Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners DirecTv - some advice for you

DirecTv has launched 2 satellites this year (the latest in July). This will enable them to begin beaming over 100 (their stated intent) new HD channels. According to the DirecTv programming forum at DBStalk.com, 70 of those channels will go live in September. DTV will also be able to add the locals in HD to the smaller markets. While they haven't gone nuts notifying existing customers about this, the notices should begin to happen relatively soon.

An equipment upgrade will be required to take advantage of the new HD programming; you won't be able to get it with your current equipment. The required equipment includes a 5 LNB slimline dish (most of those currently installed are 3 LNB) and either a new HD receiver (H20 or the soon to be available H21) or a HD DVR receiver (HR20 or the soon to be introduced H21). The newer equipment has been available for several months and DTV has been quietly installing it (it picks up the current sat signals).

I've been following this since the first of the year and decided to act today (ordered the dish, an HD receiver and a DVR), thinking I would avoid the rush. Well today I got a surprise in scheduling my upgrade installation. The EARLIEST date I could get was October 12th. I'll be calling the installer tomorrow to see if we can improve on that.

I am telling you this to make you aware of the pending logjam and give you the chance to get into the process and avoid a June install.

I hope it helps some of you.

Ray, Thanks for the heads up.

Ray,

When will we find out about the channel selection?

It's not worth the change if Sci-Fi is SD.

Woohoo! I had DirecTv installed a couple of weeks ago. I know I have the 5lnb dish, and when I signed up there was a free upgrade to the HD receiver (checked, and it is the H20). So far, I'm really enjoying the HD content. Granted, there isn't a whole lot, but I don't watch that many channels anyway. I love National Geographic and Discovery. If more channels will be available, that would be awesome.

Thanks for the heads up, Ray!

Another thing to note is that if you already have had a H20 or HR20 for a while you may need to order B-Band converter(s). They give the details on their website. Just logon and go to “Latest News” > “Ready for more HD?”

I ordered my two last week and they arrived Fed Ex two days later. There was no cost for them.

Just ordered mine, my new 5LNB dish and HR20 will be installed Fri. Although he could not give me a new programming list, he did tell me A&E and the SciFi channel will be two of the first of around 100 new HD channels.

This is great news; thanks Ray and Michael.

Do you guys care to share what all this cost? I am an existing DirecTV customer. I've often heard they treat new customers better than existing ones.

Tom, I agree about them generally giving new customers a better deal, I would guess it depends on the type of equipment you already own, I believe without any type of exchange, to upgrade the dish and get the DVR HR20 you have to pay $298.00 for box and dish install, for a basic HD box with no DVR I beleive it is $99.00. HD programming is $9.99 a month in my case.

DBStalk has a posting that lays out the tenttive listing for the first 70 channels (including Sci-Fi and, of course - the Golf Channel).

As far as cost is concerned, I'll point you at DBStalk again here. They have a thread that details the deals folks have been able to get.

There is no cost for the installation, the dish, the b Band converters or and multi-switches that might be needed.

The go-in position with D* is as follows:
H20 = $99 + 19.95 shipping + tax
HR20 (DVR) = $299 + 19.95 shipping + tax

If you have been a long term customer in good standing, they will deal, but it may include asking to be connected to Customer Retention and you may need to call 3-4 times before you catch a deal you like. Some folks have waited for the prompt on the phone menu and said "Cancel" which gets a rep on the line immediately and there has been some success with that. Also, some folks have sent an email to start the ball rolling. I encourage you to get through that thread (I can't post it because I am on a different computer and don't have the URL handy).

Tom - to answer your question more directly, here is the deal I got (12 year customer):
H20 = 99 + 19.995 + tax and they will credit out the $99 charge on my next bill. Net is around $25 for the H20

HR20 = free.

The net cost of the upgrade/installation will be around $25. There is $5/month charge for the DVR service.

Also, the CSR told me I could upgrade the H20 (likely free) to an HR20 after 6 months.

One more tidbit. Apparently you can plug an external hard drive(USB) into the HR20 for more capacity.

I encourage you to get over to DBS talk and do some research. There is much more detail than I can provide here.

Ray, That's a sweet deal getting the HR20 for free I guess I should have haggled more