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Directv local distant channels

I hear that Directv has sent post cards that must be returned otherwise east/west local channels will be changed to east or west, not both later this month.

Anyone have any experience on this change?

We have east & local for CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, PBS, each on a separate billing line item at $3.50 each, total $14.

Directv told me that since I don't have the locals billed as a combined single line item at $15, we will not have a post card that can be returned.
Our situation may be because we signed up for locals over 10 years ago.
This could be a problem for us, as without a returned postcard we could lose west.

Barry

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #1 –
We signed up with Direct-tv about two months ago so we could us the Kingdome in the GV and at home (four units). We have not received any notification of a change------yet.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #2 –
We  have direct tv east and west. Postcard received and sent back..Was $15.00 Now $20.00.  We did cancel a ton of premium channels (were on a special promotion). As soon as I get my first bill will post..They sure can make it confusing. 
We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #3 –
Since we are relatively new (one year) with the DNS feeds, we received the postcard.  I will say that DirecTV was a bit of a hassle to work with when it came to a second receiver (we have only one receiver in the S&B) for the former Airstream TT and our FT... that is, UNTIL we discovered their toll-free number for RVers.  Since that time, they have been very helpful and resolved any problems or answered any questions satisfactorily.

I would suggest calling this number (hopefully, it's not where you got your silly answer about "no postcard - no help"):  800-769-4635.

If they are true to form, they should be able to answer whether you can (a) grandfather your $14 billing for "east & local for CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, PBS, each on a separate billing line item at $3.50 each, total $14"; or (b) switch to the $20/month billing for this same service.

Good luck!
The selected media item is not currently available.Pat Hatfield
2000 U295 3600 #5666 WTFE (sold 1/7/20)
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
previously: 2003 U295 3610 #6228 (sold 5/29/14)
previously:  2009 Honda CRV (sold 6/9/14)

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #4 –
Quote
I would suggest calling this number (hopefully, it's not where you got your silly answer about "no postcard - no help"):  800-769-4635.
If they are true to form, they should be able to answer whether you can (a) grandfather your $14 billing for "east & local for CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, PBS, each on a separate billing line item at $3.50 each, total $14"; or (b) switch to the $20/month billing for this same service.
Patricia,

Thanks for the Directv phone number.  It is to a special group and I found a guy that made the change that I needed.  So you phone number was a big help.

Seems that distant network accounts must return a post card to change their account to east & west CW, CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC and a single PBS, which now costs $20.  If post cards are not returned, only east OR west will be the end result, based upon the installation location address, with EST & CST getting NYC and MST & PST getting Los Angeles.

It also seems that PBS may now be easier to get with the new $20 single billing line item.

If post card was not sent out from Directv, the account does not have a mobile waiver and this could be a problem.

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #5 –
Hey, Barry... glad to be of help!  I don't remember how I stumbled upon that number, but it's now the ONLY number I call if we need DirecTV assistance for the receiver in the coach (at the S&B I call the regular 800 number).  Previously, I just played "customer service rep roulette"... when I didn't get the answer I wanted, I hung up and called back - or asked for the supervisor and simply kept moving up the food chain!  :))  Annoying, but effective.

And it does make sense that they used their database of waivers received to send out those postcards... except of course that they eliminated a boatload (coachload?) of folks who've had DNS for years before the waiver process was instituted.  What a way to run a business...  ::)

Hope to meet you again down the road (you may recall the brief encounter at the Lemon Rally last year)...
The selected media item is not currently available.Pat Hatfield
2000 U295 3600 #5666 WTFE (sold 1/7/20)
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
previously: 2003 U295 3610 #6228 (sold 5/29/14)
previously:  2009 Honda CRV (sold 6/9/14)

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #6 –
Hi Barry and Pat,
Is this something that will just affect accounts that are mobile (RV) accounts or all accounts?  We have a DTV account with east, west and locals, but it is just for our home, no mobile receiver.  Are we going to lose the West Coast feeds?  We have received no postcard so is there anything we can do to keep what we have?
Thanks!
Paul
2000 U320 36'
Paul
36' 2000 U320
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #7 –
Hi, Paul!  The postcard specifically states "As of November 29, 2010, DIRECTV will replace your Mobile Vehicle Distant Network Services (DNS) programming package with a new $15 per month single-coast package....  Existing DIRECTV mobile vehicle customers may instead choose to receive a dual-coast DNS package that includes both the East and West Cost feeds of ABC, CNS, CW, FOX, NBC and the national feed for PBS for $20 per month.  To upgrade to the dual-coast package, you must check the box and return the reply card by November 18, 2010...."

So, yep, it sure looks like mobile accounts only.  Oddly, we just have one account - with two receivers (one for the house and one in the coach).  We did not have to have two accounts (thank goodness, since that would be have been ridiculously expensive).  Through that 800-769-4635 number, we were able to add the second receiver for the coach for $5/month and the DNS service for the coach receiver only.  We get the locals at the house only.

