Hey man I have D* TV through Qwest. Really Qwest just bills you every thing else goes through D* TV. You can buy what ever D* Tivo that you would wan and it will work fine. One thing to keep in mind though is that if you are going to upgrade to an HDTV w/ the new roll out of MPEG4 HD channels on D*TV if you want an HD DVR the only option there is going to be it the D* TV DVR. The HR10-250 is an HD Tivo for D* TV but it only does MPEG2 format and all the new stuff will be MPEG4. It kind of bites, I'm going back and forth on if I want to get an HR20 from D* TV or not. Good luck w/ your decision.
Qwest Directv ...
Hi all,
I am moving to an apartment complex with Directv through Qwest. I have an existing Series 2 Tivo which until recently I used to control my Digital Cable box. I have been waiting for this move to upgrade to a big screen HDTV.
I understand that Directv currently does not offer Tivo units. However will my Series 2 dvr control the Directv receiver? Will one of Tivo's new HD units control the Directv receiver? Or am I doomed to only use the Directv dvr? I really would prefer to stay with Tivo because of the tivo to go features.
Finally if I really do have to give up Tivo, will I be able to purchase one of the Weaknees units with expanded capacity. As far as I can see on the Qwest web site, they only offer the units for lease. I really would prefer to have more drive space than the units currently offer. However I am worried that if I purchase the Weaknees unit that it won't work with the Qwest receiver since I won't be paying a monthly lease payment to Qwest.
Thanks in advance for any info,
Angry Geek!
I am moving to an apartment complex with Directv through Qwest. I have an existing Series 2 Tivo which until recently I used to control my Digital Cable box. I have been waiting for this move to upgrade to a big screen HDTV.
I understand that Directv currently does not offer Tivo units. However will my Series 2 dvr control the Directv receiver? Will one of Tivo's new HD units control the Directv receiver? Or am I doomed to only use the Directv dvr? I really would prefer to stay with Tivo because of the tivo to go features.
Finally if I really do have to give up Tivo, will I be able to purchase one of the Weaknees units with expanded capacity. As far as I can see on the Qwest web site, they only offer the units for lease. I really would prefer to have more drive space than the units currently offer. However I am worried that if I purchase the Weaknees unit that it won't work with the Qwest receiver since I won't be paying a monthly lease payment to Qwest.
Thanks in advance for any info,
Angry Geek!
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
Need to verify what dish is on the complex, unless it is the 5LNB then it does not matter if they get a HR20 or not, they cannot recieve the new channelsfirket2000 said:Hey man I have D* TV through Qwest. Really Qwest just bills you every thing else goes through D* TV. You can buy what ever D* Tivo that you would wan and it will work fine. One thing to keep in mind though is that if you are going to upgrade to an HDTV w/ the new roll out of MPEG4 HD channels on D*TV if you want an HD DVR the only option there is going to be it the D* TV DVR. The HR10-250 is an HD Tivo for D* TV but it only does MPEG2 format and all the new stuff will be MPEG4. It kind of bites, I'm going back and forth on if I want to get an HR20 from D* TV or not. Good luck w/ your decision.
Thanks that is completely right and some thing I didn't even think about.sjberra said:Need to verify what dish is on the complex, unless it is the 5LNB then it does not matter if they get a HR20 or not, they cannot recieve the new channels
Unless they install the Single Wire Multiswitch (SWM). Which isn't commercially available.
Actually it is available and in use (not in large quantities for sure), but due to costs and contractual issues with properties (who will pay for the upgrade? how long will the property contract with the sysop? # subscription guarantees?) as well as limited availabilty of equipment, MFH2 it isn't quickly being rolled out to multi-dwelling properties yet. There is also an effort to get DirecTV to subsidize some of it. There is also MFH3 which is up and ruinning D* over ethernet cable (no coax) but the same issues of cost are involved. MFH3 is neat but unfortunately it requires a special version of the HR20 (HR20-700i) and H20 which you can't buy in a retail store or from DirecTV, it would have to be supplied by your system operator. It's a fiber based system. But they are both out there and are functioning.
Bottom line is , for the majority of multi-dwelling residents it's going to be a while before you see Ka/Ku but equipment probably isn't the main issue, it's the costs and who is going to pay for the upgrade which easily can go well into 5 figures.
MFH3 info: http://www.directv.com/images/assets/mdu/DIRECTV_MFH3.pdf
Bottom line is , for the majority of multi-dwelling residents it's going to be a while before you see Ka/Ku but equipment probably isn't the main issue, it's the costs and who is going to pay for the upgrade which easily can go well into 5 figures.
MFH3 info: http://www.directv.com/images/assets/mdu/DIRECTV_MFH3.pdf
JimSpence said:Unless they install the Single Wire Multiswitch (SWM). Which isn't commercially available.
