Community Forums

brunsje · 03-15-2014, 07:06 PM

Folks,

I am purchasing a new motorhome and paying money for the Satellite Dish and the Receivers in the Coach.

Why do I also have to pay $10/month for HD and the even higher $25/month for a HD DVR? I have already bought the receivers with my Cash?

I don't pay for the Receivers if a get COMCAST or UVerse at home. I pay $10/month for an HD DVR with Comcast.

I am confused? Seems pretty expensive.

Maybe the cost of RV'ing?

If I decide to not get the HD DVR and settle for the HD only and I decide later to upgrade to an HD DVR; Do I buy the Receiver myself and pay the additional $15/month?

Help.

Thanks, JohnnyB

TXiceman · 03-15-2014, 07:23 PM

It is called the GOLDEN RULE....Them that have the GOLD make the RULES.

Ken

FlyingDiver · 03-15-2014, 07:29 PM

I can't speak for Dish, but with DirecTV you never actually buy the receivers. They're leased. Sometimes you need to pay an upfront fee (in addition to the monthly fee), but if you're a new customer you can generally get a special deal in which you don't pay any upfront fee.

Once you have the receivers, they need to be activated on your account. The monthly fee for the first receiver is credited back to you on your bill, so it's essentially free. Additional receivers are $6/mo, as I recall.

Now, in addition to the basic service fee, plus any additional receivers, DirecTV charges for either HD service and/or DVR service. Why? Because they can. You're getting more features than the basic service.

You're right, cable companies don't charge an upfront fee, but their per-box charge is usually more, as you note ($10/mo vs $6/mo).

If you upgrade later to a DVR, you might pay a fee or you might not. When you call DirecTV to order it, you can certainly ask for credit towards the fee. But you will also now need to pay the DVR fee (or advanced receiver fee) in addition to the basic service fee.

tedgard01 · 03-15-2014, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingDiver

I can't speak for Dish, but with DirecTV you never actually buy the receivers. They're leased. Sometimes you need to pay an upfront fee (in addition to the monthly fee), but if you're a new customer you can generally get a special deal in which you don't pay any upfront fee. Once you have the receivers, they need to be activated on your account. The monthly fee for the first receiver is credited back to you on your bill, so it's essentially free. Additional receivers are $6/mo, as I recall. Now, in addition to the basic service fee, plus any additional receivers, DirecTV charges for either HD service and/or DVR service. Why? Because they can. You're getting more features than the basic service. You're right, cable companies don't charge an upfront fee, but their per-box charge is usually more, as you note ($10/mo vs $6/mo). If you upgrade later to a DVR, you might pay a fee or you might not. When you call DirecTV to order it, you can certainly ask for credit towards the fee. But you will also now need to pay the DVR fee (or advanced receiver fee) in addition to the basic service fee.

With DISH, I bought the receivers in the RV, there is no monthly charge for the receiver. I pay $7:00 / mo., but only when I want them activated. It is called "pay as you go". It is even prorated, so if I use the satellite only two weeks for the month, it is only a $3.50 charge, etc.

FlyingDiver · 03-15-2014, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedgard01

With DISH, I bought the receivers in the RV, there is no monthly charge for the receiver. I pay $7:00 / mo., but only when I want them activated. It is called "pay as you go". It is even prorated, so if I use the satellite only two weeks for the month, it is only a $3.50 charge, etc.

I don't understand what you're saying. That $7/mo IS the monthly charge for the receiver. You also pay your programming package rate on in addition, right?

tedgard01 · 03-15-2014, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingDiver

I don't understand what you're saying. That $7/mo IS the monthly charge for the receiver. You also pay your programming package rate on in addition, right?

I pay for the activation of the receiver, for the DISH network access, there is not a monthly charge for the receiver equipment, on top of the network access charge, like with DirectTV (which is what I had before). I have DISH at home, and just activate the RV receiver to pick up the same network programming I have at home with the Hopper and Joey.

FlyingDiver · 03-15-2014, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedgard01

I pay for the activation of the receiver, for the DISH network access, there is not a monthly charge for the receiver equipment, on top of the network access charge, like with DirectTV (which is what I had before). I have DISH at home, and just activate the RV receiver to pick up the same network programming I have at home with the Hopper and Joey.

I think it's purely a difference in terminology, at this point. The difference is that Dish allows you to activate/deactivate receivers which Direct does not.

no3putt · 03-15-2014, 10:20 PM

Have DISH and purchased the reciever and sat dish so we pay only for the program package andwe have a RV Pay as You Go so we only pay the months we use the RV. Have direct at home and put it on suspension when we are gone so we don't pay for it when we are gone.

tedgard01 · 03-16-2014, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingDiver

I think it's purely a difference in terminology, at this point. The difference is that Dish allows you to activate/deactivate receivers which Direct does not.

Well, I do not consider it to be only a difference in terminology. I am not saying one is better than the other.

With DirectTV, you lease the equipment. Therefore, there is a separate monthly charge for the receiver equipment, as well as the charge for the network access (programming).

With DISH, you purchase the equipment upfront, therefore, you only pay for the network access service as needed. There is an option though with DISH to pay a separate monthly charge ($7.00 / mo) for a protection plan (insurance) on your equipment, so that in the event of failure, they will replace it.

docj · 03-16-2014, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedgard01

With DISH, you purchase the equipment upfront, therefore, you only pay for the network access service as needed. There is an option though with DISH to pay a separate monthly charge ($7.00 / mo) for a protection plan (insurance) on your equipment, so that in the event of failure, they will replace it.

With DirecTV there is also an optional monthly protection plan for $7/mo which may seem odd since the receivers are leased, anyway. But the protection plan provides for free service calls and free equipment upgrades which can come in handy.

PyrateSilly · 03-16-2014, 09:03 AM

When we first activated the DirecTV we had our own receiver. All we needed was a new access card which was a one time fee of $10. We did not pay for leasing the receiver since it was ours. Then the receiver went bad and we just decided to lease a new one from them since if it goes bad for any reason now it's on them to send us a new one and then we just mail the old one back.

az99 · 03-16-2014, 06:06 PM

This is your 1st lesson with DirecTv. They are a VERY,VERY DECEPTIVE company. You only think you are buying equipment. You pay $ for equipment only to find out it is still owned by them. Also when you activate the equipment that you think you purchased, you are locked into a 2 year contract that they won't tell you about. you You have to read it in the fine print or try to cancel.

To get the advertised prices you have to allow them to charge your credit card ahead of sending you a bill. They raise rates and remove discounts on a regular basis hoping you won't notice.

Then after you bend over far enough to get activated you will see almost constant commercials in the shows you are paying for and even DirecTv ads in the guide.

az99 · 03-16-2014, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PyrateSilly

we just decided to lease a new one from them since if it goes bad for any reason now it's on them to send us a new one and then we just mail the old one back.

Not unless you are paying the extra protection plan fee.

docj · 03-16-2014, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by az99

This is your 1st lesson with DirecTv. They are a VERY,VERY DECEPTIVE company. You only think you are buying equipment. You pay $ for equipment only to find out it is still owned by them. Also when you activate the equipment that you think you purchased, you are locked into a 2 year contract that they won't tell you about. you You have to read it in the fine print or try to cancel.

I'm sorry, but all the ads for DirecTV equipment on Amazon, Solid Signal, etc, contain the caveat that "activation of this equipment may result in contractual liability". If people don't read the fine print that's not DirecTV's fault.