Good CSR Info or Defective Receiver?

[7890]

I bought a H21 HD receiver from Best Buy for my cottage in northern Michigan (zip code 48656). After setting it up and activating it, I was not able to receive the local channels. Error messages were 749 (multi-switch problem) and then it would switch to 721 (channel not purchased). One local channel (9) would show about 5 seconds of channel 355 before going blank and showing the two error messages above.

I have two round satellite dishes, each with one LNB, connected together by DirecTV installer. (Previous owner had his own dish, installer installed new dish and combined the signals so I could pick up the local channels).

When I re-connected the old standard receiver, the local channels came in fine.

CSR advised that I needed to upgrade to HD package and have a new dish/multiswitch installed in order for the H21 to pick up the local channels.

Since I only use the cottage occasionally and the HD picture is not a big deal for me, I really don't want to upgrade to the HD package.

Can anyone please advise if the CSR is correct or is the receiver defective.

 

[boba]

Why aren't you using the old receiver that works if you aren't interested in HD?

 

[CRendall]

Isn't one of the requirements when purchasing a HD receiver is that you have to sign up for the HD Access package?

 

[7890]

Why aren't you using the old receiver that works if you aren't interested in HD?

I had planned on using the old receiver on a second TV.

 

[7890]

Isn't one of the requirements when purchasing a HD receiver is that you have to sign up for the HD Access package?

Purchased the receiver at Best Buy to avoid having to avoid lease fee on a second receiver. Sales person convinced me that it would be better to buy the HD receiver in case I ever changed my mind about wanting HD. He was aware that I did not have the HD package and did not indicate that a HD package was needed for the receiver to work.

Receiver works fine with the exception of not picking up the local channels.

 

[Zynergi]

Purchased the receiver at Best Buy to avoid having to avoid lease fee on a second receiver.

But you didn't, you will still have the 4.99 lease fee, unless you started a new account which you will be wasting more than saving.

Are you choosing the locals by just pressing say 5 on th remote or choosing the NON-HD version in the guide?

 

[spaceghost]

Purchased the receiver at Best Buy to avoid having to avoid lease fee on a second receiver. Sales person convinced me that it would be better to buy the HD receiver in case I ever changed my mind about wanting HD. He was aware that I did not have the HD package and did not indicate that a HD package was needed for the receiver to work.

Receiver works fine with the exception of not picking up the local channels.

Someone correct me if im wrong, but even if you buy from BB, its still a leased receiver. Also, leased or not, there is a 4.99 monthly charge.

When you installed, did you setup the correct config? Did you use "round" instead of 3 LNB, or 5LNB, ect ??

 

[7890]

But you didn't, you will still have the 4.99 lease fee, unless you started a new account which you will be wasting more than saving.

Are you choosing the locals by just pressing say 5 on th remote or choosing the NON-HD version in the guide?

Just read thru the service agreement and you are correct that there is a lease fee for each additional receiver in the home. I missed that when orginally going thru the service agreement.

In regards to your 2nd question, I tried both methods and get the same result.

 

[7890]

Someone correct me if im wrong, but even if you buy from BB, its still a leased receiver. Also, leased or not, there is a 4.99 monthly charge.

When you installed, did you setup the correct config? Did you use "round" instead of 3 LNB, or 5LNB, ect ??

I don't know if it considered a leased receiver but you are correct that there is a lease fee for the 2nd receiver (whether it be leased or owned) that I just became aware of.

Yes I did use the correct config during setup although there was no option for round with 2 LNB just oval w/ 2LNB. I went with the oval w/ 2 LNB.

 

[Jimbo]

Someone correct me if im wrong, but even if you buy from BB, its still a leased receiver. Also, leased or not, there is a 4.99 monthly charge.

Yes, you are correct, there's a fee one way or the other.
With rec's changing so often, I don't know why anyone would want to NOT lease.