Upgrade a second room to HD

[Double_B]

Been awhile since I have been on this forum so I've been out of touch with stuff. I upgraded to D* HD almost two years ago. Have a Panny 42" 1080i with HD-DVR in one room. Now I have an Optoma projector in another room that I project an 8 foot screen on a painted wall. I only have the standard D* receiver but now want to get an HD box since the Optoma will "accept" a 1080i signal....yes I realize it will just "downgrade" it to 480p(it's native rez) but that has got to be better than the crayon on waxpaper picture I get from the 480i or whatever the standard D* signal is!!! The built-in DVD on the projector is 480p and I am happy with the picture, see pixels in bright white areas but hey, it's an 8 foot screen I'm sitting 10 feet from!!! Other than that it's great!!

So, onto my question. What is my cheapest route to upgrade the receiver to HD in that room? I hate the thought of having to pay $99 just to get HD in that room but still pay $5/month for the leasing. Has anyone tried getting any free upgrades(as existing customer) from D* lately? I have been customer for 5 years and have had HD for two and NFL Ticket for three.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Double_B

Been awhile since I have been on this forum so I've been out of touch with stuff. I upgraded to D* HD almost two years ago. Have a Panny 42" 1080i with HD-DVR in one room. Now I have an Optoma projector in another room that I project an 8 foot screen on a painted wall. I only have the standard D* receiver but now want to get an HD box since the Optoma will "accept" a 1080i signal....yes I realize it will just "downgrade" it to 480p(it's native rez) but that has got to be better than the crayon on waxpaper picture I get from the 480i or whatever the standard D* signal is!!! The built-in DVD on the projector is 480p and I am happy with the picture, see pixels in bright white areas but hey, it's an 8 foot screen I'm sitting 10 feet from!!! Other than that it's great!!

So, onto my question. What is my cheapest route to upgrade the receiver to HD in that room? I hate the thought of having to pay $99 just to get HD in that room but still pay $5/month for the leasing. Has anyone tried getting any free upgrades(as existing customer) from D* lately? I have been customer for 5 years and have had HD for two and NFL Ticket for three.

I just called DirecTV about this a month ago and they wouldn't budge for anything. I said I wanted to add an HD receiver (without a DVR) to my second HDTV and they said that I would have to pay the $99 plus an installion charge (that would vary depending on what had to be done). I said that I would wait until they had some kind of deal and they said it would definitely be some time after the start of the new year, but that could mean anytime.

[glennb1]

Originally Posted by Double_B

Been awhile since I have been on this forum so I've been out of touch with stuff. I upgraded to D* HD almost two years ago. Have a Panny 42" 1080i with HD-DVR in one room. Now I have an Optoma projector in another room that I project an 8 foot screen on a painted wall. I only have the standard D* receiver but now want to get an HD box since the Optoma will "accept" a 1080i signal....yes I realize it will just "downgrade" it to 480p(it's native rez) but that has got to be better than the crayon on waxpaper picture I get from the 480i or whatever the standard D* signal is!!! The built-in DVD on the projector is 480p and I am happy with the picture, see pixels in bright white areas but hey, it's an 8 foot screen I'm sitting 10 feet from!!! Other than that it's great!!

So, onto my question. What is my cheapest route to upgrade the receiver to HD in that room? I hate the thought of having to pay $99 just to get HD in that room but still pay $5/month for the leasing. Has anyone tried getting any free upgrades(as existing customer) from D* lately? I have been customer for 5 years and have had HD for two and NFL Ticket for three.

An 8 foot display with a max. of 480p ?
Why bother ?
I'd have spent the money on a smaller 1080p TV.

[Double_B]

Originally Posted by glennb1

An 8 foot display with a max. of 480p ?
Why bother ?
I'd have spent the money on a smaller 1080p TV.

I didn't realize I had asked for an opinion of that in my original post.

