OK, I don't usually post personal stuff on here, but because we've talked often about Cable television (specifically, competition from AT&T U-Verse and and the Big Ten Network) on here. I'll share my personal saga as it may be useful to someone experiencing similar issues.
As some of you may remember, I switched from DirecTV to Insight cable this spring. I wanted my local stations in HD, and I wanted a DVR with no home phone line, and DirecTV couldn't or wouldn't make those things work for me. I switched, and I've generally been pretty happy back on cable.
Unfortunately, the Big Ten Network, despite its shoddy implementation and strategic stupidity, has caused me to be unhappy with Insight. As you may know, Insight's local franchise is being purchased by Comcast, and Comcast and the BTN are engaged in a nasty contest to see who can create the most dissatisfied customers in the quickest fashion. The net result is that a number of Illini sporting events aren't available on local cable television, including about 15 to 20 men's basketball games.
So, I'm caving in to the Big Ten. Despite the crappy quality of the network and the stupidity behind creating it ("We want to be sure our product is seen by as few people as possible!"), I'm now switching back to DirecTV. I just won't be able to stand missing that many Illini basketball games, especially now that they're available in HD on BTN.
I have been working with DirecTV and Good Vibes for the past two weeks to figure out how to make it work. They're installing an "off air" antenna to give me my local stations in HD. And their new HD DVRs can hook into my internet router rather than a phone line. As an added bonus, I'm going to get some of my favorite "geek" stations in HD - A&E, Animal Planet, Discovery, HGTV, History Channel, National Geographic, Science Channel, Smithsonian Channel and Weather Channel. It'll be a geek extravaganza, especially for the 1 AM feedings.
On Monday night, the whole installation should be complete, and I'll just be one more customer turning off my cable television, and probably for the last time. And while the Good Vibes people have been a pleasure to work with, the DirecTV folks are modeling their customer service on that provided by the cable company.
UPDATE: Somewhat related - this is an easy way to add the Illini Men's Basketball schedule to your Outlook calendar.
You must have a very understanding wife... or are you using the baby as a distraction? ;)
Generally, she's much less geeky than I am, so she leaves this sort of geeky stuff to me.
And she'll enjoy HGTV and the Weather Channel in HD as much as I'll enjoy BTN and National Geographic in HD.
Are you able to have DirecTV w/o a phone line? I'm seriously considering dumping cable too. I miss espn+.
I am able to have DirecTV with a DVR without a home phone line. They can use my internet router to plug into the DVR instead of a phone line. DirecTV with no DVR will work without either a phone line or internet - that was how I was set up until April.
Very enteresting, How many boxes will you have and who is your ISP? Please let us know how the installation goes, if they have wires all over and generally sloppy job (Good Vibes not noted for a sloppy job) or if it's neat and clean? I want to keep a dvr and HD is fine but I am a little disappointed in the limited number of channels on cable.
I will have one HD DVR box and one standard non-DVR box.
The wiring will be perfectly neat - I still have the dishes on my roof from when I had DirecTV before, and I've wired the cable around my house myself during remodelings, and it's perfectly accessible. It took the cable guy about an hour to switch me from DirecTV to cable in April, and he didn't have to re-wire anything. I suspect it will be the same on Monday.
I'll keep using Insight for my cable internet. It's insanely expensive ($45 per month), but my neighborhood doesn't get DSL yet.
For what it's worth, I switched to Directv back in September and I couldn't be happier. I signed up on line and they had a local contractor come out to install. The installation was very professional and well done. I was never very happy with our cable (mediacom) here in Rantoul, but did I keep my phone and internet with them. As a sports junkie I enjoy having ALL of the ESPN channels as well as ALL the Fox Sports and Comcast channels from around the country. I can always find a game and I will be able to watch a ton of college basketball this season (my favorite). I also like the other programing that I didn't get with cable.
Kevin Hunt
$45 mine is $35 are you sure don't tell anyone mine is cheaper, they just raised mine to $35. I will have to look into the channel line up. Sports are not the big thing for me. I am looking for a box that flashes a "temporarily of the air" notice during reality shows, do you know if they have those? Thanks Kevin that helps I have always wondered about how it would look.
My cable internet is $45 per month - I'm sure of it.
And I'm just as surely going to use something else as soon as something else broadband is available.
My Insight cable modem was $40 a month for the year I had it; after a year they sent me a letter that started out "Good news!" or something like that but really said that my cable modem bill was going up to $45 a month. (Congratulations, we're raising your rates!) Screw that, I said, and went to DSL, which I'm very happy with. I might not have bolted if their letter hadn't been so obviously and transparently disingenuous. Don't raise my rates and insult my intelligence in the same letter. But now I get the same throughput for half the cost.
