DVR

Hello, we apologize for the trouble you're having with the new HD receiver and your bill, so let's turn this experience around. I am going to send you a private message, so we can ensure the price on your account is correct. Miguel, DIRECTV Community Specialist

The free MPEG2 swap is free with the HD fee waived and no new contract, there is no install charge and in most cases the tech needs to change the dish and install the receivers as new receivers are SWM only.

Sounds like you had SD non-DVRs previously. The agent you spoke with gave you bad info.

DirecTV is shutting down the MPEG-2/SD-only feeds. So getting new equipment is mandatory.

As long as order is placed as MPEG swap, the HD service ($10) is credited monthly. However, if placed as an upgrade (so optional) then there is no credit, plus there is the 24-month service agreement.

To not get charged for DVR or Whole Home DVR, it would have needed to be a swap to an HD non-DVR (i.e. H25). However, the MPEG swap is normally only the Genie which is DirecTV's Advanced Whole Home HDDVR, which means that DVR ($10) and Whole Home DVR ($3) are required.

The change in bill would not be $35. At most it would either be $23 (HD $10, DVR $10, Whole Home DVR $3) or a flat $25 if listed as one line item (Often seen if someone updated from none to the whole thing as opposed to somoene who already had HD and/or DVR).

All boxes are leased now. There is no purchase to own option since the launch of the 1st Genie (HR34). Good thing is there has been no difference in monthly cost between lease and own. The difference was owned you paid full retail value (i.e. $499 HDDVR) with a 12 month warranty, so after that you buy again if something happened. With lease warranty is ongoing, box is free or discounted if you get before your account qualified (i.e. HDDVR $199 if early), and you have a 24 month service agreement to keep DirecTV.

It was a free change over but would be charged installing I

t and be sat disk.

Bit of a typo, but hopefully this addresses your concern.

MPEG swap is free. Yes a new satellite dish needs to be installed that can receive the MPEG-4 feeds. There should be no charge on that install unless there is something custom/additional beyond the order. If order was placed as an upgrade instead of the complimentary swap, there 'might' be either a charge for install ($99) or just a basic delivery/handling charge for the order ($19.95).

In any case, it is always reccomended to review the order confirmation sent to you once the order is submitted. That way you can address any questsions or concerns well before you are installed and activated where you have accepted the order as-is.

My was $69 before all of this. But thank you about that they make you pay per month on the recievers. I'll see if they can swap my HDDVR to non DVR. Just wanted keep my bill the same as it was. 

Thank you

I see what your saying, I can tell you that I wasn't charged that service section amount on the old bill so that's the diff. Now your saying that I can't get another unit to swap this one out? The HD DVR to a HD unit. There is no additional TV. It's actually hard to find where there is an order number for a non DVR hd unit that I can find other than an internet only unit. Okay I guess I am out of luck then. Thank you for your time.

I talked to a Rep and he gave a $20 credit month  for 2 years then after it goes up to 100. I guess all you DirecTV folks got the DVR, looks like it's popular! I'm  66 and that vcr was greatest thing for tv lol. Was very very expensive. Eventually came down but boy what a revolution that was. nobody could figure how to put the time and date on lol.then cd, then dvd. now DVR.but hey thanks for ur great info all of you that commented. I'm just going to have to get modern lol. Been shopping for big tv would like it comments which to buy and where. Thanks and thanks to the great DirecTV rep that help me!!!

If you got $20 off for 24 months, that is pretty good. Doesn't wipe out the situation, but helps make it manageable. Just check the next bill and it should show $20 off for 24, 1 of 24 (then 2 of 24, 3 of 24, etc. so you know when to expect it to go back to regular cost).

As a reminder, DirecTV's annual price adjustment is unnaffected by any discounts. So it may be a bit more than a $100 after the 24 months depending on the next couple adjustements. Though so far that special Family package has avoided any adjustments.

Everything is stored digitally on the box, instead of physical media (VHS, Betamax, recordable DVD, etc.). So DVR has been popular, and pretty much standard, since the turn of the century (so going back about 20 years). It was introduced before HD.

You have the absolute lowest package, but a 3-pack of premiums (HBO, Starz/Encore, and Showtime/TMC). I would check to see if you are using all 3 packs. After all, don't want to pay for something optional you aren't using.

All I can suggest for TVs is do not worry about any 'smart' TVs and/or 4K TVs. Just a TV that supports up to 1080 will be plenty for the service you have with DirecTV.

Thank you had a monitor help me

Gotcha, no smart tv, 1080 good. maybe I'll get a VCR huh? lol actually I still have my Go Video unit, had DVD and VCR together. And again you been great, like your post. Thank you Sir

I wouldn't consider a VCR as those haven't been made in years. If you keep with your DVR (I believe you have a "Genie"), then you've got recording covered.

Where your prior box had just 1 tuner to watch a channel, the new box has 5. So you can have multiple channels recording at the same time, even while watching one live (or something you've already recorded. Very useful if you have shows that overlap when they broadcast or just come on at an inconvenient time for you. You can even pause what you are watching, great if you need to answer the phone/door, grab a drink, etc.