Does anyone out here have HD for their DirecTV service?

How do you like it? Is the dish that much bigger?

Does anyone out here have HD for their DirecTV service?

How do you like it? Is the dish that much bigger?
Awesome :yay: Not much, it is oval instead of round.

Can you have multiple HD receivers hooked to separate HD ready TV's? Or are you limited to just one tv per household?

Can you have multiple HD receivers hooked to separate HD ready TV's? Or are you limited to just one tv per household?
I only have one in the livingroom but I am sure you can have many as you want.

Does anyone out here have HD for their DirecTV service?

How do you like it? Is the dish that much bigger?

I use to have it in Nashville before I moved here to southern maryland. I LOVE IT !!!

I am getting it installed at my new house soon !

The dish needed now for HD is much bigger than the oval one I had for the old DirecTV HD. They have 5 satelites now, so need 5LNBs. Also, the locasl are in Mpeg4 which the older receiver did not handle. Got new receiver from DirecTV for "shipping" costs, they installed the new dish eventually, so now I have the old, oval, 3LNB.
Can get 4-7-9-20 in HD, before only NBC and Fox HD from NY. Also, HDNet, HDnet movies, ESPN, ESPN2, Universal HD, TNT HD, Discovery HD. HD is great, hate to go back to old, standard definition.

So the newer HD dish is eliptical like a HughsNet dish?

With verizon and direct tv you get a discount :)

The dish needed now for HD is much bigger than the oval one I had for the old DirecTV HD. They have 5 satelites now, so need 5LNBs. Also, the locasl are in Mpeg4 which the older receiver did not handle. Got new receiver from DirecTV for "shipping" costs, they installed the new dish eventually, so now I have the old, oval, 3LNB.
Can get 4-7-9-20 in HD, before only NBC and Fox HD from NY. Also, HDNet, HDnet movies, ESPN, ESPN2, Universal HD, TNT HD, Discovery HD. HD is great, hate to go back to old, standard definition.
I think you are incorrect. You only need 1 LNB for each box. I have the oval dish, HD and I have 3 LNB's. To get HD you have to get signal from all 5 satelites. If you only hit 1-4 you get Direct TV but no HD.

I've got the new 5 LNB dish. I now get the HD local channels on Directv. Directv is supposed to be launching 2 new satelites in mid-2007 that will allow them to carry 40 more HD channels (and which is why you need more LNBs). It is larger than the 3 LNB dish, but not that much bigger. Since it is on the roof, I really don't notice it.

When installing the HD dish, they automatically install a grounded splitter. With each TV, unless you want to watch the same thing on all TV's, you need an HD box (or regular box if hooking it to a non HD ready TV) and they get connected to the Splitter.

Directv is offereing specials all the time, the latest is 4 rooms of Directv for price of one. That DOESN'T include HD.

I have had the HD service from Directv for about a year and half. I love it. The only problem is that the HD signal is MUCH more sensative to interuption via weather, trees, etc. But that is only a very MINOR inconvenience. Picture quality is incredible, and the HDnet programming is pretty cool too. And if ya get the NFl package...heaven. Absolute heaven.

The only problem is that the HD signal is MUCH more sensative to interuption via weather, trees, etc.

They had to relocate my dish in order to get the HD signal. The satelite is in a different part of the sky, so it needs more sky to get both signals. So, it may just be you need a better location for the dish - maybe the HD satelite has more trees between it and the dish. Just a thought. The roof is the only place for my dish, and my signals are great now. It has to be really bad outside before I have any interuption.

They had to relocate my dish in order to get the HD signal. The satelite is in a different part of the sky, so it needs more sky to get both signals. So, it may just be you need a better location for the dish - maybe the HD satelite has more trees between it and the dish. Just a thought. The roof is the only place for my dish, and my signals are great now. It has to be really bad outside before I have any interuption.


Yea, it is the trees. But I can't cut anymore down. The one that's in the way is across the street. It's only a minor problem, and rarely goes out. I always no when heavy rains are coming about 10 minutes before it actually hits. :yay:

Does the HD dish still point to the south east?

The 3 LNB dish in known as a phase 3, it will work to pick up some of the HD programming, but the locals HD’s are not on it. The 5 LNB dish is called an AT-9 dish, it’s required to pick up the local channel HD programming. The AT-9 dish has a larger mounting foot the older dishes, so the original mount does not work with it. It comes with a mounting foot, dish, all LNB’s, and a 4 way splitter.

