Social Feed

jschmuck2

Last reply Mar 30, 2010 · posted in DIRECTV General Forum

Finally Making The Switch From Charter

Hey all - be nice - it's my first time.

After years of being a cable TV customer with Charter, I'm finally going to make the switch to Directv. A bunch of questions:

I'm having 1 HDDVR, 1 HD box and 1 SD box put in. All in different rooms. Anything I should know about that hardware or should ask the installer for when s/he gets here? Do I tip?

I think I'm going to get Choice Extra with the AAA discount, plus HD and DVR service. Will I be able to switch things around after the first 12 months? I've been pretty successful with cable when I call up and negotiate a new price after a promo is over, just not sure about DTV.

What am I forgetting??

4 Replies · 1261 views

Load Replies (4) Reply Legacy View

armchair

Mar 29, 2010

Welcome to Directv sub

To take advantage of VOD, TVAPPS, MRV beta, and Directv2PC, you'll need ETHERNET cables connected to boxes that have an ETHERNET port. There's plenty of research and help you can find in this forum on setting up those options. You may to connect these yourself unless you're willing to pay what they ask. My last installer refused to wall-fish the ETHERNET cables despite me asking for an estimate and having the cables on hand to do it. I would not recommend power-line or wireless if you have any interest in MRV beta or Directv2PC. Directv will be offering a DECA (Directv ETHERNET Cable Adapter) upgrade later if they're not currently installing it in your area. So there may be an affordable opportunity later if not sooner.

Directv will come out with an order and fill it based on what they have on truck. Hopefully they will install a SWiM dish and SWiM switch for you to keep wiring future-proof and run less wires. You can ask about your setup to post in your C/P signature if future help is needed in the forum.

As far as changing programming and opting for discounts, you can upgrade programming but not downgrade during first 12 months. Negotiating after promo period is available but limited to what they're currently offering at time of call. Directv does not typically offer to renew same discounts beyond 12 months but they tend to be open and flexible to individual circumstances. And you do have the right as a Directv customer to call back until you're satisfied with result. (or tire of the same answers).

I can't complain of issues I've returned calls to customer service about. They keep notes on accounts and can recognize repeat calls but that hasn't had a negative impact on the resolution for me.

aa9vi

Mar 29, 2010

armchair said:
To take advantage of VOD, TVAPPS, MRV beta, and Directv2PC, you'll need ETHERNET cables connected to boxes that have an ETHERNET port. There's plenty of research and help you can find in this forum on setting up those options. You may to connect these yourself unless you're willing to pay what they ask. My last installer refused to wall-fish the ETHERNET cables despite me asking for an estimate and having the cables on hand to do it. I would not recommend power-line or wireless if you have any interest in MRV beta or Directv2PC. Directv will be offering a DECA (Directv ETHERNET Cable Adapter) upgrade later if they're not currently installing it in your area. So there may be an affordable opportunity later if not sooner.

Directv will come out with an order and fill it based on what they have on truck. Hopefully they will install a SWiM dish and SWiM switch for you to keep wiring future-proof and run less wires. You can ask about your setup to post in your C/P signature if future help is needed in the forum.

As long as you have wireless ethernet in your home, it's probably cleaner to just use the wireless gaming adapters instead of fishing ethernet cable through the wall. The Linksys WGA600N works just fine for this purpose. Good deals for it if you shop online.

armchair

Mar 29, 2010

aa9vi said:
As long as you have wireless ethernet in your home, it's probably cleaner to just use the wireless gaming adapters instead of fishing ethernet cable through the wall. The Linksys WGA600N works just fine for this purpose. Good deals for it if you shop online.

While I said I wouldn't recommend wireless, the Linksys WGA600N has a good reputation in the forums for wireless MRV when coupled with wireless N router.

The WET-610N adapter has some issues with bi-directional MRV which seems to be a recurring issue. It may stream MRV fine one direction but not as well the other direction in respect to server to client.

Wireless trickplay performance has been reported to be slower with wireless but improving. I recently read a post from another poster about SWiM/DECA bettering the wired ETHERNET connection for trickplay speed but I cannot say that myself since I've yet to test such hardware.

Big Dawg 23

Mar 30, 2010

jschmuck2 said:
Hey all - be nice - it's my first time.

