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Since I know some of you work for DirecTv and others have it, I figured this is a good place to ask.

Sometime this year, I expect my 12-year old TV to finally fail and be replaced. I have been watching prices on LCDs and Plasmas and now, on LED TVs.

My question is, since I have "old fashioned" DirecTv that was installed back in 1999, will I need a new dish?

I know I want to get a new receiver (HD-DVR receiver). Will I be able to move my current DVR to my bedroom and use the new one in the family room?

Any other expenses I'm looking at? (increased monthly rate, right?)

I thought for sure I would have this for last football season/Super Bowl or at least the Stanley Cup championship (both won by Pittsburgh, ya know!) but with the prices constantly dropping on TVs and the technology always changing, I have been a little hesitant to pull the trigger. But the old TV is starting to fade adn have a large yellow spot on the screen, so I'm getting closer...

Thanks for any help or thoughts you have.

You'll need to budget for all of your friends to come watch the NFL Sunday Ticket in HD, eat your food, and drink your booze.

oceanstate wrote:You'll need to budget for all of your friends to come watch the NFL Sunday Ticket in HD, eat your food, and drink your booze.

They do that anyway, but maybe more will show up if I have a better TV. The beermeister is always full and ribs and chili make for good football food.

I don't work the 'customer' side of the business, but perhaps this will help with some of the questions.

https://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/hd/overview

And yes, you'll need a different dish for HD.

SMLCHNG wrote:I don't work the 'customer' side of the business, but perhaps this will help with some of the questions.

https://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/hd/overview

And yes, you'll need a different dish for HD.

I am the "customer" side of the business (meaning I have Direct Tv & recently upgraded)- you will need the slightly larger dish & there is a $10 a month charge for HD service (1 charge for no matter how many HD receivers you have)
apparently you already pay for dvr service so I don't think you have to pay extra.
I've been a long time customer & was able to get a new dish & (2) HD receivers at no cost!!!
I have Tivo on a regular receiver so I did not get the HD DVR.
Good luck & keep pushing to get the best deal -they don't want to lose customers Right Penny!!

One other tip from the customer side. Ask them for the best deal on a HD DVR and depending on your account you might get one for free. I paid $99 for an additional HD DVR this past spring but if you are getting your first one you might get it for free. Your upgrade to HD will require a different dish but installation should be included.

Also if you sign up for Sunday Ticket and you want the games in HD you have to have Superfan. This is an additional cost of $99, but some people, including me, have been getting the Superfan fee of $99 waived just for asking. YMMV.

Bill

MrBill64 wrote:One other tip from the customer side. Ask them for the best deal on a HD DVR and depending on your account you might get one for free. I paid $99 for an additional HD DVR this past spring but if you are getting your first one you might get it for free. Your upgrade to HD will require a different dish but installation should be included.

Also if you sign up for Sunday Ticket and you want the games in HD you have to have Superfan. This is an additional cost of $99, but some people, including me, have been getting the Superfan fee of $99 waived just for asking. YMMV.

Bill

Sounds good. Thanks. Yes, their customer service has been very good to me over the years and I am happy to recommend them. Let's hope they continue the good service as I move through this transition.

blackjack wrote:

MrBill64 wrote:One other tip from the customer side. Ask them for the best deal on a HD DVR and depending on your account you might get one for free. I paid $99 for an additional HD DVR this past spring but if you are getting your first one you might get it for free. Your upgrade to HD will require a different dish but installation should be included.

Also if you sign up for Sunday Ticket and you want the games in HD you have to have Superfan. This is an additional cost of $99, but some people, including me, have been getting the Superfan fee of $99 waived just for asking. YMMV.

Bill

Sounds good. Thanks. Yes, their customer service has been very good to me over the years and I am happy to recommend them. Let's hope they continue the good service as I move through this transition.

Good to hear! I am pulling Comcast and having DirectTV installed Wednesday. No high def though since, like you, my tvs are older (except for the new one in the kitchen and I just don't intend to live in the kitchen so I can watch high def).

I've had Directv since Dec 2004, the installer at that time told me I needed to install different cable from the dish to the DVR receiver for HD, in addition to an HD DVR. I had a new HD TV at the time but didn't want to spring for redoing the cable system installed in the house and $400 for the HD DVR.

Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:I've had Directv since Dec 2004, the installer at that time told me I needed to install different cable from the dish to the DVR receiver for HD, in addition to an HD DVR.

Now, I don't have DirectTV (I have that other one) but that doesn't sound right. I mean, it's a coax cable running from the dish to the dvr right? Coax is coax I would think, I don't ever remember seeing different *types* of coax cable. When we went from regular to HD service, we didn't have to replace our cable. Maybe the guy was right but that does sounds funny (and not ha ha funny) to me.

Nonetheless, HD is awesome. Watching sporting events on it is just *amazing*.

Hockey Mon wrote:

Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:I've had Directv since Dec 2004, the installer at that time told me I needed to install different cable from the dish to the DVR receiver for HD, in addition to an HD DVR.

Now, I don't have DirectTV (I have that other one) but that doesn't sound right. I mean, it's a coax cable running from the dish to the dvr right? Coax is coax I would think, I don't ever remember seeing different *types* of coax cable. When we went from regular to HD service, we didn't have to replace our cable. Maybe the guy was right but that does sounds funny (and not ha ha funny) to me.

Nonetheless, HD is awesome. Watching sporting events on it is just *amazing*.

I upgraded to Hd & all you need is the new larger dish -& an HD receiver -all the same cables in the house were used -regarding the HD DVR -if you want to see your recorded programs in HD, then yes you need to upgrade the DVR -but you do not need your house re-wired

Where's that bald guy when you need him?



....just kidding brudha.

fabduo wrote:

Hockey Mon wrote:

Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:I've had Directv since Dec 2004, the installer at that time told me I needed to install different cable from the dish to the DVR receiver for HD, in addition to an HD DVR.

Now, I don't have DirectTV (I have that other one) but that doesn't sound right. I mean, it's a coax cable running from the dish to the dvr right? Coax is coax I would think, I don't ever remember seeing different *types* of coax cable. When we went from regular to HD service, we didn't have to replace our cable. Maybe the guy was right but that does sounds funny (and not ha ha funny) to me.

Nonetheless, HD is awesome. Watching sporting events on it is just *amazing*.

I upgraded to Hd & all you need is the new larger dish -& an HD receiver -all the same cables in the house were used -regarding the HD DVR -if you want to see your recorded programs in HD, then yes you need to upgrade the DVR -but you do not need your house re-wired

That's what I thought. Coax is coax, never heard of different types.

Hockey Mon wrote:

Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:I've had Directv since Dec 2004, the installer at that time told me I needed to install different cable from the dish to the DVR receiver for HD, in addition to an HD DVR.

Now, I don't have DirectTV (I have that other one) but that doesn't sound right. I mean, it's a coax cable running from the dish to the dvr right? Coax is coax I would think, I don't ever remember seeing different *types* of coax cable. When we went from regular to HD service, we didn't have to replace our cable. Maybe the guy was right but that does sounds funny (and not ha ha funny) to me.

Nonetheless, HD is awesome. Watching sporting events on it is just *amazing*.

Remember Coax comes in sizes.. (or Gauges) I think it's rg6 that is required..
but some of the old receivers will work with 5.9
also NOW in some installs they are replacing every cable to every TV..
not sure what that is about but I know several of my coworkers have gone through
the process..

ragtopW wrote:

Hockey Mon wrote:

Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:I've had Directv since Dec 2004, the installer at that time told me I needed to install different cable from the dish to the DVR receiver for HD, in addition to an HD DVR.

Now, I don't have DirectTV (I have that other one) but that doesn't sound right. I mean, it's a coax cable running from the dish to the dvr right? Coax is coax I would think, I don't ever remember seeing different *types* of coax cable. When we went from regular to HD service, we didn't have to replace our cable. Maybe the guy was right but that does sounds funny (and not ha ha funny) to me.

Nonetheless, HD is awesome. Watching sporting events on it is just *amazing*.

Remember Coax comes in sizes.. (or Gauges) I think it's rg6 that is required..
but some of the old receivers will work with 5.9
also NOW in some installs they are replacing every cable to every TV..
not sure what that is about but I know several of my coworkers have gone through
the process..

