Get a free upgrade to DirecTVs new HD DVR (HR20) + more

[Queasy]

Ripped from this post at DBSTalk.com

Notes:
You should be able to keep your old receiver and get an HR20 for no more than $199. Many are getting their new HR20's for just the shipping cost of $19.

The deal you will get depends on your your "Hearts" rating that factors in payment history, automatic payments, protection plan, tenure, current hardware, when your commitment renews, sports packages, etc. There is no such thing as an "A List," just 1, 3, or 5 Hearts. If you are 5 Hearts, you have the winning hand.

Upgrading to the HR20:
1. Check out the competition. Print out the offers from Comcast, DISH, etc.
2. Call DIRECTV at 800-531-5000. At the voice prompt say "Cancel" to go directly to Retention.
3. Be polite. Tell them you want to stay with DIRECTV. Repeat their name & write it down. Ask them how many "Hearts" you are.
4. Ask if you can upgrade to the HR20 for the $19 shipping? Tell the competing offers if needed.
5. See if you can get any months of free HD and Showtime. You may have to call more than once.
6. Make sure you get a morning installation for timeliness and to have extra equipment on hand.
7. Before you hang up, confirm that your work order is for:
DIRECTV HD DVR (Expanded HD Prog. Capable)
Standard Professional Install that will include:
- New RG6 cabling and connectors (up to 125' x 4 as needed)
- Zinwell 6x8 Multiswitch (if needed)
DIRECTV 5-LNB Multi-Satellite Dish (if dish upgrade needed)
Your date and price
- Craig

I just called and got:
- 2 HR20s to replace my current HR10-250s for free + shipping
- Free Dish
- Free Installation
- 6 months of HBO and Showtime for free
- 1 year of HD channels for free
- No extension of my current contract

Awesome.

I told a co-worker about this and he got the following deal. He's been with DirecTV for a while but he only has one non-DVR old receiver and subscribes to the base package only.

- 1 HR20 HD DVR for free
- 6 Months of HD channels for free
- 6 Months of HBO & Showtime for free
- Free dish upgrade
- Free installation

Here is a list of some of the upcoming HD channels for DirecTV. Everyone is anticipating for them to be turned on sometime around the 15th of September or soon thereafter. Found at the Satellite Guys.

Current HD Channels:
ESPN HD
ESPN2 HD
HB HD
Showtime HD
Discovery HD Theater
TNT HD
Universal HD
HDNet
HDNet Movie
+ HD Locals

Upcoming Regular HD Channels:
A&E HD
ABC Family HD
Animal Planet HD
Bravo HD
ESPNews HD
Food Network HD
Fuel TV HD
FX HD
HGTV-HD
Cartoon Network
Chiller HD
CNBC HD
CNN HD
History Channel HD
MHD
USA HD
National Geographic HD
Discovery Channel HD
Disney Channel HD
TBS HD
The 101 HD
TLC HD
Toon Disney HD
Weather Channel HD
Big Ten Network HD
NFL Network HD
Versus HD/Golf Channel HD
Sci-Fi Network HD
Science Channel HD
Speed Channel HD
Tennis Channel HD

Upcoming HD Premium Channels:
HBO HD West
HBO2 HD East
HBO2 HD West
HBO Family
HBO Family West
HBO Latino
HBO Signature
Showtime HD West
Cinemax HD East
Cinemax HD West
MoreMax
The Movie Channel HD East
Starz HD East
Starz HD West
Starz Edge HD
Starz Comedy HD
Starz Kids & Family HD

DirecTV should be starting out with most if not all of these with 100 total HD channels by the end of the year.

edit:
Undocumented HR20 Tips & Tricks from DBSTalk.com
HR20 FAQ from DBSTalk.com
TiVo to HR20 Survival Guide from DBSTalk.com
Official HR20 User Manual

Verify your order - DirecTV.com
See if you can move up your installation date here - DirecTV.com
Verify Changes to yuor bill - DirecTV.com
HR20 Installation & Setup Tips from DBSTalk.com

 

[Lurker1]

Interesting list. I'll check out the packaging. Right now I'm considering AT&T's Fiber package. Yes yes, I know, far inferior to FIOS, but I don't get FIOS and I want to dump TimeWarner badly enough that AT&T's Fiber is looking mighty good. I also have Dish at the moment, but upgrading to HD seems pricey, although I haven't fully priced it out yet. That's going to happen this week. DirecTV may be less expensive as well.

