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I'm a couple of months into my new DirecTV subscription, just got my $100 VISA gift card, and everything's running smoothly, but not after much anguish.
At the onset, I had decided on a two DVR system for several reasons:
- So I'd have a backup recording unit in case one went out.
- To be able to watch at least two different shows without the expense of mini-genie boxes
- and to have a box to take in my RV on road trips.
I have five TVs in my house, but only two warm bodies who watch at any given time. So I planned on whole-home DVR, installing a few splitters from Monoprice, some cabling, UHF remotes at each TV, and presto! Problem solved without extra ongoing monthly fees for mini-Genies.
Starting with a local DirecTV installer / rep, I had my order lined up until they started the paperwork. They wanted a SSN from me. I told them they had no business knowing my SSN. They said they couldn't open an account without it. I told them they just lost a customer.
So next I called DirecTV / AT&T directly who agreed that they didn't need no stinkin' SSN to set up an order. I got a high-pressure sales person type who kept trying to steer me into bundles of other AT&T products. I finally convinced him what I wanted, but he stated that he couldn't order the two boxes (HR44 - I wanted the multiple output jacks, Component and HDMI, to reduce the signals I was splitting, plus I like the old school land line caller ID on this box, and... an HR24 - my 2nd DVR). Apparently, the AT&T order dialog doesn't allow for ordering more than one DVR, or for specifying model numbers. "No problem", he said, we'll just put together a bogus order, then in the "Notes" section, we'll spell out your real order. "Then when the installer contacts you, just verify that he's bringing the boxes that you want." I was skeptical, but went with it. Then the rep hangs up before I gave him my friend's info to get the referral credit.
I call back and get forwarded a few times, then give the referral info to another rep who assures me she'll take care of it.
From reading this forum, I anticipated there would be a $200 charge for my extra DVR. Nobody at AT&T could quote me a price on this - my "real" order - as their order entry system doesn't allow for ordering such configurations.
Next I get multiple emails, confirming an order for equipment I didn't order, and I play along.
Next come the robo-calls about my installation appointment. I wanted to contact the installer to confirm that he would have my equipment on the truck when he arrived, but apparently contact info for installers is top secret. AT&T won't give you any direct contact info (phone or email) for your installer. Ridiculous.
Of course when the installer arrives, he hadn't read the "Notes" section of my order, and doesn't have my equipment. But luckily, he's able to chase it down locally, and then returns. Next I have to get on the phone with an AT&T rep and verbally give them my credit card info so they can charge me for the extra DVR, but I expected that.
I had pre-wired the coax cabling to the dish antenna location, and between the two boxes in my house, so the installation went quick. The installer didn't know a whole lot, saying my HR24 wouldn't work with a UHF remote, but I finished doing my own setup after he left and switched it from IR to UHF mode. Installed my splitters and was pleasantly surprised that everything worked as planned. One run I was skeptical of consisted of a 15 foot HDMI run up the wall, to a powered splitter in the attic, then out 50' in two directions to two other TVs. But with RedMere HDMI cables on the 50' runs, it works perfectly.
The last bit of drama was calling AT&T today to complain that my $10 monthly referral credit wasn't appearing on my bill. Apparently I have some other promotion that doesn't allow for the referral promotion. Of course they didn't tell me that when I was placing my order.
Overall I'm happy with the DirecTV technology, but I've left my Dish antenna up and plan to switch back after my 2 year contract is up. Regularly switching providers seems like the only way to get a good price.
At the onset, I had decided on a two DVR system for several reasons:
- So I'd have a backup recording unit in case one went out.
- To be able to watch at least two different shows without the expense of mini-genie boxes
- and to have a box to take in my RV on road trips.
I have five TVs in my house, but only two warm bodies who watch at any given time. So I planned on whole-home DVR, installing a few splitters from Monoprice, some cabling, UHF remotes at each TV, and presto! Problem solved without extra ongoing monthly fees for mini-Genies.
Starting with a local DirecTV installer / rep, I had my order lined up until they started the paperwork. They wanted a SSN from me. I told them they had no business knowing my SSN. They said they couldn't open an account without it. I told them they just lost a customer.
So next I called DirecTV / AT&T directly who agreed that they didn't need no stinkin' SSN to set up an order. I got a high-pressure sales person type who kept trying to steer me into bundles of other AT&T products. I finally convinced him what I wanted, but he stated that he couldn't order the two boxes (HR44 - I wanted the multiple output jacks, Component and HDMI, to reduce the signals I was splitting, plus I like the old school land line caller ID on this box, and... an HR24 - my 2nd DVR). Apparently, the AT&T order dialog doesn't allow for ordering more than one DVR, or for specifying model numbers. "No problem", he said, we'll just put together a bogus order, then in the "Notes" section, we'll spell out your real order. "Then when the installer contacts you, just verify that he's bringing the boxes that you want." I was skeptical, but went with it. Then the rep hangs up before I gave him my friend's info to get the referral credit.
