Social Feed
Hi all.
I "stumbled" upon this web site while doing a search on the 'Net.
I've belonged to DirecTV for about eight years.
For all of these years we've had the Total Choice package, no premium channels (although I do like the inclusion of the IFC channel!!
).
We have two Standard Receivers; one in the living room, the other in a spare bedroom. Recently I gave thought to getting a DVR. I went to the DirecTV web site to get some info, and then gave them a call on the telephone.
From my searching on the web (including "stumbling" here), I see I am not the only person who has ever questioned the "DVR Service Fee"; I even came across posts for it here on these forums at SatelliteGuys.us.
I already know what's inside of a DVR (the actual shows you record get recorded onto a hard drive, just like inside computers), and I know that you don't have to get the DirecTV DVR brand, that you can go to an electronics store and buy a different brand.
I know companies have their reasons for doing things, and you don't have to agree with them; sometimes it just boils down to, "It's just the ways things are", and you don't have to like it; it is what it is.
When I called on the telephone, the particular rep that I spoke to didn't have a lot of tech info as to the WHY of a DVR Service fee; this particular rep was probably more of a "sales" type and just wanted me to either upgrade to a bigger and better package, or, get more equipment. This rep basically told me that the DVR's fee is because it can Record, Pause, and Rewind. Heck....I do that on my VCR and my computer (I can watch television on my computer monitor with a TV Tuner card & software). So, I wrote them an e-mail instead.
Here's a quote from the e-mail:
"For your reference, DVR service is where you can record two shows at one time, record a show while watching a different live show, and record two shows while watching a previously recorded show. This service is $6 per month."
Here's some of what I responded with:
"I already basically do that with both my living room receiver and my spare bedroom receiver.
In the living room: I can record one show on my VCR while I watch a different show on my television. I own the VCR, paid-in-full. I don't pay a "service fee" for it. And I've been using the same VHS tape in my VCR for so many years now I've lost count how long I've been using it. I don't pay a "service fee" for the VHS tape; I own it paid-in-full. I'd say overall with both my VCR and the VHS tape, that I've been getting my money's worth: Fully paid for, no "service fee" charge.
In my spare bedroom: I can record onto my computer's hard drive with a television tuner card. I own the hard drive, the tuner card, and the software to make it all work. No "service fee".
I can do the three things you mentioned in your explanation for the service fee:
- I can record two shows at one time (one on the living room VCR/ television, the other through the tuner card in the computer/ hard drive)
- I can record a show while watching a different live show (living room VCR and television)
- I can record two shows while watching a previously recorded show (record one show on the VCR, one on the tuner card in the computer, and watch a previously recorded show on the computer as well)
So, as you see, I can do all of the things offered by you which would include your "service fee"....but I can do it for free.
So for right now, there's no incentive for me to get your DVR along with its incurrent "service fee". The reason I thought of doing it at all was because I thought there'd be a convenience to it. Instead of taping shows onto a tape in the VCR, the shows would get taped right onto a hard drive inside of the DVR."
Boy....can I get wordy or what?!?!
To me, a DVR is a "fancy" VCR.....except that it's "digital". Especially if I were to own the DVR and not "rent" it from them, I don't see the purpose of paying a monthly service fee. I've come across posts here and elsewhere where people seem to feel it's well worth the price to have the DVR and it's fee; like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.
So here.....I have sort of an analogy for you.....or perhaps this is more of an apples-to-apples comparison:
Back in the mid-nineties we got our first computer. For Internet access, the two big web browsers competing were Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. When I'd go into a computer retailer or electronics store, they'd have those two pieces of software out in their display boxes (CD ROM's inside)......and you had to pay for/ buy these items. Yes, they cost money!!!
Now?? They're free. As a matter of fact, there is a plethora of browsers out there now, gratis.
Perhaps one day this will happen to the DVR "service fee". The recording, pausing, and rewinding is done inside of the machine itself; it's a "hardware thing", not really a "service" being provided to you.
If I wanted to add HBO to my channels, I'd have to pay for that "service", and then those channels would be "unscrambled" and I'd receive seven more HBO channels to my lineup; I'd pay for this "service" and receive it. This "service" is done on their end. Recording, Pausing, Rewinding and playback is done inside of the box on my end.
