Upgrade from SD to HD without DVR

Yes, the H25 is your best bet. The H24 would work too if by chance the technician does not have an H25 on their truck.

It is questionable on whether or not DIRECTV will even have an H25 or H24 in stock to install for you at the time of swapping the SD receiver for the HD Receiver. If DIRECTV claims they are out of stock, you can threaten to cancel if worse comes to worst. 

If DIRECTV still doesn't budge, you can purchase the H24 or H25 from Solid Signal, a reputable third party DIRECTV dealer, and still call directv to have a tech come out and replace the dish.

As a note, the SD to HD upgrade is known as a SWAP and it does not extend your contract, and it is FREE of charge. When calling DIRECTV to ask about the avaiablity of the H25/H24 receiver, ensure you say that you want an SD TO HD SWAP. If you say upgrade the agent may think you mean another receiver or otherwise place the order incorrectly so that your contract does extend. Just thought I'd put it out there for you

Good luck on your swap. I hope you can get the standalone HD Receiver that you had wanted.

Hi @JCPA, thank you for informing us about the upcoming upgrade from SD to HD. We understand that you prefer not to use a DVR and we would like to inform you that the H20, H21, H23, H24, H25, and H44 boxes are compatible with HD and do not require a DVR. A technician installation is necessary for this. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance. DIRECTV is always here to help you. Gabriela, DIRECTV Community Specialist

@DIRECTVhelp 

If the OP gets the H44 they must pay the Whole Home DVR fee since the H44 is considered a Genie Lite. The WHDVR fee is an additional $3/month.

The best receiver to get is either an H24 or H25.

@JCPA 

If you upgrade to HD then you pay $10 monthly for HD service and get a 24 month service agreement. If you do a MPEG swap instead that fee is credited because it is a required swap of equipment, plus no new service agreement.

The H25 is a HD non-DVR which does not come with any DVR service.

The H44 is the Genie Lite. Used to be without the DVR upgrade kit, those additional DVR fees would not charge. That is currently not a guarantee.

Unfortunately getting a non-DVR is very difficult as AT&T pushed DirecTV to their all in one setup which requires DVR.

In case anything else would be affected, what are the models of each box you have now?

Have  2 HDs (H25-100 and HR24-500) and 2 SD(D12-100). Poorly, formatted letter from Directv informed that some of my  equipment (SD) needs to be replaced with a no-cost installation otherwise I will no longer be able to view some of my favorite local programming, including but not limited to:ABC,CBS,FOX,NBC and PBS. Need to schedule HD upgrade so I thought that meant the 2 SD boxes. Chating with Directv, was told that my only choice is to change to an all Genie system even though I have 2 HD receivers and 2 SD receivers. Was told I could not swap the SD boxes with the H24 or H25 boxes by a rep and then a supervisor. Supervisor originally stated that I would have to pay for installation and wanted see a copy of the Directv letter. Never got clarification on continuing to use only my HD boxes  when SD is gone. Even though the letter stated that there would be no additional cost to me.(bill credits will offset equipment cost and INCREMENTAL charges for HD ), ATT always seems to add fees, additions,etc when changes are made saying that I was misinformed or that the chat transcript was wrong. Do not trust them. Afterall , how many times do they increase the monthly fees???? Nov 5 is the next one.

AT&T sold off 30% of DTV the new partner is handling the day to day operations, DTV has always had the HD fee that you are already paying that covers all HD receivers on the account so there is no additional fee.  If you have a slimline dish then your H25/HR24 will continue to work. 

If you are already paying for HD then it will not be credited as you already did that upgrade.

Your D12s are the last MPEG-2/SD-only non-DVR boxes which are required to be replaced.

You have an HR24 which means you already have DVR service as it is required.

A H25 (or H24 if in stock) would be a direct replacement for each D12. However as they may only have Genie options, then a regular Genie (HR44 or HR54) and a Mini Genie Client to only replace the D12s would be the simplest option. This would only affect your monthly bill by the $3 Whole Home DVR as you have all the other receiver services already.

To simplify:

HD $10, DVR 10, you should already have both.

If H24/H25 is no longer available for the swap would get Genie (HR44 or HR54) and Mini Genie only to replace the D12 boxes. Adds $3 Whole Home DVR.

Do NOT accept Genie-2 (HS17) as would replace all boxes.

Swap does not come with 24 month agreement but upgrade would. Review order confirmation.

DirecTV has an annual price adjustment. Normally notice in December with new prices in January. This year is unique with the change in November so a bit early.

https://www.directv.com/support/article/000066845 

Thanks, Already knew that ...just to emphasize that ATT/Directv,etc quite often tell you one thing and implement in another way. Especially when it comes to monthly charges and service agreements and answering technical questions. It is interesting that they have the DIRECTV® HD Receiver and HD DVR listed as receivers which can be purchased, but not offered as as option to replace a SD box. "Swap" was not used in the Directv letter so the service agreement could be in play. 

AFAIK DTV went to lease only in 2006 so you can't purchase any DTV receivers now, that may be the up front lease fee when you don't have a free upgrade and since DTV has few if any H/HR24  and below in stock doubtful if that is true.  

You can order traditional receivers on the DirecTV website. This only at their one-time lease cost and only as additional TVs. A workaround would be getting two HD non-DVRs upon activating them you deactivate the D12s so the end result in the same. But that is an upgrade with the 24 month agreement.

Options logged into your account online and when you call may be different. Though I highly suggest at this point to discuss with the retention department because of specifically what you need. When you get the voice system say "cancel" which should route you to the correct department. Let them know in order for you to stay you need the MPEG swap to be for HD non-DVR and/or HDDVRs but no Genie at all if you want to keep bill the same.

Have your backup option be Genie and 1 Mini Genie to only replace the D12s. This setup works with your other dedicated boxes.

If H24/H25 is no longer available for the swap and I get Genie and Mini Genie only to replace the D12 boxes, I would have 2 DVRs (HR24-500 and the HR44 or HR54) ?

Already have

                     Advanced Receiver Service - DVR $0.00

                              $10 off until next equipment upgrade

                    Advanced Receiver Service - HD $10.00

                    Whole-Home DVR Service $0.00

                              $3 off until next equipment upgrade

Or I could just return the SD boxes (saving me $14 a month) while I look into finding an alternative to directv.

DTV doesn't want the SD receivers back. Getting a Genie and Mini requires you to pay the $3 Whole Home Fee.

That "$10 and $3 off until next equipment upgrade" is unique as is for DVR service, not HD. The MPEG swap would have credited the HD if you didn't already have it. You got some special limited promotion before.

MPEG swap the D12s to Genie and Mini Genie would in theory be no change to monthly bill. But if placed as an upgrade, the two services would start charging and would have a 24 month service agreement. Read order confirmation to be absolutely sure before installed and activated.

Yes the alternative remains just to deactivate the SD boxes saving the $14 between them. They wouldn't be returned as DirecTV cannot do anything with them as long discontinued. They don't offer SD-only service anymore and are actively shutting down those feeds.

@shannon02 

It says on their bill that Whole Home DVR is there and no cost "until next equipment upgrade". Unless it is badly worded, not taking into account an MPEG swap option, then the Genie shouldn't cause a charge unless ordered as an upgrade.

This may take some research by an gent over the phone, or perhaps the forum help team if they chime in, as this is a bit beyond my experience. I was aware years ago a promo for free DVR service at the Premier package (maybe Ultimate as well) that was offered for a limited time, but never seen an indefinite one for Whole Home DVR as well.

There shouldn't be a Whole Home fee unless they got it to watch the HR24 playlist on the H25s.