[Frodo]

We are considering switching to Direct TV but are concerned about phone and internet service we might receive. Has anyone used Century Link as their phone and especially the internet provider and can you advise us on considering this choice? Thanks

[wmkhut]

Originally Posted by Frodo

We are considering switching to Direct TV but are concerned about phone and internet service we might receive. Has anyone used Century Link as their phone and especially the internet provider and can you advise us on considering this choice? Thanks

Have both Direct TV which we LOVE and Century Link for internet (no landline phone). Century Link has worked perfectly for us so far. Have laptop, tablet and phone using the wifi with no problems.
If you go with Direct TV be sure to get the Genie remote to be able to record and watch on any tv in the house and an EASY to use remote for us technically challenged folks!
Have had Bright House service at previous FL home and have no complaints with
the service, don't like their charges and increases.

[John_W]

We have Directv and Century Link for home phone and internet. We've been with Directv since 2008 and brought our boxes with us to TV in 2011. We initially switched from Comcast Cable TV to Directv in Maryland because at the time Comcast had maybe 30 channels in HD and Directv had about 90. Today it is much greater, especially since we have the Premier Package which is everything they offer, even NFL Sunday Ticket. Since we've been with them for a few years you learn the in's and out's of operating with a satellite system. For example, this year we got NFL Sunday ticket for $75 which enables us to watch any NFL game we choose. Also weather isn't much of a factor if you know how to go to the backup channels when necessary. If you're a good customer, you can make deals and ask for discounts and Directv will work with you.

We had Verizon for internet and phone in Maryland, which wasn't available here. We went with Century Link, and just like Directv you'll learn your way around the system. For reliability we've had no problems. When we signed up at the office store on 441/27, we took a $59.99 package and were told our bill would be about $75 a month with taxes. They said the first bill would be about $100, when it arrived in August 2011 the statement was $203. I called customer service, which was in Orlando. They switched me to the 'Save Desk' in Charlotte, NC and they immediately discounted my bill to $103 and upped my internet speed from 2.5 mbps to 10.0 mbps for no extra charge.

My internet connect is what they call 'to the curb', which means I have no modem, my computer plugs directly into the wall jack. I have a Century Link dual face plate with a phone jack and internet jack. In 28 months I believe our internet has been down once and that was recently and lasted about an hour. Our telephone has unlimited long distance, caller ID and I had call block added later. We use to receive a lot of telemarketing calls so I asked Century Link if they could add Call Block, which they did for no charge. My bill is also about $75 with tax just like they said over two years ago.

[2BNTV]

I have both and they both work exceedingly well despite my trepidattion about the speed of the internet service. I'm not thrilled with Century Link as I felt the start-up charges were somewhat excessive. I find their customer service is excellent when trying to reach someone but sadly, some reps might give you incorrect info. Long story. Please ensure, that you know what you are getting. IMHO

DIRECTV is the bomb. Great pictures and channel selection, especially if one is a sports nut. They will give you several perks when signing up, like the NFL Sunday ticket and some movie channels for three months free. You will have to call before the three months is up to cancel this option for the movie channels or you will see in your 4th month's bill. I believe the recording DVR is free upon installation, and $10/month after that. If you don't get a DVR, you have two weeks to change your mind, or they will ask for $199, to upgrade, or you will have to wait a year and a half.

[billethkid]

if one's home is currently pre-wired for "cable".....is that same cabling used by Direct TV or do they have to re-wire using what they require for service?

btk

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by billethkid

if one's home is currently pre-wired for "cable".....is that same cabling used by Direct TV or do they have to re-wire using what they require for service?

btk

I believe they will install their satellite dish, but the existing wiring in your home will be used. They will have to run additional wires from the dish to the cable box on the side of your home. They usually do a great job of hiding the wires so it doesn't look unseemly.

BTW - DIRECTV does not do the installation of the satellite dishes, but contracts it, to another company. Please be aware that DIRECTV will pay for a standard installation, if the dish is attached to your roof. If you want the dish installed away from your house, it cost $75, plus tax = $81/one time fee. I'm sorry, I didn't keep the bill, so I can't tell what company installed it, but they are very good at what they do. He did an install away from my house. He dug a hole and put in fast drying cement to keep it in place, ran the wires to the cable box, and was finished in a hour and a half. Very impressive!! IMHO

[logdog]

Originally Posted by 2BNTV

I believe they will install their satellite dish, but the existing wiring in your home will be used. They will have to run additional wires from the dish to the cable box on the side of your home. They usually do a great job of hiding the wires so it doesn't look unseemly.

BTW - DIRECTV does not do the installation of the satellite dishes, but contracts it, to another company. Please be aware that DIRECTV will pay for a standard installation, if the dish is attached to your roof. If you want the dish installed away from your house, it cost $75, plus tax = $81/one time fee. I'm sorry, I didn't keep the bill, so I can't tell what company installed it, but they are very good at what they do. He did an install away from my house. He dug a hole and put in fast drying cement to keep it in place, ran the wires to the cable box, and was finished in a hour and a half. Very impressive!! IMHO

DirecTV advertises free installation. When my installers wanted to charge me for installing on a pad rather than the roof, I insisted on the free installation. They called someone and magically the fee for pad installation was waived. Since I kept Comcast for internet which was using the existing wiring, the installers ran new wiring into the house. They wanted to charge extra for that but those fees also got waived when I balked. They did a great job but you have to stand firm on the free installation.