DirecTV Sunday Ticket subscribers

[Twist18]

So, I have a DVR set up with SD and have been a Sunday Ticket suscriber for years. I can call customer retention and get a free HD DVR? I have a HD compatible big screen but never have had HD.

 

[Desert Dogs 05]

DirecTV is dropping Tivo in favor of their own DVR technology, except that they will still charge you monthly a monthly rate. That would result in less money sent on to Tivo.

The replacement for the HR10-250 is coming out this summer and supports the new 5 LNB (satellite) and MPEG-4 standards. Buying a HR10-250 still isn't a bad idea (I bought one a year ago) because when they convert your market to MPEG-4, you get free swapped hardware which matches what you current have -- thus the replacement for the HR10-250 will be swapped for the older HR10-250 for no cost.

That's what they told me when I got my H-10. I said, "I know the MPEG-4 reciever will be coming out, will I need to buy it again???" "No sir, we will just swap it out." Well, MPEG4 (not the DVR) is available now I when I called they said that it would cost me $100 to swap it out and that I would be renting theequipment, and that I would have to give them my H10. So basically they lied to me. So I'll keep the H10 for now since the only difference (I think) is that with teh new MPEG4 you get local HD over the dish.

 

[Scott MS]

That's what they told me when I got my H-10. I said, "I know the MPEG-4 reciever will be coming out, will I need to buy it again???" "No sir, we will just swap it out." Well, MPEG4 (not the DVR) is available now I when I called they said that it would cost me $100 to swap it out and that I would be renting theequipment, and that I would have to give them my H10. So basically they lied to me. So I'll keep the H10 for now since the only difference (I think) is that with teh new MPEG4 you get local HD over the dish.

The things about the migration:

1. Eventually EVERYBODY will be moved to MPEG-4.
2. Right now, the only services available only on MPEG-4 are the local HD channels. I received those via over-the-air antenna so I have no reason to change.

I do know that they like to charge fees for some guy to show up to your house and reconnect equipment for you. That may be what the $100 is for. Some kind of changeover fee.


.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

Scored my complementary HD recorder!

guy's coming out fri to set up the dish up so that it gets the HD signals.

mega meag props to the thread starter.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

actually with the new equipment you can lease it from them or buy it outright - to buy outright is very expensive - the lease fee is a one time charge, the only catch is you must return the equipment to the center if you no longer use the service

 

[CardinalChris]

How are you set up for autorenew?

 

[Twist18]

Scored my complementary HD recorder!

guy's coming out fri to set up the dish up so that it gets the HD signals.

mega meag props to the thread starter.

So how didya talk them out of it?

Chris, Sunday Ticket autorenews a few months before the season if you were a customer the previous year.

 

[CardinalChris]

So how didya talk them out of it?

Chris, Sunday Ticket autorenews a few months before the season if you were a customer the previous year.

Do you have to do anything? I subscribed last year. I thought I would have to call again and pay for it again, but not if it automatically renews.

 

[Twist18]

Do you have to do anything? I subscribed last year. I thought I would have to call again and pay for it again, but not if it automatically renews.

No I didnt have to do anything to renew. Check on your account at Directv.com and see if your account is being ticketed for it.

I just wonder how to approach them. I guess I just say that I am camcelling my Sunday Ticket because I don't have it in HD.

 

[Fiasco]

They are offering the HD dvr because they are crap and they need to blow them out, The HR-10 250 is going to be replaced very soon with a hopefully better unit (mid summer I was told) I am on my fourth unit, and two friends are both on their 2nd and 3rd units. The problem is most prevelent when you watch alot of HD programming, the unit is always recording the channel you watch, and these boxes struggle to record the amount of data HD throws at it, the result is audio and video stuttering that seems really minor at first.. but after a few weeks it just bugs the hell out of ya.

I finally got a high level tech out, who admitted they have been pounded to death by the issue. Also, if you end up w/ one.. just call weekly until they offer to swap it out.

And when mpeg-4 comes around, DirecTV will swap your HR-10 for the new non Tivo powered HD DVR sometime in quarter 4. As far as MPEG-4 being used right now, it is only for local channels and only in some markets.

 

[Fiasco]

I've been a long time Sunday Ticket subscriber, but haven't had HD until this year. I intend to call DirecTv and complain, so that I can get the "SuperFan" package.

Question for those out there with HD and Sunday Ticket: How many games are broadcast in HD with the Sunday ticket?