 

[CPA]

Will this work if I have an HD receiver (Samsung brand), but not an HD DVR?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: CPA
Will this work if I have an HD receiver (Samsung brand), but not an HD DVR?

It should. You should be able to get that receiver replaced or get a new receiver for free. As I mentioned above, my co-worker has a non-HD, non-DVR old receiver and still got this deal.

 

[lazarus000]

shouldn't this be YMMV?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: lazarus000
shouldn't this be YMMV?

Maybe. Between people I've talked with and postings over at DBSTalk.com and FW.com, everyone seems to be getting it on the first call with a couple of exceptions. It may take two or three tries for others.

 

[bunker]

Heh, I've only been with them since January and after 2 calls I managed to get the standard HD reciever (non-dvr) and a year free of HD service.

My current contract already includes Starz and Showtime free for 2 years. I'll call back in another 6 months and see if I can get the DVR. My second, non-HD TV has an older DirecTivo unit that I like for DVR'ing anything.

 

[intersys]

Thanks OP

I called - first try - got a free HR20 and 1 year discount on my bill. Tried to get a 2nd DVR ( I have 2 standard ones currently) but that was a no go. She did waive the $21.00 shipping cost however.

 

[jono8]

i take it this is not for new customers?

 

[imported_vghc]

Is the HR20's software as good as Tivo's? I really want it but not willing to sacrifice my Tivo. Any advice??

 

[BDawg]

By coincidence, my H20 died today (3rd H20 in 3 weeks). I asked if they could upgrade me to the HR and they agreed.

 

[mikeford]

I hear a lot about more HD channels, but not a lot about what bit rate these channels will be running at on various services. Anybody know or have a link to that kind of information?

 

[Richardito]

Originally posted by: mikeford
I hear a lot about more HD channels, but not a lot about what bit rate these channels will be running at on various services. Anybody know or have a link to that kind of information?

You have a good point these so called HD channels are not technically High Def. They are HD streamed compress to MPEG4 and transfered from the satellite to your receiver. This is the reason the cable companies sued DirecTV for their "most HD capacity" commercial... The older unit including the good 'ol HR10-250 use MPEG2 and cannot use MPEG4 streams.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: CPA
Will this work if I have an HD receiver (Samsung brand), but not an HD DVR?

It should. You should be able to get that receiver replaced or get a new receiver for free. As I mentioned above, my co-worker has a non-HD, non-DVR old receiver and still got this deal.

Since I bought my HD TV in February 2006 I have gotten the following from DTV free with a 2 year extension to my service:
H20 HiDef receiver and 5LNB dish (a necessity for the new equipment)
HR20 June 2007
Standard Def DVR June 2007

I have been with them since 1997 so the 2 year extension was of no concern to me. There is a thread over at dbstalk in the HR20 forum titled "What the Deals are, and what are you being told by CSR?" that has a ton of posts about what deals people are getting at various times since D* released the HR20. It is definitely worth a look if you want to know as much as possible before going for this deal.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Richardito

Originally posted by: mikeford
I hear a lot about more HD channels, but not a lot about what bit rate these channels will be running at on various services. Anybody know or have a link to that kind of information?

You have a good point these so called HD channels are not technically High Def. They are HD streamed compress to MPEG4 and transfered from the satellite to your receiver. This is the reason the cable companies sued DirecTV for their "most HD capacity" commercial... The older unit including the good 'ol HR10-250 use MPEG2 and cannot use MPEG4 streams.

