We have been D* customers since the early 90s and upgraded to HD in the fall of 2005 and got the HR10-250 on one tv and are using the older 80hr Hughes SD receiver on the other TV. As I remember when we got the HR10-250 in Sep 2005 there was alot of talk about a free upgrade (dish and HD recorder) when the new equipment (Mpeg4 and D* HD Recorder) became available. We want to test the waters (with D*) about the new equipment since we will be getting a second HD TV in the near future. What has been your experience with D* as to get the upgrade (dish and HR20-700 HD recorder) and is there a strategy to follow when seeking out the upgrade to get the minimum upgrade cost? Thanks

If you've been a customer that long, I would expect they would bend over backwards to keep you. I'm a relatively new D* customer (2004) and when I called about the dish upgrade, they said I wouldn't be charged for it.

When I complained about the cost of the HR10-250 ($500) a few years ago and let them know that the local cable company was offering a leased HD-DVR for $10 a month, they gave me $250 in credit even though I didn't buy the Tivo from them.

We have been D* customers since the early 90s and upgraded to HD in the fall of 2005 and got the HR10-250 on one tv and are using the older 80hr Hughes SD receiver on the other TV. As I remember when we got the HR10-250 in Sep 2005 there was alot of talk about a free upgrade (dish and HD recorder) when the new equipment (Mpeg4 and D* HD Recorder) became available. We want to test the waters (with D*) about the new equipment since we will be getting a second HD TV in the near future. What has been your experience with D* as to get the upgrade (dish and HR20-700 HD recorder) and is there a strategy to follow when seeking out the upgrade to get the minimum upgrade cost? Thanks

Although you may not get the HR20 for free, you should at the very least be able to get it free with account credits. I recently upgraded my HR10-250 to an HR20 for $99 up front, with about $120 in account credits. This included the new Slimline dish, WB68 multiswitch and installation.

I think the key is to not just take whatever you can get from a regular CSR, but to ask to speak to customer retention. With them, the length of time you've been a D* customer seems to make a difference.

When you got the HR10-250, they may have already replaced your dish with the one needed for the HR20. If you currently have the oval AT9 dish or the newer slimline oval dish, then you don't need a new one. Count the number of LNBs on your dish. If there are five, you should have the correct one.

Whether or not you got the new dish seems to depend on where you live. I am in Albany, NY and the new dish was installed when I got my HR10-250 last June, but from what I have read on various forums, other people were still getting the three LNB dish installed.

Whether you can get the new receiver for a reduced price seems to depend on what CSR you talk to when you call DirecTV. Some people have been able to upgrade for $99 by finding the right CSR. Other people have gotten the reduced price by going to customer retention and threatening to cancel their service unless the receiver is provided at a reduced price. From what I have read on various forums, this is no longer as easy to do.

As another suggestion, when you get the new receiver, ask DirecTV to run two more lines for your new receiver instead of just replacing the HR10-250. I don't know about you, but I often want to record more than two shows that are broadcast at the same time. Even when and if DirecTV switches all HD broadcasts to MPEG4, you should still be able to use the HR10-250 to record SD shows and any OTA HD broadcasts provided that you can use a regular antenna in your location.

When they installed our HD service in Sep 2005 they replaced the dish with a 3LNB dish so I know that they will have to put up the AT9 or the newer AU9 slimline. Also, you mentioned that they would need to run 2 additional lines from the dish so I could record 2 programs at one time. I have a switch in the basement that they installed earlier and do you know if they will have to replace that also? Thanks

I have a switch in the basement that they installed earlier and do you know if they will have to replace that also? Thanks

Your old multiswitch would need to be replaced with the Zinwell WB68.

I just got off the phone with D* regarding upgrading to the HR20. I too got the H10-250 in the last Qtr. of 2005 and was promised a free upgrade to the HR20 (not sure if it was a swap or not).
The deal I got this morning was;
- Free HR20-700
- Free 5 lnb dish (can't verify which, AT-9 or slimline)
- Free installation
- Free relocate of the H10-250 (I get to keep it, as it is mine and not leased)
- Free 3 months HD package

Keep in mind that I am an "A" customer (preferred, whatever the term) and have been a subscriber since '96' and have always purchased the top of the line premier programming (no sports packages though).

I started by calling the D* "A-list" special phone # and discussing my HD concerns with that department (entry level support), and then requested to be transferred to the Technical Service Dept. when they couldn't answer some of my more technical concerns of the HR20, specifically the dual live buffers.
Once finished with that dept., I requested to be transferred to the Retention Dept. when they couldn't offer me the free upgrade. They said it would be $199.95 +/-, as there was no record of the free upgrade listed in my account folder, even though I was promised 2 different times on separate occasions.
The Retention Dept. was very helpful. Even though the promise wasn't documented, they said that I was eligible for the free upgrade. Didn't have to threaten or anything. They were also able to get me the 3 months HD free when I asked about some account incentives. I may have been able to get more if I tried harder, but to be honest, I'm pretty happy with what I got.

So, bottom line, it only cost me $19.95 for a handling charge. That is my only direct expense to upgrade to the Mpeg 4 unit (at least so far).
All in all, a pretty easy experience, and with reps. that I could understand to boot.

Installation is due in about 10 days from when I placed the order.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Frank

Thanks to the OP and those who replied. I was going to post the same question as we're going to upgrade from a H10 to the HR20 in the next month. We've been with D* since April 2000. We have our present 3 lnb dish mounted on a 3 3/4" pole with an adapter and I'm hoping that the 5 lnb is able to go on that same post with an adapter. The post was originally set for a C band dish back in 1995. D* has always taken good care of us and I expect no less this time around. :)

Hi, not sure how off topic this is, but out of curiosity does anyone have a guess as to when I will be mpeg 4 ready in Syracuse, ny? I guess that might be dependant on how many more rockets blow up.
Joe

I have tried several phone #'s for D* and all I get is a recording. Anubody have a # where you can talk to a real person? Thanks

rpgibbs@hotmail.com