DirecTV and HD Receiver

[Nana2Callie]

Do I really need this and why? We have an HD tv isn't that enough? I pay an extra $10 for this and just wanted to make sure I really needed it. Thanks,

 

[momof3ds]

An HD receiver delivers various channels to your HD TV in HD (high def). Without the HD receiver, you will not get the HD channels.

If you use an over-the-air antenna, you can possibly get local channels in HD though.

 

[mikehn]

As already said, without the HD receiver, you will only get standard channels, and those standard channels will not be in HD, even if you have an HD tv.

 

[Poohbug]

I do not have the HD receiver. It is not worth the extra money for me-I am just not that picky about my picture quality. I can still watch all the shows that I want, I just cannot see individual hairs on the actor's heads.

 

[szvers]

If you already have the HD receiver and you downgrade, you'll really notice.
Before I had HD, I thought my pic was pretty good. Now I'm a bit of an HD snob. I don't watch anything that isn't in HD.
Like a previous poster said, you can probably get local HD with an OTA antenna if you downgrade.

If you are mentioning the $10 HD charge for HD channels, then if you call DTV you should be able to get that fee waived for 24 mos. I called and they gave it to me. I think all you had to be was on autopay. Saved me $240.

 

[sherry7]

You'll still be able to view the standard definition (SD) channels, but you won't see anything in high definition (HD). If you have a TV bigger than 32", it is VERY noticeable. With our current cable setup, we only have HD on our 55" TV in the living room. It's such a big screen that it looks awful with just SD. We have smaller 32" TV's in the bedrooms, and we chose not to pay extra for HD with those. Our cable company charges $8 per TV for the box that allows HD. Unless I'm mistaken, the $10 HD fee with Direct TV covers all of your TV's that you have hooked up to the system, regardless of whether it's 1 or 4.

 

[Nana2Callie]

Thanks for the info - I did check on the autopay and that will save us the $10.

 

[ronymac]

Watch digital TV in a whole new way with this DIRECTV receiver that features an Advanced Program Guide that helps you locate programming up to 7 days in advance. Search functionality by person, title, keyword and channel makes finding programming a snap.

 

[floridascgirl]

We just had a mandatory receiver upgrade in our area from DirectTV. By a certain date, we had to contact them and have the new receivers installed or we would no longer receive our local channels.

Here's the kicker...they shipped them for us to intall ourselves! Then, we had to call for them to be activated. Of course, there was a problem with our install and we lost service on both TV's. We were literally on the phone for hours trying to find a rep. who could help us. After many walk-thrus with different techs and still no working TV's, we requested a tech be sent to the house to see what the problem was. They said sure, but we would be charged for a service call!! We were floored because this was a snafu with a mandatory equipment upgrade and we were basically doing their job. We had to threaten to cancel and had to speak to the retention dept.

Guess what? Finally, the 5th person that we spoke to realized that our dish on our roof was no longer compatible with our new receivers. It was then that they offered to send a tech to take care of the issue, but the first available appt. was 2 weeks out. We had no local channels until then (I asked to be comped for those days).

In the end, would you believe that the new MANDATORY receivers are HD and we are being charged extra? We just noticed this, so now we have to call and try to get it handled.

 

[DawnM]

We no longer have Directv, but that is interesting that they are giving out mandatory upgrades.

We too had to get a new dish and receivers when we upgraded to HD TVs, but it was our choice.

Simply put, OP, if you don't' have an HD receiver, you will not receive HD programming.

Dawn

 

[Nayan]

If you already have the HD receiver and you downgrade, you'll really notice.
Before I had HD, I thought my pic was pretty good. Now I'm a bit of an HD snob. I don't watch anything that isn't in HD.
Like a previous poster said, you can probably get local HD with an OTA antenna if you downgrade.

If you are mentioning the $10 HD charge for HD channels, then if you call DTV you should be able to get that fee waived for 24 mos. I called and they gave it to me. I think all you had to be was on autopay. Saved me $240.

I am a huge HD junkie and refuse to watch anything in SD. I spent very good money years ago for an HDTV and I want the picture that goes with it. Watching SD on an HDTV is like buying a high-end sound system and using 10 dollar speakers. You'll notice the difference, believe me!