[CTgolfer]

We've never had DirecTV and was wondering if it uses the same cable outlets already in the house, or do they install their own lines? All of our rooms in the house have existing cable outlets. Do they become obsolete?

[Linwood]

They simply plug the dish into the existing box on the side of the house, plug in those cables and you are good to go,

[NJblue]

It depends on the what you are getting (DVR or no DVR) and what technology that they use for the DVR. The old technology required 2 cable runs to each DVR if you wanted to be able to record 2 shows at once or record one and watch a second at the same time. The new technology allows a single cable run to each DVR in which case they should be able to re-use your existing cables.

Be very careful when dealing with DirecTV - they tend to tell you whatever you want to hear when you are in the buying mode but then once you have the system installed and are committed to a 2-year contract some of what they told you may not have been true. Also, if you need on-site service at any point in the future, you may be disappointed in the wait time. We were recently told that we had to wait 5 days with no service before a technician could get to our house.

[chuckinca]

I must have the old style DVR. We have two wires and a phone line running on the exterior of the house from the dish location about 50 feet to the living room where they poked a hole in the wall to stick the wires thru to the DVR.

When we had it installed about 5 years ago they needed a phone line to call home for the latest schedules, etc. - I don't believe they still use the phone line but it is still connected to the DVR.

.

[Midge538]

Ditto:
"Be "very" sure of all contract details and costs for service or installation that you sign with any DirectTV agent. Be clear about any trial period and refunds due if the service does not prove to meet your needs.

[SteveFromNY]

They installed in my house with the DVR and just used existing cables. Each television outlet has a straight run to the cable box outside my house, and I also have comcast for internet. The DirecTV installer merely disconnected the cables from Comcast, tested each room to find out where the runs went, and hooked them up. There is a box hooked up to one of the outlets that "manages" their network.
The installation took a couple of hours (the dish was mounted to the house a foot off the ground behind the air conditioner), and I have 3 televisions connected. One HD box, one HD-DVR and one regular box.
The picture is astounding, and there are occasional "rain fade" issues, but nothing terrible.
I am pleased as there are many more HD channels than Comcast.

[GMONEY]

ALways make sure you know what you are getting. I get Direc TV and love it. They used the cable that was prewired in the house. Hooked it all up. Got DVR and only one cable. Did not have to run extra cables. Just make sure of where they place the dish it self to make sure you are in accordance with the ARC.

[SABRMnLgs]

G Money and others,

I am happy that you are satisfied with your dish system. We tried it twice when we lived in Orlando and both times (differant companies) we were very disappointed.

My wife and I both worked so we therefore did a lot of recordings. Don't forget you live in Florida. How many times after setting the DVD, the rains, clouds and showers came. While we were at work! Ergo so many times our timed programs were compromised by the weather, we went back to cable. Comcast is good, but I feel Brighthouse was better.
So enjoy your dish, but we won't see one on our house again!!

[elevatorman]

We just ordered the Triple Play from Embarq. It has phone with unlimited long distance, 3.0 Mb internet and "Dish TV" with 200 channels and HD. The "Dish tv" comes with a DVR and will work with 2 TV's. It includes local stations, but not The Villages stations. I also got a sports package college games. It is a 24 month commitment for about $140 the first 6 months is less than $100.