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 Review by bmetelsky 
UPDATED: 178 days ago
member for 4.1 years, 1439 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Elyria,Lorain,OH
 Contract price not specified.
 "Lots of HD programming, nice DVR, lower cost than TWC for television."
 "None noticed up to this point."
 "Great satellite television for my taste!"
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I had triple play from Comcast, which then became TWC in my area. I was paying upwards of $200 for the three after my initial 12 months, so decided to try Directv. Scheduled the install through their website, choosing the programming package, equipment parameters, etc. The install was scheduled for 2/14/09 and went well - the installer even let me add an additional receiver which I wanted for my son's room (he does not yet have a television but we plan on adding one and didn't want to have to add a receiver later at an additional cost). Total install was for one 5-LNB slimline dish, 1 HD-DVR, and 2 regular receivers. I paid zero upfront for the equipment (which is leased) and really enjoy the HD-DVR, which is an HR22-100. The DVR is much better than the ones that I have had from Comcast and then TWC. The programming package I ordered is saving me money compared to what I was paying for comparable level programming from TWC. There have been no problems since the installation and no rain fade noticeable to me. I am obligated to 24 months of service, so may update the review as time goes by. I did keep digital phone and high speed internet from TWC.
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 Review by uid1307457
UPDATED: 255 days ago
member for 3.9 years, 1277 visits, last login: 155 days ago
Tempe,Maricopa,AZ
Contract price not specified.
"HD tv rules, DVR option"
"my dish has to go on the third floor while I live on the first"
"HD and DVR are awesome, plus they charged me for the DVR, then returned the $$ lol"
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My install is tomorrow and will update this review afterwards. The installer was here one time and was not very helpful in trying to set up my dish. The dummy told me that the dish was too big to be connected to the tripod stand that was designed for it. He tried to explain, poorly, why I couldnt get my HD channels if he set up the dish. apparently, (after a second opinion for another guy from directv) the regular satellite is south while the HD satellites (note the 's') are to the south but more too the right. well, this posed a problem since I am on the first floor and a building blocks the view of HD satellites. After some unnecessary haggling on my part to motivate a third installer I finally got him to determine that I could (80% chance) pick up the signal from the 3rd floor balcony above me.
Well, I got permission from my apartment complex to have wires hanging down three floors and the approval of the 3rd floor tenant to have the dish on his balcony. hopefully, the dish will pick up the regular & HD satellites.
EDIT: Putting the dish on the 3rd floor balcony worked.
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 Review by jlp09550
Posted: 289 days ago
member for 2.8 years, 157 visits, last login: 2 days ago
Abbeville,Vermilion,LA
Contract price not specified.
"Excellent quality, reliability, equipment, and pricing!"
"Technicians (setup/in-home service) aren't knowledgeable."
"Exellent company, but needs to train their techs better!"
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We have had DirecTV for years now. (possibly 8 years?)
We first got it when we were shut off from our previous land-satellite provider. We used an antenna with local channels only until we received an offer from DirecTV in the mail. It was an incredible offer at the time--don't remember what it was exactly though.
After we signed up, we opted to have service self-installed by one of our cousins. They set it up perfectly (they were better than today's techs) and we were up and running in a day. Severe weather-- even hurricanes-- passed and service went uninterrupted! Amazing, isn't it?
Anyhow, once we lost our home in Hurricane Rita, we called and had our DirecTV service moved to my grandma's house. They set service up in two rooms in an excellent time and manner. (but, of course, we KNEW the tech!) We were up and running within a few hours. (and this was fresh wiring)
Months passed and we finally got our own home again. We called DirecTV AGAIN to have them move the service AGAIN. At first, they declined because we had just recently requested a move, but they approved it since we were Hurricane Rita victims-- which, shall I say, required us to talk to a manager in order to get it moved over.
Again, service was installed and up within hours.
The only bad experiences I've had were when we required calling them to come and fix our equipment because of a power surge. (we weren't getting the correct things on our receiver) The technician told us it was because our phone line was simply not plugged in. Bull. We called and they reprovisioned our service and sent a new receiver. After which, we were fine and dandy. The tech who came, though, got off with a dire warning as far as I was told.
That's all for my DirecTV review. I'll be with them until cable is available. 
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Review by Grentz
UPDATED: 297 days ago
member for 5.4 years, 72 visits, last login: 105 days ago
Waconia,Carver,MN
Contract price not specified.