Comcast is in the news, of course, for their violations of net neutrality. If this kinda thing isn't stopped now, look for the Clear-Channel-ization of the internet.
Friends don't let friends do Comcast, and let friends do Insight only if there's no other choice.
"Friends don't let friends do Comcast, and let friends do Insight only if there's no other choice."
At this point, for me there's no other broadband choice.
And for those worried about telecoms underserving certain neighborhoods - my neighborhood still doesn't have access to DSL, even though my house has been built for almost five years.
:-) 'course, out in Tolono our nice new neighborhood has no cable or DSL as options for intrenet access... Shame about that, but neither of the local monoplies want to be bothered, and "other options" are really quite expensive. Sad when I wish for the old Insight cable monopoly, but as they say, crumbs of the cake are better than nothing at all...
Welcome back to the DirecTV family. BTW, although the company line from DTV is that a phone line is required to be connected to all DirecTV boxes, it is not enforced for standard boxes or DVRs. In other words, your service won't be turned off if your boxes or DVR aren't connected to a phone line, (or the internet). They used to enforce this policy, but with so many people ditching their land lines, DTV opted to retain customers rather than enforce the phone line policy. The phone line does allow you to order PPV via remote, but you can also order online or via a phone call. Since your DVR is hooked up to your home network you will be able to utilize the new DirecTV On Demand service which is similar to cable's video on demand. It is just being rolled out, so only certain DVRs work, (I believe it is the HR-20 700 model). Make sure the installer gives you a DirecTV On Demand capable DVR.
Since you enjoy tech gadgets, check out www.ooma.com. They sell a VoIP device which allows you to use your high speed internet connection for your phone service. The difference is it is a one time expense to buy the device. After that you "own your dial tone" and there are no monthly fees, ever! I read about it, but I haven't bought one yet. Getting rid of the monthly phone bill sounds pretty cool though.
Enjoy!
IP, welcome back the wonderful world of DirecTV!
The phone line requirement, while it is still the official stated policy of DirecTV, it isn't enforced anymore for ANY of their boxes or DVRs. Too many customers were ditching land lines, so DirecTV stopped enforcing the policy instead of losing customers. What that means is that if your box or DVR ins't connected to a phone line your screen won't go black. The only reason you need the phone line connected is to order PPV via remote, but PPV can also be ordered online and via a phone call to customer service.
Make sure the model of your DVR is a HR-20 700. This model, when connected to the internet, is able to utilize the brand spanking new DirecTV On Demand service, similar to video on demand from the cable company.
Since you are a self proclaimed tech gadget geek, you might want to check out the web site www.ooma.com . Ooma sells a VoIP device which allows you to "own your dialtone" via your high speed internet connection. The difference, from other services like Vonage, is the only expense is the cost of the device. There are no additional monthly fees and you can call anywhere in the U. S. for free!
I hope your installation goes smoothly and make sure to post updates on how it goes.
To your dissatisfaction with the marketing of the BTN, I have to
disagree with you. I, for one, am glad the Big Ten requires the BTN to
be carried on the basic tier. There are so many special interest
channels which I pay for and don't watch, that when something I do want
to watch comes along, why should I have to pay extra to get it? I
realize Comcast wants to maximize profits, but being a sports fan, I'm
tired of being singled out to pay higher fees. Comcast doesn't have a
women's programming tier, or a children's programming tier or a young
adult programming tier, so why should sports fans be singled out to pay
extra for a sports programming tier? If they wanted to make ALL of
their channels a la carte, that would be the best solution, because then
I would only pay for the channels I want to watch.
Regardless, I think you'll be happy with your decision to return to DirecTV, regarless of the reason.
Enjoy!
To your dissatisfaction with the marketing of the BTN, I have to
disagree with you. I, for one, am glad the Big Ten requires the BTN to
be carried on the basic tier. There are so many special interest
channels which I pay for and don't watch, that when something I do want
to watch comes along, why should I have to pay extra to get it?
What are you talking about? If and when BTN gets added to a basic tier, the cable company will just raise the rates, making people who did not want the BTN pay for it.
I had insight with HBO and internet and paid about 110 a month. When I moved I was sure to find a place that would let me have a dish. I now get DSL and dish network with HBO and pay the same amount. It would be cheaper but m girlfirend made me get the plan with the soap network which cost a little more. (she always finds a way to make me forget exactly how much more) Anyway I love dish network especially since we have the Big Ten Network. I think people forget there are two players in the Sat. TV game. Dish network is great also.
