Just WOW!

[wallypa]

Well, after waiting for what seems to be an eternity, I finally made up my mind and ordered D* today. I think I've suffered cable long enough (since Voom folded). I'm still at awe with the frenzy of HD channels being launched by D*. WOW! Just fantastic.

The install will be this coming Friday and I'm crossing my fingers that I'll get a savvy installer and the install will go without a hitch. I am getting 1 HD-DVR, 1 HD receiver and 2 standard receivers. With the premier programming and free NFL Sunday ticket, and the four receivers, I'll still be saving at least $20/month even after the promo ends compared to what I'm doling out to cable right now.

Any thoughts on what to expect during the install? Thanks.

:clap

 

[anhmduk]

Well, after waiting for what seems to be an eternity, I finally made up my mind and ordered D* today. I think I've suffered cable long enough (since Voom folded). I'm still at awe with the frenzy of HD channels being launched by D*. WOW! Just fantastic.

The install will be this coming Friday and I'm crossing my fingers that I'll get a savvy installer and the install will go without a hitch. I am getting 1 HD-DVR, 1 HD receiver and 2 standard receivers. With the premier programming and free NFL Sunday ticket, and the four receivers, I'll still be saving at least $20/month even after the promo ends compared to what I'm doling out to cable right now.

Any thoughts on what to expect during the install? Thanks.

:clap

:
To Directv. Hope You enjoy it.

 

[anhmduk]

Not sure what to expect. I have done all my own installs.

 

[TheDurk]

Well, my HD upgrade install (my only tech visit since 1997--up to now I did my own: first E*, then D*) was an agonizing experience. 7 appointments missed totally, plus 3 without needed equipment (for pole mount). Then they pointed through a tree in March and I lost the signal to 119 in May with the leaves. More missed appointments. Refused to bury cable. Big fight to get any grounding (only to water pipe, but all copper pipe in my 1937 crib and bridged to service ground). Avoid an NJ D* installer called All-Star Satellite at all costs. Really awful.

 

[Jamey K]

Love the avatar wallypa!!

 

[ONUOsFan]

Well, after waiting for what seems to be an eternity, I finally made up my mind and ordered D* today. I think I've suffered cable long enough (since Voom folded). I'm still at awe with the frenzy of HD channels being launched by D*. WOW! Just fantastic.

The install will be this coming Friday and I'm crossing my fingers that I'll get a savvy installer and the install will go without a hitch. I am getting 1 HD-DVR, 1 HD receiver and 2 standard receivers. With the premier programming and free NFL Sunday ticket, and the four receivers, I'll still be saving at least $20/month even after the promo ends compared to what I'm doling out to cable right now.

Any thoughts on what to expect during the install? Thanks.

:clap

Just make sure they don't leave until all the signal strengths are good - should all be in the 80's and 90's other than a few of the sats/transponders that are not active and/or spot beams.

I let my guy go with some signals in the 50's and 60's because he told me it was ok, and had to have them come back out later because I was getting dropouts with rain.

 

[wallypa]

Appreciate all the input very much.

I'm really excited. Just hoping that the install will go smoothly. This is my first week of retirement and what timing eh? Now I can go from a part time couch potato to a full time super couch potato. What a thrill!

I forgot to mention that I had a really nice experience talking with the D* customer rep who took my order. I reckon it's all scripted but she was very thorough and very polite. Read me my Miranda rights word for word. What surprised me also is that the install is this coming Friday 10/5. I was expecting at least a one week wait. But hey, who's complainin.



@Jamey K- Yea, I'm a huge Beatles fun still. Kinda caught in a time warp I suppose. Btw, although it took a long while, I have completely recovered from Voom-itis and the prognosis looks pretty good.

@ONUOsFan - Thanks for the advice. I'll make sure that the signal strength is what you prescribed.

Thanks all! See you around. :

 

[ONUOsFan]

Just to clarify, you will have a few transponders that will show up as very weak (30's/40's/50's or even 0's) because they are spot beam satellites or other things, as long as it's only on certain satellites (i.e. 99, 103a) or one or two transponders on the others, you should be fine.

