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Pre-purchase Questions
I searched for answers to my questions and also called DIRECTV, but still have a couple outstanding questions. I am currently a Comcast cable customer for both TV and internet and am looking to move to DIRECTV for TV, but keep Comcast for internet. I appreciate any information or help anyone can provide.
Thanks
1. I only have 1 TV hooked up in my home now, but will definitely have more in the future. The current offer is for 1 free HD DVR and 3 free additional HD receivers, so I can get 4 boxes for free. If I only take the 1 box now (HD DVR), will I have to pay the cost for the additional boxes when I add them in the future or will I get them for free then? If I take the boxes now, I would have to pay the $6/month fee for boxes I am not using so I was hoping I could wait but thinking if I do I would then have to pay the $99 or whatever the cost is at that time to get the additional box.
2. I want to keep my Comcast internet. I am not an expert on wiring or switches and such, but from what I can tell I have the cable company line split outside my home into two lines coming into the house. I also have an unused coax connection outside coming into the house that I assume is for adding a dish (I do not have a dish today). Once in the home, I can only see that one of the cable coax lines coming in hits a splitter that breaks it into four -7 outputs to the different rooms in the house. I am not sure where the other cable coax line goes or where the extra dish line goes as well (I have to track them to figure it out). I assume in the end if I could find the dish line I could take the DIRECTV connection and replace the input into the 4-way splitter and that would immediately feed the DIRECTV signal to all the rooms, but then what do I do with the cable feed for my internet? Another note is that my modem/router are right next to my tv (which is not near where the cables come into the house) so I can plug my PS3 and if necessary the HD DVR into my network. If the coax outlet on the wall is now used for the DIRECTV feed, will I need to add a new outlet for the cable internet feed?
I hope the question makes sense, I just bought my house a few months ago and am still trying to track all the wiring through it. I appreciate any answers and help anyone would like to give. I'm not sure if there is a way for the DIRECTV and cable internet to use the same coax lines or if that is even a good idea (or just best to have two separate lines).
Thanks
litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.4K Messages
13 years ago
1. You'll need to get those Receivers now. They won't be free if you wait.
2. The DirecTV installer will figure this out for you. They'll determine which coax cables run where. And they won't disturb your existing Comcast internet coax. If any new cables need to be run, they'll do that too.
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nklinedinst
Tutor
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6 Messages
13 years ago
Thanks for the response. I figured as much for both. Following up on the second point, I assume they'll have to cutout the wall to add a second coax jack where the DirecTV and cable modem both will be since there is only 1 jack there now? Just trying to get an idea of what I should expect when the technician shows up.
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litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.4K Messages
13 years ago
Probably. If this is an interior wall, you'll likely need to pay a bit extra for fishing any new coax cables inside your walls. Be sure to discuss those specifics with the installer. Let us know how it goes.
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nklinedinst
Tutor
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6 Messages
13 years ago
Thanks for the info. I may try to trace the wires myself since I seem to have plenty and try to route them myself to avoid additional charges plus then I know exactly what I have in the future if I ever need to change anything.
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dcd
Expert
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20.7K Messages
13 years ago
1. Currently new customers also qualify for free installation of the Whole Home DVR service. If you were to wait, you'd not only likely have to "buy" the additional boxes, you'd probably have to pay for installation.
Inasmuch as you're probably looking at a totally free install, I personally would have a couple of $20 in my pocket to cover little extras and a decent tip. That';s totally optional of course and only reflects my personal opinion.
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nklinedinst
Tutor
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6 Messages
13 years ago
I'll keep that in mind.
On a side note, could you explain the Whole Home DVR vs the Cinema Connection Kit in terms of how they connect to each other? I have a Wireless router that will be sitting next to the main DVR box, do I need the Cinema Connection Kit or can I just hook the box right into my router? Just a brief explanation is all that I'm looking for to help me fully understand the different capabilities and requirements of WHDVR and Cinema Connection Kit.
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peds48
Expert
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32K Messages
13 years ago
just so you are clear, WHDVR is a programming package not hardware. all HDDVR's are WHDVR compatible. with that being said, the HDDVR's cannot be connected to the internet using the HDDVR's ethernet port. it just be done using an internet connection kit also known as a Broadband DECA. this device will bridge the DirecTV's coax network to your ethernet network.
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nklinedinst
Tutor
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6 Messages
13 years ago
And the ethernet is used to stream the DVR recorded content to other HD receivers on the same network? Do you need a DECA adapter for each receiver as that is what some of the diagrams I have seen show?
Sorry for being naive, but I've been using cable tv up until now and this is all a different world.
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litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.4K Messages
13 years ago
And the ethernet is used to stream the DVR recorded content to other HD receivers on the same network? Do you need a DECA adapter for each receiver as that is what some of the diagrams I have seen show?
Sorry for being naive, but I've been using cable tv up until now and this is all a different world.
Not quite. The satellite coax networking is used to stream recordings from WHDVR-networked DVRs to other DVRs/Receivers on the WHDVR network. That's what the DECA coax network adapters do. The beauty of this approach is that your home network is not burdened with any streaming video traffic. It's all contained within the satellite coax cables that already exist to connect the Receivers/DVRs to the satellite dish.
The Cinema Connection Kit is essentially a fancy DECA adapter that's used to "bridge" the WHDVR network (DECA coax) to your home network (ethernet) for internet access. With one CCK, all of your WHDVR-networked DVRs and Receivers will have access to your home network and the internet for things like OnDemand/CinemaPlus downloads, MediaShare, Nomad, DirecTV2PC, etc.
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nklinedinst
Tutor
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6 Messages
13 years ago
Gotcha. Thanks for the explanations and patience.
I figured out the wiring in my house. I have 3 coax lines coming in from outside. One is disconnected on the outside and goes to a wall jack (so obviously not planned on being used by previous owners), second runs directly to a wall jack and is active, and third runs to splitter that has 4 coming out of it (1 to family room, 1 to bedroom, 1 to 2nd bedroom, and 1 to office). The split out connection to the family room currently has both cable tv and cable model connected to it.
Will the installer tech do a nice job of bringing a single wire in and providing plenty of outputs to all the different rooms and jacks? Also, I am only planning on getting two boxes to start, but may need more in the future. If they wire them up already, I can just call and get the box and activate it myself, no need to have a tech come out and install, correct?
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peds48
Expert
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32K Messages
13 years ago
the tech will only wired and connect for as many receivers his order calls for. DirecTV does not wired for future needs.
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dcd
Expert
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20.7K Messages
13 years ago
Will the installer tech do a nice job of bringing a single wire in and providing plenty of outputs to all the different rooms and jacks?
The installers work on a piece basis and get paid for the devices on the work order. If you want spare connections that's where the need for cash comes in. It is acceptable to negotiate additional work directly with the installer. Keep in mind though that Directv is different than cable. You do not want a houseful of unused coax outlets. Any you do have need to be terminated with 75 ohm terminators.
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