Can't watch programs

For five days, we keep getting the message that the receiver is having problems communicating with the Sat Dish. It's NOT what's wrong. What's wrong is that they are updating the software and instead of doing it in the middle of the night they do it during the day and during Prime Time viewing. This STINKS! We've been with DirecTV since it's beginning, but with this happening over and over and not being able to watch TV for FIVE different days and no refund for no service, we're about to find another provider and so are a lot of other people!