After years of being a cable TV customer with Charter, I'm finally going to make the switch to Directv. A bunch of questions:

I'm having 1 HDDVR, 1 HD box and 1 SD box put in. All in different rooms. Anything I should know about that hardware or should ask the installer for when s/he gets here? Do I tip?

I think I'm going to get Choice Extra with the AAA discount, plus HD and DVR service. Will I be able to switch things around after the first 12 months? I've been pretty successful with cable when I call up and negotiate a new price after a promo is over, just not sure about DTV.

What am I forgetting??

As a current Charter and Directv Subscriber, I can tell you calling to lower you price generally isn't needed. Directv has low rates in my opinion. As an example I can get the Prem Package for $114 with Direct. At that price I will get me one move channel and DVR on Charter. Directv has many HD Prem. channels and not just the main channel as Charter does.

The HD-DVR's on Directv are allot better than Charter. Hopefully you get at least the HR-22 HDDVR. I have two DVR's in my home as the cost is cheap given you pay on $7 DVR fee and $5 for each additional box. You can have multi DVR's if you desire far less than Charter. You will enjoy the capacity and available option for an external Hard Drive for Endless space.

You will be happy with the switch and not look back.

MorCowbell

Last reply 10 minutes ago · posted in DISH Network Support Forum

Saved OTA list on Dish can't be appended

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?

15 Replies · 477 views

Load Replies (15) Reply Legacy View

dishstaller

Tuesday at 9:42 PM

I could very well be wrong....it has been a LOT of years but back when I had a 722K it seemed like when you went back to the scan screen that you could just scan again and it would ADD those channels to the previous list or you could delete the previous results and only add the channels from the new scan.

Reactions: charlesrshell

n0qcu

Yesterday at 10:41 AM

dishstaller said:
I could very well be wrong....it has been a LOT of years but back when I had a 722K it seemed like when you went back to the scan screen that you could just scan again and it would ADD those channels to the previous list or you could delete the previous results and only add the channels from the new scan.

I am not sure about that but I do know that you could manually add additional channels just by entering the actual RF channel number and the older receivers would add the virtual channels to your list

Reactions: MikeD-C05 and charlesrshell

dishstaller

Yesterday at 11:11 AM

n0qcu said:
I am not sure about that but I do know that you could manually add additional channels just by entering the actual RF channel number and the older receivers would add the virtual channels to your list

Like I said.....that has been many years ago. Swapped my 722K for a Hopper in 2012.

It does seem like I remember having to delete the existing channels when we did a rescan. Back then our local stations KEPT monkeying around with things and it was non-stop complaints from customers about their channels not coming in. Got so bad that I stopped selling OR installing OTAs....something I had been doing since 1984 so you know it HAD to be pretty bad.

Reactions: Redbullsnation and charlesrshell

MorCowbell

Today at 10:06 AM

You made one of my points for me with this comment, Dishstaller:

"... local stations KEPT monkeying around with things and it was non-stop complaints from customers about their channels not coming in ..."

Reactions: Redbullsnation, Almighty1, charlesrshell and 1 other person

dennispap

52 minutes ago

dishstaller said:
I could very well be wrong....it has been a LOT of years but back when I had a 722K it seemed like when you went back to the scan screen that you could just scan again and it would ADD those channels to the previous list or you could delete the previous results and only add the channels from the new scan.

I remember that also on my 722.

Reactions: dishstaller and charlesrshell

dishstaller

12 minutes ago

dennispap said:
I remember that also on my 722.

Thanks.....has been too many years to remember clearly.

Reactions: charlesrshell

Bobby

10 minutes ago

Keep in mind that the 722 had a built in OTA tuner and the 722K had a plug in module for OTA. The Hoppers and Wallys use an add on USB OTA dongle. I believe they are entirely different.

Reactions: charlesrshell

View all replies (15)

Linus Tech Tips

17 minutes ago · posted in Linus Tech Tips

My F-You To Sam Altman

Time for another AWESOME video from Linus Tech Tips!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/spXuvLHTIs4

Direct YouTube Link - My F-You To Sam Altman
Linus on Facebook
The LTT Store

0 Replies · 1 views

Replies Reply Legacy View

TWiT Tech Podcast Network

17 minutes ago · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

watchOS 27.3 Beta - Siri Recap and Live Rewind Coming!

