Direct TV Sunday ticket deal

[Frozen700]

How is the service with Direct tv? Does it fail when its cloudy or stormy?

Then again, I live in south FL. So it's cloudy a lot here, and Direct TV always goes out when raining

 

[Kilyin]

It's weird. I've lost signal when it's cloudy and drizzling, and maintained a signal through a full blown blizzard. And if you have to reboot that DirecTV box, it takes a good 10 minutes.

 

[Bungarian]

TV is dead. Soon everyone will be watching over computers. So much cheaper

 

[CyberB0b]

Then again, I live in south FL. So it's cloudy a lot here, and Direct TV always goes out when raining

A lot of time, lazy installers won't aim the dish properly, which leads to issues like this. They subcontract these jobs out, and DTV pays a flat fee to the contractor. The quicker they do the job, the more money they can make in a day.

 

[TheCount]

Been a DirecTV customer for about 4 or 5 years now, not going back to cable if I can avoid it.

TV is dead. Soon everyone will be watching over computers. So much cheaper

Yeah, I'm sure it'll stay that way too.

 

[skinsscalper]

A lot of time, lazy installers won't aim the dish properly, which leads to issues like this. They subcontract these jobs out, and DTV pays a flat fee to the contractor. The quicker they do the job, the more money they can make in a day.

Wrong. First of all, you have to pass install signal levels to even activate a receiver. That can't happen if the dish isn't "aimed properly". There's no way around it. Every receiver is pre-programmed to achieve a certain signal level before it can even be activated. That didn't use to be the case. There used to be several ways to get around that minimum threshold. All of those loopholes have since been closed.

Also, Sub contractors are rarely on dynamic scheduling. Their day is planned out before they even wake up. Getting done quicker doesn't make them more money because they won't get anymore work regardless of how soon they get done. They also face stiffer monetary chargebacks for failed QCs than in house techs hence an incentive to do the job right the first time. Some don't give a crap and do a half assed job. They are typically weeded out pretty fast.

In the past, sub contracting was the wild, wild west. My first install was done by a sub and if I saw him again (to this day) I'd kick him in the balls. That was 12 years ago. It's a different ball game, now. That's not to say that there aren't some serious hacks out there in the sub contracting world. There are. There are also serious hacks in the "in-house" world too. They all get weeded out eventually.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

As far as calling retention, it depends on who you speak to. Some of them don't budge even if you threaten to cancel your service. So be careful how far you go with some of them.

 

[munkee]

How is the service with Direct tv? Does it fail when its cloudy or stormy?

Depends on where you live. I had Direct tv in Colorado and lost service about once or twice a year.

I now live in Delaware, where it rains much more. I lose service once or twice a month. That said, I still would choose it over cable.

 

[CyberB0b]

Wrong. First of all, you have to pass install signal levels to even activate a receiver. That can't happen if the dish isn't "aimed properly". There's no way around it. Every receiver is pre-programmed to achieve a certain signal level before it can even be activated. That didn't use to be the case. There used to be several ways to get around that minimum threshold. All of those loopholes have since been closed.

There is a huge difference between aiming it "just good enough" to get a decent signal when it is a clear day, and fine tuning it to get a much stronger signal. A signal that is just tuned to the minimum will fade in windy conditions, and will fade much easier under rain.

Also, Sub contractors are rarely on dynamic scheduling. Their day is planned out before they even wake up. Getting done quicker doesn't make them more money because they won't get anymore work regardless of how soon they get done.

My cousin does this for a living. If he has 3 jobs scheduled, and he shaves 30 minutes off each job, he has gained an hour and a half. At this point, his hourly rate goes up. I guess it is a matter of perspective and how much you value your time.

 

[tyke1doe]

I posted this last year and someone swore I was lying, I havent paid for the ST in 6 years or so. When you call you have to talk to the retention department.

You living the life.

 

[tyke1doe]

Wrong. First of all, you have to pass install signal levels to even activate a receiver. That can't happen if the dish isn't "aimed properly". There's no way around it. Every receiver is pre-programmed to achieve a certain signal level before it can even be activated. That didn't use to be the case. There used to be several ways to get around that minimum threshold. All of those loopholes have since been closed.

Also, Sub contractors are rarely on dynamic scheduling. Their day is planned out before they even wake up. Getting done quicker doesn't make them more money because they won't get anymore work regardless of how soon they get done. They also face stiffer monetary chargebacks for failed QCs than in house techs hence an incentive to do the job right the first time. Some don't give a crap and do a half assed job. They are typically weeded out pretty fast.

In the past, sub contracting was the wild, wild west. My first install was done by a sub and if I saw him again (to this day) I'd kick him in the balls. That was 12 years ago. It's a different ball game, now. That's not to say that there aren't some serious hacks out there in the sub contracting world. There are. There are also serious hacks in the "in-house" world too. They all get weeded out eventually.

