What is the the lowest programming package you can get from D* without losing HD

Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to keep D* at the top tier package and drop E* to AT100+HD considering that D* has more movie channels in HD?

I had the family pack only when I ordered MLB extra innings for the HD. I found that there is nothing I could watch with the family pack. I tried going to TBS for baseball and it was not even part of family pack..Go up one package and you get much more HD. I had to go to the 54.99 package and now I can view tbs in HD on channel 95, probably a different channel once I get my 5lnb hooked up and active the new receiver...

That's very helpful. Now can someone answer this quick question for me: I know that my DirecTV HD TiVo (HR10-250) won't work with the MPEG-4 channels, but I'm leery of the $299 lease payment shown on DirecTV's website for the DirecTV HD Plus DVR. Is that $299 per year or a one-time payment of $299?

It's a one-time payment.

However, since you have an HR-10, you should be eligible to receive an HR20 for free + 19.99 "shipping".

Every time I talk to them I get a different story. Sometimes it's $100 each, sometimes $200 (for the HR20 DVR's). But I love the picture.

They still don't make it easy to figure out how to get EVERY HD channel. I think you have to buy just about everything and ALSO get the HD package so that you get the HD versions of all the stuff you are already buying. So you end up with a ton of SD you don't want.

^ CORRECTAMUNDO, It's a rip-off since we pretty much only watch the HD channels. They should just let you choose what channels you want.

It's actually not that hard to figure out.

1) You have to pay 9.99 to turn on HD access

2) With that HD access turned on, you will get every HD channel that is a mirror of a channel in the package you are paying for (Family, Choice, Plus...). Currently, it also includes a few extra channels.

So if you have the Family Package, you have things like "The Weather Channel" and "National Geographic". Since they are also in HD you will get those channels in HD. However, "USA" is not in the Family Package so you will not get USAHD.

3) HD access doesn't apply to sport subscription packages, PPV or special pay events. As these are purchased on their own anyhow.

4) Sometime next year the access will alter a bit. Channels that don't have a mirror will be in their own package. That would be channels like HDNet and UHD. These are currently included in the 9.99. They will be broken out and cost something like $4.99.

So the answer to your question is simple. The lowest level that gets you HD is Family, but the HD you get will be limited.

If you want ALL of the HD channels you want the Premier Package + HD access. Again, this isn't that hard.

You should get subscribe to the Canadian Satellite company Star Choice. You can buy their digital basic bundle, which is $20.00 a month, and you get 13HD channels automatically.

Is there a cheaper subscription anywhere (cable or satellite) that still gets you HD channels?

Legally in the US? No.

But if you're in the US, and are thinking about going this route with address brokering fees included, you might as well go with either D* or E* and get 4 times the channels for twice the money and minimal hastle.

Yes, there is no "discount" way to get only HD. You pick the channels you want, and add the HD access price.

You just ignore what you don't want, (duplicate SD and other SD) like always, with your set up in "favorites."

Can we exclude locals from our package and get a discount for that?

Rudy

only by calling and asking. And not if you have an existing package that preceded the included locals. Also, there could be some additional subset of rules that would/wouldn't qualify you to get something like $3.00 bucks off.

GO HERE:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global...assetId=500014

Then here:

http://www.directv.com/images/pdf/Wo...tLineup3_n.pdf

Ahhhh. Of course, I'll also have to upgrade to the 5 LNB dish... I suppose I'd better threaten to cut off my DirecTV service and see if they'll throw that in for free as well...?

....if you get the right person in retention .

P.S. I got my HR20-100 for $19.95 plus shipping. It can be done.

I got my first HR20 for $19.99 and got to keep my HD Tivo in the Spring. I called last week and got a second HR20 (install tomorrow 10/17) for $199 and $10 service credit for a year so net $79.

I didn't have to push real hard.

The CSR offered $299.

I said "can you do any better?"

She came back with $199.

I asked "Is that the best you can do? Are there any service credits I can get?"

She said "I can give you $10 off per month. Do you want to pat that with a credit card or put it on your DirecTV bill?"

It was painless. You just have to ask and have a good history with D.

I called yesterday and got to retention. Told them about a flyer I had gotten from dish with the free hd-dvr's and asked them if they could match it. He said no problem...not even the shipping charge.

Hasn't D* already started offering local HD channels through them in some cities? I would assume the DVR would record these as opposed to getting them off OTA.

depends where yo live i guess iv'e had my local HD cannels for over 2 years in so. cal. BTW i paid $19.99 for my 1st hr20 slimline dish and multiswitch. then i got my next 3 FREE when my hr 20 went bad,they not only sent me a new one ,but the csr said iwas elgible for free replacments of my hd-tivo 10-250s so they replaced them all (3) for free! of course i have been with D* since 1994.

If a person gets a HD DVR receiver through them and the hard drive goes out, who is responsible for the cost of a replacement: the customer or D*?

Anyone know the answer to this?