$6.00 more a month may not seem a big deal.....but times that by twelve months in a year, and that's $72.00 more a year. For now, I'll do it for free on my VCR and computer's hard drive.
Good lord, I've gotten wordy again
Here's to hopeful and wishful thinking that the DVR service fee will go the way of the Dodo bird, that the companies won't have to milk us for every little thing.
Pez
I "stumbled" upon this web site while doing a search on the 'Net.
I've belonged to DirecTV for about eight years.
For all of these years we've had the Total Choice package, no premium channels (although I do like the inclusion of the IFC channel!!
).We have two Standard Receivers; one in the living room, the other in a spare bedroom. Recently I gave thought to getting a DVR. I went to the DirecTV web site to get some info, and then gave them a call on the telephone.
From my searching on the web (including "stumbling" here), I see I am not the only person who has ever questioned the "DVR Service Fee"; I even came across posts for it here on these forums at SatelliteGuys.us.
I already know what's inside of a DVR (the actual shows you record get recorded onto a hard drive, just like inside computers), and I know that you don't have to get the DirecTV DVR brand, that you can go to an electronics store and buy a different brand.
I know companies have their reasons for doing things, and you don't have to agree with them; sometimes it just boils down to, "It's just the ways things are", and you don't have to like it; it is what it is.
When I called on the telephone, the particular rep that I spoke to didn't have a lot of tech info as to the WHY of a DVR Service fee; this particular rep was probably more of a "sales" type and just wanted me to either upgrade to a bigger and better package, or, get more equipment. This rep basically told me that the DVR's fee is because it can Record, Pause, and Rewind. Heck....I do that on my VCR and my computer (I can watch television on my computer monitor with a TV Tuner card & software). So, I wrote them an e-mail instead.
Here's a quote from the e-mail:
"For your reference, DVR service is where you can record two shows at one time, record a show while watching a different live show, and record two shows while watching a previously recorded show. This service is $6 per month."
Here's some of what I responded with:
"I already basically do that with both my living room receiver and my spare bedroom receiver.
In the living room: I can record one show on my VCR while I watch a different show on my television. I own the VCR, paid-in-full. I don't pay a "service fee" for it. And I've been using the same VHS tape in my VCR for so many years now I've lost count how long I've been using it. I don't pay a "service fee" for the VHS tape; I own it paid-in-full. I'd say overall with both my VCR and the VHS tape, that I've been getting my money's worth: Fully paid for, no "service fee" charge.
In my spare bedroom: I can record onto my computer's hard drive with a television tuner card. I own the hard drive, the tuner card, and the software to make it all work. No "service fee".
I can do the three things you mentioned in your explanation for the service fee:
- I can record two shows at one time (one on the living room VCR/ television, the other through the tuner card in the computer/ hard drive)
- I can record a show while watching a different live show (living room VCR and television)
- I can record two shows while watching a previously recorded show (record one show on the VCR, one on the tuner card in the computer, and watch a previously recorded show on the computer as well)
So, as you see, I can do all of the things offered by you which would include your "service fee"....but I can do it for free.
So for right now, there's no incentive for me to get your DVR along with its incurrent "service fee". The reason I thought of doing it at all was because I thought there'd be a convenience to it. Instead of taping shows onto a tape in the VCR, the shows would get taped right onto a hard drive inside of the DVR."
Boy....can I get wordy or what?!?!
To me, a DVR is a "fancy" VCR.....except that it's "digital". Especially if I were to own the DVR and not "rent" it from them, I don't see the purpose of paying a monthly service fee. I've come across posts here and elsewhere where people seem to feel it's well worth the price to have the DVR and it's fee; like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.
So here.....I have sort of an analogy for you.....or perhaps this is more of an apples-to-apples comparison:
Back in the mid-nineties we got our first computer. For Internet access, the two big web browsers competing were Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. When I'd go into a computer retailer or electronics store, they'd have those two pieces of software out in their display boxes (CD ROM's inside)......and you had to pay for/ buy these items. Yes, they cost money!!!