I call back and get forwarded a few times, then give the referral info to another rep who assures me she'll take care of it.
From reading this forum, I anticipated there would be a $200 charge for my extra DVR. Nobody at AT&T could quote me a price on this - my "real" order - as their order entry system doesn't allow for ordering such configurations.
Next I get multiple emails, confirming an order for equipment I didn't order, and I play along.
Next come the robo-calls about my installation appointment. I wanted to contact the installer to confirm that he would have my equipment on the truck when he arrived, but apparently contact info for installers is top secret. AT&T won't give you any direct contact info (phone or email) for your installer. Ridiculous.
Of course when the installer arrives, he hadn't read the "Notes" section of my order, and doesn't have my equipment. But luckily, he's able to chase it down locally, and then returns. Next I have to get on the phone with an AT&T rep and verbally give them my credit card info so they can charge me for the extra DVR, but I expected that.
I had pre-wired the coax cabling to the dish antenna location, and between the two boxes in my house, so the installation went quick. The installer didn't know a whole lot, saying my HR24 wouldn't work with a UHF remote, but I finished doing my own setup after he left and switched it from IR to UHF mode. Installed my splitters and was pleasantly surprised that everything worked as planned. One run I was skeptical of consisted of a 15 foot HDMI run up the wall, to a powered splitter in the attic, then out 50' in two directions to two other TVs. But with RedMere HDMI cables on the 50' runs, it works perfectly.
The last bit of drama was calling AT&T today to complain that my $10 monthly referral credit wasn't appearing on my bill. Apparently I have some other promotion that doesn't allow for the referral promotion. Of course they didn't tell me that when I was placing my order.
Overall I'm happy with the DirecTV technology, but I've left my Dish antenna up and plan to switch back after my 2 year contract is up. Regularly switching providers seems like the only way to get a good price.
21 Replies
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4297 views
Supporting Founder
Lifetime Supporter
Thanks to Fitch Ratings ( who gives the ratings on Credit and debt, as approved by the SEC, so they have accurate numbers) we have the totals.
DIRECTV's video subscriber base is the third-largest traditional multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) in the U.S. with about 8.2 million subscribers at the end of 1Q26.
The last time it was reported, it was 8.8M at the end of 2Q25, so only a 600,000 loss for 3 quarters, which is a major improvement, since for many years before that, it was losing 500,000 a quarter, 2 Million a year.
It is now losing less than Dish/Sling combined, I believe the Genre Packs are helping to retain and get subscribers.
DIRECTV's video subscriber base is the third-largest traditional multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) in the U.S. with about 8.2 million subscribers at the end of 1Q26.
The last time it was reported, it was 8.8M at the end of 2Q25, so only a 600,000 loss for 3 quarters, which is a major improvement, since for many years before that, it was losing 500,000 a quarter, 2 Million a year.
It is now losing less than Dish/Sling combined, I believe the Genre Packs are helping to retain and get subscribers.
8 Replies
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393 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....
67111 Replies
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2662414 views
Mexico takes on South Africa to open the World Cup Final (it is called the Final... this just isn't the World Cup Final... Final). The tournament has been plagued with rife malfeasance as FIFA has been committing all sorts of fraud with the ticket sales. Hotel rooms have gone unfilled as the prices to attend a game and stay somewhere are through the roof. I swear this is impacting Mansfield, OH hotel rates which are higher than average for the Indycar race. And there is a broadening VAR presence which will ruin things as nothing worse now when scoring a goal and knowing you can't quite celebrate yet as they check to see if a player was offside by a pixel a half-hour ago.
The Group Stage used to mean something, but now 32 of the 48... yeah, 48 teams are going to the Knockout Round. Getting into the Knockout Round used to be a big deal, even for the US. But now... if you don't lose all of your group stage games, you get to move on. Oi! And this is avoiding all the political stuff!
I have never been so unexcited for a World Cup before. Every game used to matter. But FIFA be darned if they don't try to squeeze out every dime they can out of the players, refs, and fans.
The Group Stage used to mean something, but now 32 of the 48... yeah, 48 teams are going to the Knockout Round. Getting into the Knockout Round used to be a big deal, even for the US. But now... if you don't lose all of your group stage games, you get to move on. Oi! And this is avoiding all the political stuff!
I have never been so unexcited for a World Cup before. Every game used to matter. But FIFA be darned if they don't try to squeeze out every dime they can out of the players, refs, and fans.