Sounds like you know what you're talking about.

 

[skinsscalper]

There is a huge difference between aiming it "just good enough" to get a decent signal when it is a clear day, and fine tuning it to get a much stronger signal. A signal that is just tuned to the minimum will fade in windy conditions, and will fade much easier under rain.



My cousin does this for a living. If he has 3 jobs scheduled, and he shaves 30 minutes off each job, he has gained an hour and a half. At this point, his hourly rate goes up. I guess it is a matter of perspective and how much you value your time.

If he short changes the customers by an hour and a half on those three jobs and fails a QC check on all three he also just lost, on average, $165.00. The value of your money, indeed.

I also do this for a living. Wind has almost no effect on a satellite signal unless the mount wasn't secured correctly and even under "minimum" signal a typical rainstorm has little effect on your signal. Several factors can contribute your signal "fading". Where I live, many houses are built on soil profiles on which your house may never truly settle. Cracks in foundations and even in the dry wall of the home itself are tell tale signs that the house has shifted. To give you a little perspective: When aligning a satellite dish for HD programming 3 satellites have to be dialed in to similar levels to achieve a passing signal. If, in that process, the installer is "off" by 1/32 of an inch he is 700 miles out of alignment from optimum. There are several instances that can take place between the time an installer does the work and the customer needing a service call that can influence 1/32 of an inch. Often times the dish slowly goes out of alignment (due to several factors) over time and the customer has no idea because "everything has been working fine" until it doesn't. There is a lot more to your typical service call than your previous technician not doing his job correctly.

 

[skinsscalper]

It's weird. I've lost signal when it's cloudy and drizzling, and maintained a signal through a full blown blizzard. And if you have to reboot that DirecTV box, it takes a good 10 minutes.

This isn't uncommon. I've been right in the thick of a heavy downpour and had great reception. I've also had low signal level from a storm 20 miles away. The reboot time, however is never ten minutes (though it does seem like it). If yours literally do take that long then there may be an issue with your receiver. Time to upgrade.

 

[skinsscalper]

As far as calling retention, it depends on who you speak to. Some of them don't budge even if you threaten to cancel your service. So be careful how far you go with some of them.

Tenure has a lot to do with your sway. 14 year customer? Yes sir we'll get you taken care of. 2 year customer? Meh. Also, if you're still under an existing contract you have, literally, zero leverage. You cancel and you pay a penalty ($20.00 for every month of your current contract that hasn't been fulfilled).

 

[diehard2294]

How is the service with Direct tv? Does it fail when its cloudy or stormy?

I switched over last summer and only had to climb a ladder once to get snow off the dish. Their customer service is horrible IMO. and make sure you know what you got from them. I was told Sunday ticket for me this year will be $240.00

 

[Bigdog]

It is nice that you get it on one bill and you get a discount. The one problem that I have heard thru my friends that have Direct TV is they get you with deals and then the next year your price goes way up. Just make sure that there is nothing blocking the satellite (trees). if the Installer is good, he will place it where there is minimal or no interference. That is what they did with mine.

 

[skinsscalper]

It is nice that you get it on one bill and you get a discount. The one problem that I have heard thru my friends that have Direct TV is they get you with deals and then the next year your price goes way up. Just make sure that there is nothing blocking the satellite (trees). if the Installer is good, he will place it where there is minimal or no interference. That is what they did with mine.

This is ALWAYS disclosed with the customer when they sign up. The first year's pricing is promotional and is disclosed when you sign up. Most customers get used to that price over the first 12 months and conveniently forget that promo price and claim their being "gouged" when their programming goes back to standard price.

 

[skinsscalper]

I switched over last summer and only had to climb a ladder once to get snow off the dish. Their customer service is horrible IMO. and make sure you know what you got from them. I was told Sunday ticket for me this year will be $240.00

A dish heater is your friend. Not cheap initially (about $130.00) but it's nice to know you never have to get on your roof again.

These ARE NOT sold by Directv. Amazon, my friend, Amazon.

 

[CyberB0b]

I switched over last summer and only had to climb a ladder once to get snow off the dish. Their customer service is horrible IMO. and make sure you know what you got from them. I was told Sunday ticket for me this year will be $240.00

While I did cancel my service, their customer service was always great.

 

[Kilyin]

This isn't uncommon. I've been right in the thick of a heavy downpour and had great reception. I've also had low signal level from a storm 20 miles away. The reboot time, however is never ten minutes (though it does seem like it). If yours literally do take that long then there may be an issue with your receiver. Time to upgrade.

I just timed it. Hit the red button to cold boot the box, takes 10 minutes and some change to reboot. I agree it's ridiculous for what is essentially a cable box with something like VaxOS that should boot in about 60 seconds or less.