Who has DirecTV? How do you like it?

[Jonsey]

I currently have WOW with HD-DVR & cable internet and am paying about $130/mo. The HD (including the additional HD Pak) only has about 20 channels, of which we only watch about 15 (not interested in the sports channels here). It comes with the Stars family of channels, but we don't have (or necessairily want) any premium channels since they charge for them.

The breakdown:
Bundle: basic cable, digital basic, advanced internet & DVR service = $92
Receiver rentals = $20
HD pak = $10
plus taxes & crap = $130 total

I'm looking at the HD & DVR pack at DirecTV for $65/mo, but you have to purchase a receiver at $200.

Before seriously considering this, does anyone have it? If so, how do you like it? Picture quality? Reliability? Customer service & installation? Suggestions?

Thanks!

[dinoman]

We've had Directv for several years (I can't even remember back when we got it. Over 5+ years ago though) and can't say have any complaints. Now we don't have the HD as we don't have an HD TV, so can't comment about the HD picture quality either. Just our regular ol' signal though is as clear as I'd expect any non-HD system I've watched before.

Ours has been really reliable, very rarely it'll go out - mainly when we get a really heavy wet snow that builds up on the dish (which you just have to go brush it off) or during really heavy rains/thunderstorms. Other than that not a hint of trouble in several years.

[jpfelix]

i've had the hd dvr package for about a year now. i like it.

i complained enough as an existing customer to get my receiver upgrade free.

install will vary from place to place, they usually hire locals to do it. the kids that did mine wanted to do it the easy way. i strongly suggested they do it like it was before.

my only complaint is that any time you lose power to the receiver, you have to hit the reset button. you don't lose anything, it's just annoying to me.

rumor has it dtv will have the tivo option again in the near future.

[dinoman]

Originally posted by jpfelix
my only complaint is that any time you lose power to the receiver, you have to hit the reset button. you don't lose anything, it's just annoying to me.

Really? Is that just on your HD one or did your old one do that too? We've never had to reset ours - heck, I don't even know if our box even has a reset button!

[jpfelix]

that's just with the hd unit. i reset the old one once since 2000. the new sd unit doesn't need it.

i've not noticed any flaws in picture quality.

[O'Man]

Had DTV for SD for years because cable in my area is way over priced. Upgraded to HD about 2 years ago and am satisfied. I compared it to cable about a month ago and will stick with DTV.

Lots of HD channels, plus a second receiver for the other tv in the basement, XM Radio music, Starz, HBO & the protection plan (which includes equipment replacement & dish pointing as needed -- has worked for me) runs me about $98.00 per month.

[dc]

We were paying $86.97 for 2 regular receivers. We just added 1 HD receiver and supposedly it will be $10 more a month. We haven't got the bill yet. No DVR, I think it cost us $150 for the box. I couldn't even tell you what 'package' we have, it's been the same for over 10 years.

[catdoc]

We've had it for years, but will be canceling as soon as our current contract obligation runs out. We just got aggravated with the customer service--they'll do everything to get you signed up, but once you're in a contract you'll be on your own. It's like with the phone companies where they give new customers the great deals but don't do much to take care of their existing ones.

[beerguy]

NFL Sunday Ticket

[jpfelix]

Originally posted by catdoc
We've had it for years, but will be canceling as soon as our current contract obligation runs out. We just got aggravated with the customer service--they'll do everything to get you signed up, but once you're in a contract you'll be on your own. It's like with the phone companies where they give new customers the great deals but don't do much to take care of their existing ones.

that's how i got my free upgrade. i complained about that very issue. dish and cable around here are just as bad though.

i see it as a trend in many service companies. once they have you, they don't care. they even encourage you to swap providers at times.

[jpfelix]

Originally posted by beerguy
NFL Sunday Ticket

and nhl center ice!

[Jonsey]

Originally posted by jpfelix

rumor has it dtv will have the tivo option again in the near future.

I don't get this - do you mean real tivo instead of the DVR? I have always had DVR (and don't know how I lived withourt it! ) so I don't know what differenct there is to Tivo - except that you own the box. But don't you have to purchase the DirecTV HD DVR receiver anyway?

At least it sounds like a good service from all the replies. These are the small dishes - about 2 feet in diameter, right?

I remember signing up for a service called WANT-TV about 10 years ago. I was so sick of my current cable at the time I'd do anything to get away from them. This company came & put a 30 foot antenna on my roof while I was gone, complete with guy wires (whose anchors eventually led to rotting parts of my roof ). They neglected to trim back some overhanging trees, so that whenever a breeze blew it sounded like chains rattling in the attic. The reception, contrary to having a 30 foot antenna on the roof, was crap. That was a nightmare getting that taken care of...

...and catdoc, is there any other kind of 'customer service' out there these days?

[jpfelix]

tivo is a service that has some unique characteristics, like learning and specialized searching. some love tivo, some don't know the difference between it an plain jane dvr.

right now dtv has a dvr. it does all i want it to. the new receivers will allow you to use the tivo service without a separate box. they had it, then lost it, now it may be back again.

and yes it's the smaller ovalish dish.

mine is mounted to the eave instead of the actual roof. there's a lesser chance of leak damage.

[dc]

Ours is just outside the window on the picnic table that we don't use. We just open the window and brush the snow off with a broom. The HD dish is larger than the small round one we used to have. Not a lot tho.

I hate tivo, dvr any of that recorded crap.

[jpfelix]

Originally posted by dc
I hate tivo, dvr any of that recorded crap.

why?

[dc]

I have friends who pause movies everytime someone moves. Takes about 3 hours to watch a movie. Drives me insane. My theory is if I'm not home to see something, oh well... I can miss 2 minutes to run to the bathroom, or get a drink. Then when they pause it they lollygag around cause they know they're not missing anything...more time that I lose interest in the movie. Both of my best friends do this, even when I tell them not to...

[jpfelix]

i agree, those behaviors are annoying.

but it is handy to record stuff, especially once you get sucked into a series. although i got yelled at for filling it up with cartoons.

[dc]

LOL, I'd rather watch commercial tv. If you watch a movie here, pee and get your food before it starts, or get over it. Then if you have very many people there, a movie could take forever. I know they are excessive, but it drives me crazy. I'm not attached to any show that I have to record it. I like a lot of them, but oh well.

[jpfelix]

apparently you didn't hear me.

























































hush!

[dc]

[jpfelix]

you better be laughing with your mouth closed!

[dinoman]

Debi and me agree on something!

[Nina51]

direcTV is the best weather forecaster in the country. we lose signal when it's getting ready to pour.

on the whole, i'm happy with direcTV although their technical support sucks eggs. i think i'm paying around $70/month now. when gary passed away, i dumped HBO. i only had it so he could watch movies and boxing. picture quality with HD rocks.

if you bat your baby blue eyes at them, they'll GIVE you the HD receiver.

[drauka99]

Originally posted by Nina51

if you bat your baby blue eyes at them, they'll GIVE you the HD receiver.

what did you do Toots.... threaten them with your cane?

[BigSkyBart]

for an assist.....