HOT - DirecTv / DirecTivo Deals: new customers - Free! / existing customers - $79.95 (New Local Channels 27-Dec-2001!)

[TechFarmer]

First off, some of the information in this post was found in this thread, as well as on the AVS TivoCommunity forum. Here are the details:

NEW Customers - DirecTv Tivo Receiver: (DirecTivo)
Getconnected (800-775-2506) is offering the following:
- FREE Hughes GXCEBOT 35 hour Tivo Receiver Package ($19.95 Shipped before rebate)
- $25 GetConnected Satellite TV Rebate (expires: 12/31/01, no details on how to redeem)
- Dual LNB Dish
- FREE Professional Installation from DIRECTV
- FREE SHOWTIME for 6 Months (offer expires: 1/15/02)
*Requires a one-year commitment at $31.99/month (Total Choice), does NOT require immediate tivo activation ($9.95/month)
*Must activate within 15-30 days after receiving unit (ask them for details)

DirectConnection (888-205-7827) is offering the following:
- Philips TSR6000 35 hour Tivo Receiver Package ($29.95 Shipped)
- Dual LNB Dish
- FREE Professional Installation from DIRECTV
- FREE SHOWTIME for 6 Months (offer expires: 1/15/02)
*Requires a one-year commitment at $31.99/month (Total Choice), does NOT require immediate tivo activation ($9.95/month)
*Must activate within 15-30 days after receiving unit (ask them for details)
(I recommend calling them instead of ordering online. The shipping price is not accurate on the website and it requires a user account.)

Expert Satellite (800-431-1221) is offering the following:
- FREE Hughes GXCEBOT 35 hour Tivo Receiver Package ($29.90 Shipped after coupon)
- Use coupon code CBSSPT, CMJDR2, or CMJDR3 for $9.95 off
- Dual LNB Dish
- FREE Professional Installation from DIRECTV
- FREE SHOWTIME for 6 Months (offer expires: 1/15/02)
*Requires a one-year commitment at $31.99/month (Total Choice), does NOT require immediate tivo activation ($9.95/month)
*Must activate within 15-30 days after receiving unit (ask them for details)


Existing Customers
Orbit Satellite (978-440-8899) is offering the following:
- Hughes GXCEBOT 35 hour Tivo Receiver ($79.95 + $24.95 Shipping & Handling)
- No Dish
*Requires activation with an existing account within 15-30 days (ask them for details)
- Orbit Satellite also has good deals for new customers looking to purchase multiple receivers.

Circuit City and BestBuy also offer the Huges GXCBOT for about $95 for existing customers. You may be able to get an additional dual LNB dish for an extra $0.01.

See ericboo's post below for AmericanSatellites Philips DSR6000 for $99 shipped


Details on the DirecTivo Receivers
All of the DirecTivo receivers from Hughes, Philips, and Sony are virtually identical and have identical internal components. The Hughes and Sony are sliver, the Philips is black. The Sony has a different remote and a much higher price tag. All DirecTivo's have 35 hour capacity, Dolby Digital recording/output, and dual tuners. With dual tuners, when attached to a Dual LNB dish, you can record 2 programs at once and can also watch a third previously-recorded program. All of the Hughes models have only 1 hard drive, which makes adding a second drive somewhat easier. However, Hughes receivers do not contain a power or IDE cable for a second drive (a slight inconvenience if upgrading to a larger drive). The newer Philips and Sony receivers have only one drive and their older receivers have two. To find a serial number cutoff for the 2-drive units or to get more information about upgrading the hard drive, visit the AVS TivoCommunity Forum.

If you are looking at multiple DirecTivo receivers, remember that you only have to pay one $9.95/month Tivo charge for all receivers. Each additional receiver will still be subject to the DirecTv $5/month mirroring fee. For stand alone Tivos, you still will pay a $9.95/month for each receiver, regardless of how many you have an how many DirecTivo receivers you have.

Local Channels!
Starting 27-Dec-2001, DirecTv will be offering MOST local chanels in most markets. This means that you will be able to record/watch Smallville and other WB and UPN programs directly from satellite! Click here to see if you qualify. There is an additional $5/month fee for local stations.


Local stations are the reason I'm switching from DishNetwork and a stand alone Tivo to DirecTv and a DirecTivo.

I hope this answers most of the frequently asked questions and helps those looking for satellite service.

-Carlton

 

[ieee]

nice summary, good job..

 

[paranoia]

Bump

Good infomative post

 

[JKurtz]

Awesome news! The Columbus, OH market will finally get UPN/WB

 

[ericboo]

American Satellite has the Philips for $99.99 shipped for existing customers as well.

 

[sekser]

If i already own a regular Tivo unit with lifetime subscription, and i purchase one of these dish's with the directv receiver what will I have to pay? Will I have to do the 9.99 a month dealio with tivo or will my lifetime sub just carry over to it?

 

[TechFarmer]

Sekser,

Tivo lifetime subscriptions are not transferrable to other units. That's why one's that have been "lifetime activated" are more valuable on auction sites.

Sorry for the bad news.

 

[smartcat]

Thanks for the good information. I couldn't find the serial number cutoffs you referred to in the forum. I have two Philips DSR 6000's and before opening them up I would like to know how many drives they have. Can you direct me to the part of the forum where I can find that?
Thanks again

 

[TechFarmer]

smartcat,

I did a search in the TivoCommunity forum. I didn't get an exact answer, but seiral number higher than 4704XXXX should have one drive. 4702XXX units could have either 1 or 2 drives. I'm not sure about 4703XXXX units.

