Hi, I just bought Samsung's LNT 4042H LCD HDTV and I wanted to get DirectTV and since I'm living in an apt complex that is wired for Direct -TV. I have to go through the apt management to get the Direct-TV account and they are offering me the standard receivers for DirectTV and charging me extra $265 for HD receiver for Direct-TV. I can't get Direct-TV installed through them directly. My question is since I have the QAM tuner inbuilt in my TV would I be able to receive HD channels from Std receiver of Direct-TV if I pay their $10 monthly access fee or I would require their HD receiver to be able to access Direct TV HD channels. If I have to get a HD receiver, can I get any HD receiver or DIrect TV's HD receiver? then would you please let me know which one I should buy, I'm looking for a cheapest solution here.

Thanks .

You need D*'s HD receiver, no way around it.

You need D*'s HD receiver, no way around it.

Thanks, should I only get D*'s HD receiver or any HD receiver would do the job, may be this is a dumb ? I think I need DirecetTV's HD... any place I can get this cheap. since my apt mgmt is charging me 260 for that and Direct-TV charges only 99 for the existing customer. But I don't know if my apt mgmt would allow the directTv's techinecan to enter the building since my apt mgmt is the direct-TV's contractors for the building... any thoughts?

"Thanks, should I only get D*'s HD receiver or any HD receiver would do the job, may be this is a dumb ?"

See my first answer. ;)

"But I don't know if my apt mgmt would allow the directTv's techinecan to enter the building since my apt mgmt is the direct-TV's contractors for the building... any thoughts?"

Talk to the apartment management, ask them why they are charging such a high price. Do you have your own account with D* or is it included in your rent? If you have your own account, I don't see why youc an't have D* come out and swap out the receiver for you. Also confirm they have the latest 5 LNB dish on the building or you won't be able to get the new HD channels coming online this month and going forward. If that's the case, if you have a balcony or exclusive use area pointing south, have D* install a dish and receiver for you.

Thanks mjones73, Is going HD from a standard cable is matter of changing the receiver or does it involve modifying something on the dish as well?. If so I can ask the direct TV guys to come and install it for me but if they have to change something on the roof, I don't think apt mgmt will allow them to go on the roof. And I don't have a south facing window, me installing my own dish is ruled out. But I'm sure the apt mgmt has both HD dish and normal dish on the roof top or else they won't promise me to have give HD for extra $270.00. I don't want to pay hefty $260 when I could get the same from Direct TV directly far less than my mgmt quotes.

Help pls.

If I get a regular Standard Cable with my management, is it easy to install the HD receiver if I decided to get it later and install it myself. I can get one of these HD receiver for $99 at circuit city. Can I install them myself is it easy or do I need to call Direct TV's technician to install it for me. Is it that complicated to install my own HD receiver.?

If you pay for your own account and the building has the proper 3 or 5 LNB dish on the roof, it's just matter of swapping receivers. There is probably only one dish on the roof, you don't need separate ones for SD and HD reception. If you are paying through management, you're gonna need to talk to them about it.

I'm assuming by regular standard cable you mean SD Directv. If that's the case, please call it standard or SD Directv. Directv and cable are two completely different beasts and it's confusing trying to figure out what you actually have.

You probably should find out exactly who is providing the system and servicing it in your building.

Some of those systems use special receivers that won't work on a regular dish, some systems only have one or two satellite capability (i.e.: no HDTV or foreign/niche channels), some may use other specialized switching.

Once you know who the real provider is, you/we can look up some detailed info.

Your best bet for now, is to try OTA with a small antenna.

BTW, the FCC is seriously planning to intervene in these "exclusive" contracts.

BTW, the FCC is seriously planning to intervene in these "exclusive" contracts.
Can you provide more details on this?

My building, and some others around here, have Comcast, but they don't have an exclusive contract, except for one. So, while one doesn't have to get Comcast, if they want more than Locals, they do.

Are they talking about mandating that buildings get a competitor cable co. to wire the bldg.? ie. Verizon FIOS

I am thinking not, but I'm hoping. :)