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MLSSmfls3w4

Direct YouTube Link - watchOS 27.3 Beta - Siri Recap and Live Rewind Coming!
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

0 Replies · 1 views

Replies Reply Legacy View

osu1991

Pub Member / Supporter

Last reply Today at 3:41 PM · posted in TV Shows

Marvel Television’s VisionQuest

View: https://youtu.be/oSVTAUKyrL8?si=pF-pQQAJIiKjSqx6

Oct 14 Disney+

12 Replies · 247 views

Load Replies (12) Reply Legacy View

Reactions: dfergie, Foxbat and MikeD-C05

osu1991

Oct 14, 2026

Finished the 2nd episode tonight. I'm really liking it so far.

Still hate weekly releases though, especially the way Disney and HBO do it waiting until 8pm to premiere it.

Reactions: MikeD-C05 and Foxbat

Foxbat

Oct 28, 2026

Apparently I'm not a big enough nerd

since I did not read every Marvel Comic Book ever published. If I had, I might be comparing the comics' version of events compared to what's transpiring in "Visionquest". So, I am enjoying the series a lot, not weighed down by previous expectations, knowing only the Avengers MCU movies and the "Wandavision" / "Agatha All Along" TV series.

I found the Mr Know-it-All channel from his discussion about "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" and he's been gleefully picking these episodes apart, referencing the Marvel comics from the 1939 on. Turns out A.I. has been around since before World War II, at least in the comics. (Robots before that, yes, yes.) This show is going back into the archives.

Reactions: osu1991

Foxbat

Today at 1:32 PM

I'm expecting the finale to basically bring Vision into play for the Doomsday movie next month.

Reactions: osu1991

osu1991

Today at 2:06 PM

annoying they went with single episodes for the last two after releasing two a week for the first 3 weeks

Foxbat

Today at 3:41 PM

osu1991 said:
annoying they went with single episodes for the last two after releasing two a week for the first 3 weeks

I thought they were effectively releasing a longer episode 7 and 8 instead of shorter episodes 7 & 8 this week and 9 & 10 next week. It felt like they were packing more into this episode.

edit: But you're right, the run time of the first three pairs of episodes was 100 minutes on average. Episode 7 clocks in at 65 minutes.

View all replies (12)

Scott Greczkowski

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge

Last reply Today at 3:33 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....

68756 Replies · 2684858 views

Load Replies (68756) Reply Legacy View

Reactions: c-spand

harshness

Today at 11:36 AM

I Can't Wait - Nu Shooz

gms49ers

Today at 1:11 PM

Shooz - Styx

Reactions: long_time_Dish

dishstaller

Today at 1:54 PM

Too Much Time on My Hands - Styx

Reactions: FTA4PA, RaiderPower and long_time_Dish

sdfntx

Today at 3:17 PM

Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers

Reactions: Bobby

long_time_Dish

Today at 3:33 PM

No Time - The Guess Who

Reactions: dishstaller, FTA4PA and RaiderPower

View all replies (68756)

Scott Greczkowski

Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge

Last reply Today at 2:51 PM · posted in DIRECTV General Forum

New Gemini Box

The following is from Reddit. -
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/DirectvStream/s/orzHBkmqQW

There appears to be a new DIRECTV Gemini OTT box, the C81KW-650.

The FCC listing is partially available, and a Geekbench entry confirms it uses an Amlogic S905X5, a solid SoC for a set-top box.

I also see 4GB of RAM, and the manufacturer is SEI Robotics.

DIRECTV C81KW OTT Box - Android TV Guide

Ok found a picture of the Box too on Reddit:

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/DirectvStream/comments/1twlex0/comment/opzeqi1/

25 Replies · 1383 views

Load Replies (25) Reply Legacy View

Reactions: dtv757

Scott Greczkowski

Oct 23, 2026

I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.

Reactions: I WANT MORE and harshness

Tom Speer

Oct 23, 2026

Scott Greczkowski said:
I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.

I only noticed that as a problem on TVs that handle HDR poorly. They don't have enough peak brightness or enough dimming zones. For instance, TCL makes three lines of TV, sort of like the old Sears model of Good, Better, Best. On my 4 or 5 year end low price model, HDR looked awful (My neighbor likes the TV now). The midrange model from the next model year ithat I have at my Lake home now looks pretty good in HDR all the time. The midrange TCL QM7 model from last year at my other home looks spectacular, as I remember. I haven't seen it for 6 months.

