How long will dtv replace defective hr10 with hr20?

[gregftlaud]

I was just curious about how much longer dtv will keep replacing the hr10 with hr20's if you have the dtv protection plan? maybe a couple of more years?

[Jon J]

If the replacement is an "upgrade" triggering another two-year programming commitment, they'll probably be doing it for quite some time. It is to their advantage.

OTOH, a Protection Plan "replacement" of a defective HR10-250 does not entail a new commitment. So, the clock may run out there more quickly.

[bonscott87]

I was just curious about how much longer dtv will keep replacing the hr10 with hr20's if you have the dtv protection plan? maybe a couple of more years?

Forever really. There are still people that have Ultimate TV DVRs that haven't been sold for over 5 years. As long as your HR10 is alive, if it breaks and you have the protection plan then they will replace it with whatever receiver is out at the time. So say your HR10 lives another 5 years and dies, they'll replace it with whatever is out at the time...maybe an HR30 or HR40 or something. I'm sure the HR20 will be long replaced 5 years from now.

[newsposter]

well im hoping even without the plan i can get a 'replacement' for free. I failed at the upgrade deal today and they only offered me 199. Then i thought to myself, why do i even want a 99 dollar deal (ok i admit 19.95 would be nice) and have their unhappy tech try to go under my house to run new wires. Or tell me no LOS to 119 and leave me hanging like last time and i did self install

I figure if i can get a free refurb, pay 100 or whatever for the dish, and a few bucks for 2 RG6, then I'm out the hassle of dealing with a crappy install/installer :)

I'm gonna set this up as a totally independent system from my 2hdtivos and OTA so there are no possiblities of issues with diplexing and stuff.

From what everyone on here tells me, the new birds are up and to the left so the fact i cant see the 119 because down and to the right is blocked will be irrelevant for the new HD channels.

[gregftlaud]

well..i already have an hr20-100 and 5lnb dish so it wouldnt be an upgrade. i did the upgrade 5months.....got the whole thing for free: 5lnb dish, install, hr20-100, h20, and got to keep my hr10-250. but now with all the new hd channels i think my hr10 might be "broke" he he and i want get another hr20.

[incog-neato]

If it's on the protection plan they HAVE to replace it. It will never run out. That's why you pay for the protection plan. If the replacement is an "upgrade" triggering another two-year programming commitment, they'll probably be doing it for quite some time. It is to their advantage.

OTOH, a Protection Plan "replacement" of a defective HR10-250 does not entail a new commitment. So, the clock may run out there more quickly.

[hiker]

If it's on the protection plan they HAVE to replace it. It will never run out. That's why you pay for the protection plan.One of my HR10's has died today and I have the PP. Called and they are sending a refurbished HR20 for no charge, no commitment. I don't have the 5 LNB dish so I bought one on eBay and will install myself.

I've been dreading this for a while and the PP is now permitting me to "upgrade"(still to be determined) at least one of my HR10's without, as newposter stated above, the hassle of dealing with a crappy install/installer.

[gregftlaud]

When your HR10-250 becomes defective and they replace with an HR20 do they make you send in your HR10 or prove somehow it is defective?

[hiker]

When your HR10-250 becomes defective and they replace with an HR20 do they make you send in your HR10 or prove somehow it is defective?When I setup earlier today to have my HR10 replaced under the PP, they told me not to send it back. To prove defective you have to describe symptoms, they will try to troubleshoot (ask you to pull plug, check signal, do a C&DE, etc.) and they make a decision. Mine was struck on powering up so I couldn't do much.

[gregftlaud]

well...i know the green screen is a good reason :)

[MisterEd]

If you had waited a week or so then called them they would have supplied and installed the dish free. One of my HR10's has died today and I have the PP. Called and they are sending a refurbished HR20 for no charge, no commitment. I don't have the 5 LNB dish so I bought one on eBay and will install myself.

I've been dreading this for a while and the PP is now permitting me to "upgrade"(still to be determined) at least one of my HR10's without, as newposter stated above, the hassle of dealing with a crappy install/installer.

