Technical > Cable & Satellite TV > [DIRECTV] Question about a DirecTV offer (updated)

[DIRECTV] Question about a DirecTV offer (updated)

Hard to know what reasonable is when you have no pricing info posted.

Just get a lifeline package through Verizon if you’re not going to use it much. Before I had Time Warner Digital Phone, I was paying like $18-22/month for phone service with Verizon and the bulk of that was the line access charge, caller ID with number only and taxes and fees. I paid per call and it was cheap. With DirecTV, Xtra is $71 plus whatever fees are associated with the HR34 DVR in conjunction with a C31 client. I have an HR34 and an HR24 with whole house DVR enabled. I pay a $10 Advanced Receiver for HD Service, a $10 Advanced Receiver Fee for DVR Service, $3 Whole Home DVR Fee and a $6 Receiver Lease Fee. The Advanced Receiver Free for HD Service is Credited back since I have credit card auto pay. Not sure what the fee structure is like if you have a C31 client instead of another real DVR, but be prepared for some extra cost.

Also, the dish needs to be either a 5 LNB Slimline or a 3 LNB Slimline depending on if your local channels are on 119 or not. If your ‘HD dish’ is one of the older Phase 3 dish antennas, that only looks at the 101, 110 and 119 orbital locations it will need to be replaced. HD content is typically found on the Ka satellites at 99 and 103, which require either the Slimline or the older AT9 Sidecar antenna.
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Dale Jr, Riding Daddys Coattails Since February 18, 2001!

This is the offer, as for Internet I am keeping Comcast as the only option is DSL.

reply to IowaCowboy
Outside of the first year with Xtra at a reduced rate, along with the normal DirecTV promos, the three months free of the movie channels and free NFL Sunday Ticket, it’s nothing special. The phone service is overpriced and I fail to see how bundling phone service from Verizon and TV from DirecTV has any sort of benefit after the first year of service. The DirecTV discounts are no different bundling through Verizon then they were last year when I signed up, it’s just now DirecTV offers the HR34 for free to new subscribers, whereas I paid $200 for it when it first came out.
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Dale Jr, Riding Daddys Coattails Since February 18, 2001!

reply to IowaCowboy
And of course its a 2yr contract... so nice yr one you remember to cancel the freebies or fight to get refunds when you forget and they turn billed, but still relatively raped the second year.
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reply to IowaCowboy
One of the reasons I'm looking at this bundle is I want a phone line that is powered by the central office for the alarm system and for E911. I just don't want to pay $65 per month (incl taxes and fees) for a standalone phone line where I can get the bundle (phone & TV) for the quoted price.

I also want to know what the cinema connection kit and the Nomad is.

reply to IowaCowboy
Again, $55 is overpriced for landline service and the DirecTV promo is nothing special. Don’t forget with DirecTV, if your DVR or remote die, if you have a problem with the DECA, the LNB or need the dish realigned it all comes at an additional cost unless you buy their rip off protection plan. Can’t go to the DirecTV Store and swap out DVRs if the hard drive dies. Satellite isn't so great and up until recently, DirecTV had the most pathetic HD line up in the industry.

Only reasons I have DirecTV

1) NFL Sunday Ticket
2) ESPN 3D and 3Net
3) The CE betas are mindless fun
4) Since I have 1.5 TB worth of storage between the two DVRs, I use them to record stuff I don’t feel like watching right away or stuff I want to keep and watch again the the future (The Super Bowl, Daytona 500, Rousey vs Carmouche, the entire first two seasons of Game of Thrones)
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Dale Jr, Riding Daddys Coattails Since February 18, 2001!

reply to IowaCowboy
I have read that some D*TV customers have had trouble canceling the NFL Sunday Ticket after the "free" goes away. IIRC, it seems that there is some type of Automatic Renewal agreement in place that has special requirements to cancel.
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The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.

It is not really different than when you get "Free" HBO when you first sign up, except that there is an off-season for football. You have to cancel before before the next season starts (or the next month after "free" runs out). Same thing I had to do when I had NHL package a year ago, well it would have been if not for the lockout.

Once you sign up for any Sport package Once- It is set for auto renewal -Meaning once the season is over - The account holder is required to call and Cancel the Package -this can be done anytime before the next regular season Starts (HOWEVER) -Once the Regular Season Starts - NO refunds if if you cancel service the account holder will be billed for the full amount.

So If you get it for free -it will auto renew- Call to cancel before the season starts and often they will make a concession on price for keeping it. Depends on the status of your current account standing.