DirecTV upgrade question

[wgoose26]

I have been a DTV customer for 5 years and have a Standard Def. Directv with a 2-line Tivo downstairs and an old Hughes (non-DVR) receiver upstairs. (Total 3 unique program streams). I wish to replace the old Hughes with a Tivo unit.

My questions for any of you in the know: Do i need to order the Tivo from DirecTV, or can i get one on my own? Can i even get Tivo from Directv anymore, or just their own-brand DVR? If i just keep the current single line going into the upstairs Tivo, will the monthly bill increase?

thanks to anyone who can help me out.

~glenn

[TonyTheTiger]

You are only paying for two "streams" as you call them - that is, one receiver and one mirroring fee (plus the DVR fee).

You can only get a D* DVR from D* now. The only way to get a TiVo based receiver is through the used market (privately or through something like eBay).

Your bill will not increase even if you get the second line run upstairs to the new box. It is charged per receiver (1 or 2 feeds), not per line.

[Budget_HT]

DirecTV no longer provides DirecTiVo boxes--I just tried yesterday for a Protection Plan replacement for a failed unit.

You can find DirecTiVo units for sale on the web, e.g., TCM sponsor Weaknees offers some.

You are charged for the quantity of access/security cards in service. Each TiVo only contains a single card, so for billing purposes, it looks like a single-tuner unit.

So, if you replace your non-DVR receiver with a 2-tuner DirecTiVo, there would be no change in your billing, whether or not you run another coax to connect the second tuner in the new DirecTiVo.

Also, the DVR fee of $5.99 covers all TiVo's on the same account, so that remains the same for your changeout also.

So, no cost increase on your monthly billing.

Edit: I guess Tony types faster than I do.

[wgoose26]

Thanks guys -- that was quick!

Two follow-ups: (1) if i do buy my own used tivo on ebay, can I use the access card (if included) or will i have to have D* send me one; and (2) how would I put two lines into the new unit -- via multiswitch? -- i have only one line coming upstairs now.

~cheers
~glenn

[TonyTheTiger]

1. Maybe. It seems to be hit and miss on the access cards. Make sure to get the serial number of the box before you part with any money and check with D* that it doesn't have a balance against it. If it does, it's useless. If you have to get one from D*, then it's about $20 although you may be able to persuade them to give it to you for free.

2. If you order a D* DVR, they will provide you with a multiswitch and should run the second line for you too (included with free installation). Of course, that would be for a simple run - there may be a charge for anything complicated. You CANNOT use any kind of splitter.

[Budget_HT]

... (2) how would I put two lines into the new unit -- via multiswitch? -- i have only one line coming upstairs now. ...

Odds are, you already have an unused multiswitch port, or another port on your dish, that you could run another wire from. Any dish setup for 3 satellites has 4 ports available. Every external mutliswitch I have seen or heard of has at least 4 output ports, three of which you are already using, and the fourth would still be available for you new run to the new DirecTiVo.

All of this assumes that you only have the two DirecTV receivers you have already mentioned: One DirecTiVo (2 tuners/cables) and one non-DVR (1 tuner/1 cable).