So I googled this and I stand corrected. There ARE different types of coax. It all dependes on the distance between the two things you are connecting. Longer distances required cable that is lower gauge and lower resistance. It looks like there is RG59/U, RG6/U and RG11/U. So, it's possible the guy was doing more than making work for himself; maybe you would need to upgrade if you cable was really old.

I learn my new thing for the day. I'm done.

Hockey Mon wrote:

ragtopW wrote:

Hockey Mon wrote:

Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:I've had Directv since Dec 2004, the installer at that time told me I needed to install different cable from the dish to the DVR receiver for HD, in addition to an HD DVR.

Now, I don't have DirectTV (I have that other one) but that doesn't sound right. I mean, it's a coax cable running from the dish to the dvr right? Coax is coax I would think, I don't ever remember seeing different *types* of coax cable. When we went from regular to HD service, we didn't have to replace our cable. Maybe the guy was right but that does sounds funny (and not ha ha funny) to me.

Nonetheless, HD is awesome. Watching sporting events on it is just *amazing*.

Remember Coax comes in sizes.. (or Gauges) I think it's rg6 that is required..
but some of the old receivers will work with 5.9
also NOW in some installs they are replacing every cable to every TV..
not sure what that is about but I know several of my coworkers have gone through
the process..

So I googled this and I stand corrected. There ARE different types of coax. It all dependes on the distance between the two things you are connecting. Longer distances required cable that is lower gauge and lower resistance. It looks like there is RG59/U, RG6/U and RG11/U. So, it's possible the guy was doing more than making work for himself; maybe you would need to upgrade if you cable was really old.

I learn my new thing for the day. I'm done.

And I was just about to read you the riot act. It can make a big difference. My guess is the original Directv install. went on the the old cable install. Not ideal but it would work. (RG-6 vs RG 59). This won't fly for HD though. I upgraded to HD in June, and the installer replaced all existing cable in order to get the HD signal. No extra charge either, it was required in order to receive HD.

In the pre HD days, it really depended on the installer. Most existing cables were RG 59, meant for analog CATV. A digital signal like Directv would work, but not at it's best performance. If you got a lazy installer, they would rather do the hook up over the exsisting RG 59, rather than run new RG 6 for the digital signal.

weirdo0521 wrote:

Hockey Mon wrote:

ragtopW wrote:

Hockey Mon wrote:

Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:I've had Directv since Dec 2004, the installer at that time told me I needed to install different cable from the dish to the DVR receiver for HD, in addition to an HD DVR.

Now, I don't have DirectTV (I have that other one) but that doesn't sound right. I mean, it's a coax cable running from the dish to the dvr right? Coax is coax I would think, I don't ever remember seeing different *types* of coax cable. When we went from regular to HD service, we didn't have to replace our cable. Maybe the guy was right but that does sounds funny (and not ha ha funny) to me.

Nonetheless, HD is awesome. Watching sporting events on it is just *amazing*.

Remember Coax comes in sizes.. (or Gauges) I think it's rg6 that is required..
but some of the old receivers will work with 5.9
also NOW in some installs they are replacing every cable to every TV..
not sure what that is about but I know several of my coworkers have gone through
the process..

So I googled this and I stand corrected. There ARE different types of coax. It all dependes on the distance between the two things you are connecting. Longer distances required cable that is lower gauge and lower resistance. It looks like there is RG59/U, RG6/U and RG11/U. So, it's possible the guy was doing more than making work for himself; maybe you would need to upgrade if you cable was really old.

I learn my new thing for the day. I'm done.

And I was just about to read you the riot act. It can make a big difference. My guess is the original Directv install. went on the the old cable install. Not ideal but it would work. (RG-6 vs RG 59). This won't fly for HD though. I upgraded to HD in June, and the installer replaced all existing cable in order to get the HD signal. No extra charge either, it was required in order to receive HD.

In the pre HD days, it really depended on the installer. Most existing cables were RG 59, meant for analog CATV. A digital signal like Directv would work, but not at it's best performance. If you got a lazy installer, they would rather do the hook up over the exsisting RG 59, rather than run new RG 6 for the digital signal.

IMHO the lazy installer does it right the first time..

My house was new, new wiring, new coax, I guess it was the cheap builder's grade coax not suitable for HD in 2004