If I get time tonight, I'll post my strengths, to give you an idea what to expect.

 

[Renceward]

After reading various installer stories on here and other sites - we were ready for our install a few weeks ago.
1) Call up DirecTV and get them to read back to you the details on your install and make sure they are correct.
2) Call the local installation company direct and make sure that the details they have are also correct and match what DirecTV has.
3) When the installer first gets there - review their work order and make sure it matches what DirecTV has and what the installation company said.

4) Refuse to sign until the install is complete and everything is working - the installaer will whine about not getting paid etc. etc. but once you sign you will have a very difficult time getting anything else resolved.

One thing after another - the installer couldn't do - we said we wouldn't sign - suddenly he was able to do it. He didn't bring a big enough multi-switch which meant one TV would not be working. Said they would have to order it. We said that we would only sign once we got DirecTV to open another work order for the new multi-switch - that once it was open and in the system we would sign - installer refused to even talk to DirecTV. We called DirecTV who got the installation company on the phone - magically they found a multi-switch for us that they claimed they didn't have earlier in the day.

We had to play hard-ball many times, but our installation was complete and fully working at the end of the day.

 

[wallypa]

After reading various installer stories on here and other sites - we were ready for our install a few weeks ago.
1) Call up DirecTV and get them to read back to you the details on your install and make sure they are correct.
2) Call the local installation company direct and make sure that the details they have are also correct and match what DirecTV has.
3) When the installer first gets there - review their work order and make sure it matches what DirecTV has and what the installation company said.

4) Refuse to sign until the install is complete and everything is working - the installaer will whine about not getting paid etc. etc. but once you sign you will have a very difficult time getting anything else resolved.

One thing after another - the installer couldn't do - we said we wouldn't sign - suddenly he was able to do it. He didn't bring a big enough multi-switch which meant one TV would not be working. Said they would have to order it. We said that we would only sign once we got DirecTV to open another work order for the new multi-switch - that once it was open and in the system we would sign - installer refused to even talk to DirecTV. We called DirecTV who got the installation company on the phone - magically they found a multi-switch for us that they claimed they didn't have earlier in the day.

We had to play hard-ball many times, but our installation was complete and fully working at the end of the day.

Thank you for sharing your experience with your install. Glad it ended up fairly well. I imagine that it became a bit intense there for a while with the installer being a a bit testy. Congrats and enjoy.

My install is between 1-5 pm today pacific time. My only concern right now is that my two hdtvs have dvi only. So yesterday, I bought two hdmi- to -dvi adapters. I'm not so sure how this will work. Push comes to shove Ill just use component.

I'll post my install experience here tomorrow - good or bad. Wish me luck guys.

 

[ONUOsFan]

Thank you for sharing your experience with your install. Glad it ended up fairly well. I imagine that it became a bit intense there for a while with the installer being a a bit testy. Congrats and enjoy.

My install is between 1-5 pm today pacific time. My only concern right now is that my two hdtvs have dvi only. So yesterday, I bought two hdmi- to -dvi adapters. I'm not so sure how this will work. Push comes to shove Ill just use component.

I'll post my install experience here tomorrow - good or bad. Wish me luck guys.

I've done HDMI to DVI in the past and the video looks fine - just keep in mind that you'll need separate audio... but I'm sure you already know that.

 

[wallypa]

My install went quite smoothly yesterday. My appointment was between 1-5 pm. The installer showed up before 2 despite the fact that the his company gave him the wrong street number. After surveying the interior and exterior of the house, he got to work quickly and installed the slimline in a flash. Cabling was a no brainer because I have existing cables in 3 of the four rooms already. So, it was an uneventful install, which was a pleasant surprise. Signal strength are mostly in the 90s.

