DIRECTV Questions

[Color Me Badd Fan]

I think the picture quality with Dish is better. I had DTV for two years, then switched to Dish last year. The lag issue arises periodically, but it wasn't nearly as big of a problem as it was with DTV. But I outlined some problems with the Dish DVR in another post -- mainly you can't rewind a live show if, say during a commercial break, you turn on a recorded program. It sounds like a minor thing, but I used to like to do that during sports programs. I also think DTV has better deals as far as getting HD in multiple rooms.

For me, I've considered switching back to DTV but the deciding factor is ultimately one thing -- the Redzone Channel. As far as I can tell, you can only get the Redzone Channel (or DirecTV's version of it) on DirecTV by getting the NFL Sunday Ticket. With Dish, I pay $5 for the sports package.

[il Padrino Ute]

I have had DTV for several years now. I love the iPhone app for DVR scheduling. Picture quality OK, but not great. One thing I can't stand is the crappy equipment I have. Takes forever to bring up the menus and browse. Just a basic search (for what football games are currently on for example) takes so long (up to a minute) it is hardly worth the effort. Rebooting the machine takes 15 minutes.

I am thinking of either switching to DISH or upgrading my equipment (more likely). I am sure the new equipment is better. Can anyone confirm that for me? Right now I have three receivers: HD DVR, HD DVR, SD DVR. I am looking to replace with HD DVR, HD Receiver, SD Receiver and use the one HD DVR as a central DVR for the entire house via the "Whole Home" thing (or whatever it is called). Also looking forward to using the new iPad app for viewing content off the DVR from anywhere in the house.

Anyone have a set up like this? Would this work? Is the new equipment reasonably responsive?

The new equipment sucks. The older equipment blows. As far as I'm concerned, that's the only difference.

[old_gregg]

the new directv hd boxes are by far the best available from any provider. great interface that doesn't look like scaled up 8 bit, intuitive remote, cleaner dvr with features that make sense, etc.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Geez, where do I begin? I ordered three new receivers and whole home installation. Due to my long-term status, they offered me the three receivers (HD DVR, HD, SD DVR) for $99. The Whole Home install was $149.

The tech showed up on Friday afternoon to install. He noted that I already have an ethernet connection to each box and my dish and switch are fairly new so he said that he didn't need to install anything to get the Whole Home thing working. He asked me how much they were charging me. I told him $150 and he just shook his head. He told me to call them up and tell them I had changed my mind on the Whole Home so that they would refund my money. We then spent the next three hours on the phone trying to get them to change the order. Must have made 12-15 calls. A sampling:

Me: "I would like to change my order. I no longer want Whole Home."
DTV: "Has the equipment been installed?"
Me: "No."
DTV: "Let me see ... It is not letting me do it. Since you are a new customer, it is not letting me change it."
Me: "I am not a new customer. I have had this account for years." (She had my account up on the computer)
DTV: "But you just told me the equipment hasn't been installed yet."
Me: "Yeah, I was talking about the new equipment the guy is here to install."
DTV: "OK, it looks like the only way I can change this is if we cancel the order and start a new one."
Me: "I am totally fine with that. Let's do it."
DTV: "If we do that, we will need to schedule a new time for installation."
Me: "What are you talking about? The installer is standing here next to me."
DTV: "Sorry, that's the only way we can do it. I realize that you want to do it that way, but we have rules to follow."
Me: "How long would it take for a new appointment?"
DTV: "About a week."

:igiveup2:

That is just one of a dozens of similar exchanges over the course of two hours. Also, much of the information they told me about the new receivers, equipment options, etc. was flat-out wrong.

In the end, I just canceled the order completely. The tech told me that there is a new HD DVR they are starting to install that has a 1 TB hard drive and 6 tuners. It costs $4-500 now but he thinks it will be the standard $200 unit in six months or so. I am going to hold out and get that one for free with my credit. I will just have them ship it and I will install it myself.

So to get Whole Home, I just needed to call back and tell them to turn it on. But the two different people I talked to did not know how to turn it on, so the tech had to take the phone and tell them what menu commands to click in the support software.

I would switch to Dish or Comcast, but they are just as bad. Incredible.

[falafel]

If the guy didn't install anything and they only need to flip the switch to activate the whole home DVR, you must already have the broadband kit installed, which would be strange because the only reason you need to have it installed is if you have whole home DVR.

Maybe I missed something.

Bummer about the customer service. I wonder if they've gotten wise to the installers' efforts to undermine their pricing scheme.

[Jeff Lebowski]

If the guy didn't install anything and they only need to flip the switch to activate the whole home DVR, you must already have the broadband kit installed, which would be strange because the only reason you need to have it installed is if you have whole home DVR.

Maybe I missed something.

I called six months ago about whole home and they said that I would need all new receivers (not true). When I called last week, they said that they would need to pull new cables through my entire house (not true). I have had this same dish and switch for 3-4 years.

You are probably thinking of the DECA adapter that they add to the back of each receiver. The only function this serves is to use your coaxial cables as a local network to connect the receivers. If you have an Ethernet connection at each unit, your home network provides the same functionality. The tech was about to connect those to my system until he saw my ethernet cables. He said ethernet works better anyway.

He said that the $150 they were charging me (besides being higher than they normally charge) was to replace the dish, the SWIM switch, and add the DECA devices. I didn't need any of that.

Bummer about the customer service. I wonder if they've gotten wise to the installers' efforts to undermine their pricing scheme.

That's funny. I can assure you it was nothing like that.

[Coach McGuirk]

That new receiver sounds bad ass.

are the new receivers going to be wifi compatible? I hate hard wiring them.