But since you really need to know I will say because for 500 bucks I got a projector where I can watch movies on an 8 foot screen that look pretty darn good(probably better than you think) and then I can take it down and go watch movies by the pool on a 12 foot screen. See, I've watched many movies in the past year and many football games....for 500 bucks.....if I wanted to watch on a "smaller 1080p" I would've sat in front of my 42" 1080i.

[nybatt]

double b....

I recently went through the same process with D*. I called to upgrade a second room to HD, including a DVR+. initially the CSR informed me of the $199 fee for the second receiver, plus the lease fee. I 'massaged' her to eliminate 100 bucks off the 'cost' of the receiver, but that's the best I could do.... even as a 5-heart customer (is that the highest? or is their a 7?? whichever is, I've ascended to it! lol)

anyway, I pleaded my case that I was 'being penalized' for upgrading service. she agreed, but could do nothing better than the 100 dollar discount.

[glennb1]

I don't know why people feel penalized for upgrading when they find out it'll be $199 for an HD DVR.

I wish people would lighten up about this.
If you don't like it don't do it.

The DVRs and receivers do cost money you know. They don't grow on a big tree out back of the DIRECTV head office. If they did there would still be some cost involved to prune the DVR tree and water it.


DIRECTV isn't making you buy the DVR. I think the cost to buy would be $800-$1000. They are trying to get some help with the cost of the unit by charging $199 for the DVR lease startup fee. If it fails and you don't have the DIRECTV service plan they usually charge you $20 for a replacment DVR and a 2 year contract extension. I know some people whine about the 2 year contract extension. If you had to BUY the DVR you'd have to BUY another one if it died.

DIRECTV isn't get rich off the $199 DVR startup fee.

[BataviaPartyer]

Originally Posted by glennb1

I don't know why people feel penalized for upgrading when they find out it'll be $199 for an HD DVR.

I wish people would lighten up about this.
If you don't like it don't do it.

The DVRs and receivers do cost money you know. They don't grow on a big tree out back of the DIRECTV head office. If they did there would still be some cost involved to prune the DVR tree and water it.


DIRECTV isn't making you buy the DVR. I think the cost to buy would be $800-$1000. They are trying to get some help with the cost of the unit by charging $199 for the DVR lease startup fee. If it fails and you don't have the DIRECTV service plan they usually charge you $20 for a replacment DVR and a 2 year contract extension. I know some people whine about the 2 year contract extension. If you had to BUY the DVR you'd have to BUY another one if it died.

DIRECTV isn't get rich off the $199 DVR startup fee.

But they are also extending your contract 2 years. I'll gladly pay 200 bucks, for no contract, or nothing for a new contract. 200 < 480 to cancel if tomorrow I need to get rid of them.

And glenn.... since they wanted to charge you for an install, you should've told them to just ship it to you. If you're replacing a box, then it's just unscrewing the coaxial from the old box and screwing it in the new one that they're trying to charge you for.... it's almost an insult they're trying to take advantage of people with that nonsense.

[herkyjerk]

I recently had the same thing done. I got rid of an old HR10-20 Tivo in our BR for a new HD DVR. The first girl said it was an "upgrade" & wanted to charge me $99. They wouldn't budge on that. I hung up & called back & the next girl said it was a "swap" and I can have it free. If this is a new room you may have to pay, I think they are tightening up on freebies.

[glennb1]

Originally Posted by BataviaPartyer

But they are also extending your contract 2 years. I'll gladly pay 200 bucks, for no contract, or nothing for a new contract. 200 < 480 to cancel if tomorrow I need to get rid of them.

And glenn.... since they wanted to charge you for an install, you should've told them to just ship it to you. If you're replacing a box, then it's just unscrewing the coaxial from the old box and screwing it in the new one that they're trying to charge you for.... it's almost an insult they're trying to take advantage of people with that nonsense.

I knew someone would whine about the contract extension thing.
I'm pretty happy with DIRECTV. I don't think I'll cancel within 2 years.

