SD to HD Swap

Are you sure you can only receive two of the 3 satellites?  Once upon a time, HD service required satellites at 101, 110, and 119ºW. Those were rather far apart in the sky. But modern equipment uses 99, 101, and 103ºW satellites. Those are close together in the sky. 

When you call DirecTV, make sure you request the mandatory MPEG swap. That way there is no 24 month service agreement, as opposed to an upgrade which is optional.

The MPEG swap by default is the Genie. If you do not want DVR at all, you can try and request a MPEG swap for the D12s to non-DVR models (would be H24 or H25 depending on stock), but there is no guarantee that is an option they currently offer.

In this situation I would call DirecTV and when you get the voice system say "cancel". Let the retention/cancellation agent know that you have no interest in the Genie and need the MPEG swap to be for non-DVR models to stay a customer. If there is a swap option for it front line agents may be unaware or heavily discouraged from using.

Alternatively you could upgrade one of the D12s which is expected to be free (if it has been over 24 months since your last upgrade and account is in good standing), though may have the $19.95 delivery charge (even if tech installed). But the other would be $99 one-time lease cost as free upgrade only covers one receiver.

@Juniper Thank you so much for the response.  That definitely clears things up.  Guess we have a decision to make.

@litzdog911 It's possible I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that is what my husband told me.  But I appreciate the info! 

You can try using dishpointer.com or there are apps for smartphones that may help.

If you have no interest in recording to watch later, or pause live TV (such as to answer phone, get a drink, use facilities, etc.), then I would stick with non-DVRs even if you have to use an upgrade. Though you pay the one-time lease cost for the 2nd box (hopefully not the first), it does save you money in the long run. This is because a Genie upgrade would have DVR $10 and Whole Home DVR $3 service, which is not one-time but every month going forward.

But hope your next attempt results in getting MPEG swap for the non-DVRs so you don't have to deal with any cost involved or new service agreement. Good luck.

I was on vacation for a week and hadn't had a chance to make a decision on what to do.  Came home last Friday and now NONE of my receivers are getting local channels, even the H21 and H24.  I was under the impression (as per the letter) that only the older D12 receivers were the only ones losing local channels (which I was honestly OK with since those receivers are both in spare rooms).  Tried to get help and explanation from DirecTV last night, but was told all of my equipment needed replaced.  Are the H21 and H24 receivers considered old equipment too?  If so, they should have stated that in the letter.  If not, how do I go about getting them to put local channels back to those receivers? 

@Bakerkk 

This would only be the case if the dish you are using is SD-only and only capable of receiving satellite 101. The Hx Receivers are perfectly compatible and work properly. The Dx Receivers are the ones losing local channels as they are incapable of decoding the HD/MPEG4 content on the HD satellites.

@Bakerkk 

If you Do chose to Upgrade and for some reason you DON"T have a Line of Sight for the 101, 99, 103 --D*TV will cancel your service and refund any Charges.. 

AFAIK the 101 sat will continue to broadcast the nationwide channels in MPEG4 but there will be no local channels on it.  As stated you have to have a SWM slimline dish to get your local channels on the 99/103 sats.

Thanks for the help @detuch254 and @shannon02 .  After more research, I found out we have the old style dish, 18" x 20" which would explain my dilemma.  Guess it's time to replace it.

Replacing the dish is part of the swap offer.

Just make sure to request MPEG swap for the D12s only (which will include the correct dish). Do not say upgrade and verify the order confirmation.

Swap is no cost, no 24 month agreement, and assuming you aren't paying for HD service already then the added $10 HD service is credited monthly until you do an actual upgrade. Though having an H21 and H24 on a MEPG-2/SD-only dish is a bit odd, and hopefully you didn't have HD service already or you've been paying for something you couldn't get.

@Juniper thanks for all the info.  I will be asking for the MPEG swap only.  As for the H21 and H24 receivers, we've never had HD service for them. We always tell them we can't get all satellites in order to have HD service.  They understand and have never charged us.

Curious how you got the H21 and H24 without HD service. Normally when you have at least one HD or DVR model you are required to have the service for it, and if somehow an agent managed to remove the line item a later system update could refresh it and add in what is supposed to be there already.

But if no listing for HD then a proper MPEG swap would have the line item credited so would protect you against the system fixing itself later (as has happened to some when an agent tried to work the system).