Thoughts on Directv? Might leave TWC.

[vegasvic]

My cable was out a lot more than I've had outages with rain fade.

Channel 58 will at some point capitulate.  They are definitely a minor league operation.

[Tom Snyder]

Have you considered Uverse?

Does Uverse's bandwidth still limit how many HD channels you can watch or stream at the same time?

[FiberOptic]

TWC had several channels like A&E, HBO, Showtime etc, where you go to a list of shows and pick which one you wanted to watch at that moment.  These were not on the guide  but available at any time.  This is good when you forget to record something

[gb4fan92]

TWC had several channels like A&E, HBO, Showtime etc, where you go to a list of shows and pick which one you wanted to watch at that moment.  These were not on the guide  but available at any time.  This is good when you forget to record something

none of which are HD channels!

[hormy_83]

Well I've heard a couple people say they have no issues recording CBS 58 with their DVR OTA.  When I called around 4 months ago they said their DVRs couldn't record OTA signals...  But Dish said theirs could.

What DirectTV DVR allows you to record CBS 58?  Also to do that do you need to setup a timed recording or does it allow you to do a season pass type thing?

[murdoc]

Well I've heard a couple people say they have no issues recording CBS 58 with their DVR OTA.  When I called around 4 months ago they said their DVRs couldn't record OTA signals...  But Dish said theirs could.

What DirectTV DVR allows you to record CBS 58?  Also to do that do you need to setup a timed recording or does it allow you to do a season pass type thing?

4 month ago or so, D* did not have the OTA inputs active on the new DVR.  These inputs are now active and you can record OTA.  Your OTA channels will be integrated into the D* guide.  You can set up season passes on anything in the guide.  Eventually CBS58 will cave and D* will carry them in HD.  Until then OTA is your only option.

[basshive]

Does Uverse's bandwidth still limit how many HD channels you can watch or stream at the same time?

Yes, and even when (not soon) they are able to bring 2 streams into your home, is that really enough moving forward? That services one room to me.

[Steve Mann]

4 month ago or so, D* did not have the OTA inputs active on the new DVR.  These inputs are now active and you can record OTA.  

Yup, exactly. I currently record all my locals in HD via OTA (HR10-250 Tivo). That was another key to my upgrading now. Having the OTA activated on the new PVR was very important to me.

[hormy_83]

Yup, exactly. I currently record all my locals in HD via OTA (HR10-250 Tivo). That was another key to my upgrading now. Having the OTA activated on the new PVR was very important to me.

Well that is enough for me to take another look at DirectTV.  Thanks for the info guys!!!

[JDrama]

Some good info here. I like hormy am sort of feed up with TWC. I am so tired of the increases with no HD additions namely the NFL Network. The last straw might have been last week when my 8300HD died and I had to go to Mayfair to swap out. After waiting for 45 minutes and no apologies for the wait I was handed a 8300 HDC. Needless to say this new DVR is a piece of crap!

  Direct TV is offering free Premier Package for 4 months with subscription to the NFL ticket. This is very enticing for an NFL fanatic. I do have some questions regarding this. Obviously some of you have the ticket and so I was wondering what the SD feed is like? I am told that in order to receive HD feeds you have to subscribe to Superfan which is another $99. I will probably do that if I decide to switch but was still wondering what SD looks like.

   Local channels is an other important factor in my viewing. I see that all local channels with the execption of CBS58 are available. Is there an extra fee to receive these channels in HD?  I unfortunately do not have the capability to recieve HD feeds via OTA  on either of my HD sets.

  Finally I see that there have been some good and bad insallation stories regarding Direct TV. Obviously these installers are contracted out but is there a way to protect myself from a bad install? Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Tom Snyder]

DirecTV subcontracts with Premier Communications to do all their installs. I have had 3 different installs from them over the years... 2 were perfect. The other one was an intial no show because the guy assigned to come out just quit. But a supervisor came the next morning (a Saturday) and got me up and running without a hitch.

I can't begin to tell you all of my bad TWC installs over the years.

Here's what they say about HD locals:

To access DIRECTV HD programming, a 5-LNB Multi-Satellite Dish, along with a DIRECTV HD Receiver or HD DVR, HD television equipment and HD Access fee of $9.99/mo. required. HD Access fee included in PLUS HD DVR package. Check directv.com/HDchannels to see if HD locals are available in your market. If HD locals have launched in your market, they can be accessed on your standard local channels.

Not sure how clear that makes it. :huh?:

[Matt Heebner]

I also  want to add how great Premier Communications was with my recent upgrade/install.
 Installer was great, did a great job, and even re-terminated all my cables at the multiswitch upon my request for no extra charge.  I was worried after reading horror stories on other websites, but everything went smooth as silk for me.

[dicktwi]

Seriously considering leaving TWC for DTV and wondering what you guys think of getting service from "Complete Satellite Service" instead of dealing directly with DTV.  I talked to them briefly and they sounded like a better way, but I don't know the pros and cons of going that way.  What do you think?

[JDrama]

So if I understand correctly if you subscribe to the HD package and pay the 9.99 fee you will receive the locals in HD. It is good to hear that for the most part the install experiences with Premier have been good. I would hate to decide to switch and then have a bad install and my service suffer because it.

[Tom Snyder]

getting service from "Complete Satellite Service" instead of dealing directly with DTV.

All these other guys are just resellers who get a percentage in exchange in excahnge for their marketing efforts. There are other ways to get the same deal.

pay the 9.99 fee you will receive the locals in HD.

If you have an HD DVR and are paying for HD, I can't imagine NOT getting the locals... Ask them when you call to sign up.

bad install and my service suffer because it.

I don't think you have to worry about Premier getting you a product that is up to your expectations. When I upgraded to my new 5 lnb dish and the newest HD DVRs the guy was having a problem getting what he felt was a good signal to one of the boxes. He swapped out a splitter box, and completetly rewired one of the cable runs.. he wasn't gonna leave til he was sure I had a quality product.

Unlike the Time Warner guy who came out to do our Digital phone switch, had a problem, and gave up... and in the process caused us to lose our phone number... (long story... with no happy ending)