"Great prices, channel selection, and reliability"
"CS can be annoying. Installers vary widely in quality"
"Best tv service I have found"
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I have been with Directv for going on 12 years and have been very pleased. I started out with a self install (back when they did that) of a simple single receiver and dish.
After about 8yrs I finally decided to move up to a DVR and this was my first experience with their install techs. Very hair brained and I pretty much walked them through what they should do as I know my way around satellite and home theater stuff very well (I am a home theater consultant). In the end it all got installed well though and worked out great.
Now most recently I moved up to their HD service and two HD-DVRs. Overall really love them and the HD service is awesome with a great choice of channels that is ever expanding. Some bash their HD-DVRs, but they are actively being developed and constantly improving, plus I love the new features they are adding over time to them and that they are actively developing them, not just leaving them as is.
PQ is great on most channels, and I prefer the PQ of Directv over Dish which I think is not quite as good (have used both a lot). New SWM (single wire) technology is also great as it allows the satellite wire to be split and DVRs to only need one line, plus only one line needed into the house instead of the old 2 or 4.
Overall I love the service, tons cheaper than cable for much more content. The only thing that lets me down a bit is the Installers which can either be awesome or lack luster. Luckily for me I pretty much do all my own work so the only time I have HAD to have them come out is to deliver new receivers, but now Directv is shipping them to existing customers more often than not if you do not need a new dish or wiring (in my case I just say I do not need wiring as I do it myself). Their CS can also be a bit annoying and not give you a straight answer always, but usually you can get to what you want eventually.
Reliability is great though, have only really had to call in 5 or so times in 12 yrs and installers have only been out around 3 times, just to drop off equipment 
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Review by Dmangusto
UPDATED: 327 days ago
member for 1 year, 2 visits, last login: 327 days ago
Sherrills Ford,Catawba,NC
Contract price not specified.
"Great picture, lots of HD channels, DVR is excellent"
"Offshore customer service staff (like everywhere else) are complete idiots! Service sketchy during heavy thunderstorms"
"10 years in and there is still nothing better out there"
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I've had DirecTV for almost 10 years with their premium package and currently have 3 HD-DVR's. Unlike some others I saw posted, I've moved with DTV several times and install dates were always met and everything installed as promised. The picture is fantastic and I love the fact that they continue to upgrade their services and features despite the fact that they're all ready significantly ahead of everyone else (in my opinion). Most recently, I turned on my TV to find that my receivers had been upgraded to offer 1080p pay-per-view movies AWESOME! I typically hardly use the pay per view, but was considering a Blue-Ray player, and now maybe won't need one. they even just eliminated the need to run two cables through my house to run the dual tuners. I also like the external hard drive option to add more DVR storage since the 1080p recordings are going to eat up more space.
I do have a few of gripes:
1. their offshore customer service dept is entirely useless!!!!! 10 years ago when you called, you got someone in the US and problems were instantly resolved. Now, you'll spend at minimum an hour on the phone with them reading from a script and asking you to repeat procedures that you've all ready told them you did. They have NEVER been able to solve any problem I've had whether it was a technical or billing issues it didn't seem to matter. Now when I call I demand to speak to someone in the US, and once I get them on the phone any issue is immediately resolved.
2. I shouldn't need 3 DVR's to watch my recorded programming. My receivers are all connected to ethernet so they can get the pay-per-view, why can't I record on one box and watch on another. I'm aware of all the DRM issues, but within my own house, it should be a no-brainer. Not a deal breaker, but recording the same show on three different boxes so I can watch them wherever I want is ridiculous.
3. They should offer me the same prices as new customers. Its annoying that I see there ads for my package at discounts of $20-30 less a month for the first year but will not give me the same price.
Still with my rants complete, they offer a great service, alot more HD channels than competitors and their receivers are complete enough that I like them and simple enough my wife can use them without help.
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Review by j2fast
Posted: 355 days ago
member for 2.4 years, 25 visits, last login: 96 days ago
New Cumberland,Hancock,WV
Contract price not specified.
"Larger selection of channes, Lots of HD content,"
"Behind competition in DVR features, lack of coverage in all local DMA's like cable"
"While they are behind in some tech they are catching up and will pass their competitors. IMO the best value in pay TV"
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Their tech support is seriously lacking but good info can be found on the. dbstalk.com is my go-to for all things DirecTv as far as info on new tech and support goes.
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Review by Lenagainster
UPDATED: 363 days ago
member for 4.8 years, 1412 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Silver Spring,Montgomery,MD
Contract price not specified.