[hiker]

If you had waited a week or so then called them they would have supplied and installed the dish free.Maybe so, but I believe they will also give me a 2 year commitment and I would have to deal with a potentially crappy installatiion plus probably having to go to my HOA for permission. :down:

[newsposter]

see the turning off of my 'bad' unit is a dealbreaker. I can't afford to have them turn it off at least until i get the new one ...too much to record now

[Jon J]

see the turning off of my 'bad' unit is a dealbreaker.You don't have to unsubscribe it. Drop in a new disk drive and keep on chugging. ;)

[incog-neato]

If it's bad they should turn it off. If it's not REALLY bad and you're just trying to scam a new receiver that's wrong and in violation of the program. However if it IS bad and then you FIX it you can just reinstate it later.see the turning off of my 'bad' unit is a dealbreaker. I can't afford to have them turn it off at least until i get the new one ...too much to record now

[joed32]

They won't ask you to deactivate it as long as you are willing to pay $5 a month you can keep it active.

[milominderbinder]

I was just curious about how much longer dtv will keep replacing the hr10 with hr20's if you have the dtv protection plan? maybe a couple of more years?The guy who knows was asked when the shutoff date for remaining HR10's might be.

Here was his answer:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5565775#post5565775

I would not be surprised if it isn't completed by the end of Q2, if not Q3.

- Craig

[incog-neato]

If you are using the "protection plan" that means it's dead so they will turn it off. If you're just getting an upgrade you are correct.They won't ask you to deactivate it as long as you are willing to pay $5 a month you can keep it active.

[newsposter]

The guy who knows was asked when the shutoff date for remaining HR10's might be.

Here was his answer:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5565775#post5565775



- Craig

ill read that thread later but are you sure he didnt mean mpeg2 shut off and not hdtivo shut off? I simply do not, nor ever will believe, they directv will ever make the hr10 unusable since they have all their old receivers still working just fine. Plus then they would HAVE to give out free new receivers vs trying to get us to buy them

plus why would they do updates next year just to shut them down next year? makes no sense

and what benefit is it for them to turn off the hdtivos and give out new equipment. They should do that with every other receiver out there if they do this.

[incog-neato]

Betcha "the guy who knows" is wrong. There are millions of legacy HD receivers (not even including the legacy HD-DVR's) out there. You think they're gonna just shut 'em all down? Their call centers would explode with the customers calling in asking what happened to their programming. They couldn't handle it. Aside from that if that was the case why would they have wasted all the resources (phone calls, emails, website etc) informing the few Tivo owners that are left of a 1st quarter upgrade to increase the quality of their service.... and then 3 months later shut them down.

Edit: The only way they could turn off Mpeg2 that soon was if the gave EVERY legacy customer a new receiver & dish BEFORE the turnoff or if the lagacy receiver were down to "just a few." Don't forget, it's not only the HR10-250 that is involved here, it's all the "plain" HD receivers as well.


The guy who knows was asked when the shutoff date for remaining HR10's might be.
Here was his answer:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5565775#post5565775



- Craig

[mocha2]

Yesterday (Sunday) my leased HR10-250 got stuck in a loop that went from the gray powering up screen to the blue just a few more minutes screen then back to the gray screen. I called D* and after some trouble shooting, unplugging the box, tech services promised to send me a replacement HR 20 for the cost of shipping and with no commitment. I don't have the protection plan. I checked online and the notes correctly reflect our conversation.

I already have the 5lnb dish and one HR20-700.

[Jon J]

I checked online and the notes correctly reflect our conversation.
Please share exactly how you went about checking. Thanks.

[HiDefGator]

There are millions of legacy HD receivers (not even including the legacy HD-DVR's) out there.

I think your estimate might be a little high. I doubt there are a million Directv HD boxes out there even if you count HR10's and the non-dvr HD boxes.

[mocha2]

[QUOTE]Please share exactly how you went about checking. Thanks.[QUOTE]

I went to the D* website, then to my account, then to view recent activity.

This is what I found:
10/07/2007 xxxxxxxx0000 $19.95 Delivery and Handling - Charge $19.95 $1.35
10/07/2007 xxxxxxxx0000 No Annual Commitment - Charge $0.00 $0.00

[Jon J]

10/07/2007 xxxxxxxx0000 No Annual Commitment - Charge $0.00 $0.00This second line is an entry I've never seen before even though I have had receivers replaced without a commitment. It has never shown up in writing.

[hiker]

On Fri I called and have a HR10 being replaced. I see no activity for this online for my account in "View Recent Activity" but I do see the order in "View Orders". This is different from what happened with mocha2 since I have PP and was not charged $19.95.

