DirecTV Question

HogWild · Postby **HogWild** » November 5th, 2007, 12:03 pm

I am seriously considering switching to DirecTV for my television service due to my increasing dissatisfaction with my cable company (Charter).

My question is this: Will not having a landline (we use cell phones) cause me problems?

Postby **Pastor Gary** » November 5th, 2007, 12:11 pm

HogWild wrote:I am seriously considering switching to DirecTV for my television service due to my increasing dissatisfaction with my cable company (Charter).

My question is this: Will not having a landline (we use cell phones) cause me problems?

Not sure, but it hasn't caused us any problems. We went all wireless maybe 5 years ago (?) when we realized we were paying about $30/month for the "privilege" of having dinner interrupted by telemarketers. We took that $30 and added minutes to our family cell plan, and never looked back. It was a great decision for us.

HogWild · Postby **HogWild** » November 5th, 2007, 12:15 pm

PG,

Thanks! Do you have DirecTV or Dish?

Do you order any PPV movies or use any subscription sports packages?

Dave

A2JGirl · Postby **A2JGirl** » November 5th, 2007, 12:19 pm

I'm gonna take this opportunity to hijack this thread. Sorry! But since PG talked about going all wireless, I have wondered if I could get rid of my landline and keep my DSL. I guess that is really a question for the phone company.

HogWild · Postby **HogWild** » November 5th, 2007, 12:22 pm

Please don't blatantly hijack my thread and say you are doing it while you are doing it...

I really am considering making a switch in the next couple of days and need some help and info with this...

Start another thread if it has nothing to do with my question.

Please!

A2JGirl · Postby **A2JGirl** » November 5th, 2007, 12:34 pm

Sorry! Didn't mean to offend. I thought it was on topic with PG's reply to you, just expanding. One conversation leads to another.

But in the future I won't do that, I'll make another thread. Sorry to have breached protocol.

HogWild · Postby **HogWild** » November 5th, 2007, 12:35 pm

It's okay... I don't mean to sound upset... I just really need advice on this...

Postby **Pastor Gary** » November 5th, 2007, 12:37 pm

HogWild wrote:Thanks! Do you have DirecTV or Dish?

We have regular old digital cable from a Time-Warner company. None of the satellite companies seem to work out well in our area... something about the heavy rains I am told. ???

HogWild wrote:Do you order any PPV movies or use any subscription sports packages?

My wife has ordered a movie or special now and then, but hardly ever, and no movie of sports packages here. Our cable provider has like 900 channels including a couple of hundred music only choices, and we only watch maybe 10? I wish they had a package at reduced cost that would give you any 10 or any 20 or whatever... we watch CBS, NBC, ABC, A&E, USA, CNN, FoxNews, FOOD, H&G-TV, National Geographic, now and then the CMEDY network and not much else, so we are paying for the ability to watch a ton of stuff we have no interest in at all. I am not a huge sports fan, beyond the local college team, and have too little time for movies.

Hope that helps.

Sherry · Postby **Sherry** » November 5th, 2007, 12:39 pm

We have Direct TV and so far like it. Though we do have landlines which makes some of the options with DTV nice, like the Caller ID pop up on the screen, and ordering PPV. We have every channel they offer, including the sports package, and so far we've been pleased with it.

Though the only thing I miss that Charter had that DTV doesn't is OnDemand, that would be a huge plus for me so I could catch different shows whenever I wanted. But it's the only thing that I miss from Charter!

Full Quiver · Postby **Full Quiver** » November 5th, 2007, 12:43 pm

You may need a LAN-line if you got the TIVO/DVR. I'm no expert on Direct though.

Paully_44 · Postby **Paully_44** » November 5th, 2007, 12:58 pm

HogWild wrote:I am seriously considering switching to DirecTV for my television service due to my increasing dissatisfaction with my cable company (Charter).

My question is this: Will not having a landline (we use cell phones) cause me problems?

Not sure what DirectTV or any TV service has to do with going away from Landlines.... maybe I just dont understand the question.

I cut my landline service off about 3 years ago when we finally had Cable Internet available. I love it. We have had no issues going away from Ma-Bell's landline.

AndyG · Postby **AndyG** » November 5th, 2007, 1:00 pm

I use directv DVR as well as 2 other standard recievers.

For standard recievers, you only need a phone line if you intend to order PPV and don't want to do it on the web or call customer service.

For DVR, they "require" it be attached so they can dial in and work with the system, but as long as you activated it with a phone attached, you can usually disconnect it later. Their Terms of Service DO state they can deactivate your DVR if you disconnect it from a phone line for more than a couple weeks, but I haven't heard of them doing it.

The DVR for DirecTV has a USB connection that is disabled internally (Can't be enabled per some hackers as the software for it isn't on board. ) Also it does not use a network cable and cannot have external video loaded or internal video unloaded like some Tivos

They are in the process of adding more HD channels and On-Demand functions on their newer systems, but it isn't there yet.

Also note, to keep from running into the problem of supporting old and/or hackable equipment forever like they currently have to with 1st and 2nd gen DirecTV Tivo's, they only "Lease" the equipment.

When you are signing up, you can get rebates and "free" equipment but if you get a Standard Def unit or a standard def DVR and want to upgrade to HD or HD DVR, you can look to have to pay $200 to $300 for the privaledge of paying $30 to $40 more a month for the HD Service

All in all I am pleased with the service and I went to this and DSL and disconnected cable completely. I spend $30 less per month, don't have speed issues when the neighbors get home in the evenings and I have more channels I really watch

As with all tech YMMV

Postby **Pastor Gary** » November 5th, 2007, 1:05 pm

AndyG wrote:When you are signing up, you can get rebates and "free" equipment but if you get a Standard Def unit or a standard def DVR and want to upgrade to HD or HD DVR, you can look to have to pay $200 to $300 for the privaledge of paying $30 to $40 more a month for the HD Service.

Our cable provider (Oceanic Cable) only charges $9.95/month to upgrade to all digital, HDTV package, and they provide the HD converter/DVR box free (on loan). I guess we have a decent deal here.

Postby **Shellie** » November 5th, 2007, 1:09 pm

Hijack, hijack, hijack!!!

Nanananana. :blblb2:

AndyG · Postby **AndyG** » November 5th, 2007, 1:13 pm

Pastor Gary wrote:
AndyG wrote:When you are signing up, you can get rebates and "free" equipment but if you get a Standard Def unit or a standard def DVR and want to upgrade to HD or HD DVR, you can look to have to pay $200 to $300 for the privaledge of paying $30 to $40 more a month for the HD Service.

Our cable provider (Oceanic Cable) only charges $9.95/month to upgrade to all digital, HDTV package, and they provide the HD converter/DVR box free (on loan). I guess we have a decent deal here.

Better than decent, lol

I am discussing an upgrade path with DirecTv right now via email and I think I just scored the equipment free as long as I sign up for a years contract. No worries there but they may have to upgrade the dish too and that is ALWAYS free.

Jude 2