"If and when BTN gets added to a basic tier, the cable company will just raise the rates, making people who did not want the BTN pay for it."
If what you say is true, then why doesn't Comcast drop some channels of less interest in the basic tier to offset the cost of the highly requested BTN? Do you think consumers in C-U would be willing to exchange some of the shopping channels, religious channels or music channels if it meant they could get the BTN? Or if there is so much interest in these other types of programming, why do they put all of it in the basic tier and only single out sports to pay an extra fee? (Premium movie channels are extra on any system since they are commercial free you are paying for the channel a la carte, i.e. HBO, Showtime, etc.) You also have to consider that Comcast would be able to sell commercial time on the BTN. Do you think the ad rates during an Illini game would be higher than the commercial time Comcast sells on The Weather Channel? This ad revenue would also help offset the cost of the BTN. By your logic, if the broadcast networks raised their rates, then Comcast should be allowed to put them in a network tier and charge extra so that only the people who wanted them would have to pay for them. I would agree with you if they were consistent and grouped all their programming into interest tiers and allowed their consumers to purchase only what they want a la carte.
Which is why I have DirecTV. BTN was added and rates did not go up. In fact, I still have an old rate plan that they don't offer anymore. DirecTV didn't force me to change packages. When is the last time Comcast let a current customer keep their current rate when they shuffled their package offerings?
If DirectTV and Dish can offer BTN and not raise rates, so can Comcast. Instead, Comcast offers a lot of low interest variety in their basic tier, but now that a channel comes along that a majority of their customers want, they want to charge extra. I think that Comcast is being very short sighted. When consumers dump them for satellite, (i.e. like IP did), then they don't even receive the basic tier rate. If they continue to lose customers, they will also have to raise rates to get the same amount of revenue from fewer customers.
I guess I don't understand Directv pricing. The BTN is included in the second tier of Directv, or the choice plan, which normally goes for $49.99. They do have a $39.99 plan that is comparable to the normal cable plan (Insight basic and classic plan), offering comparable channels. The cable plan is only $40 normal price. So aren't Directv subscribers paying a $10 premium for accessing the BTN? Sure for now you might only be paying $39.99 for the tier with BTN, but cable offers deals too (If only they offered BTN). Either way, it would be nice to have a competitive choice. In Mahomet we are screwed because DSL is not available (at least where I live with Verizon), and to pay for a Cable modem outside of a package is just nuts.
mahometman,
You bring up a good point. If Comcast is allowed to put the BTN in the sports tier package, they also get to charge for a set top box to "turn on" the sports tier. No doubt that set top box will also be PPV capable. If you recall a number of years ago in C-U, Cablevision, (the forerunner to Insight), made a decision which would require every cable customer to use a Gateway set top box for every TV in their house at $5 a box. That went over like a lead balloon with their customers and after the Cable Commission stepped in, they backed off and made it optional to receive new channels and new services. I suspect this is an ulterior motive to wanting to place the BTN in the sports tier.
Yes the Chice plan is $49.99 which is $10 more than the Insight basic and classic plan. The difference is the Insight basic and classic plan only offers 70 channels, whereas the Choice plan offers over 150. So yes, it is $10 more, but it is $10 more for 80 channels, not just $10 more for the BTN, (unless you don't watch the other 79 channels). In other words if you subscribe to the Choice plan, you get the BTN, you don't have to order the Sports Pack for another $13. If you have Insight basic and classic package, they want you to call them up order their sports tier, which will require the installation of a set top box. Cable installations are known for their punctuality, (NOT), so once the set top box(es) are installed, your rate will now go up because you will have to subscribe to their digital service plus the sports tier. All I had to do to watch the BTN was sit back in my recliner and turn on my TV and my DirecTivo.
Wisconsin at Ohio St. this morning and Illinois at Minnesota tonight. Both are on BTN.
Insight's Internet is $45 per month. Discounted to $35 per month if you also subscribe to cable TV service (was $30 until about a year ago). I have the sports tier too (added to watch Chief's last dance on EPSNU and never canceled) and pay $103.99 total. I think that is where BTN belongs. If they are allowed to be on the basic tier, what happens when the Big East, Pac 10, SEC, Big 12 etc all get their own networks???? Personally, I preferred basketball games on ESPN plus. Could then watch games at my mother-in-law's house. She does not have cable.
