Guide Update for VERY old receivers (10+ years)

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jcrandall

jcrandall

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Apr 3, 2005
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From DirecTV:

Background: Older receivers from 10 years ago were not built to handle the enormous growth in channel counts we've added, (like old computer CPUs choke on today's browsers and graphical sites) and have hit the limit sooner that anticipated, thus truncating the guide since late December.

The first step we took was re-adding the most watched channel data, to alleviate the problem, then monitored box performance these last two weeks while we planned the next step.

The next step is coming this Friday at 6AM Eastern.

At 6AM ET on this Friday 2/13, the broadcast will be updated so that the full program guide data is restored to these Legacy receivers, while at the same time, they will lose access to approximately 60 channels [30 Seasonal Sports in the 700s, 19 PPV and 11 Infomercial]

For the sports packages - an on-air slide will inform customers to look for sports games in the 600 channels

Customers with Legacy receivers and Sports subscriptions will have their account commented for prioritized replacements. An offer should be in place if they want to replace these receivers soon.
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Not sure how many people this affects, but there are still millions of old receivers out there. Ideally, those affected are mostly people with just older SD receivers that subscribe to sports packages like NHL, NBA, etc.
 
Actually the message I received specifically said that was not the case. The changes they are working on with these old receivers are not going to start until Friday. They specifically said the HR2x problem yesturday was not related.
 
I have one of my original (12yrs) RCA recievers in my workshop. I have noticed "issues" with the guide and just figured the box was old and not handling the new stuff very well.

It wasn't a big deal and still seems it won't be. As long as I can watch the races and the Packers while I'm down there I'll be fine.
 
Will be interesting to see what happens. I guess they are not replacing with owned are they?
My receivers are listed in my sig. I forgot to list the RCA.
NFL Sunday Ticket and MLB Extra Innings.
 
I think sooner rather than later they will start upgrading these boxes. Maybe when they have an MPEG-4 SD receiver (or when they get the costs on H2x receivers down low enough that they just drop SD boxes completely). I would imagine that they'd go ahead and start migrating people, but if you're upgrading a receiver that has been in use for 14 years, then you have to think there's a good chance it's not going to get upgraded again for another 14 years.
 
Jason Crandall said:
Actually the message I received specifically said that was not the case. The changes they are working on with these old receivers are not going to start until Friday. They specifically said the HR2x problem yesturday was not related.
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And you believe them? The old left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. :)
 
JD - I can only report what I'm told, it could be a lie, I have no way to ever know.

John - Any receiver that is replaced is replaced with a leased receiver, unless you convience them otherwise at the time of calling in the activation, but for a basic SD receiver, I'd personally prefer they own it and I lease it. If it dies, they give me a new one, since they own it.
 
Jason Crandall said:
John - Any receiver that is replaced is replaced with a leased receiver, unless you convience them otherwise at the time of calling in the activation, but for a basic SD receiver, I'd personally prefer they own it and I lease it. If it dies, they give me a new one, since they own it.
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Too many lose ends in that. If my MPEG2 receivers won't get the MPEG2 SD programs I pay for and they do not offer Owned for Owned then I will cancel. I had to go through too much crap to be allowed to buy a MPEG4 HD receiver for $399 + shipping.
 
JohnH said:
Too many lose ends in that. If my MPEG2 receivers won't get the MPEG2 SD programs I pay for and they do not offer Owned for Owned then I will cancel. I had to go through too much crap to be allowed to buy a MPEG4 HD receiver for $399 + shipping.
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Why? what is the point of owning it yourself? I think DirecTV should refuse to sell receivers completely. Every instance of someone trying to own a receiver or activate an owned receiver has ended in heartbreak and sorrow. When you try to go outside of the normal procedures for a company like DirecTV you're in for a world of hurt. And what do you get for owning the box? You have to pay more to get the box and you don't save any money on your bill, because if it's owned you still pay the mirror fee. Then, what are you going to do with the box when you cancel service?
 
I have never understood the "I have to own it" mentality. There is no advantage other than saying it's mine.

The question of what to do with the old boxes is a valid one. I've been a sub for more than 12 yrs. I have 4 old D* receivers that I "own" and one Primestar box collecting dust.

D* doesn't want them back, I really can't just throw them in the garbage.

I'm holding on to them for the day when I get to the recycling center and put them in the electronics recycling bin.
 
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Well, I guess you are not of an age or have health issues while renting your place of residence. I do not wish to have anything which someone else owns in my residence. That is not fair to my landlord.

DIRECTV has gone from a "you have to buy it" to a "you can't buy it". Who made the change? I certainly didn't. But I may make the change to none of the above. :D
 
JohnH said:
Well, I guess you are not of an age or have health issues while renting your place of residence. I do not wish to have anything which someone else owns in my residence. That is not fair to my landlord.
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I'm not quite sure I understand what you're saying here, to be honest.

DIRECTV has gone from a "you have to buy it" to a "you can't buy it". Who made the change? I certainly didn't. But I may make the change to none of the above. :D
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DirecTV several years ago moved to a lease model for receivers moving forward. They are the ones that made a change. It is the model that has been used by cable since the beginning, and IIRC even Dish Network is on a lease model now. Unless you are going to go to OTA, then you are going to lease any future boxes. It is possible to jump through some hoops and buy your receiver, but because that represents such a small number of customers, it almost always ends in a screwup on DirecTV's end because the CSRs don't know how to handle it.

It really is a better model for the customer because if the box goes bad, ever, you get a new one. No warranties to deal with. Plus, they waive the lease fee if you only have one receiver. AND on top of all that, if you have more than one owned receiver then you will pay a mirror fee instead of a lease fee so owning the box costs you more in the end.
 
talos4 said:
I have never understood the "I have to own it" mentality. There is no advantage other than saying it's mine.

The question of what to do with the old boxes is a valid one. I've been a sub for more than 12 yrs. I have 4 old D* receivers that I "own" and one Primestar box collecting dust.

D* doesn't want them back, I really can't just throw them in the garbage.

I'm holding on to them for the day when I get to the recycling center and put them in the electronics recycling bin.
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You could always donate them to Goodwill. They take EVERYTHING there, and you get a tax credit.
 
What I am saying is, if you are single and die or become incapacitated who is responsible for getting the equipment back to DIRECTV? You are and are not capable of doing that. DIRECTV might be within their rights to place a service lien on the property to recover the receivers and any remaining commitment. Many leases require that the landlord be protected from such things by the tenent.
 
JohnH said:
What I am saying is, if you are single and die or become incapacitated who is responsible for getting the equipment back to DIRECTV? You are and are not capable of doing that. DIRECTV might be within their rights to place a service lien on the property to recover the receivers and any remaining commitment. Many leases require that the landlord be protected from such things by the tenent.
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I can promise you DirecTV is not going to put a lien on the property if you die. First off, they would have no legal standing to do so. Secondly, the only thing they do is charge you a non-return fee that is a few hundred bucks. If the terrible happened and you died, your estate would be responsible for paying the fee or returning the equipment. This is really not a big enough deal to try to jump through the hoops and spend the money to outright own your equipment.

Keep in mind even if you own your box, they own the access card, so technically there is something in your home that you don't own.
 
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