Are there existing channels that are HD that an older dish will receive?sjberra said:Need to verify what dish is on the complex, unless it is the 5LNB then it does not matter if they get a HR20 or not, they cannot recieve the new channels
My understanding is that an upgrade is coming, but my search of Directv listings shows many current HD options. Are these widely available, or are they limited to upgraded dishes?
I am locked into the apartment complex and I am not going to fight with anyone to upgrade the dish. But I do need to buy a new tv. If there is a good chance I will receive no HD channels from Qwest, that will help determine my tv options. However if I can a lesser version of HD tv and miss out on some of the newer channels, then I will probably go for an HD tv and enjoy the improvement over my current tv.
Also if I have a good chance of receiving a lesser version of HD for Sunday ticket games, I will probably invest in an HR20. Obviously if none of the content I will receive will be HD then I will probably go for a non-dish dvr.
I do know I will probably have to contact the Qwest people but I want to do my research before I ask questions.
Thanks for all the help so far...
Angry Geek
There are only two HD channels currently on the 101 satellite and those are ABCW and FOXW. I suspect that your complex has the round dish aimed at the 101 satellite. Does Qwest provide the receiver? If so, then you need to know what its capabilities are.
You need to contact your property management and find out who the system operator is for the satellite services provided at your property. Qwest may be collecting your bills but your property has to have contracted with a system operator that takes care of the system. Verizon & AT&T do the same thing but there is an entity that handles service and support for the property should there be an outage and for installations. Someone is responsible for the headend equipment. In order to be uprgaded your building owner would need to contRact with the system operator to undertake the process which is far more involved (and costly) then just having to replace the dish.
When multi-dwelling customers directly call D* for any type of "technical"information some of the responses they get are really outrageous because D* reps have absolutely zero knowledge about mdu's.
When multi-dwelling customers directly call D* for any type of "technical"information some of the responses they get are really outrageous because D* reps have absolutely zero knowledge about mdu's.
AngryGeek said:Are there existing channels that are HD that an older dish will receive?
My understanding is that an upgrade is coming, but my search of Directv listings shows many current HD options. Are these widely available, or are they limited to upgraded dishes?
I am locked into the apartment complex and I am not going to fight with anyone to upgrade the dish. But I do need to buy a new tv. If there is a good chance I will receive no HD channels from Qwest, that will help determine my tv options. However if I can a lesser version of HD tv and miss out on some of the newer channels, then I will probably go for an HD tv and enjoy the improvement over my current tv.
Also if I have a good chance of receiving a lesser version of HD for Sunday ticket games, I will probably invest in an HR20. Obviously if none of the content I will receive will be HD then I will probably go for a non-dish dvr.
I do know I will probably have to contact the Qwest people but I want to do my research before I ask questions.
Thanks for all the help so far...
Angry Geek
Hi guys, long time no reply. I'm still hangin tough with the HR10 halfway thru my contract. Hope this is related but I wanted to mention the Qwest bundle. I kept puttin it off but finallly went through Qwest to upgrade my modem and add Directv bundle to my Qwest account. I mention it because I first thought I couldn't do it and second it seems I saved $18/mo with the new billing and bundle. Just wanted to pass that along.
Does your HR10 have full capability with Quest?
If your complex has a 3 lnb dish, you will be able to get any of the mpeg2 HD channels you subcribe to. Alternatively, you should check out www.antennaweb.org to determine whether you can get free over the air digital television broadcasts. If so the price and quality will be superior to directv hd broadcasts.AngryGeek said:Are there existing channels that are HD that an older dish will receive?
My understanding is that an upgrade is coming, but my search of Directv listings shows many current HD options. Are these widely available, or are they limited to upgraded dishes?
I am locked into the apartment complex and I am not going to fight with anyone to upgrade the dish. But I do need to buy a new tv. If there is a good chance I will receive no HD channels from Qwest, that will help determine my tv options. However if I can a lesser version of HD tv and miss out on some of the newer channels, then I will probably go for an HD tv and enjoy the improvement over my current tv.
Also if I have a good chance of receiving a lesser version of HD for Sunday ticket games, I will probably invest in an HR20. Obviously if none of the content I will receive will be HD then I will probably go for a non-dish dvr.
I do know I will probably have to contact the Qwest people but I want to do my research before I ask questions.
Thanks for all the help so far...
Angry Geek
I think you were asking me and yes, but qwest didn't ask. The Qwest lady said nothing is different just that the bill is consolidated into one payment from Qwest. Seems to be a more efficient methhod saving time and money for all involved. I fully expect to upgrade to HR20 anyway but I'm waiting for this to kick in. It could take a month for the billing to sort out and I don't want to make it too complicated for Directv yet with a new order.JimSpence said:Does your HR10 have full capability with Quest?
oops I forgot something. I did agree to lock in that lower rate with Qwest for two years so that 18/mo was conditional on a two year plan. Not getting cable out here so not other options.
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
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