Hi Illipundit - I found this post in some monitoring I was doing for my client the Smithsonian Channel - great to hear you're looking forward to seeing some of the programs.
You might be interested in the special programming we have this weekend to honor Veterans Day - 'America's War Stories'.
The feature program is 'Remembering Vietnam: The Wall at 25', a documentary about the Vietnam Memorial that VVMF President and Founder Jan Scruggs calls 'the best documentary about The Wall I've seen'. You can see a preview for it on YouTube here.
For those who don't have Direct TV - they can see the show online at www.smithsonianchannel.com when it is live streamed concurrent with its High Definition premiere this Sunday, Nov 11 at 8pm and 11pm ET/PT.
IP -- Have you had a chance to test run your over-the-air HD broadcasts yet? I have also been an Insight customer so I could get the local channels via cable. I,too, am also pissed at Comcast and Big Ten Network for this "pissing" contest they are carrying on. I was perfectly content with watching U of I games on ESPN networks and WCIA. The Big Ten has just gotten greedy, and Comcast dosesn't want to back down.
I have heard that the Fox channel and the two channels in Decatur are a bit difficult to receive over the air. Have you experienced any problems yet? Where is your general location?
I will be interested in your review.
"Insight's Internet is $45 per month. Discounted to $35 per month if you also subscribe to cable TV service (was $30 until about a year ago). "
Actually, I just received a quote of $30.00 per month for internet from cable, I have their TV currently. The rate would be locked for a year with my modem.
"IP -- Have you had a chance to test run your over-the-air HD broadcasts yet? I have also been an Insight customer so I could get the local channels via cable. I,too, am also pissed at Comcast and Big Ten Network for this "pissing" contest they are carrying on. I was perfectly content with watching U of I games on ESPN networks and WCIA. The Big Ten has just gotten greedy, and Comcast dosesn't want to back down.
I have heard that the Fox channel and the two channels in Decatur are a bit difficult to receive over the air. Have you experienced any problems yet? Where is your general location?"
My off-air antenna was installed over the weekend, and it works great. I get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS all in crystal-clear HD, just by plugging into the back of my TV. It cost me $200, including equipment, it's mounted on my roof, and I can pass along the install guy's name and phone number if you email me. I'm in SE Urbana, just west of Brickhouse/TK Wendl's.
I haven't used my OTA local HDs with DirecTV yet, as the satellite guys screwed up my install on Monday and are coming out this afternoon to fix it. To make a long story short, they brought me the wrong HD DVR. If you want to run your OTA local HDs through your DVR (so you can see them in the channel guide, record them, etc.) then you need the HD-20-700 DVR, rather than the newer HD-21. The HD-20 has a hookup directly into the DVR for the OTA antenna. The HD-21 does not, which means you need to run your OTA antenna right into your TV - which means you'll get those channels seperately from your satellite stuff. You'll have to argue with them for a while to get it, but you should be able to. The HD-21 will be much more useful if/when DirecTV ever starts broadcasting our local channels in HD via satellite.
Still a little nervous about making this all work. DirecTV and the cable companies seem to have a contest to see who can provide worse customer service. Once I get everything installed (including the DVR working over the internet instead of via phone line), I'll post more of a follow-up.
Actually, I just received a quote of $30.00 per month for internet from cable, I have their TV currently. The rate would be locked for a year with my modem.
Yes, the discount is for the first year you add the service, but they did not increase mine to $35 for almost 3 years.
The Direct TV sounds way too complicated to me. Plus a costly antenna installation on the roof? A friend just switched from Direct TV or Dish, I'm not sure which, to Insight because she has 4 tvs and had to pay for a box for each one or watch the same show on each tv.
"The Direct TV sounds way too complicated to me."
I'm making the DirecTV complicated, because I want my local stations in HD and DVR-able, and because I don't have a home phone. It's pretty straightforward otherwise, but I think you do pay $5 per month for every additional TV.
That said, with all my switching back and forth between cable adn DirecTV, my bill is about the same for each.
"The Direct TV sounds way too complicated to me."
I'm making the DirecTV complicated, because I want my local stations in HD and DVR-able
You are making the setup complicated, but the usage will be much easier for you - well done, IP.
The saga continues - to make a long story short, after the installation company (Bluegrass) repeatedly promised me that I'd be getting the right DVR (HR-20), and after rescheduling the installation to ensure that I got the right DVR, their technician showed up last night with the wrong DVR (HR-21) again and said that there was no way they could get me the right equipment.