Now?? They're free. As a matter of fact, there is a plethora of browsers out there now, gratis.
Perhaps one day this will happen to the DVR "service fee". The recording, pausing, and rewinding is done inside of the machine itself; it's a "hardware thing", not really a "service" being provided to you.
If I wanted to add HBO to my channels, I'd have to pay for that "service", and then those channels would be "unscrambled" and I'd receive seven more HBO channels to my lineup; I'd pay for this "service" and receive it. This "service" is done on their end. Recording, Pausing, Rewinding and playback is done inside of the box on my end.
$6.00 more a month may not seem a big deal.....but times that by twelve months in a year, and that's $72.00 more a year. For now, I'll do it for free on my VCR and computer's hard drive.
Good lord, I've gotten wordy again
Here's to hopeful and wishful thinking that the DVR service fee will go the way of the Dodo bird, that the companies won't have to milk us for every little thing.
Pez
22 Replies
·
5424 views
After having continuing trouble with my eight+ year old Dell Inspiron laptop I am looking to hopefully catch a good deal on new one. My options to buy is Costco and Sam's Club. It seems like a lot of new laptops are 2 in 1 which I do not need. I use the laptop to mainly surf the web and keep up with my finances, money and bills. I would like to have at least a 15" screen and having a touchscreen is a plus. The keyboard would need to lighted also. I don't game any. It would have to be Windows instead of and not Mac. The brands I see the most are Asus, Dell and HP. My two last laptops has been Dell's. Of these brands are there any standouts over the other brands. My budget (hopefully) is $600+-. Also while researching I noticed that do not have ethernet ports.
9 Replies
·
147 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
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....
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....
68701 Replies
·
2682514 views
Staff member
Pub Member / Supporter
Please post your remote make/model here and any details of your issue. We are looking to collect as many examples as possible. I may reach out to you for your receiver number, but please do not post it here.
If you've already reported this to me, please repost it here so I can track all instances in one thread.
Thanks!
Brittany
If you've already reported this to me, please repost it here so I can track all instances in one thread.
Thanks!
Brittany
26 Replies
·
1106 views
Yea, I've only been a CIO for the last 30 years!
Trust me, when something important breaks, they get to own it!
My Hopper 3 updated itself to H713 last week and the IR issue is worse now. On H711, I could be on an SD channel for several hours and the IR side of my H3 would still be responsive without my having to tap the View button on my Pronto Pro every 15 minutes. Now, if I stay even on an SD channel without tapping the View button at least once an hour, it becomes unresponsive to my Pronto Pro without tapping the View button at least 5-20 times, just like on the HD and 4K channels. So, H713 actually made the issue worse. 
brittanygarden
brittanygarden
Pub Member / Supporter
Pissed off at the crappy healthcare costs
My health Insurance renewal for 2027 just came in. Going from $827 a month to $1,187 a month. Deductible going up a $1k to $9,350. Max out of pocket also going up $1k to $11,000. Doctor co-pay of $40. Urgent Care co-pay $50. ER 50% coinsurance after deductible. That's all in network. Out of network is double, should it be needed.
Have to think about this. I'm really tempted to just go without now. I only go to the doctor once or twice a year. I pay out of pocket for Tirzepitide and can do without the Rosuvastatin (crestor) now. Really tired of spending over $10k a year and getting nothing out of it.
After years with Blue Cross I switched last year to Ambetter as my Blue Cross premium was going from $1200 to $1800 for a Silver plan and the Bronze plan was still going to be $1300 at BCBS. Ambetter was $827 for the same coverage with a Bronze plan. Didn't think it would jump this much so soon.
I'm guessing a Silver plan is probably over $2,000 a month for 2027.
33 Replies
·
456 views
Such a scam. Healthcare.gov shows me cheaper individual plans available for 2027 from ambetter that ambetter doesn't show on their website. Looked it up. I've spent $68,000 in premiums the last 5 years and got nothing out of it except a few doctors visits and labs.
I have Dish with Hopper3. I choose to get local channels OTA and had a "guide list" established at my previous home. Having moved a few miles away, I wanted to update the list by appending a couple new stations via a rescan. As many would know, some stations come in with the UHF/VHF antenna aimed in one direction, while others come in better with a different direction.