[jimb726]

Betcha "the guy who knows" is wrong. There are millions of legacy HD receivers (not even including the legacy HD-DVR's) out there. You think they're gonna just shut 'em all down? Their call centers would explode with the customers calling in asking what happened to their programming. They couldn't handle it. Aside from that if that was the case why would they have wasted all the resources (phone calls, emails, website etc) informing the few Tivo owners that are left of a 1st quarter upgrade to increase the quality of their service.... and then 3 months later shut them down.

Edit: The only way they could turn off Mpeg2 that soon was if the gave EVERY legacy customer a new receiver & dish BEFORE the turnoff or if the lagacy receiver were down to "just a few." Don't forget, it's not only the HR10-250 that is involved here, it's all the "plain" HD receivers as well.

That particular post was about when the MPEG2 signal will be shut off. Not the actual units them selves. No way they will shut off a perfectly serviceable unit. And why would they have to give every user a dish before they shut it off? They have made this conversion plan very public for 3 years now, they have announced that all sports packages will be MPEG4 for next year, it seems to me that the change is in the wind and not that far off.

[milominderbinder]

Betcha "the guy who knows" is wrong. There are millions of legacy HD receivers (not even including the legacy HD-DVR's) out there...Here is another quote (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=1194111#post1194111):So... let's ask the other HR20 users (given that there where just barely over 200k HR10-250 users at it high point).He is in a position to know that number. Here is a summary of my post on this from last week.

The HD conversion from MPEG2 to MPEG4 has been happening steadily. They have stated their beginning and endpoints in their quarterly earnings conferences:

A. The NFL ST will still be in the MPEG2 HD for H10/HR10 receivers through the Super Bowl.
B. Beginning August 2008, the NFL ST HD will be in MPEG4 only.

Here are my guesses as to how they will get from point A to point B.

DIRECTV has stated that they have nearly 40,000,000 receivers in the field and that they install about 100,000 new receivers a month. They have added installers and added a third installation slot each day at 6 AM. So in the next year they are geared up to install 1 - 2 million receivers.

We have watched in this thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=361301&page=22&pp=30) as people got deals on the HR20. The $19 deals for HR10/H10 owners actually started last winter.

Along with the deals came the carrots: adding HD Channels, up to 100 this year and 150 in 2008.

Next they put the squeeze on offering a dozen national and 28 RSN channels only in MPEG4 HD.

My guess is that next DIRECTV will start using mailings, and bill inserts. The outbound call script might begin with something like, "You have qualified for an exciting upgrade!"

I bet there is a chart up on some manager's wall showing the remaining legacy HD subscribers and their monthly conversion goals. I bet that chart shows "0" remaining in August of 2008. I do believe that HR10's will still be able to recevie SD and OTA HD.

- Craig

[incog-neato]

Yes, I was referring to MPEG2 signals. Sure, they may cut off HD special sports pkgs and offer a 3rd Quarter promo next year for a free HD RECEIVER & 5 LNB dish with purchase of NFLST in HD, but the current "standard" 8 or 10 HD channels ain't goin' away for quite a long while. Besides, their "public" announcement has never been"public." Never been included with a D* bill (that everyone gets). It's only for those (like us here) who look at quarterly reports that have an idea what's going on. The average customer hasn't got the slightest clue as to what is going on other then "we're getting more channels" from the advertising. Show me where it ever stated that they would have to change receivers by a certain time or lose the HD currently available. In fact, the opposite has occurred. I've got 2 phone calls and an email telling me how my HR10-250 will be "better then ever" by the end of the 1st Q next year. The phone call didn't say it will be better then ever except it will no longer receive HD broadcasts. The legacy channels will be with us for quite a while.

There are hundreds of thousands of D* customers who live in specialty properties who can't get the new channels due to unavailability of distribution equipment for at least 6-12 months. Those properties have agreements through their system operators with DirecTV and they won't be losing their current standard MPG2 anytime soon.

That's what's good about opinions, everyone has one. :) That particular post was about when the MPEG2 signal will be shut off. Not the actual units themselves. No way they will shut off a perfectly serviceable unit. And why would they have to give every user a dish before they shut it off? They have made this conversion plan very public for 3 years now, they have announced that all sports packages will be MPEG4 for next year, it seems to me that the change is in the wind and not that far off.

