DirecTV / DVR

[MikeVick7]

With the World Cup coming up and me working during the day, it seems that I'll be missing a majority of the matches, so I was looking into getting a DirecTV / DVR. On the site, the only option it gives me is to "lease" a DVR for $99 and then I'd have to commit to 2 years of programming.

Does anyone know if this is my only option as a current DirecTV customer?

[ausonny]

You could buy a TIVO box if you prefer. The picture quality wouldn't be as good, but they have new dual tuner S2 boxes I believe.

[SirFozzie]

yup, they got rid of the DirecTivos (I still have mine, modded for a bigger HD :D)

Might want to look into Digital Cable or Dish if you have to get a Tivo, but the DirectTV DVR's aren't bad per se.

[stevew]

You can get the 2nd generation dual turner box for 30 bucks and 20 dollars a month(for a year) from Tivo.com

[MikeVick7]

I'm not really against getting the DVR, I just wondered if paying $99 and then committing to 2 years of programming was my only option. I would rather not have to commit to 2 years of anything.

[jeff061]

I was just going to type out what Steve did.

I thought it was less than 20 though, but I can't remember.

[MikeVick7]

You can get the 2nd generation dual turner box for 30 bucks and 20 dollars a month(for a year) from Tivo.com
Now, I like this option a little better.

[stevew]

It is 19.95 for one year, 18.95 for 2 years, or 16.95 for a 3 year commitment. The single tuner box is free.

[panerd]

I'm not really against getting the DVR, I just wondered if paying $99 and then committing to 2 years of programming was my only option. I would rather not have to commit to 2 years of anything.

If you read the fine print I don't think there is much they can do about your committment except to take your boxes and dish back. At least this was true when you owned the equipment. I can't imagine they have much more power now.

[Cringer]

I'm not really against getting the DVR, I just wondered if paying $99 and then committing to 2 years of programming was my only option. I would rather not have to commit to 2 years of anything.

I love their stupid 'commit' things. I understand them, but for some people it just doesn't seem like it should be required. We have had DirecTV for 8 years now or so, the fact that they would make me commit is funny to me because I am not going anywhere. Sprint is another one. When we got our new phones last year we had to commit for a year or two to get the $100 off the phones. Sure no problem, I have had Sprint for 6 years, once again I am not going anywhere anytime soon.

[Daimyo]

If you buy the dual tuner S2 in a store like Best Buy it will run you $100 (after $150 rebate) and then $13/month. I believe you can cancel the monthly fee once the rebate is processed, but I'm sure once you experience TiVo, cancelling will be the last thing on your mind. :)

One note, the dual tuner TiVos will not allow you to record two satellite channels at once... it only works with a single cable box/sattelite input and a single direct cable connection (or no cable box and two direct cable connections). If you want to record two sattelite channels at once you really need to get the integrated product.

[Ksyrup]

I'm finding the whole "pay and lease" thing to be ridiculous. I was looking at the HD DVR, and it's like $500. Which wouldn't be so bad, but I then pay, what, $10 a month for HD Service, $5 a month for DVR service, AND X amount as part of the lease of the equipment? HUH?!

[MikeVick7]

You can get the 2nd generation dual turner box for 30 bucks and 20 dollars a month(for a year) from Tivo.com
It states on the site that the $30 tuner cannot record from 2 satellite channels at the same time, so would it just make sense to get the free tuner?

[stevew]

Is the TIVO functional at all without service? I heard about some dual tiered service, but can't find any info on it.

[Franklinnoble]

Buy a used one on eBay, and then you just pay like $5 a month for the service from DirecTV. That's what I did... works great.

[jeff061]

Is the TIVO functional at all without service? I heard about some dual tiered service, but can't find any info on it.

From what I've read, technically yes. But you won't get TV listings, you'd have to manually set up date and times. So pretty much no.

[jbmagic]

Direct Tivo is better because you only have to pay only 4.99 a month for service.

The stand alone Tivo will cost like 13.00 a month for service.

[MikeVick7]

Buy a used one on eBay, and then you just pay like $5 a month for the service from DirecTV. That's what I did... works great.
Yeah, I just called DirecTV and they said that if you were to move and not be able to receive the service (like living in an apt complex that doesn't allow dishes or not having a south facing balcony) she said that the cancellation department "should" be able to work out something as far as looking past the 2-year committment. I'm currently in an apt and will be for the next year, so it "looks" like I may be able to get out of the 2 year thing if need be.