I've taken matters into my own hands, and I've bought the correct DVR on ebay, and I'll be finishing the installation myself.
The only thing worse than customer service by the cable company is customer service by the satellite company.
I did have a great time with the young lady who called me this morning to do a customer satisfaction survey on how my installation went. I kept telling her that my response to every question was, "The installation company lied to me." She got tired of that answer quickly.
When I get the right DVR (hopefully this weekend), I'll let you know how it goes from there.
Since we're talking about cable, does anybody have an HDTV and Insight? I have the basic service, so I get only the locals in HD, but they're always tiling and cutting out, or even not showing up at all. This happens on various channels at least once a day. Also, channel 23.1 (CW in HD) isn't actually coming in in HD 720p anymore, I get it in 480i. I want to know if this is a problem with my TV, or the assclowns at Insight who assure me that their equipment is working correctly, and that i should upgrade to their DVR to ensure the best possible signal.
Below is a comment I found at the AVS Forum. They have a section on HD TV broadcasting in Champaign-Urbana, and is a good source for questions and problems for local HD broadcasting. This time it appears we can't blame Insight. I think Insight will broadcast whatever signal they get from the local channels. I hope this information helps.
For anyone who's interested --
WBUI (CW 23) is currently moving their studio from Decatur to Springfield. Apparently they are going to be using WRSP's studio space. This is why they are not able to currently broadcast HD OTA in full widescreen. They hope to be able to be back to a normal HD picture sometime soon, however long that may be.
To IP: I would like to know how the picture quality of the HD channels on Direct as compared to Insight. Some people have complained that Direct compresses their HD signal, but I don't know if it is enough for most people to see a difference.
"To IP: I would like to know how the picture quality of the HD channels on Direct as compared to Insight. Some people have complained that Direct compresses their HD signal, but I don't know if it is enough for most people to see a difference."
I've noticed no difference, running in 1080i on a Sony 42". One may be better than the other, but I haven't noticed.
That said, just when I think DirecTV has the worst customer service in the world, Insight goes and one-ups them. I took my DVR back to the Insight office in Urbana today to turn off my cable TV service (but to keep my cable internet). They need to send someone out to my house to finish shutting it off, and they're going to charge me almost $20 to do it.
It's like they're having a contest to see who can treat their customers worse.
On November 10th, 2007 at 01:11 PM, IlliniPundit said: "It's like they're having a contest to see who can treat their customers worse."
My Insight horror story is from earlier this year. I moved in with my fiance, and wanted to keep my DVR box from my apartment (to keep my saved programs, preferences, and season passes). I called Insight's customer (dis)service at least three times, maybe four, in order to get this accomplished. Each and every time I called, every customer service rep I spoke with told me I (and my fiance) would have to physically bring in the DVR to their office in order to end my service, transfer the box to my fiance's service, and get everything set up correctly. The final time I called, I specifically asked the customer service rep if I could bring the box in on a Saturday, that being the next day we were both free; he said it would be ok.
So my fiance and I head over to the Insight office, on a Saturday, to accomplish this. When our turn comes, we tell our story; the woman at the counter said there wasn't anyone available at the office/warehouse to help us, since it was a Saturday... After seeing my face (and how I was about to respond), my fiance tells the woman behind the counter what I was told, and her reply? "Oh, just call in on Monday and get it done then, we can do it over the phone." Thankfully, my fiance was able to calmly get me out of the building before I started cussing a blue-streak...
Even now, 10 months after the fact, I still get furious about it. I despise Insight and would gladly leave them, except our apartment complex doesn't allow dishes and Insight's near-monopoly of cable TV service. Luckily our internet is broadband service from a different provider.
HG
History Guy,
The FCC has regulations regarding apartment buildings and unreasonable restrictions by landlords against installation of antennas and satellite dishes. If you are serious about ditching Insight, you might find the following document useful: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html
Thanks big head ed, I read through that document; sadly, our apartment has no balcony, terrace or "backyard" area, that is under our leasehold, that we can use to set up a dish. Hazards of having a north-facing, 2nd story apartment with no balcony....
thanks though, i appreciate the info
HG
HG, your problems come from, and you will get many more problems just as you deserve, is because you are "living with" your fiance. That's what we used to call shacking up, which is simply living in sin. Marry her or move, or suffer the consequences. You might think that just because it's 2007 it's ok, but God doesn't use the same calendar. Sin is sin.
"Sin is sin."
That is correct, so leave the judging up to God and let History Guy concentrate on fixing his cable tv problems.
