Question for dkennedy

[macUser]

in another thread you said
"I check Directv website and call a rep...gosh...I have to give them some greens to get those HD DVR's... and some non HD DVR's for the kids rooms...a receiver for the kitchen tv...the kids game room....hmmm.....expensive...upfront costs....almost $1000 according to the Directv rep....he just didn't understand why I started laughing....I apologized and hungup."

Hi dkennedy,

First I'd like to say thanks for all the great updates you post. As a DirectTV subscriber I can just look at the satellite update page of the forum and know what going on.

You say DTV wanted you to shell out $1000 to switch to DTV. That sure is a lot of green.

Since there is no charge for installation, receivers are no charge except for DVR's, what cost almost $700 in UPFRONT costs? Did you want DVR's for several TV's?

I just added HD to my subscription with the DTV Plus HD-DVR (current top of the line) for $140 with free installation of a new required dish. It took me a couple of calls to get someone to work with me but I got what I wanted. The cost for the DVR was $199 (shipping charge was deleted) and he gave me six months of HD for free ($60 value).

The reason I am curious about your costs is that a couple of coworkers are interested in subscribing to DTV for the HD content. I am not questioning anything you wrote about your call to DTV, it just sounds excessive to me. I wouldn't consider switching either for that cost. I will ask if my coworkers will call and get a figure for an install at their homes and report back.

By the way, I have been a subscriber of DTV for about 7 years and have very happy with them. I do get my internet service from TW, and locals via OTA.

Thanks, Steve

[dkennedy]

I wanted:

2 HD DVR's for the main family & game room
5 HD Receivers to feed the other rooms

Total not including taxes & programming was $894.00 upfront cost.

The above included a free HD Receiver upgrade (after $100 rebate) and a instant rebate of $100 (I forgot what that one was for) and free standard professional installation.

I called several times and got a number in the same range. I did not fair any better ordering online.

[bruces]

Did you mention to DirecTV that you were switching from TW?

Quite often they offer a better deal to people who are switching from cable.

The other option is to just call back and ask again. Many times you will get a different answer depending on which CSR you talk to.

[dkennedy]

I think I found a way to cut down on the upfront costs. I will have TW supply basic cable to the house, this will satisfy my better half on the kitchen and bedroom tv's and just add a dual HD DVR for the family & game room.

However, she still wants to take advantage of HD programming for the HDTV's I installed in the bedrooms...

[Skaggs]

dkennedy said:

I will have TW supply basic cable to the house, this will satisfy my better half on the kitchen and bedroom tv's and just add a dual HD DVR for the family & game room.

If you just get Road Runner, you should be able to split your cable line to feed basic cable to your house and get the unecrypted QAM channels, too.

[dkennedy]

Thanks for the info...I have RR already...so I should be ok...my wife, however, wants HD in the bedrooms since I have 26" HD LCD Panny's in each...so I am back to looking at a whole house solution...

[ebo]

What does your wife want in HD? If she'd be satisfied with the local broadcast channels, and if the Pannys (Pannies?) have clear QAM tuners, then, as Skaggs said, you're all set. Just run the cable to the TVs and scan for channels. The locals are there, in HD, unencrypted, with any level of subscription including Basic.

If she wants more (Discovery HD Theater, HBO, etc.) then you need an appropriate subscription and either an HD cable box or CableCard (if supported) per TV.

[dkennedy]

She wants HGTV in HD, Discover HD and NGC HD.

Each TV has a ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuners. I have tested what skaggs mentioned and it works. I receive the local HD channels on each set.

[macUser]

Also, if you have intentions of signing up for any of the sports subscriptions, be sure to mention this. The Sunday Ticket football subscription seems to be a big deal.

My Mits TV does not have a QAM tuner and you can be sure if I buy one that DTV will announce it has agreements to broadcast the locals in HD within hours.