As an aside, it really burns me that they'd include the HD games in a seperate tier. I pay for both the Sunday Ticket and an HD package. For them to turn and around and say "Oh you wanted sunday ticket and HD? You have to pay a third time.....

Sunday Ticket w/ superfan gives only about 100 HD games per year. If you also have the HD package (hdnet, ect) for $9.95 a month you get ESPN HD which also gives you the ESPN games in HD.

IMHO, it's a big ripoff to pay for HD when it is a government mandated change. Your supposed to be paying for content, not the delivery mechanism.

 

[Fiasco]

p.s. I still think that DirecTV is an evil empire. One only has to do a little research on NDS, Rupert Murdoch and the inner workings of how DirecTV piracy got it's start. NDS provided the security cards for DirecTV. NDS was owned by Murdoch. NDS released the code that got DirecTV hacked. DirecTV stock dropped, Murdoch bought DirecTV. Hundereds of thousands of people (innocent or otherwise) got sued for piracy.

The sad fact of affairs is that DirecTV is still initiating new lawsuits for piracy even though their signal hasn't been hacked in around three years (past the statute of limitations). The profits from lawsuits is apparently to lucrative to let a trivial matter like the fact that the signal is secure and has been for years stop them from suing people.

It's a damn shame that the NFL gives exclusive access to Sunday Ticket through DirecTV.

 

[Red Dawn]

IMHO, it's a big ripoff to pay for HD when it is a government mandated change.

IIRC the change to high definition is not mandated by the government. The government is only mandating a change to a digital format; a digital signal is not always HD.

P.S. FYI Lloydian has an Arizona HDTV forum Here.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

red dawn - that is correct - digital does not mean HD

i personally don't like that they charge more for HD broadcasts when you are buying that package and the HD package

 

[RobbleRobble]

The things about the migration:

1. Eventually EVERYBODY will be moved to MPEG-4.
2. Right now, the only services available only on MPEG-4 are the local HD channels. I received those via over-the-air antenna so I have no reason to change.

I do know that they like to charge fees for some guy to show up to your house and reconnect equipment for you. That may be what the $100 is for. Some kind of changeover fee.


.

Yep, you definately want to get a box/dish capable of receiving MPEG-4. DirecTV has launched satelites transmitting in MPEG-4 exclusively for the purpose of sending HD locals. In other words, if you can't get MPEG-4, the only thing you're missing is the locals. So if you have an OTA, no big deal.

That'll change next year. DirecTV is launching two new satellites that will be beaming 150 HD national channels. Those will all be MPEG-4. When that happens, it'll be great, but you'll need a box capable of receiveing MPEG-4 to get it.

 

[Sandan]

Depending on your antena set-up you can watch one channel and record another. My Direct recorder has worked flawlessly. They are coming out with one without Tivo as they are developing their own type Tivo.

Yep and it reportedly sucks by comparison

 

[Lloydian]

It sucks by comparison to the Tivo (see my post at http://www.landlpcservices.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=4350#4350), but I'm not convinced anymore of its relative strength compared to the SA8300HD that cable folks have to use.

 

[bratwurst]

This sucks - I've had sunday ticket for 5 years and I haven't gotten jack squat in a retention package. So you're saying just call and complain? Whats the point for me if I have two directivos already, no hdtv, and a triple lnb oval dish?

 

[Sandan]

Does that mean it's better than the cable one or worse ?

Can you still get a HD Tivo and use that nstead ? If so what do you lose in the way of integration

 

[O]

For those of you that may not know, LLoydian, runs an extremely informative website.

Arizona HDTV Forums
The address is;
http://www.landlpcservices.com/phpBB2/index.php
Chandler Mike posts there as well as myself.
Engineers from the local stations, as well as Cox technicians also post.

As I said a very, very infornative site.
I'm glad to see you're here Lloyd and thanks for your site.

 

[Fiasco]

another great site is avsforum.com

I don't think I've seen a more comprehensive AV site.

 

[SeattleCard]

The deal works. I just got a HD DVR from DTV for FREE.

Best thing for you all to do, READ THE LINK BELOW! All the details are there.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=686376&page=3&pp=60

 

[Red Dawn]

This is also a great site for this type of information:

http://www.dbstalk.com/index.php?

This was linked from the AVS forum if you wanted to talk Dish or Direct TV stuff.

 

[stewdog1]

Woo Hoo! I got mine. It will be installed next Tuesday! I didn't get the Super Fan for free. I guess I'll try a little later.

 

[stewdog1]

I just checked my online account and saw that she did give me the Super Fan package for free. Sweet!

Now I just need to get an HDTV.