DirecTV Question

[pastorables]

We have used both DirecTV and DISH network. We currently use DirecTV due to the fact that it seems to offer a little more overall. We were not dissatisfied with DISH.

The negative would be that SkyAngel ( http://www.skyangel.com/ ) religious programming only works with DISH if that is ever a desire.

The pricing seems to be fairly competitive between the two companies.

pa

[Billy n NC]

I found this over on the Direct tv website FAQ

With this phone connection, DIRECTV customers are authorized to order Pay Per View movies and events with their remote control and get popular sports subscriptions such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET™. You cannot connect a cellular phone to your receiver; it must be a land-based phone line.

Customers who don't have a continuous telephone connection are not authorized to receive certain sports programming and must call us to order Pay Per View. To cover the cost of handling phone requests, there is an additional $1.50 charge when Pay Per View events and movies are ordered by phone using the automated ordering system or an additional $5 charge for an operator-assisted order.

[HogWild]

Here is DirecTV's response and then my followup to them.

Thanks for writing and for your interest in DIRECTV! I understand you need more information as to the phone line requirement in getting DIRECTV service. I'd be honored to provide you the information you need to get started.

We normally ask customers to connect a phone line to their DIRECTV System for billing as well as program ordering and viewing purposes. The purpose is that the phone line sends us account information from your system's receiver box. This important link lets you order pay per view movies and events with your remote control, get access to your local Regional Sports Network (if it's included in your monthly package), and watch popular sports subscriptions like NFL SUNDAY TICKET and NBA LEAGUE PASS. This connection will not interfere with the use of your phone.

If you don’t have a continuous telephone connection you won’t be able to access local professional and other select sports programming or order pay per view with your remote control.

Furthermore, with a phone line you can receive the full benefits (pay per view purchases via remote control/sports subscription auto-renewal) of your DIRECTV System, the receiver must be continuously connected to a land-based phone line, which means that both the phone and the receiver must have a fixed location. Unfortunately, a cell phone does not meet either of these criteria because it is mobile and usually not left on at all times.

If you can't connect your receiver to a standard phone line, several manufacturers offer wireless phone jacks that are compatible with DIRECTV equipment. There may be some limitations to using a wireless connection so we recommend that you check with your local electronics dealer to find out if one will work for you.

Hence, the phone line is a requirement if you needed to utilize the full benefits of your receiver in line with program events, software downloads and ordering an event using the remote control.

Here is my response.

The situation is, I do not have a land-line and am not going to have one hooked up.

I have read quite a bit on message boards of people who have DirecTV and use the sports packages and such and do not have a landline. They claim to have no problems.

I also understand from reading materials on the internet that I can order pay-per-view via my computer. Can I order the NFL Ticket that way?

I will switch this week to DirecTV if there is any way around the land-line issue. I cannot and will not be able to have a line connected to the unit even temporarily. The only option that I would have would be to connect it via my wireless network/broadband system in the house.

I want to purchase DirecTV. I’m willing to sign a long term contract. I realize that the equipment I desire is going to cost me (you website estimated my startup costs at nearly $1000). I’m ok with that… I am very dissatisfied with my cable company. I just will not have a land-line phone. And I want the NFL Direct Ticket.

You’ll have a customer for life if you can help me work this out. If not, I will stay with my cable company as their technology would seem to be a bit more advanced (they can address their boxes without a phone line).

[Pastor Bill]

I don't know about Direct, but Dish does require a phone line, it's not really used much, and they will set it up without one, but charge an additional $5 per receiver (which is cheaper than a phone line)

Also on DSL, I have been told that there are packages where you can get DSL with a VERY basic phone line (incoming calls only or something like that) for not much more than the DSL cost (if you were adding it to an existing phoneline)

[Rob]

David,

I'm not sure this will help, but I love Dish we have had it for 3 years now, and we switched for the very same reason and had the same cable company as you did. Now we still have a land line phone that is hooked to the receiver and receive a 5 dollar discount for that. We have the local stations and I love Dish.

Pastor Rob

[FLgirl]

We had DirecTV installed last year when we first moved into a new home. I told the installer I did not have a phone line. He questioned me as to when I'd be getting one. I told him never. He proceeded with the installation in 5 rooms, one HD receiver, one DVR receiver. I have never had a problem using my DVR or anything else. My husband called and got a new Fox Sports package last week and within 30 seconds he was watching the game he wanted to see. There is not a problem with having no landline. Don't worry about it.

[HogWild]

FLGirl,

Thats kewl - and interesting. DirecTV just told me in an email that while most of their services would work without the phone line, the DVR services will not function....

Yet I have read several posts on various message boards that are in line with your response...

[MrDanger]

We have Directv and do not have it connected to a phone line. What I have been told is the dvr will work without a phone line unless you are wanting to record more than one show at a time or record while viewing something else.

[stevenson]

We have Direct TV and do not have a phone line connected to it. If you want to use PPV, you just select 'order now' on the screen and press enter on your remote. I opted not to get the DVR from Direct cuz we have our own DVD recorder.

We chose Direct because they have more religous programming then Dish. Dish does this as part of their contract with SkyAngel. My parents have Dish and have not been happy and are switching to Direct when their contract is up.

[FLgirl]

I routinely record 2 shows at once with no phone line attached. The drawback is you can't watch anything else live while recording 2 shows. You can, however, watch something that is recorded while recording 2 shows. I love my DVR so much!!!!!!

DirecTV is yanking your chain with this whole "you have to have a phone line connection" thing. The only thing I miss is when you have a phone line connected, you can pay your bill on their customer service channel with your remote. Now I just call 1-800-DIRECTV and pay it by phone.

[Alan]

I use DirecTV without a phone line as well. I don't have a DirecTV DVR though, I use a MythTV box for that (it's the geek in me).