If I had a TV that does HDR poorly, I would configure the Gemini to disable all HDR.

Reactions: b4pjoe

b4pjoe

Oct 23, 2026

Tom Speer said:
I only noticed that as a problem on TVs that handle HDR poorly. They don't have enough peak brightness or enough dimming zones. For instance, TCL makes three lines of TV, sort of like the old Sears model of Good, Better, Best. On my 4 or 5 year end low price mode, HDR looked awful (My neighbor likes the TV now). The midrannge model from the next model year ithat I have at my Lake home now looks pretty good in HDR all the time. The midrange TCL QM7 model from last year at my other home looks spectacular, as I remember. I haven't seen it for 6 months.

If I had a TV that does HDR poorly, I would configure the Gemini to disble all HDR.

I agree with that. The 2 LGs that we have Gemini's on looks far better with HDR enabled then it does with HDR off.

robjlevin

Oct 24, 2026

Scott Greczkowski said:
I know a few people who have gotten one and I am told like most modern streaming boxes this one also has HDR on all the time.

That would be a deal-breaker for me. The Rokus default to having it on all the time but it's easy enough to change that to native. If the content is HDR it goes on. Otherwise, no.

Redbullsnation

Today at 2:43 PM

I don't mind HDR being on as long as its adaptive. I don't need HDR on non-HDR content

Also, God only knows how much it'll cost to get this per month. 10 bucks a month for 3 TVs in my apartment is not worth it if I can just use my android boxes and appletv to watch

b4pjoe

Today at 2:51 PM

Redbullsnation said:
I don't mind HDR being on as long as its adaptive. I don't need HDR on non-HDR content

Also, God only knows how much it'll cost to get this per month. 10 bucks a month for 3 TVs in my apartment is not worth it if I can just use my android boxes and appletv to watch

It is not adaptive. HDR is either always on or off. No in between. However with my Gemini on satellite everything looks much better with HDR on.

Reactions: Tom Speer

View all replies (25)

iJustine

Today at 2:42 PM · posted in iJustine

New (OLD?) Sony Walkman Headphones! MDR-3R!

Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LQT8wzemsLU

Direct YouTube Link - New (OLD?) Sony Walkman Headphones! MDR-3R!
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!

0 Replies · 11 views

Replies Reply Legacy View

Gary Toma

Staff member Pub Member / Supporter Cutting Edge

Last reply Today at 2:29 PM · posted in DIRECTV Technical Resources Forum

DIRECTV Transponder Map ~ Data 11/04/2026

The TPN Map Excel Presents all DIRECTV Channels:

National (50-States or wide/NAT+PR beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)

Additional tabs provide:

OTA the (Over-The-Air) Database
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders

Domestic Satellites
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D16
@103W.... D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8

Understanding the TPN Map

Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions

DIRECTV_TPN_Map_261104.xlsx 1,879 KB

2178 Replies · 952768 views

Load Replies (2178) Reply Legacy View

Reactions: Zakdj, Mr Tony, Tom Speer and 3 others

jamieh1

Oct 21, 2026

Now in the Hornets and Hurricanes markets we just get the TV promise screen. But Directv still charges sports fee I am assuming.
Luckily my DTV stream package doesn't have a rsn fee. Figure DTV that always says is the leader in sports would have come to an agreement by now.

Reactions: Mr Tony

KyL416

Oct 21, 2026

jamieh1 said:
Now in the Hornets and Hurricanes markets we just get the TV promise screen. But Directv still charges sports fee I am assuming.

Greenville-New Bern is $11.99 for MASN (Orioles) and Nationals
Raleigh is $11.99 for MASN and Nationals
Charlotte is $12.99 for BravesVision, MASN, Nationals and Reds

The fee in NC also includes the higher in state rate they have to pay for ACCN. Down in SC the fee is $15.99 as they are also a SEC state.
I'm not sure if they're doing it with those teams, but in some markets they also use the fee to cover the additional cost they have to pay for independents and MyNet stations that picked up full season NHL and NBA rights.

If you go to the TVPromise site, you'll likely be able to get a credit for not getting the Hurricanes and additional Hornets games that air on WITN-D2

jamieh1 said:
Figure DTV that always says is the leader in sports would have come to an agreement by now.