I'm not sure what you're talking about in the 2nd part of your reply.
I didn't say anything about getting charged for an install, or replacing a box.

[WestDC]

Have you logged on to your D*Tv account online?

I upgraded to a HD22-100 for $99 with Self install (option) at checkout.

I then moved ny HD-100 to another room (disconnected a older RCA-SD recevier) Hooked that to an old sony 480i TV anf the picture is better than with the sd even tho it's 480i.

of course when I acctivated the HR-22 on the phone I also had them remove the SD receiver, Now I'm shopping for a NEW TV for the Hd-100.

If you already have HD Dish A-9 or the Sidecar (NOT 3LNB) the web site will allow you the self install option.

The Person that Activated my H22, While waiting for the process , shared with me he used to work at starbucks (last week) so when calling and takling to a CSR, please be aware that the person may not be up to speed on just what your talking about.

Also keep in mind that they can't see where your at in your house or where your receiver is located (room) so don't be to hard on'em.

[Double_B]

OK...so I got upgraded for "free". I called and asked when my 24 month contract was up and they said May and asked why I was asking. I told them I want to upgrade a second room to HD and that I may shop around when my contract is up to see if I can get a better deal.

He put me on hold came back and said he could give me the HD(not DVR, which I didn't want) for the $99 but then would deduct $10 per month over the next year to make it a wash. I signed up and it's on it's way. Another happy customer...as I always have been.

FWIW he originally said the DVR upgrade for it's normal price of 199 and then 10 off per month but I really only wanted the HD receiver so it was a wash.

[jamieshorts]

Originally Posted by BataviaPartyer

But they are also extending your contract 2 years. I'll gladly pay 200 bucks, for no contract, or nothing for a new contract. 200 < 480 to cancel if tomorrow I need to get rid of them.

And glenn.... since they wanted to charge you for an install, you should've told them to just ship it to you. If you're replacing a box, then it's just unscrewing the coaxial from the old box and screwing it in the new one that they're trying to charge you for.... it's almost an insult they're trying to take advantage of people with that nonsense.

If I am swapping out a new HD DVR from an old SD receiver do I need new cables or is everything the same. What if I bought a receiver of of ebay? Do I have to get a card for that or how does that work? anyone know?

[lizardhowson]

Hummm...

I called D* 3 weeks ago to upgrade a standard DVR to HD-DVR.

The CSR asked if I was willing to install it myself, I agreed, so she sent it to me for $19.95 shipping. (2 year contract extension also)

She stated the D* guideline is one per year for just shipping cost !

As a sidenote: I checked my bill today and noticed they charged me $199.99 for the HD-DVR, but 1 short phonecall and it was corrected.

Hope you'all can get the same "love".

[rcoleman11]

I didn't have any problem with paying $99 to upgrade my second DVR to HD. Since I was already paying the $5 charge for a SD receiver in that room, the $99 fee was the only cost. Not a huge deal. I allows me to record programs when both tuners in the LR are in use. Since DirecTV hasn't made multi-room viewing available yet, I use my Hauppauge HD PVR to capture recordings I want to view in the LR. $99 really isn't a bad deal; everything can't be free.

[rcoleman11]

Originally Posted by lizardhowson

Hummm...

I called D* 3 weeks ago to upgrade a standard DVR to HD-DVR.

The CSR asked if I was willing to install it myself, I agreed, so she sent it to me for $19.95 shipping. (2 year contract extension also)

She stated the D* guideline is one per year for just shipping cost !

As a sidenote: I checked my bill today and noticed they charged me $199.99 for the HD-DVR, but 1 short phonecall and it was corrected.

Hope you'all can get the same "love".

If you already have a SD DVR in place, it shouldn't be any big deal to install it yourself. That's what I did. It was really just a matter of disconnecting the cables from the old DVR and connecting them to the new one. I didn't get the free DVR like you did, but I didn't think $99 was a bad deal.