Transition from Dish to streaming

Hi there. That's a good question, tree and plant growth may impact satellite service and can affect your viewing experience. We're sorry for your experience with the technician, and thanks for considering our streaming service. However, we don't have technician appointment/install for our streaming service. Please share what error message/code you're seeing, or what exact issue you're encountering? Bernadette, DIRECTV Community Specialist

It's really not hard to setup your own DirecTV Stream service. Many streaming devices support the DirecTV Stream App and you can signup online. Lots of helpful YouTube videos, too. Plus, we're here to help you. 

@obecalp 

Well there really is no installation. Have you ever used a Roku, Firestick, or any other streaming device? You plug it in, download the app, and good to go.

So streaming does not go through your DirecTV satellite, if that is where the confusion is. It goes through your home internet, just like Hulu, Netflix, etc.

DirecTV will not send someone. Would be like sending a tech to plug in a DVD player or VCR, not worth it. On that note, any boxes that must go back is up to you to take to a participating shipping location. They don't send techs out to take back equipment.

DIRECTVhelp

I have a dozen or so widely spaced channels that intermittently pixelate, freeze or go black and then switch to "Signal Saver" without any code, just a mention that dish signal is not good or words to that effect.  When the switch occurs a good picture comes on but we cannot record it, pause it, FF or rewind it.  And then a few minutes later it says something like "you are watching via satellite signal."  I went through all the DTV trouble shooting procedures twice.  This has been going on for 4 weeks, irrespective of weather conditions. We had a "technician" out a few days ago who was very unpleasant, refused to give his name or phone number and simply said I needed to fell 2 trees and then everything would be peachy again. He also said that the TV he was looking at was broken which is false and that the satellite signal comes from straight overhead as in 0 degrees, which is nonsense.  Needless to say,  I have zero confidence in his opinion so I called DTV to request a second opinion before I sacrifice two trees at $500 each and then find out that they were not the problem.  DTV was not willing to send out a different technician to give another opinion.  So I feel stuck because I am not convinced that the trees are the problem.  So I looked into switching to streaming.  With regard to

litzdog911

my house has a Savant system controlling DTV equipment and so it is far from not hard since reprogramming by professionals would be needed.  Suppose I'll have to sacrifice the trees and hope that things improve.  DTV does not seem very interested in helping solve this particular conundrum which is unfortunate.

Juniper

Many people are not as facile as you seem to be with technology but there is no confusion about dish vs streaming. My case is a bit more complicated than plug and play and app.

DIRECTV STREAM has no techs to send out. The design is you watch on the internet by way of a streaming app. The only possible equipment is the Gemini which would function similar to a traditional streaming box (Roku, Firestick, Apple TV, etc.). So that is why there is no installation.

If your Savant system is so crazy that it makes even a simple streaming device difficult, then you would have to arrange your own 3rd party tech if it is more than just plug into power and turn on.

DirecTV techs deal with standard installs or those close to them. They certainly aren't trained up on Savant or any other super smart home builds.

As for that tech you had, they absolutely were required to give their name and show ID on request. Too many scammers out there for them not to identify themselves. However they are not required to give their personal phone number. Phone contact is done with the company, not individual techs. Also hope at least you had called DirecTV and setup a service call. Otherwise if that "tech" showed up on his own, or you contacted someone else (such a store since DirecTV doesn't have their own), then that is a big concern.

Apologies for all the inconvenience this has caused you. Just to let you know, fast-forward, rewind, restart and pause should be available options for you while using SignalSaver. Some other features are not available while streaming over broadband like recording and picture-in-picture. With regard to the trees, if it's covering the satellite dish that you have then it might affect the signal. We're sending you a DM to further investigate about this. Bernadette, DIRECTV Community Specialist

A DirecTV Stream box uses the same infrared remote control codes as the satellite boxes, so there would likely be no need to reprogram your Savant system. Perhaps whoever set up your Savant system could help you set up a DirecTV Stream device. Or a local home theater installer.