Part of the hold out might be the packaging and price for outer areas like how the Thunder needs sports pack for other states. Hopefully they are also pushing for a guarantee from the teams that they would require whoever wins their local broadcasting rights in 2028 to negotiate with MVPDs. Commercial distribution rights are probably a factor too.

I'm guessing they got a deep discount for the Clippers based on how long it took them to officially announce ClipperVision and their KTLA simulcasts after they were basically handed a multi-year draft death penalty.

The Predators and Pistons channels are using feeds supplied by Scripps Sports

The Heat likely depends on whoever they sign for the Fort Myers DMA, as there's no point in paying a high price for the Heat just for that DMA when WPLG is streaming it for free on their app and website for viewers in the Miami DMA, and they already carry the West Palm Beach station.

Reactions: Mr Tony

KyL416

Oct 23, 2026

KyL416 said:
The Heat likely depends on whoever they sign for the Fort Myers DMA, as there's no point in paying a high price for the Heat just for that DMA when WPLG is streaming it for free on their app and website for viewers in the Miami DMA, and they already carry the West Palm Beach station.

WINK-D3 (Weather) for Fort Myers

https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-...st-partnership-with-wink-in-southwest-florida

Reactions: Mr Tony

doctor J

Yesterday at 7:22 AM

DirecTV Satellite Transponder Updates for Nov 04 2026

Comparison of Transponder Data for Nov 04 2026 vs Oct 28 2026:

No changes in system tables for any transponder tuning parameters.

Changes to the use of defined transponders:

2 Previously unused Transponders with current APG records::
Net 15 TID 12 Beam NAT is a National Transponder on D12@103ca, TPN 13
Net 15 TID 17 Beam NAT + PR is a National Transponder on D15@103ca, TPN 18

Stream (PID) counts:

LIVE Streams	National		Spot Beams
	Count	Change	Count	Change
4K	4
HD	266	2	1449
SD mpeg4	144		194
SD mpeg2	433	-1
RB
Audio	89
Push	26
Slate	19		1

TEST Streams	National		Spot Beams
	Count	Change	Count	Change
4K
HD			1
SD mpeg4
SD mpeg2
RB
Engr Work	56	18

The PID count Excel workbook provides much more count detail.

Newly updated tables of Streams on each transponder are available in the DataDigesters TPN Grids

More details of changes in individual channels will follow in the Weekly Analysis
and Gary Toma's Domestic TPN Map Excel files
Reshuffle setup ?
Weekly Analysis soon
Enjoy
DataDigesters

doctor J

Yesterday at 7:23 AM

Weekly Analysis for 11/04/2026:

Weekly_Analysis_261104.xlsx 16 KB

KyL416

Yesterday at 7:24 AM

Prep for More TPN swaps

NewsMix -> ElectionHQ

MLBEI -> NBALP in the 740s

No sign of the additional CW affiliates that were added to stream a few weeks ago

Reactions: Gary Toma

KyL416

Today at 2:08 PM

KyL416 said:
WINK-D3 (Weather) for Fort Myers

WINK-D3 Fort Myers is testing on the stream server

Redbullsnation

Today at 2:29 PM

KyL416 said:
WINK-D3 Fort Myers is testing on the stream server

Could be for the Heat since they have the rights to that.

Its always a surprise to see DTV carry subchannels...

View all replies (2178)

iJustine

Today at 2:12 PM · posted in iJustine

New LIGHT UP Apple Logo! 😍

Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IxhDzSdSxZo

Direct YouTube Link - New LIGHT UP Apple Logo!

The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!

0 Replies · 14 views

Replies Reply Legacy View

TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Today at 2:12 PM · posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network

Tech News Weekly 462

Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYMNztkdF6I

Direct YouTube Link - Tech News Weekly 462
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed

Search

Search

Social Feed

Finally Making The Switch From Charter

Saved OTA list on Dish can't be appended

My F-You To Sam Altman

watchOS 27.3 Beta - Siri Recap and Live Rewind Coming!

Marvel Television’s VisionQuest

Song Name Game Part 3!

New Gemini Box

New (OLD?) Sony Walkman Headphones! MDR-3R!

DIRECTV Transponder Map ~ Data 11/04/2026

New LIGHT UP Apple Logo! 😍

Tech News Weekly 462