2 Replies
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57 views
Supporting Founder
Since the Reds have there thread we should too!
Last watched Nine inch Nails
Next 3:10 to Yuma
Last watched Nine inch Nails
Next 3:10 to Yuma
5347 Replies
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509353 views
Hello everyone, new guy here. I'm trying to solve problem I'm having with Dish bonus view channels. When I'm watching the bonus view channels then I switch back to regular dish channels, after few minutes the screen flips to black and after 30 seconds flips back to regular channels and continues to flip back and forth until I turn off TV. After I wait 30 minutes and turn back on , I can use regular channels again. So, its after I switch from bonus view channels to regular dish channels the problem starts. Been trying to fix this for a month, but no luck
Here what I've done.
i contacted Dish support and they sent me a new Joey3, but no help. Switched to a different HDMI input on TV, no help. Used different HDMI cable , no help. Used different electrical wall plug, no help.
Finally got a Dish tech to check it. He ran all systems check and was OK. Finally he brought in a small TV and plugged in the HDMI out from the Joey to the small TV. He could not get the problem to occur on his small TV, so the new Joey was working OK. So, then the problem must be myTV. He made some phone calls and came back with the answer that there must be a problem with the analog to digital switch in my TV. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this, or is it time to be looking for a new TV? My tv LG OLED65C8PUA. TV has been trouble free til now. Thanks
Here what I've done.
i contacted Dish support and they sent me a new Joey3, but no help. Switched to a different HDMI input on TV, no help. Used different HDMI cable , no help. Used different electrical wall plug, no help.
Finally got a Dish tech to check it. He ran all systems check and was OK. Finally he brought in a small TV and plugged in the HDMI out from the Joey to the small TV. He could not get the problem to occur on his small TV, so the new Joey was working OK. So, then the problem must be myTV. He made some phone calls and came back with the answer that there must be a problem with the analog to digital switch in my TV. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this, or is it time to be looking for a new TV? My tv LG OLED65C8PUA. TV has been trouble free til now. Thanks
7 Replies
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123 views
Recently came back to DirectTV Satellite service and have two boxes, Gemini and a main HR54.
DirecTV is charging me two "TV access fees" of $10 each, but can only watch TV on the one without the server. Is there anything I can do to fix this?
DirecTV is charging me two "TV access fees" of $10 each, but can only watch TV on the one without the server. Is there anything I can do to fix this?
24 Replies
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950 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
I feel like this was discussed in another thread, but I can't find it. I have T-Mobile and my last iPhone upgrade was in 2020. I want to get a new iPhone, but what is the best way to go about doing it? Should I order the iPhone from T-Mobile directly, or should I buy from the Apple Store? I feel like there are pros/cons to each option.
2 Replies
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49 views
I have a Hopper with Sling. (Don't know exact model.) A couple nights ago, I went into the DVR screen, and noted that it was recording three programs. Yet I was able to view live TV (that was not one of the channels being recorded.) Did something change? In the past, it would only let me watch one of the channels being recorded, or any recording in the DVR menu. Maybe it was streaming, although there was no indication of that?
Apologies if this has been covered; I searched and didn't find anything.
Thanks.
Apologies if this has been covered; I searched and didn't find anything.
Thanks.
9 Replies
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370 views
iJustine
Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YJjxjYvmQ8s
Direct YouTube Link - Good Bye, Tim! Last WWDC
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YJjxjYvmQ8s
Direct YouTube Link - Good Bye, Tim! Last WWDC
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
0 Replies
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12 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Cutting Edge
WANTED DirecTV LCC
Anyone have a DirecTV Local Channel Connector that you'd like to get rid of at a reasonable price? DirecTV is currently in a contract dispute with owner of my local ABC affiliate.
12 Replies
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318 views
I did that. The response was that the LCC is not available. Escalated the issue to a tech support person with the same results.
Could be out of them I guess ... I'd keep trying, every 3-4 days.I did that. The response was that the LCC is not available. Escalated the issue to a tech support person with the same results.
If they are not out of them as them WHY you can't get one, seeing Your in a Dispute. Thats what they are for.
I would make them give you a real answer, don't let them off the hook.
I had one, and it worked well, but I believe I gave it to another D* friend (also had a AM21), I know I gave them away ...
According to the tech support guy, they don't have any in stock. He said I should receive an email when and if they have them. I even told him I would accept a refurbished unit.
I'm not sure your going to find any Refurbished ones as D* doesn't ask for them back.According to the tech support guy, they don't have any in stock. He said I should receive an email when and if they have them. I even told him I would accept a refurbished unit.