[incog-neato]

The legacy 10 (or whatever) MPG2 channels will be with us for a long time to come. Not referring to anything else. MPG2 will not be turned off anytime soon. NFLST HD, sure. No doubt about it, MPG4 next year. Because a small percentage of even the HD customers who take NFLST will pay extra for HD NFLST so the total customer impact will be much less then "turning off ALL MPEG2" in 6 months which was what my response was about.

Here is another quote (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=1194111#post1194111):He is in a position to know that number. Here is a summary of my post on this from last week.

The conversion from MPEG2 to MPEG4 has been happening steadily. They have stated their beginning and endpoints in their quarterly earnings conferences:

A. The NFL ST will still be in the MPEG2 HD for H10/HR10 receivers through the Super Bowl.
B. Beginning August 2008, the NFL ST will be in MPEG4 only.

Here are my guesses as to how they will get from point A to point B.

DIRECTV has stated that they have nearly 40,000,000 receivers in the field and that they install about 100,000 new receivers a month. They have added installers and added a third installation slot each day at 6 AM. So in the next year they are geared up to install 1 - 2 million receivers.

We have watched in this thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=361301&page=22&pp=30) as people got deals on the HR20. The $19 deals for HR10/H10 owners actually started last winter.

Along with the deals came the carrots: adding HD Channels, up to 100 this year and 150 in 2008.

Next they put the squeeze on offering a dozen national and 28 RSN channels only in MPEG4 HD.

My guess is that next DIRECTV will start using mailings, and bill inserts. The outbound call script might begin with something like, "You have qualified for an exciting upgrade!"

I bet there is a chart up on some manager's wall showing the remaining legacy HD subscribers and their monthly conversion goals. I bet that chart shows "0" remaining in August of 2008. I do believe that HR10's will still be able to recevie SD and OTA HD.

- Craig

[newsposter]

to close my above thought, got 20 dollar deal today and as long as they can see the 119 i'm set. Someone just told me 119 gets guide data for the new channels. I know i cant see it where i am now, and i really dont want to pay him for a pole mount as i could do it myself.

so is it true about the 119 being a must?

[hiker]

...
so is it true about the 119 being a must?That's the first I've heard of that. I always thought guide data came from the 101. Who told you that? I am in the same situation with the 119 since I am going to need to move my dish location a little to the west to avoid a blocking tree for the 99 which might then cause another tree to block the 119. I was thinking if the 119 got blocked on 5 LNB dish it would not matter that much because I'm keeping the 3 LNB dish and at least one HR10.

[bonscott87]

to close my above thought, got 20 dollar deal today and as long as they can see the 119 i'm set. Someone just told me 119 gets guide data for the new channels. I know i cant see it where i am now, and i really dont want to pay him for a pole mount as i could do it myself.

so is it true about the 119 being a must?

No, definately not. And don't let them leave if you can't get 119, you don't need it unless you get your SD locals from there (if you care) or some of the MPEG2 HD channels. But they will all be moved eventually to 103.

I have a friend that can't get 119 and 110 is very scetchy. But now that 103 is up he gets that (and 99 and 101) in the 90s. He gets all the new HD just fine and will be very happy once the "old" MPEG2 HD channels get moved or mirrored to 103.

[newsposter]

Who told you that?

not trying to start trouble but since you asked

http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=1198595&postcount=2

[newsposter]

No, definately not. And don't let them leave if you can't get 119, you don't need it unless you get your SD locals from there (if you care) or some of the MPEG2 HD channels. But they will all be moved eventually to 103.

I have a friend that can't get 119 and 110 is very scetchy. But now that 103 is up he gets that (and 99 and 101) in the 90s. He gets all the new HD just fine and will be very happy once the "old" MPEG2 HD channels get moved or mirrored to 103.

well...i dont have the 119 (110 is perfect though) so doubt I'd miss anything since I've never seen it. Last time they were here they said i need a 3ft tripod on the edge of the roof and it would cost a lot so i said forget it. So he walked away and i got a self install.

As long as I get all the new HD that has lit up recently, I don't mind if i am missing the 'old stuff' i never got before without the 119.

I assume this list is updated and it's only a few i'd be missing. Yes id love 119 but dont see how it's possible easily based on what happened last time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_DirecTV_channels

edit looks like i wouldnt get espn, hdnet, rsn...i can deal with that if true

[milominderbinder]

I clarified my earlier post to read:

The HD conversion from MPEG2 to MPEG4 has been happening steadily.

The context was the HD conversion but I wanted to make sure it was clear.

- Craig