patience of us laid-back Hoosiers has its limits:

Colts relieve general manager Chris Ballard of his duties

Colts Owner & CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon released a statement Monday announcing the news.

www.colts.com

Reactions: Mike0616 and rvvaquero

rvvaquero

Yesterday at 9:00 PM

Foxbat said:
I guess even the patience of us laid-back Hoosiers has its limits:

Colts relieve general manager Chris Ballard of his duties

Colts Owner & CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon released a statement Monday announcing the news.

www.colts.com

Be nice to see a Cowboy headline like that.

Reactions: Howard Simmons, dfergie, Mike0616 and 1 other person

Foxbat

Yesterday at 11:25 PM

Jeeez, Week 6, no lead is safe…

Reactions: Mike0616

b4pjoe

Today at 9:22 AM

rvvaquero said:
Be nice to see a Cowboy headline like that.

Yes the Cowboys owner needs to fire the general manager (himself), co-owner, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Executive Vice President, Director of Player Personnel, and President of AT&T Stadium (his son) and then he should jump off of a cliff. Only then can they recover.

Reactions: osu1991, Foxbat, dfergie and 3 others

rvvaquero

Today at 11:33 AM

Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson had an argument about who was responsible for the dynasty building of the early 90's Cowboys.

The rest of us figured it out in about 3 years, Jerry has had over 30 years but still can't admit it. It's all he lives for, to show everyone he can put together a winner. I don't think he can. His kids only know what he taught them.

Reactions: Mike0616, dfergie and b4pjoe

dfergie

Today at 1:10 PM

I was a devout Cowboy fan in the Landry era, grudgingly gave Jimmy his due, since then not so much, the Jones family took care of that...

Reactions: osu1991, Mike0616 and Foxbat

b4pjoe

52 minutes ago

Nice knowing you Brian…

Reactions: Mike0616 and AZ.

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dfergie

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU!

Last reply Today at 8:25 PM · posted in What's Cooking?

Homemade Breakfast Sausage

Anyone making their own breakfast sausage? I've recently been trying different recipes, found some I like, some I've modified...

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navychop

Saturday at 8:14 AM

Bob Evans Sage.

reubenray

Saturday at 8:41 AM

navychop said:
Bob Evans Sage.

I will look, but I don't think I have seen it. Owen's breakfast sausage use to be favorite, but I can't find it anymore. Jimmy Dean's country mild is OK also when I can find it.

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TRG

Saturday at 6:19 PM

reubenray said:
I will look, but I don't think I have seen it. Owen's breakfast sausage use to be favorite, but I can't find it anymore. Jimmy Dean's country mild is OK also when I can find it.

Kroger stores carry Bob Evans Sage Sausage. For me that means Smiths.

reubenray

Saturday at 6:38 PM

TRG said:
Kroger stores carry Bob Evans Sage Sausage. For me that means Smiths.

View attachment 194848

No Kroger's near me. I live in the heart of Walmart land. The only option besides Walmart is Harp's.

TRG

Saturday at 6:41 PM

reubenray said:
I live in the heart of Walmart land.

My deepest condolences.

reubenray

Saturday at 7:14 PM

TRG said:
My deepest condolences.

Surprisingly I moved here from the Gulf Coast due to the heat. But it has been hotter here due to the heat domes than it did down there.

slow_poke_pete

Today at 8:25 PM

make homemade dog food to

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TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 8:22 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Whiskey Pick: Loup River Nebraska Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBW7wHp14ho

Direct YouTube Link - Whiskey Pick: Loup River Nebraska Straight Bourbon Whiskey
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

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Lon.TV

Today at 7:22 PM · posted in Lon.TV

Alexa Tablet 11 Review - Amazon's New Google Tablets?

Time for another AWESOME video from Lon Seidman of LON.TV!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hWHGOObqEk

Direct YouTube Link - Alexa Tablet 11 Review - Amazon's New Google Tablets?
The Official LON.TV Website
Lon on Facebook

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Scott Greczkowski

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge

Last reply Today at 6:31 PM · posted in The Chit Chat Club

Song Name Game Part 3!

Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne

Get it?

An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....

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dishstaller

Today at 12:48 PM

Detroit Rock City - KISS

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long_time_Dish

Today at 4:41 PM

We Built This City - Jefferson Starship

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sdfntx

Today at 4:44 PM

Built For Comfort - Omar & the Howlers

harshness

Today at 5:20 PM

On a Bicycle Built for Two [originally "Daisy Bell"] - Nat King Cole

long_time_Dish

Today at 6:31 PM

The House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert

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klang

Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter

Last reply Today at 5:36 PM · posted in TV Shows

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy - Paramount+

Season 2 order already in hand:

'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Renewed for Season 2, Tatiana Maslany to Guest Star in Season 1

I've not been optimistic about this show based on what I've read so far. Seems to be aimed at a younger audience. Interesting though that Tatiana Maslany will have some sort of role.

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klang

Jul 28, 2025

I'm sure I will watch at least the first episode but I am not optimistic.

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klang

Oct 11, 2026

klang said:
I'm sure I will watch at least the first episode but I am not optimistic.

Here i am over a year later and just finished season 1. Not great but not as bad as I was expecting. Did not care for the barefoot captain stuff but overall ok. Actually looking forward to see what they did for season 2.

Reactions: MikeD-C05

MikeD-C05

Oct 11, 2026

klang said:
Here i am over a year later and just finished season 1. Not great but not as bad as I was expecting. Did not care for the barefoot captain stuff but overall ok. Actually looking forward to see what they did for season 2.

Yeah, the foot stuff was just nasty. I kept thinking of how dirty her feet would get traipsing around shoe-less. Funny, I love being shoe less at home and never wear shoes indoors in my home for long, but seeing her laying on all her furniture with her bare feet hanging out just kind of grossed me out.

Reactions: long_time_Dish

harshness

Oct 13, 2026

MikeD-C05 said:
I kept thinking of how dirty her feet would get traipsing around shoe-less.

Where would this "dirt" come from? Dead skin and dandruff?

Reactions: Jimbo

MikeD-C05

Sunday at 12:51 PM

harshness said:
Where would this "dirt" come from? Dead skin and dandruff?

There would still be dirt ,dust in the future I am sure. So walking around the station like she did she would get stuff on her feet. I am sure the robot vacuum is still going to miss stuff, with all those different alien species running around there.

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harshness

Sunday at 2:00 PM

MikeD-C05 said:
There would still be dirt ,dust in the future I am sure.

Where is it going to come from -- specifically?

Why do you think cleaning technology won't improve in the next few hundred years? HEPA filtration was invented as part of the Manhattan Project.

MikeD-C05

Yesterday at 1:35 PM

harshness said:
Where is it going to come from -- specifically?

Why do you think cleaning technology won't improve in the next few hundred years? HEPA filtration was invented as part of the Manhattan Project.

I don't know, but I still don't like her walking through the station or the academy with out her shoes. It looks unprofessional and very "hippy like" for someone of her status and I personally don't get off to feet, so there is that.

Reactions: long_time_Dish

osu1991

Yesterday at 1:59 PM

MikeD-C05 said:
I don't know, but I still don't like her walking through the station or the academy with out her shoes. It looks unprofessional and very "hippy like" for someone of her status and I personally don't get off to feet, so there is that.

Stay out of my office. I rarely have shoes or socks on in the office. My office and business is at home though :clapping

klang

Yesterday at 2:04 PM

I just thought her behavior, including the bare feet thing, was disrespectful to her position.

Reactions: long_time_Dish

harshness

Today at 5:36 PM

MikeD-C05 said:
I don't know, but I still don't like her walking through the station or the academy with out her shoes.

That is your right.

I couldn't buy hiding behind the dirty-feet argument.

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TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 4:42 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Security Now 1101

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojDkPVLnkNI

Direct YouTube Link - Security Now 1101
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

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