First step: bad customer service
Next step: Deluges and turning you into pillars of salt...
Beware the new service industry oriented wrath! :-)
--
Glock21 Op/Ed
Anon 7:49: I've been absolutely amazed by a number of posts at IP in recent days, but I have to say that I think your post is the complete definition of why God invented the word "boggle."
"Boggle" is becoming one of my most-used words.
That said, I think that Anon 7:49 was tongue-in-cheek.
No, I think Anon 7:49 is dead on. Every time my DVR box resets itself (as in last night with about 3 minutes left in the Indy-San Diego game), I retrace my thoughts and actions of the previous few hours in search of the heinous sin I must have committed to deserve such a punishment.
I recently discovered that if I flip to one of the holy channels right away, everything returns to normal in about five minutes.
Everyone repeat after me: I will not feed the troll, I will not feed the troll, I will not feed the troll...
and Glock, just as long as my tap water doesn't turn into fountains of blood, I'll get by. :-)
HG
Maybe you'll get lucky and your tap water will turn into a fountain of wine? :)
a nice red wine, maybe something from France??
HG
OK - I've finally gotten some time this afternoon to update this with the final outcome.
To recap: what I wanted from DirecTV was:
to have an HD DVR with no land phone line
my local stations in HD, run through my DVR, so that I can record them and use the same channel guide, etc.
To get my local station in HD, I needed an off-air antenna. I had it installed, and it works beautifully. However, when DirecTV came out to do my install, they brought me the wrong model of DVR (twice), trying to give me one that will not allow my off-air local stations to be run through the DVR. I needed an HR-20 and they insisted on giving me a newer HR-21 that they deliberately designed without the capability of handling off-air stations (to make you pay get your locals in non-HD via satellite). Of course, they lied to me the whole time, insisting that they were perfectly willing to give me the HR-20, but their technicians kept bringing me an HR-21.
Finally, I gave in, and last week they installed an HR-21. I promptly got on eBay, and bought an HR-20 for signiicantly cheaper than the HR-21 through DirecTV, even with all their "incentives."
The HR-20 arrived yesterday, and I took it home last night to install it. Everything works perfectly, just as I want it.
But... (there's always a "but" when dealing with the satellite/cable companies...)
I wanted to send back the week-old HR-21 DVR and get my money back. The kindly DirecTV helper wouldn't do that, as they argued that I didn't actually buy the HR-21, but that I was leasing it, and so my initial payment for it was non-refundable as it was a "one-time lease fee."
I laughed. And then asked for a manager. Same thing. Another manager. Same thing.
An hour later, I finally got someone to look at my account, and they realized that they had put in my installation notes (per my request) that I would be getting an HR-20, and they kept giving me an HR-21. They finally agreed that I should be given a refund because they lied to me about what I was getting. They finally agreed to credit my account for the "one time lease fee" and arrange for me to ship back the crappy HR-21.
In a nutshell - I got what I wanted, but it took a lot of time and research and persistence. But now that it works, it's really nice - I watched a good hour of Planet Earth in HD during my 4 AM feeding this morning. :-)
(And sorry for the long, boring update!)
Good for you IP! Persistence pays off.
An alternative would be to keep the HR-21 and send back your standard definition box. If you order a single wire multi-switch from DTV, then you can use one cable to provide dual feeds to the dual tuner HR-21. The best part about it is no matter how many DVRs you have, there is only on $5.99 DVR fee. I have found it is especially nice to have a DVR on the additional TVs, because with a little one, (of which I have one), you never know when you will need to pause your current show. Then down the road, when you replace your analog TV with an HDTV, you'll be set up with a DVR and by then the HD locals will probably be available via satellite.
Just a suggestion.
Enjoy!!!
Mr. IP and everyone else. Dish network in HD is the best. Have you all forgotten that Direct TV has competition. Dish network also has the best DVR's. They have a feature now that lets you add storage even. Hope you all see the light and if you ever do ask for my email and number and tell Dish Network I recommenced you. :).
Wayne,
DirecTV is the exclusive provider of NFL Sunday Ticket.
Point taken, I just watch DA BEARS, and thats always on. Now if only we could get all of the sox games.
IP,
Since you purchased your HR-20 from eBay, make sure it is not listed on your account as a leased receiver. Otherwise, you will be required to return it to DirecTV should you discontinue your service.
"Since you purchased your HR-20 from eBay, make sure it is not listed on your account as a leased receiver. Otherwise, you will be required to return it to DirecTV should you discontinue your service."
Good point. Thanks.