Link1

Link2

The Philips receiver I just ordered from DirectConnection has a serial number of 4707XXXX and is a single drive unit.

Update -- Here is a better way to tell:


<< Look under the front let of the unit through the vent hole. If you see the heads of two screws there, they are holding in a second drive. If you see two hole there, the second bay is open and you have a single drive unit. Xaa >>


Link

 

[sekser]

i'm seriously thinking of ordering this...

I don't mind paying for a life time sub to Tivo since i got my current one for free.

I have a question about the free install thing.

Does Directv actually send someone out to the residence to hook this sucker up?

Or does this just mean your getting a free install kit to do yourself?


as it states from Direct Connection

Philips Model 5353 DUAL LNB Satellite System/dish for 1 tv FREE!!! also includes a free self install kit!.. you pay only the $19.95! shipping and handling fee. ***NOTE THIS FREE OFFER IS FOR FIRST TIME DIRECTV SUBSCRIBERS ONLY. 1 ORDER PER HOUSEHOLD.*** (Local channels not available in all areas and may require additional equipment). ** Read conditions of sale below.

and lastly, anybody know when this deal expires?

 

[TechFarmer]

sekser,

I received a call yesterday and today from the installer to come a install the unit. It is included in the price of the receiver from DirectConnection and probably others as well.

There are some limits such as going through only one outside wall, 20 feet run max to nearest phone outlet, etc. It sounds like most houses should be covered by the free install, but you could pay extra if it's complicated.

I'm not sure how long the deal will last. I was told at BestBuy that they would stop carrying the Hughes unit soon.

The Holiday Offer is valid for DIRECTV Systems purchased between 10/15/01 and 1/15/02 according to the CircutCity website. (Checkout with a DirecTv receiver in your cart and you'll get the message.)

 

[sekser]

Bump!

And another question.

Still want to get this, just have more questions, and I want to see if i'm getting a bonus this year too.

Let's say i get the lifetime sub. But after my years commit to directv, i don't want satellite anymore. Can I still use this unit w/lifetime sub for cable and antenna TV? Or am i screwed and have to have lifetime w/ directv as well in order to use Tivo?

Do i just have to order it with receipt showing 1/15/01 to get 6 months of movie channels? or need to activate by that date?


Thanks,
bobby

 

[Hoinch]

are there any companies that offer a Sony DiercTivo instead of Philips or Hughes?

 

[IClight]

Sekser,
The combo units directivo don't work on inputs from antennae or cable so unless you have DirecTV, the box is useless (except for scavaging the 40 GB HD).

Hoinch,
You might be able to find the Sony with for $199 and a $100 rebate but the only difference between the Phillips, Sony, and Hughes is the box and the remote.

IClight

 

[riznick]

a supreme court judge has ordered directv to carry all 1500 nationwide local channels.

Link

 

[Hoinch]

thanx IClight

 

[sekser]

Finally ordered the Hughs package from Getconnected. Got my email saying it'll take 7-10 days to process.

Hope it comes in time for me to activate it by 1/15 to get the 6months free SHOWTIME


Thanks for the deal

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Anyone find a good DirecTV package out there requiring no long term commitment?

 

[The Sauce]

Dude, thanks! You rock. I have been dying to get local channels.

 

[sekser]

For those ordering the deal now... you may not get it before 1/15 for the free showtime.

here's what i got from getconnected

Per your recent request for status on your order, Expert Satellite has
acknowledged your order, and is processing it. Turnaround time for DirecTV
satellite orders is two weeks. If you do not hear from Expert Satellite by
the middle of next week, please give us a call, and we will call them for
you.

Crossing my finger that i get it in time, or they extend the offer a little longer.

 

[unknown]

looks like the directv "showtime" is the only promotion that is currently running (from what I could find)

it requires a 1 year commitment (BLAH!)

 

[JohnnyPastrami]

<< For those ordering the deal now... you may not get it before 1/15 for the free showtime.

here's what i got from getconnected

Per your recent request for status on your order, Expert Satellite has
acknowledged your order, and is processing it. Turnaround time for DirecTV
satellite orders is two weeks. If you do not hear from Expert Satellite by
the middle of next week, please give us a call, and we will call them for
you.

Crossing my finger that i get it in time, or they extend the offer a little longer. >>





Two weeks seems like a long time, unless the holidays saturated them and all the installers.

Ordered my multi-room system from American Satellite about 3 weeks ago, and it came in 4 days. I ordered a self-install system, so that may of been the reason for the quick delivery. If you're handy with POWER TOOLS you can install yourself in about 4 hours.

Also, Unknown, I've been watching the DTV offerings for awhile and the only one I could find is the 6 mo. Showtime currently runnning.

Johnny

 

[Burnt]

Does anyone know if there you can just sign up for 3 months? Meaning no commitment? Because I goto college and when I come home for summer, I'd like to have satalite tv because it's cheaper than cable (cable in philly is 44/month).

 

[llamahead]

These Prices seem pretty incredible for current subscribers. It appears that current subscribers pay $99 for the Philips DirecTivo with an obligation to add this unit to their current subscription, but no obligation to stay for any term. I hope I'm not wrong about this because I just bought one from them. I may move in the next few months and new apartments are always a gamble about facing the right direction. I'd hate to find out I'm locked into a year-long term and am screwed out of service. Does anyone know for sure?

 

[Golgo13]

Nice Post.

Now, does anyone know a place that sells these units at these prices but with no commitment? In other words, a "Cash and Carry" type deal with no CC req'd?? BB and Circuit City req CC and contracts. At these prices, they're very tempting.

Thx