DirecTV users

[ReleaseTheBeast7]

I have a question, I'm getting it installed this Saturday(Or Monday, everything's all screwed up)... And we're going to run both cable and DirecTV.

Now, when they install DirecTV, what cable do they run into the converter boxes? Is it tapped in to the actual cable like which would make both cable and DirecTV impossible to have?

Just so you know so I don't get any questions too, we're keeping the basic package of cable because my dad wants to have his local news, like around my town, rather than Philly.

But anyways... Yeah, how's that work? And how long does it take to install usually? Also, is the customer service crappy? Because that's what I've heard and they're already screwing stuff up(Asked us to make an appointment TWICE, even though we already scheduled 3 times).

[BroncoManiac_69]

We use both DirecTV services. One box is the standard and the other is HD. We have to have two different dishes on the house.

Both receivers come out of the wall using the basic cable jack already there. I don't see how you will be able to use both on one cable even with a splitter. They would have to install a whole new line from the dish.

They use USB cables from the box to the HD TV but not on the Big Screen that has the standard box.

They also offer the "basic channels" with various levels and packages so keeping cable AND having DirecTV could get pricey and as mentioned complicated. I dunno for sure.

Customer service? LOL. They can be difficult to deal with. They will fight you tooth and nail on the phone before they actually send someone out if required. They can watch what you are watching at the same time. They have test channels. They have error codes that will pop on the screen that assist them in figuring out what the problem might be. Usually that would work.

Overall though, we haven't had to call for customer service but twice and that was after the HD was installed and we had a few bugs to work out.

[ReleaseTheBeast7]

We use both DirecTV services. One box is the standard and the other is HD. We have to have two different dishes on the house.

Both receivers come out of the wall using the basic cable jack already there. I don't see how you will be able to use both on one cable even with a splitter. They would have to install a whole new line from the dish.

They use USB cables from the box to the HD TV but not on the Big Screen that has the standard box.

They also offer the "basic channels" with various levels and packages so keeping cable AND having DirecTV could get pricey and as mentioned complicated. I dunno for sure.

So you have to have 2 separate dishes for each frequency(HD and standard)? Because we're going to have 2 HD receivers, and 1 standard... So there would be one separate dish for the HD, and one for the standard? Is that an additional fee outside of the rental fee for the converter boxes?

As far as both cables... I'm guessing they have to run it through the wall jack, so let's say they do that. Couldn't you just run the cable wire through the floor or something, and connect both the DirecTV and cable connections through a splitter, then use an A/V switch to switch back and forth between cable and DirecTV, when you want it?

Also, where do they run the USB cable from, do you need a wall jack for that? And they just run it down from the dish, through the house or whatever, and then what? Is there like a stationary hub that they run it from since we have two HD receivers? Like, would there be a cable coming down from the dish, into a hub that will have provide for both boxes or what?

And finally, we figured if we take the $40 package from DirecTV, and a basic cable package from our cable provider, it will still be cheaper than what we pay for our cable package currently. That includes the converter boxes.

[Chris Wade]

My mom had Direct . they run a brand new co-ax right to your channel box.then you'll need a splitter for it and your cable.

[BroncoManiac_69]

So you have to have 2 separate dishes for each frequency(HD and standard)? Because we're going to have 2 HD receivers, and 1 standard... So there would be one separate dish for the HD, and one for the standard? Is that an additional fee outside of the rental fee for the converter boxes?

As far as both cables... I'm guessing they have to run it through the wall jack, so let's say they do that. Couldn't you just run the cable wire through the floor or something, and connect both the DirecTV and cable connections through a splitter, then use an A/V switch to switch back and forth between cable and DirecTV, when you want it?

Also, where do they run the USB cable from, do you need a wall jack for that? And they just run it down from the dish, through the house or whatever, and then what? Is there like a stationary hub that they run it from since we have two HD receivers? Like, would there be a cable coming down from the dish, into a hub that will have provide for both boxes or what?

And finally, we figured if we take the $40 package from DirecTV, and a basic cable package from our cable provider, it will still be cheaper than what we pay for our cable package currently. That includes the converter boxes.

Yes. The HD service has a different dish. It has 3 of those ball thingys on it while the standard has one.

Yes. They just tapped into the wall jack. We do not even have cable service availability where we live out in farm country so they just wired directly to the prewired house. I was unaware they had such a thing as an A/V switch and I suppose that would work.

I imagine you can just have the cable on the floor like you said that would go directly where they put the dish.

The USB cable is what goes from the receiver box to our HD TV. Originaly we had just the basic cable and the quality wasn't what we expected. The put in that USB and WhoaLa. HUGE difference.

There is a rental fee on each box and we also pay the insurance for it. Nothing after that.

Our package includes the standard box and HD box (they are very different) and we have the basic channels, HD service with one step up package meaning we get about 17 more HD channels than the basic, and we also get the Starz/Encore movies. We pay $97 a month.

It sounds like you may be putting them to the test. Challenge their wits.

[MTBroncoGal]

I use DirecTV and I have my locals on my satellite. I don't think it's available in all areas so you might check that. Also, you can usually get better customer service if you call your local service office instead.

[saltybuggah]

I have a question, I'm getting it installed this Saturday(Or Monday, everything's all screwed up)... And we're going to run both cable and DirecTV.

Now, when they install DirecTV, what cable do they run into the converter boxes? Is it tapped in to the actual cable like which would make both cable and DirecTV impossible to have?

Just so you know so I don't get any questions too, we're keeping the basic package of cable because my dad wants to have his local news, like around my town, rather than Philly.

But anyways... Yeah, how's that work? And how long does it take to install usually? Also, is the customer service crappy? Because that's what I've heard and they're already screwing stuff up(Asked us to make an appointment TWICE, even though we already scheduled 3 times).

release

if i remember correctly you live in pa, right

do you have service electric or rcn ???

if you have rcn your dad can keep his local's at a fration of the cost, ($15 limited basic cable package) it give you about 30 channels but you dont have to pay the reg $56. a month package and repeat the same channels that you would get with DTV.. if you have service than you paying the reg rates..

if you tell the DTV rep that your running both cable and DTV they will put diplexers on you cable line that allows them to use your existing lines thruout the house and keep your cable

the 24 inch dish is what they will use.. it has 3 LNB's it so that the dish can locate the satellites in the sky for the reg programming and the HD programs.... you can hook up to 4 tv's off the dish's box but if more tv's are needed they can hook em up off of dish splitters...

how long it will take depends on how good an installer you have...

they use the regular coax rg6 cable that you have installed in your house now... from the DTV box to your tv depends on the tv and the box capabilities...

all cable co. cust service is crappy for the most part... we jsut have to grin and bear it until a new co. comes out... n yes i work for a cable co. (rcn)

[ReleaseTheBeast7]

release

if i remember correctly you live in pa, right

do you have service electric or rcn ???

if you have rcn your dad can keep his local's at a fration of the cost, ($15 limited basic cable package) it give you about 30 channels but you dont have to pay the reg $56. a month package and repeat the same channels that you would get with DTV.. if you have service than you paying the reg rates..

if you tell the DTV rep that your running both cable and DTV they will put diplexers on you cable line that allows them to use your existing lines thruout the house and keep your cable

the 24 inch dish is what they will use.. it has 3 LNB's it so that the dish can locate the satellites in the sky for the reg programming and the HD programs.... you can hook up to 4 tv's off the dish's box but if more tv's are needed they can hook em up off of dish splitters...

how long it will take depends on how good an installer you have...

they use the regular coax rg6 cable that you have installed in your house now... from the DTV box to your tv depends on the tv and the box capabilities...

all cable co. cust service is crappy for the most part... we jsut have to grin and bear it until a new co. comes out... n yes i work for a cable co. (rcn)

I have Service Electric. I'm sure it works the same way.

So basically just tell them that we're running both cable and dish and they can hook it up in a way where it uses both? So it's definitely possible to run both?

[garzjoe]

I have Service Electric. I'm sure it works the same way.

So basically just tell them that we're running both cable and dish and they can hook it up in a way where it uses both? So it's definitely possible to run both?

It should work fine…as lynchembaby stated you can use a diplexor which is a piece of equipment looks like a splitter and is used to combine the lower frequencies that cable and OTA use (i.e. 0MHz - 800MHz) with the higher frequencies that satellite uses (950MHz – 1450MHZ, or 950MHz – 2150MHz) onto one single coax cable. However the installer should probably use RG6 grade cable that is rated up to 3GHz.

On a related note I think the newest DirecTV HD antenna’s (the antenna that has 5 lnb’s on one antenna – 3 Ku Band, & 2 Ka Band ) does some crazy L-Band shifting that actually uses the lower bands that cable and OTA usually occupy (i.e. 0MHz - 800MHz) but I could be wrong. I do know some of the newer DirecTV equipment is not compatible with diplexors which would mean a separate line for both.

If you want sound advice on the newer DirecTV equipment I would check out one of the following boards I gave a link to below. I work for EchoStar and can give you really good advice on DISH Network equipment and DirecTV’s older equipment but I’m not so well versed in DirecTV’s newer equipment so I would ask the guys on that board.

SatelliteGuys

DBS Talk

Thx,
Joe