Just FYI - The MPEG4 channels look miles better than the MPEG2 channels. DirecTV currently broadcasts HD locals at MPEG4. I get HD locals OTA right now but when I go over to my friend's that currently has a HR20 and gets HD locals through the satellite, I really can't tell a difference.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Linflas
There is a thread over at dbstalk in the HR20 forum titled "What the Deals are, and what are you being told by CSR?" that has a ton of posts about what deals people are getting at various times since D* released the HR20. It is definitely worth a look if you want to know as much as possible before going for this deal.

Yeah, that is the thread that I linked to in the OP.

 

[ecopure]

What I love about the hr20 is the ability to record off a local hd antenna.

 

[Broncowolf]

Well, I called and received:
1. Free HD Receiver (I just put together a HTPC and didn't try for the DVR)
2. 6 mths free HD
3. 6 mths free HBO and Showtime
4. Free Installation

I did have to recommit and pay $20 shipping fee for the receiver, but I'm happy. I've been a customer of DirecTV for only about 2 years and never bought any special services.

Thanks, OP!

 

[Jschmuck2]

Current customers only?

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Jschmuck2
Current customers only?

Not sure. May have to call DirecTV and see. I know that I've seen some of the 3rd Party online satellite resellers offer deals...but nothing like the HR20 for free.

 

[Jschmuck2]

I've been wanting to switch from Charter who grants me the glory of 8 HD channels...but I've been waiting for the actual launch of the DTV HD Lineup to see just how good it will be.

 

[jimbofoxman]

I am all ready for them. I just got setup in May for my HD with DirecTV they at the time had installed the proper equipment so I am ready and raring to go. Bring on the HD

Side note:

IMO, of the current channels............Discovery HD is the best right now. The images seem so WOW

 

[kinev]

Originally posted by: vghc
Is the HR20's software as good as Tivo's? I really want it but not willing to sacrifice my Tivo. Any advice??

I don't think so. I had the old DirecTivo boxes and really liked them. The HR20 has a totally different interface that I don't like as much. My main problem is with the old Tivo units, they had a live buffer of 30 minutes on both tuners. If you switched tuners, there was a 30 minutes that you could go back. On the HR20, you can record 2 different shows, but there is only 1 buffer of live tv (granted it's 90 minutes, but only on 1 channel).

When I first got it, I was trying to push the down arrow to switch tuners for 10 minutes before I RTFM.

All this is solely my opinion, but I prefer the DirecTivo's interface to the HR20's.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: vghc
Is the HR20's software as good as Tivo's? I really want it but not willing to sacrifice my Tivo. Any advice??

Ripped from FW:

Positives...
+HD looks GREAT!
+The basic scheduling functions are similar to TiVo, and resorting priorities is instant (no "please wait")
+You get a live PIP when on DVR screens
+You can add an esata drive for expanded storage (have not tried)
+You can apparently (per dbstalk) browse/play your windows media via the HR20 when ethernet is enabled
+still has the 30 second skip button (no remote hack required like TiVo)
+RF remote

Negative...
-Though it has dual tuners, it only has one live buffer. On my dtivos, you can flip between live buffered channels. Not on the HR20. Probably not a huge deal, as most ppl don't even seem to know what this is.

My personal thought from using my friend's HR20 - the UI isn't as nice and friendly as the DirecTiVo but it isn't a huge step down like it is if you used one of the Cable DVRs (IMHO).

It does some things better and some things worse. But it is worth it to get all the new HD channels (IMHO). With DirecTV going to a new owner, there is talk about TiVo creating a new DirecTiVo.....but, I'm not willing to wait around for however long that takes.

 

[Queasy]

Undocumented HR20 Tips & Tricks from DBSTalk.com
HR20 FAQ from DBSTalk.com
TiVo to HR20 Survival Guide from DBSTalk.com
Official HR20 User Manual

https://www.directv.com/DTVAPP...yAccountViewOrders.jsp">Verify your order</a> - DirecTV.com
https://www.directv.com/DTVAPP...rs.jsp?type=reschedule">See if you can move up your installation date here</a> - DirecTV.com
https://www.directv.com/DTVAPP...ccountViewActivity.jsp">Verify Changes to your bill</a> - DirecTV.com
HR20 Installation & Setup Tips from DBSTalk.com