"Lots of channels to choose from"
"lose signal with heavy cloud cover, our receiver became sporatic"
"adequate if nothing else available."
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We started with DirecTV years ago when we had to purchase our own dish and receiver. Missed out on all the subsequent deals for free installation, free equipment, free service for the first few months. Going from commercial packed, free OTA TV to what we thought would be commercial free programming for under $30 per month. Just as many commercials, but we learned to live with it. Pixelization and loss of signal during a thunderstorm, and even heavy cloud cover, but we were forewarned and learned to live with it. The only thing we ever added to our "Choice" package was the local channels to save ourselves from switching between the dish and the antenna, but we watched our subscription increase from about $30 to $55. Not about to shell out more money for all new equipment so that we could watch different programs on each of the three TVs in the house, so we wired the other two as monitors and watched whatever was on the main TV, and learned to live with it.
We never ordered any 'On Demand' or special events, never had any problems with billing, which was automatically charged to a credit card.
Over the past year or so, we noticed that our receiver started acting flakey, It would randomly turn off and then after a few seconds, turn back on to another channel. It was annoying, but we learned to live with it. We just grabbed the remote and switched back to the channel we were watching. A bit more annoying when we were listening to a music channel playing through speakers in another room and it switched to a talk show. Not about to plop down another $70 for a new receiver. We lived with it.
We already had FiOS Internet and for about $5 more than we were paying for DirecTV to one television, we could get independent use of three TVs with FiOS TV, and not have to tolerate signal loss during a storm. So we switched. Let me say briefly that the picture quality on our old 32" CRT TV is definitely better with FiOS TV than with DirecTV. No more waiting five to ten seconds for the program description to show up in the guide. At some point, DirecTV's music was switched over to "XM Satellite", and our pleasant background music was interrupted constantly by an announcement that "this is XM Satellite Radio". What a downgrade!
When we called to cancel DirecTV, they were anxious to make a deal and lower my subscription fee. I had to insist that I was not interested in playing games with prices and just wanted to cancel. That call to DirecTV was the most frustrating time I ever had in dealing with them over the phone, as all previous contacts with them had been pleasant.
DirecTV, IMHO, is o.k. if nothing else is available. We have never had cable, so I can't compare that service, but for the short time we have had FiOS TV, it is definitely far superior to DirecTV.
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 Review by mikedz4
Posted: 1 year ago
member for 6.6 years, 2940 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Weirton,Hancock,WV
Contract price not specified.
"Large HD content, huge on-demand library"
"If you can't get a Line Of Site or Local channels"
"I highly recommend DirecTV for tv"
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I really love DirecTV for their dvr on the interent, their interactive content, their HD content. The only problems are Line Of Sight and quite a few people can't even get SD local channels in their areas yet. All in all if you can get locals and see the satellites go for it, you wont regret it.
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 Review by MacThrasher
Posted: 1.4 years ago
member for 7.5 years, 2353 visits, last login: 1 days ago
Chagrin Falls,Cuyahoga,OH
Contract price not specified.
"HD, tons of channels, great reliability, good installation"
"Delays in installation, momentary lapse when changing channels"
"So much better then TWC, I am VERY happy"
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Got sick of Time Warner. Thankfully I do not have them for internet access.
I had the "optimum" step up from basic cable. It went up by $15 and we lost 15 channels. I decided to start looking. AT&T wanted to offer Dish, but I decided... no. I want DirecTV.
Installed something like 3/28/08 after three delays by BlueGrass. Fine. They at least sent out a great install tech, Anthony. Some of the remotes had to be tweaked, but 2 reg def and two HD receivers were installed in about 3-4 hours.
For about 90 bucks? 185 channels? most in HD?
OK. One little complaint.
All HD channels appear first usually then the lo-res standard after, except for Fox Sports Ohio and Sports Time Ohio... they appear AFTER the lo-res version ... FSN is 657_1 rather then giving me the HD first.
Other than that. I give them a B+
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Review by pyakit
Posted: 1.5 years ago
member for 6.4 years, 56 visits, last login: 204 days ago
Wyoming,Kent,MI
 Business customer
Contract price not specified.
"none"
"slow, dns probs, 3 sec delay before anything happends"
"worst ever internet. barely better than dial up"
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Had a directway dish about 4 foot and 1000$ and then got 3 second pings and the slowest connection ever. Also got capped at 128 k after the first big file i sent or downloaded and the cap would stay for the whole day basically. Worst pos i ever had. Go to microwave its sooooo much better.
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