Satalite TV ? (updated 5-4-8)

[SS MAYFLOAT]

I'm wanting to put a dish at my dock this year. My bro-in-law gave me a Direct TV receiver and dish. I called them and all they tell me is that the stuff is old and won't work. I find this a bit troubling. Does this mean that all those that had the old stuff got new equipment a year ago when the system got upgraded?

Does anyone have Direct tv that has an old system that has not been upgraded? If so, is your system still working okay?

I don't want a one year contract since I'll only be using it for 5 months. It just stinks that they are giving me this run around. Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks........SS

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

How old is "old"?? We have had DTV for over 5 years and only upgraded equipment for the move to HD. That was about a year and a half ago. I gave my old boxes to my brother who used them up until 2 months ago when he upgraded to HD. FWIW all of my dealings with Direct they have been a top notch organization.

 

[JB]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

I have upgraded my DTV twice. Once to get HD and then again when they put up the added satellites. Neither time did I have to do it. I chose to.

The original (from when they bought out the one I had before, late 1999) was working fine when I requested the upgrade for my HDTV (early 2004), and that one was working fine when I requested the upgrade for the new birds (mid 2007).

I still have both dishes and both receivers in the shed, but to make them work DTV has to program them via landline.

It may be that the original, non HD, unit is obsolete and won't work, but I am sure that the first HD unit will.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

I still have all of my original equipment installed and it's about 6 or 7 years old. No HD, just plain old DTV. No problems with it. I was told they would have to install all new equipment (Dish, Receivers, Etc.) if I go to HD.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

Thanks,,,,I don't plan on having HD yet. My eyes see fuzzy stuff all the time anyway . I think they are just trying their best to get me to buy new stuff. It wouldn't be so bad if I had it in my home. I love my cable, digital phone, and road runner internet and that is why I don't want the dish. Lots of people around here had dish's, but they have eventually went back to the cable.

It would be nice to have the weather channel mainly to see what storms are going to come over the horizon at the lake. Many times storms blow in and you just can't see over the hills to tell that they are coming. I have my weather channel on my VHF, but if you listen to them long enough,,,,it can drive a person batty .

I did check on the net with Dish Net. They have a pre pay system that I may use. You buy the receiver from Radio Shack and then buy the cards to activate the system from them. Not having the use of my CC's (credit cards) yet, makes it rough on purchasing stuff. This might be the plan for me. Thanks again........SS

 

[Benny1963]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

i have dtv upgraded once to hd free boxes when you get your service pay the little extra for maint and they will come out later and upgrade you.
in our area right know you can get all new equipment freee with 6 month contract and you get all the channels for the first 90 days
i love dtv i will never go back to cable knock on wood
bennyb

 

[arks]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

We've got DTV for home, but usually take a HD receiver down to the boat when we're spending the weekend onboard. A second dish is mounted on our piling so all we do is plug it in and let it re-aquire the bird (about 3 minutes).

Of course, you could always get one of those FTA receivers.... they can be fun if you like foolin' with tech stuff. I had one a couple years ago and for me it was a PITA, but when it was working we had something like 400 channels....

 

[dolluper]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

Or free access codes on the net ...err did I say that

 

[joed]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

Try and activate them again and if they say they can't tell them you will switch to DISH instead. See what they say.
Exactly what equipment do you have?

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

Try and activate them again and if they say they can't tell them you will switch to DISH instead. See what they say.
Exactly what equipment do you have?

Its a Hughs Silver edition Model HIRD-D1. I tried to get it activated, but they won't. I did email them sorta a nasty gram. They did respond. They suggested that I go to an RV dealer and purchase a system for my boat. I'm thinking that their thinking that I want something for while I'm underway. Not at all. I just want to mount the dish to a dock piling like the other guys have. I feel that this shouldn't be that big of a deal, but it seems that they want a 1 or 2 year contract to include new equipment and installation. I don't plan on having anyone install anything on my boat unless it is me.

I set up the dish on my front porch pole with a C clamp and hooked it up to the receiver & TV. I used my boat compass to get the proper alignment. Turned the system on and I got a menu right off with a 99/99 receiption. I can't believe that they make such a big deal out of stuff like this, but I can understand that some people don't have the knowledge on how to do it.

 

[beerfilter]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

What they are doing IS trying to avoid giving service to you with an older hardware that uses outdated content security (read easily hacked card ) .
They want you to :
1) buy a new service and contract from an "authorized" dealer .
2) the "authorized dealer" will install newer , less easily hacked equipment .

