What options do I have?

[PopcornNMore]

What options do I have?

My parents have had DirecTV for many years and still have a single LNB 18" dish system attached to a H15-500 SD DVR receiver. My father passed away last year and my mom still enjoys the DirecTV service, but never uses the DVR yet still pays the monthly DVR fee. As of last Sunday the channels have been noisey and the screen goes black after a few minutes.

Since I live 5 hours away from my mom I have been trying to help her resolve the problem over the phone. I had her verify that the video output cables are still fully inserted into the back of the HD TV and she said yes. She also told me that she removed and reinserted the security card and hit the reset button, but the receiver never finished rebooting. Instead the TV just went dark and the light on the middle of the receiver went out. I also asked if the area recently had lightening and she said no. I thought perhaps the LNB went bad, but I guess thats not the case.

Questions:
1) How much would it cost to have a technician come to the home to fix the problem?
2) Should she upgrade the receiver to HD since her TV is HD? If so, what model?
3) What would you do?

I was wondering if perhaps I should purchase a new dish, LNB and receiver on EBay and install the system myself for my mom.

 

[Jimbo]

What options do I have?

My parents have had DirecTV for many years and still have a single LNB 18" dish system attached to a H15-500 SD DVR receiver. My father passed away last year and my mom still enjoys the DirecTV service, but never uses the DVR yet still pays the monthly DVR fee. As of last Sunday the channels have been noisey and the screen goes black after a few minutes.

Since I live 5 hours away from my mom I have been trying to help her resolve the problem over the phone. I had her verify that the video output cables are still fully inserted into the back of the HD TV and she said yes. She also told me that she removed and reinserted the security card and hit the reset button, but the receiver never finished rebooting. Instead the TV just went dark and the light on the middle of the receiver went out. I also asked if the area recently had lightening and she said no. I thought perhaps the LNB went bad, but I guess thats not the case.

Questions:
1) How much would it cost to have a technician come to the home to fix the problem?
2) Should she upgrade the receiver to HD since her TV is HD? If so, what model?
3) What would you do?

I was wondering if perhaps I should purchase a new dish, LNB and receiver on EBay and install the system myself for my mom.

Several things to consider here.

1. Does she have the Protection Plan on her account, if so a Tech will come out no charge.
2.If she wants HD, then yes she should upgrade to the HD DVR, I would suggest a HR24, however, keep in mind there will be charges for the HD and HD Fee.
Fee for HD signal is $ 10 p/m the DVR fee is 7-8 p/m don't remember which.
IF shes willing to get on the auto pay, they will often cover the HD fee portion.

IF she has the Protection plan and decides to upgrade they will get a new dish and recvr and set it up for her.
Also, if she upgrades to HD, she will enter into a 2 year agreement.

 

[Mr Tony]

I was wondering if perhaps I should purchase a new dish, LNB and receiver on EBay and install the system myself for my mom.

most receivers on Ebay are leased so Directv may not activate it...and you'll have a 2 year agreement still

If she wants to upgrade to HD call retention and see what they can do.

 

[twizt3dsist3r]

Retention is prolly your best bet in this senario, but if its been a few years since she had anyone out, and her contract is up, if she renews she could probably get everything done for free, that receiver is REALLY old. However i would assume she never changed her package either, probably grandfathered. Theres a few things to check into.

 

[Mr Tony]

I guess for troubleshooting does she get anything on the tv screen?

If the receiver crapped out they will replace it with no contract extension

 

[Jimbo]

I guess for troubleshooting does she get anything on the tv screen?

If the receiver crapped out they will replace it with no contract extension

They will replace it, but NOT Upgrade it without a commitment.

 

[Mr Tony]

true....

 

[PopcornNMore]

I guess for troubleshooting does she get anything on the tv screen?

If the receiver crapped out they will replace it with no contract extension

She told me the picture had noise (seemed odd to me) and then would go dark after a certain amount of time. I asked if a message appeared saying lost signal and she said no. After she performed the reset she no longer gets a picture at all.

 

[Mr Tony]

sounds like the receiver might be toast

Directv will replace it with a same type (SD DVR) for no contract extension but unless she has a neighbor to hook it up you might have to have Directv come and install it

 

[Jimbo]

Where abouts is she located ?

 

[PopcornNMore]

Do DirecTV receivers require use of a phone line? A previous DirecTV receiver failed due to the phone line several years ago. If not needed I'm going to have her remove the phone line and then performing a system test.

 

[PopcornNMore]

I just talked to my mom and this is what's happening:
1) Selected "reset" button behind access door.
2) Display comes up saying please wait this could take up to 30 minutes.
3) About 3 minutes later the screen goes black.
4) Blue illuminates around "power" button and remains on and never goes out even when pressing the button.
5) Blue no longer illuminates around the "select" button.

 

[PopcornNMore]

Would the HD Receiver without DVR be model H25? It might be worth her calling DirectV and having this receiver installed for $99 which would then eliminate the monthly DVR fee and have her HD ready at the same time.

 

[Mr Tony]

H25 is a small receiver. You can get a H22,23,24 or 25 which is pretty much the same except the 25 is small (about 1/2 the size of the rest)

yes they would get rid of the DVR fee. But you'd have a 2 year agreement then

 

[Jimbo]

They will probably still want to come out and update her with a new dish form the HD, they would have to regardless.

Like Ice mentioned, a 2 yr commit would be attached to any new recvr other than the same recvr. you have.

 

[Mr Tony]

Do DirecTV receivers require use of a phone line?

PPV ordering only

 

[PopcornNMore]

I can't seem to find on what satellite are the HD channels? Her dish now is aimed at 101.

 

[Hutch1814]

I can't seem to find on what satellite are the HD channels? Her dish now is aimed at 101.

Hd channels are on 99 and 103. The dishes all use the 101 for aiming purposes. Of you have all the settings correct for your area when using a slimline dish the others fall in to place by aiming at the 101

 

[Mr Tony]

Popcorn
What market is she in?

 

[PopcornNMore]

Popcorn
What market is she in?

Philadelphia.

If she gets a HD receiver and the doesn't subscribe to HD programming would she still receive locals in HD like Dish does? She has been a subscriber for approx. 20 years and has never missed a payment. Is it possible for her to get HD added at no cost?