You CANNOT get the new HD channels with an HR10-250

[cyevans]

Guess what... The new receiver doesn't receive any more channels than the old one if you don't have a 5LNB dish (The local installer they sent out didn't install the new dish)

I was impressed with their customer service, but no longer... Now I'm caught between DirecTV and their installer... DirecTV says the dish was on the work order, local installer says it wasn't and refuses to expedite. Finally talked to the field supervisor after several days of this and he is coming out himself on Saturday to do it himself...

Originally Posted by cyevans

I had been quoted $299 a month ago and didn't have time to mess with it at the time. Spent some time researching and found this forum's great information / advice.

Called this morning, informed the operator of the problems many people had regarding their upgrades and asked about keeping the 10-250. She said it would be no problem and set me up for an installation within 3 days.

The operator was very pleasant and professional.

While processing my order, she had to do an "Escalation" because she had reached her credit limit with customers. After clicking away for a few more minutes she came back and said I would receive a credit for $367.95.

Painless, no additional charge for the new unit or installation and no additional charges per month to have both HD receivers. Good deal...

Note: I have been a PREMIER subscriber for two years, perhaps that helped.

[rex]

I just learned today that Directv will stop transmitting HD for these units (HR10-250). I guess MPEG-2 will go away. They are offering a HR20 or HR21 for free, but they will take your HR10-250 even if you purchased it from another source. That's the free deal. Anyone have a comment on this?

[rightcoaster]

Originally Posted by rex

I just learned today that Directv will stop transmitting HD for these units (HR10-250). I guess MPEG-2 will go away. They are offering a HR20 or HR21 for free, but they will take your HR10-250 even if you purchased it from another source. That's the free deal. Anyone have a comment on this?

I'm on record as having received a completely free upgrade to the HR-21 and slimline dish and I kept the HR10-250 while decommissioning an old SD Tivo.

Who told you they were going to end mpeg2 (inevitable) and more important, did they say when?

[rex]

The day I posted my message was the day they told me that they will stop transmitting to older HD units in the near future. I am receiving local HD channels on my HR10-250 (ABC NBC etc). The lady implied it would occur sometime early next year. She was referring to the HD feeds, and not standard channels. The day before I got a recorded phone call from DirecTV stating that I would be losing the HD stations, and they where offering free units. They did not mention the dropping of MPEG-2 I just assumed that. Thinking about it now I don't think it's possible, because of all the people that don't own HD TVs, and they certainly would not want to lose them. They did say the offer was to swap out the units. I did not take the deal right now, because I hate the thought of losing Tivo.

[stonedog23]

Originally Posted by rex

The day I posted my message was the day they told me that they will stop transmitting to older HD units in the near future. I am receiving local HD channels on my HR10-250 (ABC NBC etc). The lady implied it would occur sometime early next year. She was referring to the HD feeds, and not standard channels. The day before I got a recorded phone call from DirecTV stating that I would be losing the HD stations, and they where offering free units. They did not mention the dropping of MPEG-2 I just assumed that. Thinking about it now I don't think it's possible, because of all the people that don't own HD TVs, and they certainly would not want to lose them. They did say the offer was to swap out the units. I did not take the deal right now, because I hate the thought of losing Tivo.

People not having HDTVs wouldn't affect Directv's decision to drop MPEG-2 HD channels. They won't lose customers going to MPEG-4 because if you have a non HDTV, you probably are not a HD Access customer anyway. And if you are a MPEG-2 customer, why not just get the free upgrade.

[rightcoaster]

Originally Posted by rex

The day I posted my message was the day they told me that they will stop transmitting to older HD units in the near future. I am receiving local HD channels on my HR10-250 (ABC NBC etc). The lady implied it would occur sometime early next year. She was referring to the HD feeds, and not standard channels. The day before I got a recorded phone call from DirecTV stating that I would be losing the HD stations, and they where offering free units. They did not mention the dropping of MPEG-2 I just assumed that. Thinking about it now I don't think it's possible, because of all the people that don't own HD TVs, and they certainly would not want to lose them. They did say the offer was to swap out the units. I did not take the deal right now, because I hate the thought of losing Tivo.

Take the upgrade deal, provided they agree to let you keep the HR10-250. Tell them everyone else on the forum was allowed to keep theirs. Check the D* site to see if MPEG4 HD local channels are available to you now. If not, and you depend on OTA signals for HD networks, you'll need to insist on an HR-20 (leftover or refurb) or you'll have no ability to record HD networks.

Almost all new installs are HR-21's that cost them a lot less because they have no OTA input or tuners at all. If you let them install one, you'll never get it replaced with one the has OTA. If HD networks are available to you from D*, you'll just be giving up PBS-HD and CW-HD until D* adds them.

There will be a learning curve vs. Tivo and there are some differences that bug a lot of us. On the plus side, the new unit is extremely fast compared to the Tivo. No more watching a "take a minute" hourglass for 10 minutes. They aren't redoing a deal with Tivo anytime soon and Tivo can't produce an MPEG4 D* unit on their own, so you'll be changing sooner or later.