How much did you pay for your used DVR?

[jbmagic]

Yeah, I just called DirecTV and they said that if you were to move and not be able to receive the service (like living in an apt complex that doesn't allow dishes or not having a south facing balcony) she said that the cancellation department "should" be able to work out something as far as looking past the 2-year committment. I'm currently in an apt and will be for the next year, so it "looks" like I may be able to get out of the 2 year thing if need be.

How much did you pay for your used DVR?

if you buy a used DVR, you still going to need to purchase a card from directtv to put in it.

Directv works the best for directtv.

Stand alone tivo is better if you have cable only.

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm finding the whole "pay and lease" thing to be ridiculous. I was looking at the HD DVR, and it's like $500. Which wouldn't be so bad, but I then pay, what, $10 a month for HD Service, $5 a month for DVR service, AND X amount as part of the lease of the equipment? HUH?!

I'm a little ashamed to admit that I just paid this for the HD DVR box. However, they gave me free DVR service since I have their premium plan. I'm doing it all for HD NFL Games this fall (especially the Eagles.)

[Samdari]

If you read the fine print I don't think there is much they can do about your committment except to take your boxes and dish back. At least this was true when you owned the equipment. I can't imagine they have much more power now.

I think when you commit to two years of programming, you are "obligated" to pay for the cheapest package for that time period. If you cancel early, they send a bill for the total of the remaining months, plus a cancellation fee of like $150.

Your other option is to try to buy a Direct TV Tivo box off of ebay. From what I understand, they are getting nitpicky about transfer of ownership of boxes.

I called DirecTV this morning actually, and they told me I could get a standard receiver for a $49 lease fee (If I am leasing it, what the fuck is the $49 for, they could never adequately explain that) with a 1 year programming commitment (although the website does say two). When I told him that option sucked, he did say they would still let me buy it for $149, and have no programming commitment. Retailers, I know, are no longer allowed to sell you the boxes, but apparently DirecTV themselves still can. The TiVO would be more, I am guessing $249. You pay the same $4.99 monthly per extra reciever (the first one in eaxh household is free) if you lease or own the box. If it is a TiVO box, you pay $4.99 for having the reciever active, and 5.99 a month for TiVO service. I am really starting to hate DirecTV.

[Ksyrup]

I'm a little ashamed to admit that I just paid this for the HD DVR box. However, they gave me free DVR service since I have their premium plan. I'm doing it all for HD NFL Games this fall (especially the Eagles.)

I'm considering it myself, I just can't get my mind to accept paying $500 upfront for the privilege of paying $5 or $6 a month to lease the damn thing!

Maybe I just need to think of it as an installation fee or something...

Nope. I still feel like I'd be getting ripped off.

[gstelmack]

I bought my HD-DVR just before all the lease stuff went into effect (and paid $400 for it, not $500). I'm going to be curious how they handle the MPEG-4 transition: I'm not shelling out another $300+ to LEASE a new HD-DVR (which they don't have for MPEG-4 yet) or another $100+ to replace my current SD-TIVO just so I can start watching my locals in HD and get reasonable picture quality on all the other channels (I'm getting sick of the banding that washes out low-contrast portions of certain movies).

[Ksyrup]

I'm probably going to skip the DVR portion and just get the HD with off-air antenna. I don't tape shows, my wife does, and she seems perfectly happy with a standard VCR.

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm probably going to skip the DVR portion and just get the HD with off-air antenna. I don't tape shows, my wife does, and she seems perfectly happy with a standard VCR.

I'm not trying to convince you, but the thing that made me take the plunge is the option to have various highlight HD films from the past weekend's games automatically downloaded to the DVR. I thought of it as an installation charge and also felt ripped off. However, I plan on having it for many years (as long as NFL Ticket is exclusive to Directv) and figure that averaged over the years, it isn't such a terrible charge. However, I'm sure I'm just rationalizing ;)

[Samdari]

I'm not trying to convince you, but the thing that made me take the plunge is the option to have various highlight HD films from the past weekend's games automatically downloaded to the DVR. I thought of it as an installation charge and also felt ripped off. However, I plan on having it for many years (as long as NFL Ticket is exclusive to Directv) and figure that averaged over the years, it isn't such a terrible charge. However, I'm sure I'm just rationalizing ;)

I am considering leaving because of how much they charge for Sunday Ticket (which is the only reason to have it). To get it now with HD is like $270. I used to get it for $109. Two years from now, I would not be surprised to have the HD version be $400. Given my diminishing ability to spend 11 hours every Sunday watching football, its really getting hard to justify.

