can i new customer buy my hdtivo and have that as their only unit?

[newsposter]

If someone buys HDtivo from me and is a new customer, will they get the 2 year commitment? Or must you buy/beg for free etc equipment from directv to become a new customer?

[stevel]

My understanding is that DirecTV will not activate a NEW customer with used equipment. If you are an existing customer, they will let you add a new box. The new customer would have to sign up using one of the plans that include a free receiver or DVR and then add your HR10, though why anyone would want to do that I don't know. Of course, they would have the commitment from the new hardware.

[newsposter]

ah so 18 month SD commit and FREE HDTivo commitment is possible.

[TonyTheTiger]

ah so 18 month SD commit and FREE HDTivo commitment is possible.

The commitment is 2 years, so order a new receiver and add the HD box as a second DVR for just the $4.99 mirroring fee. You could always drop the original DVR later! ;)

[TolloNodre]

The commitment is 2 years, so order a new receiver and add the HD box as a second DVR for just the $4.99 mirroring fee. You could always drop the original DVR later! ;)

If you want SD only. Obviously the HDTivo is useless for HD - right?
Aren't they dropping the MPEG2 shortly?

[bpratt]

If you want SD only. Obviously the HDTivo is useless for HD - right?
Aren't they dropping the MPEG2 shortly?
Maybe, but they are not dropping HD OTA.

[TyroneShoes]

If you want SD only. Obviously the HDTivo is useless for HD - right?
Aren't they dropping the MPEG2 shortly?Partly right. It might still make some sense to have that as your only DVR if you are a casual viewer of only HD OTA stuff, which it would still work just fine with at least until 2010. There is so much other HD by now and so much more in the pipeline that an HR10 as the sole DVR would probably not be the right fit for most subs.

[TolloNodre]

Maybe, but they are not dropping HD OTA.

True - but since the OP was inquiring about DirecTV and new commitments I'm assuming they're interested in more than OTA.

[newsposter]

the only purpose of hdtivo would be whatever is from the birds, no ota will be used at the location (unless they didnt tell me) . It's just the idea of having all that space and they can get this cheap from me. Plus 2 additional tuners in addition to the new box they must get

[stevel]

The HR10 would serve as a standard-def DVR, though as it has HDMI and component outputs it will look a bit better than a "real" standard-def DirecTV DVR. It will not record HD from the satellite except for a handful of channels that will go away soon.

[newsposter]

hmm i just thought of something...since i know im getting rid of 1 hdtivo, would i be able to call directv, get a free hd dvr and keep the hdtivo. I think in all my reading here, they wont ask for the hdtivo back right? So id get a free dvr plus 2 yr commit and then be selling my hdtivo for a few bucks

just trying to maximize my hdtivo mileage

oh would they require a tech come out to install the dvr? i have 3 stacked units and could do it in 5 min myself

[stevel]

They certainly didn't ask for my HR10. Do you have a 5LNB dish already?

[newsposter]

They certainly didn't ask for my HR10. Do you have a 5LNB dish already?

yes and the zinwell. My plan would be (in the ideal world)

call and say i want 1 new hd dvr (unsure what they are even sending out now?)...get them to install it or send it out...sell the hdtivo to my friend then have them start their new account however they choose to....

should be a tiny 2 minute stop for the installer but i really wish they would just let me do it myself.

of course i want my new dvr free too (with the 2yr of course)

emailed DTV to see if i'm still eligible

[newsposter]

what do they mean 'may' be able to then tell me i can dispose of in any legal means? Shouldnt they have said 'can'

Thanks for writing back to us. Please know that you are eligible for a no cost upgrade of your MPEG-2 HD receiver to an MPEG-4 HD receiver (installation charges may apply). With an MPEG-4 HD receiver and HD Access you'll be able to see our expanded lineup of HD programming. To take advantage of this special offer, please call us at 1-800-531-5000. Our customer care hours of operations are from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. local time, based on where you receive your service. You may still be able to keep your owned MPEG-2 equipment or dispose of it in any legal means you decide.

Thanks again for writing.

[newsposter]

if i turn the box off while the sat lines are connected, there will be a permanent nag screen up when they try to watch all the programs on there already right?

[stevel]

It doesn't matter when you turn the box off or remove power. There will not be a "permanent" nag screen. After 30 days, there will be a nag once a day that can be dismissed. You may also get "searching for satellite" messages that can be dismissed.