The 2 new satellites are at a lower elevation, so looking at the sky from behind the dish, you will need a clear shot about 15 degrees to the right and about 10 degrees lower.

We are considering doing this now that we have a kick azz projector and big screen that we can enjoy HD on fully.

2 Questions though:

1. Do you have to have a phone line in order to get HD, from what they are telling us about DVR we need a dedicated phone line, is this true with HD also?

2. We noticed that Best Buy sells the receivers, is there a benefit to buying them there? If you do buy, then do you still have to pay the $5 monthly to Direct TV?

TYIA

We are considering doing this now that we have a kick azz projector and big screen that we can enjoy HD on fully.

2 Questions though:

1. Do you have to have a phone line in order to get HD, from what they are telling us about DVR we need a dedicated phone line, is this true with HD also?

2. We noticed that Best Buy sells the receivers, is there a benefit to buying them there? If you do buy, then do you still have to pay the $5 monthly to Direct TV?

TYIA

1. True. They use it to check to see if you've done any PPVs. All Directv requires a land line. It does not have to be dedicated - just a land line. You can use your regular land line, but the box has to be hooked up to it so they can call it.

2. $5/mo is the charge for the DVR service. You will also pay $10/mo for HD programming. I don't know if there is a benefit to buying the box at Best Buy or not now. Directv recently started "leasing" their equipment rather than making you buy it, so I don't know how that equation works out now. I bought my first one from BB, but I have done 2 upgrades on equipment since then (1999), each one through Directv (as they often will upgrade the equipment for little to no charge to keep you as a subscriber).

1. True. They use it to check to see if you've done any PPVs. All Directv requires a land line. It does not have to be dedicated - just a land line. You can use your regular land line, but the box has to be hooked up to it so they can call it.

2. $5/mo is the charge for the DVR service. You will also pay $10/mo for HD programming. I don't know if there is a benefit to buying the box at Best Buy or not now. Directv recently started "leasing" their equipment rather than making you buy it, so I don't know how that equation works out now. I bought my first one from BB, but I have done 2 upgrades on equipment since then (1999), each one through Directv (as they often will upgrade the equipment for little to no charge to keep you as a subscriber).
1. False, the only need for it is the initial activation and for Pay Per View. All 3 of mine are sitting here working great not connected to the phone. The install guy said the only time you need that is to order PPV via the box. If you don't order PPV or order it online you don't need it.

2. No benefit at all.

1. False, the only need for it is the initial activation and for Pay Per View. All 3 of mine are sitting here working great not connected to the phone. The install guy said the only time you need that is to order PPV via the box. If you don't order PPV or order it online you don't need it.

Then why do they dial my box every night? I haven't ordered pay per view in 6 months. They told me that if they discover that you don't have a phone line connected, they will disconnect your ability to order pay per view.

Then why do they dial my box every night? I haven't ordered pay per view in 6 months. They told me that if they discover that you don't have a phone line connected, they will disconnect your ability to order pay per view.
And how do you know they dial it every night? Does the box ring? I don't order PPV but the install guy told me if oyu order via the box you only get PPV on that tv, if you order it online via their website you get it on all the TV's. I don't know if that is true.

Oh, the other thing the phone line is used for is caller ID

Then why do they dial my box every night? I haven't ordered pay per view in 6 months. They told me that if they discover that you don't have a phone line connected, they will disconnect your ability to order pay per view.

I'm with Pete on this one. Do you order a lot of PPV? I don't have a single receiver hooked to any phone line.

And how do you know they dial it every night? Does the box ring? I don't order PPV but the install guy told me if oyu order via the box you only get PPV on that tv, if you order it online via their website you get it on all the TV's. I don't know if that is true.

Oh, the other thing the phone line is used for is caller ID

Actually, the box calls them. I know it calls every night because it shows up on my phone bill.

I knew that you didn't have to have a phone line for Direct TV, we already have the basic service, just wasn't sure if you had to have it for HD. Doesn't sound like it. Cool.

Hey Pete, why is it not benefit to buy from BB? Does Direct still charge you the $5 lease fee monthly? Or does BB just not warranty their products, like if my receiver breaks, Direct TV will send a new receiver and if I buy it from BB then I own it and if it breaks I am SOL.