The authorized dealer gets thier sale , the company gets thier customer , locked into a service contract , and , best of all , the new customer is now using equipment that is harder to hack than to simply break thier contract and go to another provider at the same , or , less cost .

Then again , I haven't kept up with that scene in several years , so it is possible that the last big content security change has been widely hacked , since then .

Still , it is a more "portable " solution for you boobtube , despite the recieve only limitations of satellite .

 

[boatradioman]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

If that is true to you can usually go to direct tv and trade in your old equipment for newer upgraded equip.

 

[joed]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

DirectTV is not currently hacked. All they do is send a new card when they upgraded the security.
I can't find much info on that IRD. It appears to be from 2001 or earlier. No wonder they don't want to activate it.
The dish should be good. Look around for deals on a new IRD. Be careful of used ones. They could have a bunch of unpaid for PPV movies on them that will need to be paid off before activating.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

SS,I used to work for DirecTV, That is a Hughes Receiver and will work fine.
If you have service at home just hook the box up to get a signal.It should then say Access card expired.If its the older P4 or P5 card they will not activate it but will mail you a new card.
The unit i have in my camper is the same model receiver with the standard round dish.I told them i just added it to a spare bedroom.
Don't mention it will be at another location..
Send me a PM if you have any questions...My nephew still works for them.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

Do what Gary says. THe other option is if your inlaw still have service with them he can reactivate the box and you can pay him $5.00 a month for the box which is what DTV charges.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

Yes, they did just upgrade a few months ago, when the installed a new system at my parents camp, it was all new, new wire, new dish, new box. It has lots of new features like weather any time for any zip code, etc. No, old equipment will not work. At least thats what I was told too.

Why bother with old equipment anyway? If you want service you have to sign up for it, and it usually comes with free installation of the latest and greatest equipment. Why fight the old junk? If you don't want them installing anything on your boat, tell the guy that when he comes. The pimple faced kid will be more than happy to not have to do it.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

I continued to do some more research. Dish Net has Video on Demand. With only using it on weekends, this I think is what I want. We only want to watch a few movies when things at the dock is cold or rainey.

Radio Shack sells a basic unit with dish for $100. Then you by a $50 activation card along with VOD cards. This way we can pay for what we want when we want.

I'm just affraid that they will still try to get me into a contract in which I do not need for my application.

Does anyone use the VOD system? Do you have to subscribe to a basic program package? This isn't much info on Dish Nets website on this. I'm mostly going by the guy at the Radio Shack store. I'm just a bit worried that he is trying to get a sale without being to knowledgeable about the system.

Thanks for the replies,,,,,,,,it is appreciated very much!........SS

 

[Wassachu]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

I have three recievers of different vintages. All connected and running great. I had them installed in 2003. The only thing I've changed is the DVR, Digital Video Recorder. They don't last me much over a year because I use the recording, fast forward and pause functions so much. That's the only problem I've had and Directv has always been good to work with.

Lots of marinas have cable TV at the docks. I know this to be the case in California but in your neck of the woods, Ohio, I'm not sure if any have cable TV at the docks because of the Ice in the winters. Here in Maine most docks are pulled out of the water in the winter because of Ice so having things like cable TV would be a problem.

The early vintage Directv recievers were made by RCA and now they are Hughes brand or RCA. They also would like them connected to a phone line so the software can be updated. Your older versions software is most likely out of date.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Satalite TV ?

Re: Satalite TV ?

Update and it is good!

I went to Radio Shack and got a receiver and dish for $100. Along with it I got 3 $40 Dish Now cards. Then I went to Autozone and bought two 2" exhaust pipe clamps to mount the dish to the dock pilings. It rained pretty much all day Saturday, but got the dish mounted and zeroed in with a great signal.

My only problem was with getting the system activated. Where my lake is, its down in a valley surrounded by hills and trees. Not good for cell phone reception. After calling the 888 number numerous times and getting calls dropped with fully charged phone. By the time I had success, I only had one bar left on my battery. Yes I was aggrivated. It seems like the process was just about finished when my call would be dropped. I finally had to go get in my van and drive until I got a good signal. Then the activation went thru fine.

So far it is working great. I would suggest it to anyone who does not have a satalite system at home and wants one for their boat or RV, this is the way to go. They will accept the so called Green Dot cards or the $40 Dish Now cards from Radio Shack. Once you get familuar with the proceedure, its easy,,,,,,as long as you have a strong cell phone signal.

 

[JCF350]

Re: Satalite TV ? (updated 5-4-8)

Just what I need for the motor home!!
I do get 4 local channels here in Citra but like you I don't need year long service.

Swap the amp to the existing dish.
install receiver
activate!!

Radio Shack! here I come.