protection plan

Protection plan allows the customer to receive free remote controls, free replacement receivers, etc. If ever there is an accident regarding your DIRECTV equipment or services, protection plan has you covered and you can be back up and running for FREE of charge. 

Protection Plan also gives the customer a new receiver every two years.

The protection plan covers shipping cost for replacement receivers($19.99) service calls($99) and remotes and provides free upgrades every 2 years but that usually means adding new TVs as DTV doesn't have any new model receivers coming out. 

Equipment Protection Plan $8.99 a month ($107.88 a year). Covers the following charges:

Service Call $99

Delivery of replacement box $19.95

Remotes $15

The "new receiver every 2 years" is a bit misleading I feel. There is no guarantee of it being new. Even new customers get refurbished equipment. If it has been at least 2 years of active service with account in good standing, you should have a free upgrade anyway. The Protection Plan just gives a guaranteed date. Keep in mind, it can be years in between new lines of equipment.

A newer model number of the same line (say H21 to H24) is not an upgrade as is "like for like" so would be a warranty replacement as they provide same model or newer (depending what is available).

As the one time costs should not be needed often, remotes are cheaper through other retail options, and you keep paying for the Protection Plan whether you use it or not, I personally find it a poor value.

Am assessing whether or not the basic DIRECTV Protection Plan makes sense for me. Have the following questions:

1. Is the cost for the basic plan still $8.99 per month?
2. Waiting Period: Is there still a 30-day waiting period after signing up before you can schedule a tech to come to your home for a service call?
3. Will I incur a charge if I decide to cancel my enrollment in the basic Plan during the first 12 months? For example, suppose I have a couple of service calls during the first 3 or 4 months and then decide to cancel my enrollment during the 5th month?

Thank you.

@Rusty81 

https://www.directv.com/satellite/technology/protection-plan/ 

Baisc plan is still $8.99 a month. 

Yes, the 30 day no charge/no claim period is still there. There have been cases where an agent has offered a one-time credit for service call if you add the protection plan with it, but not a guarantee. My understanding is DirecTV has issues with that as that is "buying" the upsell. And now that service calls are $99, it is less likely for that to happen.

Used to be there was a $10 early removal fee within the 1st 12 month. I am unsure if that still applies.

Unless you want the protection plan for convienience by having it the same every month, even though you pay more in the long run, I personally would stick with the one-time costs as needed. That being said, what is going on that you're looking into the protection plan?

Thanks for the input.

The main reason I'm looking into the Protection Plan is to fix the HDMI connection on my HR44-500 which is faulty. In addition, would have the technician check 2 clients: RVU and C41-100. The response time on the RVU runs very slow. All of the equipment is about 7 years old.

If the actual HDMI port on the HR44 is broken, then you call DirecTV and warranty replacement is $19.95 delivery. Otherwise what is going on with it?

RVU response being slow is normal. Though the Genie is the server, the TV is processing the info instead of a dedicated Mini Genie. RVU wasn't well supported, so as I am aware DirecTV will not have the option in newer TVs. I would see if the TV's firmware is up to date, though they can be behind on needed DirecTV updates as that is done by the manufactuer of the TV. DirecTV techs historically are not well versed in RVU. That is why a Mini Genie is the preferred Client option.

Personally, I would have upgraded the RVU to a regular HDDVR. Not only do you not deal with TV's firmare not up to snuff or poor processing, but you don't take resources away from the main Genie (HR44). There is no monthly cost difference between Client (RVU or Mini Genie), HDDVR, or even HD non-DVR. You are paying for the authorized TV. Unfortunately DirecTV was moved towards pure Genie setups so stopped making traditional HDDVRs, and then the pandemic happened which geatly affected supply. So ordering one is a slim chance. If they are available, I would see if they could sweeten the pot by replacing both Clients with HDDVRs.

To try in the meantime. Try a red button reset in a specific order. Genie > Mini Genie > RVU TV (unplug power as TVs normally don't have a reset button). Alternatively you can unplug power from all for a minute and boot back up in same order. Just wait for one to finish before moving on to the next. As a note, removing power will cause memory to clear dumping the guide data. That will download again from the satellites completing within 24 - 48 hrs.

HR44 HDMI Out connection to LG OLED HDMI1 IN does not produce and has not produced a signal for the past couple of years. Since HDMI does not produce a signal, am currently using the following for video and audio:

1. HR44 Component Video OUT connection to AV Receiver Component Video IN. This power a signal for TV video
2. HR44 Digital Audio OUT Optical connection to AV Receiver Digital IN Optical. This powers a signal for my audio.

This has worked fine; however, it is no longer an option due to plans to change out equipment. With my new set up I need a simple HDMI connection from the HR44 to LG OLED HDMI1 IN for both audio and video.

Will get back to you re RVU input.

Thank you

Have gone through various tests to regarding the HDMI connection signal issue and am pretty confident it is the HR44 HDMI OUT which is the problem. 

Thanks

With reference to your last paragraph regarding unplugging and rebooting the power in all equipment, let me know if the following is the correct sequence?

1. Unplug power from all equipment – Genie, Mini Genie, and RVU.
2. Wait a couple of minutes, and then start booting back. Begin with the Genie. After the Genie finishes, I turn power back on for Mini Genie, wait, and then do same for RVU.

After doing the preceding, am assuming this will either fix the HDMI connection problem on the Genie or it will not? If it does not fix the HDMI problem, does that indicate the Genie's HDMI connection is in fact faulty?

Thank you.