The hdmi-to the-dvi adapter was no problem. When I was going through the different hd channels, what I noticed is that the pq is slightly inferior than cable. The colors are not as crisp and vibrant. When I was watching the Yankees-Indian game on TBS hd, the colors were really kind of dull, faded almost. I spent some time dickering with the contrast, color, hue, etc., but I can't make it look any better. Could it be the adapter? Am I better off with switching to component? Or is it really true that cable pq is better than satellite like I have read in some of the forums here.

The hd receivers are small, kind of minimalist in a way, which I like, but I wish it indicated the time of day and the channel number as you are channel surfing, but no big deal. The remote is quite generic. I like the original voom remote better, where you press one button for all hd channels.

But overall, I'm a happy camper- for now at least. Cheers!

 

[LonghornXP]

My install went quite smoothly yesterday. My appointment was between 1-5 pm. The installer showed up before 2 despite the fact that the his company gave him the wrong street number. After surveying the interior and exterior of the house, he got to work quickly and installed the slimline in a flash. Cabling was a no brainer because I have existing cables in 3 of the four rooms already. So, it was an uneventful install, which was a pleasant surprise. Signal strength are mostly in the 90s.

The hdmi-to the-dvi adapter was no problem. When I was going through the different hd channels, what I noticed is that the pq is slightly inferior than cable. The colors are not as crisp and vibrant. When I was watching the Yankees-Indian game on TBS hd, the colors were really kind of dull, faded almost. I spent some time dickering with the contrast, color, hue, etc., but I can't make it look any better. Could it be the adapter? Am I better off with switching to component? Or is it really true that cable pq is better than satellite like I have read in some of the forums here.

The hd receivers are small, kind of minimalist in a way, which I like, but I wish it indicated the time of day and the channel number as you are channel surfing, but no big deal. The remote is quite generic. I like the original voom remote better, where you press one button for all hd channels.

But overall, I'm a happy camper- for now at least. Cheers!

I'm try using component because the Red Sox game on TBS HD last night was some of the best HDTV I've ever seen.

 

[bobojay]

I'm try using component because the Red Sox game on TBS HD last night was some of the best HDTV I've ever seen.

Ditto here, and I'm on component.......

 

[wallypa]

Took your suggestions and switch to component today. Surprisingly, the picture quality I think is a little bit better than than dvi using an hdmi-to-dvi adapter. Could there have been a degradation using the adapter? Maybe. Or is it merely the power of suggestion. Be that as it may, the bottom line is I'm happy, the wife is happy. Thanks fellas. Now, I'm wondering when will the on demand feature be a reality. That will definitely be the icing on the cake.

Cheers!

 

[chopperjc]

On demand is coming. It is being Bets tested now.

 

[ONUOsFan]

I'm try using component because the Red Sox game on TBS HD last night was some of the best HDTV I've ever seen.

I have seen some of the games on TBS, though, that were a little grainy and washed out looking, although even within the same broadcast it seems to vary quite a bit from camera to camera. Overall, I agree, though - the PQ for those games has been quite good.

 

[wallypa]

I watched the fourth game of NY-Cleveland game and it was great on component. No complaints here whatsoever. I'm gonna stick with component 'til I buy a new set with HDMI.

@chopperjc: Are you kiddin me? That is good news indeed. The only reason we stuck with comcast for so long was because of their on demand feature. That's the only thing we'll miss. BTW, where did you hear this. Do you have any links? Thanks.

 

[ONUOsFan]

I watched the fourth game of NY-Cleveland game and it was great on component. No complaints here whatsoever. I'm gonna stick with component 'til I buy a new set with HDMI.

@chopperjc: Are you kiddin me? That is good news indeed. The only reason we stuck with comcast for so long was because of their on demand feature. That's the only thing we'll miss. BTW, where did you hear this. Do you have any links? Thanks.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-cutting-edge-ce-discussion-forum/

 

[wallypa]

http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-cutting-edge-ce-discussion-forum/

Thanks for the info. Read the numerous posts re DOD, but it got me a bit confused. I have to do a bit more reading on this. BTW, I am seeing a lot of references to a "CE". What is this?