Unfortunately, when a scan is done (bringing in 25-30 stations for that particular antenna aim), the dialog screen does not present the established guide list; it presents an empty field to the right that the scanned stations may be selected one by one and added to the empty guide. But because of antenna aim, some stations originally saved are missing, and would have to be retrieved with a different antenna aim. But as I explain, if a 2nd scan is done with a different antenna aim, the stations saved from the first scan are lost.
It troubles me that Dish didn't develop software that would allow a user to simply append only 1 or 2 channels to the established list.
Any thought on this? Has anyone experienced this or heard of this from others?
Unfortunately, when a scan is done (bringing in 25-30 stations for that particular antenna aim), the dialog screen does not present the established guide list; it presents an empty field to the right that the scanned stations may be selected one by one and added to the empty guide. But because of antenna aim, some stations originally saved are missing, and would have to be retrieved with a different antenna aim. But as I explain, if a 2nd scan is done with a different antenna aim, the stations saved from the first scan are lost.
It troubles me that Dish didn't develop software that would allow a user to simply append only 1 or 2 channels to the established list.
Any thought on this? Has anyone experienced this or heard of this from others?
1 Replies
·
57 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Dang female lions don't mess around when it comes to their kiddos....aka whelps.
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Vvefv5xW77s?feature=share
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Vvefv5xW77s?feature=share
0 Replies
·
31 views
Supporting Founder
Pub Member / Supporter
Apple Fall Hardware Event takes place today, September 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET. It marks the debut of new CEO John Ternus and the expected reveal of Apple's first foldable phone.
139 Replies
·
2056 views
S
when was the last time they innovated something
I'd probably say when they came up with their M-series of processors with integrated memory. That allowed Apple to get away from the inefficient Intel CPUs that were limiting their notebook computers.when was the last time they innovated something
Supporting Founder
Really excited for this season with Kentucky having a new coach and some really exciting recruits. Probably won't last long, but here's hoping this season is great.
180 Replies
·
3085 views
..I hate playing in Ames.
I hate playing in LA ...
Buckeyes had 2 weeks off and came out and looked absolutely terrible ... broke in a new Freshman Qb, but that wasn't the worst part ... undiscipline play, at last count they had 10 penalties.
Freshman in the end of the game trying to play catch up, had a lot of Over throws ... Bucks lose ...
#1 Miami struggled but pulled away in the end beating North Carolina by 3 ...
Tuesday the CFP brings out thier Playoff Top 12 again ... Buckeyes should drop from #2 to about #22 (they won't) had they had thier Starting QB, it would have been a different game ...
They could lose the rest of thier games at this point.
My in-Laws came from Iowa, she was a graduate of ISU. Unranked Iowa teams beat the #24 and #25 teams on Halloween.
And I heard that your QB made a poor choice after scoring the tying touchdown, leading to a fifteen yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff. The Cyclones were then able to take advantage of the resulting field position to get close enough to score the winning field goal.
In a NCAA Football season of bizarre endings, this has to rank right up there.
I had an old Wireless Joey replaced by a Wireless Joey 4 (Android TV) - still have a Hopper 3 without the Hopper Plus. What do I have to do to get the EPG to show channel logos instead of "Dish"? This is annoying as hell and it's been this way for over a month…
1 Replies
·
40 views
Lifetime Supporter
Looks like dish is Bankrupt. Filling tomorrow Tuesday June 30th
432 Replies
·
14627 views
S
www.aboutamazon.com
Amazon to acquire Globalstar and expand Amazon Leo satellite network
Globalstar satellites, radio frequency spectrum, and operational expertise will enable Amazon Leo to add Direct-to-Device (D2D) services to future generations of its low Earth orbit satellite network.
www.aboutamazon.com
S
www.foxnews.com
SpaceX reportedly seeks 80,000 cell sites to become a wireless carrier | Fox News
SpaceX is reportedly pursuing 80,000 cell sites to turn Starlink into a wireless carrier that could compete with Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile for cell coverage.
www.foxnews.com