Moved from the wrong side of the tracks recently and tried to get my Direct TV hooked up in the new crib. Has anyone else had trouble with the local Direct TV contractor that installs the dish and hooks up the TV's? This outfit called "Apex" left the house before the wife could get back from dropping off the urchins at school. Re-scheduled for 2 days later and never showed up. If it were not for the college basketball package I would drop them like my previous garbage can. BTW, hijacking my own thread, got my new gigantic can today. Lady that lived here before had the Clamato sized can......go large or go home!

I got DirectTV when I moved in. The instsall cost for the HD satellite, receivers, etc. Ended up costing me over $600, and I don't even get my locals in HD! Even though they said I would be able to. I've invested too much time and money to switch, supposedly they are launching more satellites by the end of the year to increase their HD programming.

Depending on what type of tv you have, have you tried running an antenna to get the local HD channels terrestrially?

I have the standard DirecTV and we had no problem getting it installed. I have been avoiding the HD reciever until local service is available via the satelite. As well we use Tivo so much that I want the HD unit to come down in price as well.

I struggled for a year and a half to get consistent HD signals out of the city. I have tried 2 different antennas and numerous trips to the roof to re-aim the antenna. HD is great, but it is a all or nothing proposition. Your either get a great picture or you get nothing, no fuzzy picture in between.

SOT, did you know that Locals are now available in HD. The only channel that is not is WGN. I called DTV last week and discussed with them. You have to buy the 5LNB dish and an HD receiver, (cost 49.00 after 200 mail in rebate). The only thing you can't get yet is the HD Tivo because they are upgrading their service out in the Cosmos. Once they do that, supposedly aprilish, they will be adding a ton more HD channels.

I almost made the purchase while on the phone, but I am still deciding between Plasma, LCD or DLP...

Whatever you do, DO NOT get the Direct TV DVR!!!!!!

I made that mistake and hate myself for it. It is a slow, unresponsive machine that lacks all of the great TIVO characteristics. DirectTV should be ashamed of themselves for breaking their TIVO contact and then rolling out the piece of shit DVR they did. I repeat, do not get suckered into the $200 rebate and by the TIVO DVR and not the DirectTV DVR.

"These are sweatshop eggs. This chicken should be ashamed of itself."

The only thing I want is HD.....I already have one TV with the Direct TV TIVO deal and that is enough. It is also downright f'n awesome. Nothing like watching something hearing your kid call you, pausing it, seeing what he wants and then hitting play and not missing one part of Family Guy.

Do you have a preference of Plasma, LCD or DLP? I am leaning towards LCD or DLP (Virtually the same).

I only have one "sweet" television. My 32 incher in the family room is an old Sony Wega but I have a 27' flat panel LCD in the bedroom. I love it but to be honest I'm not much of a TV guy. If I were to buy a new TV (and find a new place for the incredibly expensive armoire that barely fits in this house), I would get one of those 50 inch projection TV's that look like flat panels, have an HD tuner and are half the price of flat-panels. But again, you are probably asking the wrong guy.

I can tell you that Direct TV's new DVR product SUCKS! Did I mention that?

I am in a rare situation.....The wife wants plasma for the family room....I would rather spend less now, get the 50-55 inch LCD/DLP Projection for the family room, then when we finish the basement this year, bust open the pocketbook for a nice Plasma for the basement which will be mine.....and my son's of course.....So I am with you on that one, and I for sure will not get the DTV DVR.....

My wife keeps looking at the Directv DVR and I keep putting off the purchase, which is amazing considering how insane I am with my TV related purchases.

Personally we have a Samsung 52" DLP, great great great. We get the local HD signal via antenna (terrestrial for all those Stern fans) although it is a hit or miss situation. We also have a Tivo for our directv service on one TV, I hate to say it, but I may need to get additional directv service. Currently I am shuffling between TIVO'ing Lost while taping another show downstairs and taping a third upstairs. Boy do we need to get a life.

The next big decision will be a PS3 versus a Blue-ray HD DVD player.

I guess this isn,t the place to ask about a new Rabbit Ears antenna for the old Sylvania Huh ?

Samsung really has come out with some great TV's at an even better price. Panasonic and Samsung are at the top of my list. One TIVO is enough for now, until my son starts realizing he wants to record something, then I will be in trouble.

quote:

Originally posted by Arten:
I guess this isn,t the place to ask about a new Rabbit Ears antenna for the old Sylvania Huh ?

Speaking of Rabbit Ears, are there special ones that get reception even in someone's garage? Before I would just look in the window at Fan's TV. But all that porn gets old after a while.

Those are the movies he's been making around town in his spare time Jen.

Check your emails......Direct TV service is going up 3 bucks a month.....