[RPI-Fan]

This doesn't make me feel so bad about missing out on Sunday Ticket...

My digital cable DVR is $10/mo, no up-front fees, no commitment, no nothing.

[ISiddiqui]

My digital cable DVR is $10/mo, no up-front fees, no commitment, no nothing.

Same. This is one of the better things about cable (On Demand is another).

[stevew]

Holy shit, i just discovered On Demand. "Free with Subscription" means that I can watch these Sopranos episodes I missed for free, right? I subscribe to HBO.

[timmynausea]

Holy shit, i just discovered On Demand. "Free with Subscription" means that I can watch these Sopranos episodes I missed for free, right? I subscribe to HBO.

Yep.

[jeff061]

Same. This is one of the better things about cable (On Demand is another).
I don't know if they differ from service to service, but my father got a DVR from charter for the same deal RPI mentioned and it is a crap box compared to my Tivo. Can only record shows based on current day's schedule, can't view the next weeks lineup, can't do searches for movie/show titles, let alone actors and the rest. Interface is slower and ugly as well. Heck, when they aired two new House episodes in one week, rather than the normal one, the box missed the one that was scheduled in the different time slot. You get what you pay for.

[panerd]

I don't know if they differ from service to service, but my father got a DVR from charter for the same deal RPI mentioned and it is a crap box compared to my Tivo. Can only record shows based on current day's schedule, can't view the next weeks lineup, can't do searches for movie/show titles, let alone actors and the rest. Interface is slower and ugly as well. Heck, when they aired two new House episodes in one week, rather than the normal one, the box missed the one that was scheduled in the different time slot. You get what you pay for.

They must also differ from person to person. I know a few people who have Charter "Moxi" boxes and have none of the problems you describe. Sounds like user error.

[jeff061]

Quite sure it wasn't(despite him being a father he's quite technically sound with these new gadgets ;)), I'll have to check it more closely the next time I'm there. But I can guarantee you it has a slow, clunky, ugly and counter-intuitive interface. That's what I picked up from it, I haven't personally gone through and messed with the scheduling much though.

Don't know the name of the unit, Moxi does not ring a bell though.

[MikeVick7]

I ended up going the generic route and putting down $99 to "lease" the dvr from DirecTV. The installer will be here on Saturday.

[Samdari]

This doesn't make me feel so bad about missing out on Sunday Ticket...

My digital cable DVR is $10/mo, no up-front fees, no commitment, no nothing.

Unfortunately, the local cable company here would screw me even worse. An HD DVR would cost me $10 a month for rental, plus $10 for DVR service, plus rentals on the two boxes on other sets in the house. Getting the same level of service that now costs me $60 with Direct would cost $85 with Cox. No annoying up front fees though, and no indentured servitude.

[jeff061]

http://www.digeo.com/prodserv/index.jsp

That's not what he has.

[terpkristin]

OK, I think I need to make sure I understand what was said here (and make a decision on this same matter myself!).

I do not have a VCR currently. Nor do I own any tapes that I'd use a VCR for (no VHS or BETA, all my movies are on DVD). I have a DVD player (not writer). I would like to get SOMETHING to record WC games.

I have cable, in a weird way. My apartment complex gets DirecTV, that, for a certain amount per month, they send to the apartments. Thusly, with my monthly payment, all the jacks in my apartment get "cable." It's kind of like how the hotels do it, as I just hook up a coax line between the cable jack and my tv.

As I understand it, my options are:
DVD-writer thingie (can somebody suggest one that I might be able to go pick up at my local Best Buy or Circuit City, my zip code is 20147) that I could use like a VCR to program it to record on certain channels at certain times to get the games.
Get a Tivo/DVR box that, because I don't have the service, I'd still have to manually plug in the times etc.

The manual-ness of it doesn't bother me, I like my cable situation now, so I can't see getting my own DirecTV subscription just so I have their stuff.

So, how do I do this? Thanks. :)
/tk