Thoughts on Directv? Might leave TWC.

[JDrama]

Thanks Tom that is very reasurring to know that they will make sure to do it right.
I am planning on doing the HD DVR if I switch. Not having a DVR would be like going back to the stone ages for me. Come to think out it that's what life is like with the new 8300HDC right now. About 90% of the time it doesn't record prescheduled recordings. Never had one problem with the 8300HD DVR. TWC sure knows how to mess up a good thing. I know the new software is Federally mandated but don't you think you would test and work out the bugs before rolling it out to thier customers.

[vegasvic]

When I upgraded to the new dish and HR-20's last month I had a Saturday appointment.  The guy from Premiere called me in the morning and said they were out of HR-20's and I had to reschedule.  Then he showed up unannounced late in the day saying he got the 2 HR-20 from other jobs.

He said that they get their shipment of HR-20's on Sunday and they usually only have enough to last until Wednesday or Thursday.   Friday and Saturday HR-20 installs depend on earlier cancellations. The guy did a nice job, no complaints.

With the new HD channels coming on board soon, the sooner you can get an appointment the better.

[Steve Mann]

Got my two HR20's and new dish installed yesterday by Premiere. They did a good job. Funny though, the guy's supervisor had to bring the HR20s by cause they were available in the morning when the installer headed out. Sounds like they're really having to manage their inventories.

[JDrama]

Im pretty much convinced to switch now. Just need to get an approval from my landlord to have a dish installed as I live in a townhouse. Do have one concern yet though with satellite and that is I have some large trees which may impede
the signal. What direction is the satellite positioned? I have a good open shot of the sky directly south but there are trees in the direction of the southeast or southwest sky.

[Matt Heebner]

You'll be aiming your dish southwest, and now there are 5 sats you need to pick up so there needs to be a pretty wide angle of non obstructed view. I think you can go to directv.com and find the exact location you'll be pointing the dish.

[gparris]

Thanks Tom that is very reasurring to know that they will make sure to do it right.
I am planning on doing the HD DVR if I switch. Not having a DVR would be like going back to the stone ages for me. Come to think out it that's what life is like with the new 8300HDC right now. About 90% of the time it doesn't record prescheduled recordings. Never had one problem with the 8300HD DVR. TWC sure knows how to mess up a good thing. I know the new software is Federally mandated but don't you think you would test and work out the bugs before rolling it out to thier customers.

Yes, you would think!
Since I am one of their best customers (all the movie channels, HD package, RR and Dig phone), I keep an extra HD DVR in use just in case I have a problem with one.
But if this Navigator crap is pushed on us all soon and the 8300HD DVR still doesn't record the scheduled recordings (the LEAST it should do), three HR20s and a big antenna (for my house-on-a-hill) for CBS2HD and CW9HD will be on order, really fast.

[JDrama]

I went to Direct TV's website per suggestion and my worst fears have been realized. I put in my zip code and got the recommended dish placement and the azimuth coordinates have me pointed right at my neighbors 60 ft tree. So disappointed its not even funny. Only alternative is to go out in the middle of the night and cut it down.  Looks like TWC will continue its monopoly strangelhold on my pocketbook. Especially disappointing with todays announced Direct TV HD channel additions.

On a positive note I did a hard reboot on my 8300HDC DVR and it is recording all programs now. But still do not like the navigation features and the lack of a recording buffer. I can only hope that when everyone starts dumping TWC for Direct TV for the improved HD lineup it will force them to get off their a** and start improving their pathetic HD lineup.

[picopir8]

I guess I just don't get the appeal of 'on demand' when you have a DVR. Doesn't that turn make everything 'on demand'? I never watch live TV, everything is prerecorded. So, when I sit down to watch TV, I just choose from the Now Playing list. What does TWC's 'On Demand' offer that I'm missing?

On demand from TWC or the similar content offered by uverse is much more of a compliment to DVR service than anything else.  Our viewing in our home is split 50/50 between the two features.  The DVR mostly records TV shows or sporting events.  Movies are primarily watch using the on/in demand service.  It allows you to watch a movie without having to first record it.  Also, since there are a large list of movies, the likelyhood of finding one that everyone in the house is greater than selecting between a few which may have been DVRed.  Not to mention, that we often find movies that we forgot about or were not expecting.