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