Ok, I finally ordered HD today. They're coming to install next week! :yahoo: :jerry: :notworthy :getdown:

I also found out if you buy a receiver from Best Buy, it is considered to be leased.

I also found out if you buy a receiver from Best Buy, it is considered to be leased.

Well, that's DUMB!

But cool that you are getting HD next week! Let us know how much you love it and how much I am going to hate you! :lol:

Also - Did you upgrade from an existing account - how did that go if you did? We have Direct TV currently, want to upgrade to HD, but HATE HATE HATE talking to their "customer service" reps. So we are trying to get as much information as we can to call them and not have to ask ANY questions. :lol: TYIA and best of luck next week! :cheers:

I upgraded to HD from my current account. HD is free for the first 4 months and then costs $9 something per household/month starting the 5th month. The basic receiver cost about $99, which does not include DVR or TiVO. Their HD DVR cost $200 something. I ordered two HD receivers and you have the option to pay it while on the phone, add it to your bill, or split the costs for 3 months. They also setup an appointment to install the new 5 LNB dish and recievers on the phone.

All local channels that broadcast in HD will be available, WDCA 20, ESPN HD, ESPN 2 HD, HBO HDTV, Showtime HDTV, TNT HD and more. The rep also said there should be anywhere from a total of 30 to 50 HD channels by the end of 2007, since government is mandating that all channels be ready to broadcast in HD soon. Nobody broadcasts in 1080p yet.

Any leased receivers that will be deactivated have to be sent back at DirecTV's expense. Also, there is a 2 year agreement of their service when getting the HD package.

If you have any questions, ask away. I might be able to answer some questions.

I upgraded to HD from my current account. HD is free for the first 4 months and then costs $9 something per household/month starting the 5th month. The basic receiver cost about $99, which does not include DVR or TiVO. Their HD DVR cost $200 something. I ordered two HD receivers and you have the option to pay it while on the phone, add it to your bill, or split the costs for 3 months. They also setup an appointment to install the new 5 LNB dish and recievers on the phone.

When you call Directv, you can ask for "customer retention" --if you tell them that you are thinking of switching to cable/DISH, they often do these upgrades for free. I got the HD/DVR 5 LNB upgrade for free this way. You do need to make a committment to their programing for a year or two.

All local channels that broadcast in HD will be available, WDCA 20, ESPN HD, ESPN 2 HD, HBO HDTV, Showtime HDTV, TNT HD and more. The rep also said there should be anywhere from a total of 30 to 50 HD channels by the end of 2007, since government is mandating that all channels be ready to broadcast in HD soon. Nobody broadcasts in 1080p yet.


Sweet! We've coverted to HD before but that was a few years ago, and we only received maybe 5 channels :lol: So, it is good to hear that they have many more channels available. :yay:

The only question that we can think of: Is the HBO and Showtime included with the $10 monthly fee for HD or is that extra per month (if you don't mind me asking)? And thanks for all of the help - info. :love:

When you call Directv, you can ask for "customer retention" --if you tell them that you are thinking of switching to cable/DISH, they often do these upgrades for free. I got the HD/DVR 5 LNB upgrade for free this way. You do need to make a committment to their programing for a year or two.

We've gotten free upgrades by doing this before. Thanks for the reminder though. Usually we get so upset with customer service that we just say "f it" and that we'll just cancel our account. Then they tend to try to be just a little bit more helpful than previously. Hopefully it will be a good phone call, I just hope I get someone that speaks english and can understand what I am saying. :lol:

Ok, the DirecTV installer is on the roof now. I'm so excited. I wonder if I am going to faint just like the people on their tv advertisements.

I got a new HD receiver from DirecTV for shipping costs, they replaced the three LNB dish, which is now in my basement with the 5 LNB. I had a DirecTV HD receiver built into my HD TV, bought in 2002. Therefore, I go new one for free. Then they charged be an extra $4.95, called and got that removed. Explained that I had owned my HD Receiver and this was free upgrade since DirecTV changed their HD system. Will see if it is really taken off next bill. If not, maybe I will tell them to take it back and I will use my old HD receiver, only advantage to the new one in CBS and ABC HD, nad NBC and Fox HD local, New York still being sent for NBC and Fox HD.

WOW!!! Discovery HD looks amazing!!!! I'm soy happy.

WOW!!! Discovery HD looks amazing!!!! I'm soy happy.

I'm glad you're going organic. :huggy: