VIEWS ON YOUR DIRECT TV or DISH NETWORK ????

[packinpatland]

In our area, a heavy rain..............we're out. Thankfully it never happened during a Packer game.

[MJZiggy]

I've had DTV for 9 years now and have lost the signal once or twice while I was watching in that time. I've had to replace the card a couple times but that's about it. Still cheaper than going out to watch the games every week.

[Fosco33]

DTV w/ HD and the HD receiver now. Great service and worth the money.

NFL Ticket is awesome. ESPN Gameplan is good. BTV and NFLN are good to be able watch.

Get it. And make sure one of us refers you so we both get the kickback (i think it's like $50).

[MadtownPacker]

Get it. And make sure one of us refers you so we both get the kickback (i think it's like $50).

Damn Eye-talian, beat me to it!!!

[Partial]

Wow, even Sat. is expensive. I think I'll stick with the old rabbit ears until I get some money in the bank.

[Freak Out]

I'm in the same boat now as the Grail-master....canceled my cable again. I'm going to make the switch to one of the SAT companies but have not made up my mind just yet...the HD DVR hardware is important to me so I still have to do some research yet....how does heavy snow mess up the signal? I have to say I really love the uncompressed picture of the local HD stations...I think I'll always have an antenna on the roof.

[Bretsky]

THESE ARE GOING TO BE DUMB QUESTIONS; BUT I'M TECHNOLOGICALLY DUMB RIGHT NOW

1. Do I need a receiver with every TV I have on Direct TV ?
With Chartercrap I only needed a receiver on the TV that had all the movie channels...specialty channels....ETC.

We have one main TV and use the other two sporadically

2. Somebody want to give me the dummy version of DVR technology ?

Is that where you get some special device to record your TV shows anytime you want ?


I can't see how I would not go Direct TV

Somebody verified I get FSN for the Brewer Games

That also gives me the NFL Package if I go that route where DISH does not offer that option.

[The Leaper]

1. Do I need a receiver with every TV I have on Direct TV ?

Technically, yes. The only way you can watch different channels at the same time on separate TVs is to have separate receivers. However, you CAN hook up several TVs to one receiver...but you will have 3 TVs that can only show the exact same thing. You also will not be able to change the channel for the TVs that aren't in the same room as the receiver.

You may want to split the difference...get 2 receivers for your 3 TVs, and connect the 2 TVs that you don't use very often to the same receiver to save $5 a month.

2. Somebody want to give me the dummy version of DVR technology?

You have it right. DVR stand for digital video recorder, which is basically the same thing as a VCR except that it doesn't use tape...it stores the data digitally like storing files on a computer hard disk. It also is always recording what you are watching...which is what allows you to pause and rewind live television.

Modern DVRs are built right into the receivers...so it isn't like you will have a bunch of extra gadgets on top of your TV.

DTV is awesome for those who want to get the most out of sports. Local FSN channels give you pretty much everything you want for local baseball/hockey/basketball coverage...and you have the choice to pay for access to just about anything else you would want.

[twoseven]

To add to Leaper's post..

Yes, you do need a seperate receiver for each TV you'll be watching, and I would get them if it's not too much money. Since new customers get kickass deals (free everything it seems) you may be able to get the HD dish, install, and multiple recivers for little to nothing. Load up if that's the case, and make sure they wire as many rooms as possible for the future so you don't have to have them come back later when it's not free. My tech guys told me each HD dish could handle 8 seperate signals with a splitter at the base connection.

Normally the DtV DVR is about $300, that's cheaper than most. If you can get a better deal from them for being a new customer I would take it. Also get TWO signals sent to EACH receiver when the tech person hooks you up, it allows you to record up to two different shows at the same time. You will also be able to watch something else you've already stored away while those two shows are recording. No more missed shows when you've got a conflict with Monday night or Sunday night football to watch, they'll record on the second signal channel while you are watching whatever on the first signal channel.

If you have multiple receivers you can record different content on each of the different receivers--very helpful if you have kids or a spouse that wants their shows on another TV or wants to be able to view live or recorded shows when you are using the other TV for something else. Use the extra DVR like a backup, just in case the other DVR(s) takes a shit and loses your show, doesn't record it, etc. Yes, it does happen. My second DVR in the bedroom has saved many a program that the main DVR missed for whatever reason.

DVR is the only way to go and once you get used to it (fast, I'll bet) you will wonder what in the hell took you so long to get it. It does tons of things by way of searching for shows, scheduling recordings, viewing your 'to do list' of programs to be recorded, viewing tv guide up to 2 weeks in advance, automatically recording any shows you want all the time so all you have to do is watch, ability to fast forward through commercials (saves you 10 minutes for every half hour of programming, so that hour long show just became 40 minutes of viewing time), stores up to about 50 hours of HD programs or 100 hours of regular signal, stores your recorded shows in files for easy viewing, and more.

Tired of commercials making sporting events twice as long? Record the thing and wait an hour or more to start watching, then FFwd through the crap and make the 3 1/2 hour game only take about 2 hours to watch. Great during college football season with their thousand commercials, half hour halftimes, and 5 hour presentations. Ffwd through the refs looking at replay, the penalties, the injury timeouts on the field, etc. Also, add 1, 5, 15, 30, 60, 90, 180 minutes to any recording you make--especially handy when you record sports that never end on time or awards shows that also go up to an hour longer. Record the baseball game and if you only want to see your team hit, Ffwd through every pitch your guy throws or vice versa (there are 4 speeds for the Fwd, and the Fwd automatically backs up a few seconds when you stop so you don't miss anything).

Pause anything at anytime to hit the bathroom, answer the phone, eat. Instant replay button backs action up by 8 seconds if you missed something. Slow-mo button is pretty cool too for the sports (or other programs). Frame by frame forward function to see absolutely everything the human eye missed. Want to finish watching something you recorded later, hit the stop button, it'll will pick up right where you left off when you resume. Leave bookmarks that will show up on your 'recording line' at the bottom of the screen (a thin line that shows length of show and where you are during the viewing, just like on an iPod or internet viewing box) so you can go back and view something of interest later and go right to that spot.

Since the DVR is ALWAYS recording up to a ONE HOUR block of program even when the thing is turned off (whatever channel you left it on), you can actually back up by one hour and see what you missed as long as you didn't change the channel when you turn on the TV. You can jump to the very end of any live showing or recording or go back to the very beginning by simply holding a button on your remote. Delete uwanted saved content by double clicking another button. Pick shows to record while looking through the on screen TV guide and simply hitting your record button as you navigate the screen. DVR will let you know if you have any scheduling conflicts (3 prgrams to record at once, which it can't do) and will let you decide what to do with one click.

The DVR is amongst other things..a constantly upgrading computer, personal viewing scheduler, monthly/yearly planner, program storing, film navigating and editing tool, program info provider, on demand movie ordering device, etc. all rolled into one and attached to your TV that's as simple to use, understand and navigate as your PC. Basically, it's man's new best friend.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

That was great tech porn.

I gotta clean off my compuer now.

[MadtownPacker]

And make sure one of us refers you so we both get the kickback (i think it's like $50).

I was the first to reply about getting DTV so thats my $50 damn wop!!

Gonna use it to buy a 8th of that cush.

[twoseven]

That was great tech porn.

I gotta clean off my compuer now.

Make sure you wipe off your 20-sided die while you're at it.

[twoseven]

I was the first to reply about getting DTV so thats my $50 damn wop!!

wop? ..as in 'now isn't that just like a wop, bringing a knife to a gunfight'?

Sounds like racialism to me.

[Bretsky]

FIRST OFF I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE HELP !!

So I called Direct TV tonight for the first time; only was on hold for 30 seconds and somebody very professional came onto the line.

She was very helpful; she sounded hot.

All of that is new since I have CharterCrap.

http://www.expertsatellite.com/directv-monthly-cost#

For those considering this here are the special programs out there now.

I think I'm going to go with the package for 44.95 that includes DVR. Since I only have one HD ready Wide Screen TV and it's just HD ready at this point if I add a receiver I don't think it makes sense to pay an extra $10 for HD.
I will have three receivers so it will actually be $54.99 a month plus tax.

How can I get somebody some free $$ in here ? Do I just have to mention a name and number and they credit $50 ?

[Bretsky]

Also, what did MAD mean when he noted buying NFL Package and get free goodies ? Of course I figure I'll get the NFL Package. Maybe I should wait a bit