Direct TV satellite box question-old or new?

[glamisorbust]

I just recently upgraded to the whole home DVR which I love. I used my old HD DVR receiver for my hot tub/motorhome. Was told I would be able to use it in both locations by both direct tv and the installer.

So, worked fine at the hot tub, figured I would take it to the nascar track and watch the race from my RV. Not happening, would not work, period.

So I get home, call direct tv again and they inform me that I am on a SWM at my house, and that's the only place my box will work. WTF? So now i'm looking for a solution to the direct tv box that won't work in my RV. I don't want the HD DVR in my RV anyways, because it take way too long to boot up every time. And we dry camp almost always.

I called direct tv this evening to inquire about a new D12 box, which is supposed to be the one everyone with an RV uses because it's non-HD and doesn't take forever to find a signal or boot up. They want $69 for the box and card comes with it. But they tried to charge me an "equipment upgrade charge" of an extra $50 on top of that for "upgraded equipment". I explained to the lady that I am buying a non-HD box, without a DVR and am actually downgrading.

She told me that fee was non-negotiable, bringing my charge for a receiver to $119 instead of $69. This pisses me off to no end. Looking for a different solution. Would rather buy the box somewhere else to avoid their stupid charge. But not sure if anyone else sells them.

I do have an old(probably 15 or more years) RCA box that works OK, but probably not as good as a new D12. Can I get some input here please?

[glamisorbust]

Means: what the f---

[Tom_N]

glamisorbust wrote:
So I get home, call direct tv again and they inform me that I am on a SWM at my house, and that's the only place my box will work. WTF?

What does this mean: WTF?

[2oldman]

glamisorbust wrote:
Direct tv told me the swm would ONLY work at my home. .... What swm equipment do all of you carry?

That's nonsense. The equipment (or Directv) doesn't know you aren't at home.

I carry the Slimline dish, high-grade tripod, power inserter and SWM lnb, and of course, HD receiver. Works fine.

[glamisorbust]

I have tried the HR21 I have and fought it to the death in the RV. Never, not even once did it work.

Plug in a standard D12 box and it worked just fine. When I brought the H21 home, it took over 30 minutes to load when plugged into the house. Yes, I went through all the settings and was on the phone with direct tv following their instructions.

I called them again lastnight, they are sending me a new/refurbished HR21 or equivalent free of charge, they are pretty sure my box has something wrong with it. I will let you guys know if I get it working. If not I have a D11 box that I am gonna get a card for. Hopefully that one would work.

[haddy1]

If your old HD DVR is an HR24 or lower, it will work just fine at the track. It will be SD only but it will work. You will need to run setup and change to 18" round and multiswitch.

FWIW, I have owned an HR21, HR22, HR23, HR24, and HR44(Genie). None of them ever took over 7 minutes to boot.

[gwalter]

I use my old HD DVR at home on SWM and then change it to multiswitch when in the RV and using my 18" round dish with no problems. It is SD only but doesn't bother us. We also record shows at home on it and can then watch them in HD while on the road.

[glamisorbust]

Direct tv told me the swm would ONLY work at my home. They did not say anything about me being able to use swm in my RV, even when asked. 7 minute boot would be awesome. This HD receiver takes more like 30 minutes. I am not putting an HD dish on my RV. I called again tonight, they tell me I can change it from swm to multiswitch, change it to round dish and it should work without any swm equipment. What swm equipment do all of you carry?

[2oldman]

Many of us carry Swm equipment and get full Hd and put up with the 7 minute boot. Not sure why that is a deal breaker for you.