[redsheanazar]

Just a quick update....................I ordered another hd dvr today. The customer representive told me 299 for it. I ask to speak to a manager and he asked why. I told him I didn't want to pay that much for it. He told me that the manager would tell me the same price. I said that's ok, let me speak to him. He put me on hold and came back and said he could offer it for 199. I told him I would wait and hung up. I called right back and asked for customer retention. The lady asked why. I told her I didn't think it was right to have to pay 299 or 199 for another hd dvr, when I paid 800 for a tivo a few years back. She noted my accout and connected me to customer retention. When the lady answer the phone I went through the whole spill again. She looked at my account and said I see where your a valued customer. I can't give it to you below 199, but I will credit you back 100, if you get it. So in essence, you will get it for 99. I said send it on!

Hope this helps someone.

Those that can't get a good deal, may not have been with direct tv for a while.?. I don't know why they can't get a good deal. They have always worked with me. Just takes getting to the right person. Same thing happened to me on local channels. I wanted east coast feeds and I went for 1 year trying to get them. Then one day I called and and got a young guy on the phone from customer service and with a flick of the switch I had them, no questions or fourms to ask or fill out.

T

[F91]

DTV billed me for the upgraded DVR!!! I have shipping and the cost of the Reciever (299) on my bill!!! I called, and after an hour, customer retention told me that they would investigate my "claim" and for now , credit my account! They claim that they "do not, nor never have offered an upgraded new DVR for free." I told them to pull up the tape ( the one for "quality assurance") of their representative offering me the deal. I'm not crazy about the new DVR compared to my TIVO, I told them I wasn't interested in paying a dime for one, let alone the "discounted" 299$ price. I guess we'll wait and see.

[bigpoppapump]

I have a HR10-250. I called last Wed. and asked about upgrading to the new equipment. I was transferred to another group and was told that I qualify for a free upgrade. They scheduled the installation for today, 4PM - 8PM. The installer showed up about 5PM and said he was here to install my new 5 LNB dish, but he had no reciever on the work order. I called D* and they told me that no reciever was ordered. She told me that it would be $299 for the reciever and that she was not authorized to give it to me for free. I asked to speak to someone who was authorized so I got a manager. She finally gave it to me for and the installer had one in his van so it is now setup.
What a MESS to get to this point.
This is the latest in a line of errors they have made with me and my account.
I love their service, but their support is very lacking.

[Dstines]

So.... If i order Directv HD service Today 1-7-08, will I recieve the newest of the new recievers and dishes to get all the new mpeg 4 stuff and all the new HD advancments?

[lizardhowson]

Originally Posted by Dstines

So.... If i order Directv HD service Today 1-7-08, will I recieve the newest of the new recievers and dishes to get all the new mpeg 4 stuff and all the new HD advancments?

Of course !

IF you get a DVR & need OTA, make sure they send you an HR20 not an HR21 (no OTA jacks)

[leo45neo]

haha thats pretty funny

[rayh34]

If you upgrade to the new setup, do you have to have an installer come out? I have a different billing and service address. do to the fact that they dont offer local HD in my area, and did'nt want to go through the whole petition stuff.

[Cytoviper]

Hi all,

Glad to have this forum around. New poster long time lurker.

Just got off the phone, explained I have a new HD TV and need to upgrade to HD service w/DVR. Explained I have seen some pretty good deals going around and would give them a chance to make me a deal. So $99 gets me a new dish and receiver/DVR unit installed for a 2 year agreement and no HD service charges ($9.99/month) for the first year. Keeping the same program package + $4.99/ month for my old receiver on my old TV.

Not too bad.... for a no contract non HD non DVR customer before hand I didnt think.

[rex]

Originally Posted by rightcoaster

Take the upgrade deal, provided they agree to let you keep the HR10-250. Tell them everyone else on the forum was allowed to keep theirs. Check the D* site to see if MPEG4 HD local channels are available to you now. If not, and you depend on OTA signals for HD networks, you'll need to insist on an HR-20 (leftover or refurb) or you'll have no ability to record HD networks.

Almost all new installs are HR-21's that cost them a lot less because they have no OTA input or tuners at all. If you let them install one, you'll never get it replaced with one the has OTA. If HD networks are available to you from D*, you'll just be giving up PBS-HD and CW-HD until D* adds them.

There will be a learning curve vs. Tivo and there are some differences that bug a lot of us. On the plus side, the new unit is extremely fast compared to the Tivo. No more watching a "take a minute" hourglass for 10 minutes. They aren't redoing a deal with Tivo anytime soon and Tivo can't produce an MPEG4 D* unit on their own, so you'll be changing sooner or later.

I am a little late on this post. To get you up to date they were going to take my hr10-250 give me a HR21 or H20 but they would take the hr10-250 away from me. After going back and fort I finally agreed to let them take the HR10-250. As most of you know by now the new HD Def channels for ABC NBC CNN and most of the other Network channels will be only in MPEG4, and would not be on the upper channel numbers soon, not in the *80s channels. And sure enough the local net work channels are channel 2 for CBS-HD for channel 2 SD, and this is the same for all the local HD channels, as well as CNN which has CnnHD and CNN both on 202. The installation man cam, installed the HR21-250 and did nit take my older HR10-250
I also discovered that hr21-250 can connect to the internet via 2 Ethernet sockets. I just connected the Ethernet to a port on my router, and I was connected to the internet. the feature is called "on demand." So now I can record thousands of internet locations with many movies and other shows, and show that are yet to be played on the standard channels on DirecTV. There seems to be thousand of choices that are free, and a great number pay for view. But I will tell you it is extremely slow. It may take 6 hours to down load a movie. Jump in and make your comments,
Rex