switch from charter

[tnichols]

I currently have internet and an hdtv/dvr through charter in slinger. i am going to change, as i've had problems with the charter service going out at least once a day all summer, as have numerous other neighbors. i've called countless times and had many tech visits, and its still happening, so i'm just going to bail out.

i think i'll probably switch to direct tv, as i think they are the ones that soon will, or already have, hdtv locals. i am unable to get ota up here. wondering if someone could help me figure out which equipment to request. at this point, the dvr is more important to me than the hd, but i'd love to have both. i know there are some technology changes going on right now, but if someone would mind helping me out and letting me know what i should look for, i would much appreciate it.

also, do you have to sign a commitment with the satellite providers?

also, is there a reason to choose dish over direct tv?

thank you VERY much for your hlep

[tnichols]

in our bedroom we have an lcd tv on the wall. with cable, its easy because we don't use a box. if we switch to satellite, does anyone have a suggestion on what to do with the box? right now, it's just a bare tv on the wall. i don't know where we would put a satellite box.

[bubbaridesfast]

You would have to find a place to put a box in your bedroom but the HD  boxes have RF remotes so you could put it in a closet or anyplace as long as you used a long enough HDMI cord.

HD locals are available in the Milwaukee market now. I don't know if you are in that DMA - I don't know where Charter is.

If you get D* I would get the MPEG 4 equipment because sooner or later it will be necessary. Actually, D*will likely only issue an MPEG 4 box except for dvr boxes because the MPEG 4 DVR isn't quite available yet. Rumour is that it might be out yet this month.

Since D* is now leasing equipment, the equipment you will get is probably determined by them based on what you will subscribe to, i.e. HD without dvr will be the H20 box (bedroom?). You can probably get the MPEG 2 dvr right now and request them to swap it when the MPEG 4 dvr is released since you are only leasing. I would probably mention that when you first talk to them just in case. The D* HD boxes all have built in OTA tuners with a seamless program menu.

Because D* basically gives you the equipment, you will be bound to a 2 year committment if you get any "advanced" equipment (hd or dvr) otherwise 1 year. I would compare the commitment to your cell phone agreement - you get a deal on the phone but are subject to pro-rated fees if you cancel before the agreement is up.

E* has more HD channels than D* but I believe is behind on locals in HD.

[tnichols]

they said that the current hd dvr, which is 300 dollars, will not get the local hd channels, and that if i wanted to dvr locals (which is mostly what i woulld watch), i would have to wait for the the hd dvr to come out this fall.

i'm just not sure if i should buy the hd dvr now, and swap it and the dish out later, or just get a regular dvr and decide later if i want to trade it for an hd dvr.

if you have any advice, i'd love to hear it.

[tnichols]

holy cow. direct tv want a 2 year committment if you get a dvr. any way around this?

[bubbaridesfast]

Yes, the locals in HD are only in MPEG4 so they aren't available with the current dvr. I don't have a dvr and forgot they cost that much. I thought I'd read on the avsforum that the new MPEG4 dvr would be out in August so waiting probably wouldn't be too bad.

Of course if you can get them to promise a free exchange with the MPEG4 dvr if you buy the MPEG2 one now should be fairly painless. I would think they could be flexible on this since they are the cause of the format change and it actually could determine if you become their customer or not.

The biggest lesson D* has taught me since I signed up 5 years ago is being persistent in dealing with them on the phone. It seems that the customer service dept. is so big it's hard for them to all be on the same page. One will tell you something can't be done but another might tell you that it can be done no problem. This is true for their technical support as well. If you are told something you don't buy, always ask to "escalate" the matter or for a supervisor or "customer retention". It would seem that customer retention isn't for you because you're not yet a customer, but who knows, it does kind of serve the same purpose.

I didn't really want my locals in HD because I long ago had to set up OTA and was happy with that. Then in April the locals were available here but D* wanted $99 to upgrade me (new dish, box and installation). I passed, then last month I saw on avs folks were getting upgrades n/c. I have 3 tv's but only 1 that's HD. The other 2 (one is 20 years old) will someday be replaced with HD and I don't know if D* will offer to upgrade one of my SD boxes for free. As long as most of the HD channels are MPEG2 and I have OTA, my MPEG2 box could be used with my next HD set so I would take a free upgrade if I could get it. I called them back mid July and CS said I qualified for the free upgrade IF I sent them my MPEG2 box. BS, I had to buy that box for $300 and I want to keep it and use it again. Sorry, she said that's the program. OK, patch me through to customer retention. Customer retention immediately said no problem, we don't want the old box and I don't know where that CS rep got that idea from.

If it sounds like a screw job push harder it probably is a screw job.

[bubbaridesfast]

holy cow. direct tv want a 2 year committment if you get a dvr. any way around this?

Not that I know of. Any HD box or dvr costs them several hundred dollars more than what you have to pay for the equipment and is subject to the 2year deal. $300 doesn't cover the whole cost of an HD dvr. I think they were charging close to $600 or $1000 not too long ago for them. I have heard of many aspects of the D* relationship being negotiable except for the time committments. You can probably get free or reduced programming packages instead but you'll be stuck for 2 years.

[AndrewP]

they said that the current hd dvr, which is 300 dollars, will not get the local hd channels, and that if i wanted to dvr locals (which is mostly what i woulld watch), i would have to wait for the the hd dvr to come out this fall.

i'm just not sure if i should buy the hd dvr now, and swap it and the dish out later, or just get a regular dvr and decide later if i want to trade it for an hd dvr.

if you have any advice, i'd love to hear it.

Dish Network has dual TV HD DVR 622, so you can install it downstairs, use existing RG6 cable and connect it to bedroom TV. You will be able to watch SD channels in the bedroom using UHF remote. Downstairs connect the receiver with HDTV and you can watch two separate channels at the same time on both TVs.
However, if you want to watch HD on both TVs, then you need to install HDMI cable from the box to the bedroom TV. That is what I did, but I run the HDMI cable to the basement to HD projector.
About locals: Milwaukee is on the list to get it from Dish this year.
Also, Dish has more then 30 national HD channels available now.