[falafel]

I called six months ago about whole home and they said that I would need all new receivers (not true). When I called last week, they said that they would need to pull new cables through my entire house (not true). I have had this same dish and switch for 3-4 years.

You are probably thinking of the DECA adapter that they add to the back of each receiver. The only function this serves is to use your coaxial cables as a local network to connect the receivers. If you have an Ethernet connection at each unit, your home network provides the same functionality. The tech was about to connect those to my system until he saw my ethernet cables. He said ethernet works better anyway.

He said that the $150 they were charging me (besides being higher than they normally charge) was to replace the dish, the SWIM switch, and add the DECA devices. I didn't need any of that.

That's funny. I can assure you it was nothing like that.

I'm no satelite pro, and none of this really important now, but my understanding is that not only do you need your receivers to be connected to your home network via ethernet, you have to have a broadband adapter that converts the signal from your coax to be able to send it along the cat5. This is separate from the DECA adapters at each receiver (which you only need if you have older receivers). As I posted about previously, I'm in the middle of doing this small upgrade at my house.

What receivers do you have? My understanding is each receiver needs the DECA adapters, but that the newer ones just have them built in. And its funny that the tech told you that the whole home DVR works better over ethernet - I've read that it works better over coax. Plus, would you want to take up bandwidth on your home network if you didn't have to? I'm not sure how much it would take, but it seems like my home network is getting more and more crowded these days with all the wireless and other devices that depend on it (netflix, PC to device streaming, etc.)

[Jeff Lebowski]

That new receiver sounds bad ass.

are the new receivers going to be wifi compatible? I hate hard wiring them.

No. wifi isn't fast enough. Neither is powerline ethernet.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I'm no satelite pro, and none of this really important now, but my understanding is that not only do you need your receivers to be connected to your home network via ethernet, you have to have a broadband adapter that converts the signal from your coax to be able to send it along the cat5. This is separate from the DECA adapters at each receiver (which you only need if you have older receivers). As I posted about previously, I'm in the middle of doing this small upgrade at my house.

I am not following you. Where would such a device (broadband adapter) be located?

EDIT: Google seems to indicate that DECA=Broadband Adapter

I don't have any kind of broadband adapter.

What receivers do you have?

HR22 and HR24.

My understanding is each receiver needs the DECA adapters, but that the newer ones just have them built in.

No, they don't all need them, but you are right that the new ones will all have DECA built in. In fact, the new ones don't have an ethernet port.

And its funny that the tech told you that the whole home DVR works better over ethernet - I've read that it works better over coax. Plus, would you want to take up bandwidth on your home network if you didn't have to? I'm not sure how much it would take, but it seems like my home network is getting more and more crowded these days with all the wireless and other devices that depend on it (netflix, PC to device streaming, etc.)

Good question. That is what he said.

As for the home network, it is just a direct unit-to-unit connection. Certainly doesn't affect the internet connection. Performance seems fine thus far.

[Coach McGuirk]

No. wifi isn't fast enough. Neither is powerline ethernet.

I am just talking about how they make you plug in the ethernet cable to the back to order ppv or other features, I just want to hook wirelessly.

[cougjunkie]

The new menu and interface is pretty slick.

[falafel]

I am not following you. Where would such a device (broadband adapter) be located?

EDIT: Google seems to indicate that DECA=Broadband Adapter

I don't have any kind of broadband adapter.

As I understand it, you need the DECA broadband adapter installed near your router. You take one end of the satellite feed (speaking generally, since I haven't done it yet) and plug it into the adapter. You take an ethernet cable out of the adapter and plug it into your router. This is what allows you to access the DirecTV cinema (i.e., on demand) content on all of your receivers. Of course, those receivers have to be connected via ethernet to your network, except the newest receivers, which apparently can connect via wifi.

You don't need the broadband adapter in order to have whole home DVR, however (just to be clear here). That is accomplished via the SWIM switch. You only need the broadband adapter if you want your receivers to be connected to the internet (i.e., on demand content) AND have whole home DVR. Apparently, just connecting your receiver to your home network without the broadband adapter will somehow break the whole home DVR connection.

HR22 and HR24.

Regarding additional DECA adapters (not the broadband adapter, which is installed near your router), some older receivers need some sort of DECA hardware attached to the unit itself. I think this is related to the SWIM switch, however, and not the broadband adapter. Regardless, its necessary for WHDVR.

Sorry, this is still pretty confusing.

[Jeff Lebowski]

As I understand it, you need the DECA broadband adapter installed near your router. You take one end of the satellite feed (speaking generally, since I haven't done it yet) and plug it into the adapter. You take an ethernet cable out of the adapter and plug it into your router. This is what allows you to access the DirecTV cinema (i.e., on demand) content on all of your receivers. Of course, those receivers have to be connected via ethernet to your network, except the newest receivers, which apparently can connect via wifi.

You don't need the broadband adapter in order to have whole home DVR, however (just to be clear here). That is accomplished via the SWIM switch. You only need the broadband adapter if you want your receivers to be connected to the internet (i.e., on demand content) AND have whole home DVR. Apparently, just connecting your receiver to your home network without the broadband adapter will somehow break the whole home DVR connection.

I can guarantee you that there is no such device in my system and I have had access to all of the on-demand content via the internet for years and now the whole home stuff is working. I did a network test (in the system setup menu) and it said that it is connected to the internet and everything is functional.

Maybe what you are describing is necessary for someone who does not have broadband access? I.e., it uses the satellite to download content?

Either way, my system will be reconfigured when I get the new HR34 receiver because it has a built-in DECA.

[Jeff Lebowski]

The new menu and interface is pretty slick.

I will have to check that out tonight. The tech guy told me it was coming online on 12/12. It wasn't on my system last night. He said it was kind of patterned after the Apple TV interface.