I'm surprised you are able to get both east/west DNS - and - locals.  Usually it's either DNS or locals - and DNS only in the event you are not served well by the local stations.  I sure wouldn't want to call DIRECTV and "rock the boat," so to speak, in that situation!  ::)

Good luck!
The selected media item is not currently available.Pat Hatfield
2000 U295 3600 #5666 WTFE (sold 1/7/20)
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
previously: 2003 U295 3610 #6228 (sold 5/29/14)
previously:  2009 Honda CRV (sold 6/9/14)

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #8 –
Pat,
Thanks for the information concerning DTV notification that you received.  It does, indeed, sound like it applies only to mobile accounts.  You mention surprise that we get east and west as well as local.  We have been DTV customers since 1997 and there were years when nobody knew anything.  We started out with east and west only with no locals available.  Then we needed waivers to keep the east and west with still no locals available.  Then, when locals became available we had to drop west.  Then we had to drop one east channel (don't remember which one) which we were able to get back a few months later.  A couple years later we were able to get the west feeds back and that is where we are now and I don't relish calling them for anything since we now have exactly what we want.
Thanks again for your help.
Paul
Paul
36' 2000 U320
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #9 –
The variation of DirecTV policies (or their interpretation) on local vs. distant channels  is amazing.  Just 2 weeks ago I had a long conversation with some DirecTV people regarding this same issue.  For the past 4+ years I have had 2 accounts - a Travel and a House account.  The Travel account had a "2 activations per year, one every 6 months stipulation".  During this last conversation they explained that I could combine the 2 accounts, but that I would "have to give up the DNS east-west stations" if I kept the locals when at home, even with different receivers for the coach.  However, they did say, that if, when we traveled, we were going to spend at least "a few weeks" in one spot, that I could call them with the local mailing address (including a zip code) of where we were staying, and they would activate the local FOX, CBS, etc.  They would not make these changes on a weekly basis, which would eliminate the feature for many full-timers.
 
The other side of this same issue is that they said I could "keep the east-west DNS at HOME AND AWAY by giving up local channels while at home". It was indeed tempting, but I opted to keep locals for the time being.  The down-side of this decision is that I will have to submit a new petition for East-West DNS if I ever change my mind (as when we travel for 2-3 months, moving from one place to another).  Unlike what they are doing for  Pat and George, DirecTV would not  allow "DNS service for the coach receiver only. We get the locals at the house only".
 
That would be great if we could get a similar contract.  We do have separate receivers for the coach and house, but they would not allow DNS for coach only.
 
This is crazy.
Don Hay
'92 Grandvilla, U-280
The Hayfever Express
Build #4055
'97 GEO Tracker
Life is like licking honey off a thorn.

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #10 –
Don, I agree... it is absolutely crazy to have such different standards for different customers with the same needs/requests

As I mentioned, we have only one receiver in the house.  We have a second receiver that we used in the Airstream TT, but we never had DNS.  I would activate the receiver when we traveled (usually for up to 3 months at a time).  When we bought the 2003 FT, it came with a receiver.  We decided to pursue DNS and activate that 7-yr-old receiver in the coach.  I called DTV (the RV 800- number I listed earlier) and they gave me the following link to download and print to apply for DNS:

http://www.directv.com/learn/pdf/DNS_Vehicles_Aff.pdf

There are TWO forms after the first page of instructions.  One is a "Mobile Vehicle Declaration of Intent – Distant Network Services" and the other is "Mobile Vehicle Application – Second Account."  I was told not to bother with the second form (since we already had an account) - just fill in the first form (declaration of intent) and mail it in with a copy of the coach's registration.  The declaration of intent notes a start and end date for the request - the rep said just put "n/a" for the end date.

The instructions state that it could take up to 2 weeks to process.  I waited 2 weeks, but did not hear anything.  Before calling, I first checked online (it's easy to sign up for a log-in if one is already a DTV customer)... and whaddaya know... voilà!  I could see the second receiver added to my home account ($5/mo) and a line item for east/west DNS ($14 at the time) and a line item for PBS ($2.50).  So we trooped out to the coach and fired up the DTV receiver in the AV cabinet.  We did have to work with tech support since the 7yo receiver did not have a "receiver ID" (all the new ones do now).  But it worked; it does not pick up the locals (only the DNS) - and the house receiver doesn't pick up DNS, only locals.

And the really odd thing is that our online account identifies the locations for the house receiver as "RV FAMILY" and the coach receiver as "RV BEDROOM."  Go figure...

Although it makes me wonder if we ever go to change anything, will DTV make us have two accounts... which would add significant cost (ie, another base package rate rather than simply an additional receiver).

Does anyone know the story with DISH?  Just curious...
The selected media item is not currently available.Pat Hatfield
2000 U295 3600 #5666 WTFE (sold 1/7/20)
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
previously: 2003 U295 3610 #6228 (sold 5/29/14)
previously:  2009 Honda CRV (sold 6/9/14)

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #11 –
Pat,
Yes, I remember both you and George where we talked  in the middle of the gathering of motorhomes as you drove up from Yuma area.
 
I can't imagine what fallout there will be from this Directv change.  Turns out Directv did an audit of our account on Nov 1 2010 because we did not fall into the current DNS category, so they may be looking at others in similar shape.  We were treated properly on that audit, even though I did not know anything about the audit.
 
Barry (& Cindy)

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #12 –
I think the change affects all who have distant networks (east & west). There is a movement to not allow east & west (NYC & LA) where locals are available.  Something about local network affiliates have the exclusive right for the area and it is not fair that some can also watch NYC &/or LA if locals are available.
 
Recommend Google on the topic and maybe a call to Pat's Directv phone number, although you may be showing your hand.
 
Mobile account with a waiver on file are by definition authorized to receive east & west and maybe also locals.  New mobiles can only get east OR west.

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #13 –
Does anyone have the 800 # for Direct TV just for motor homes...??? Thanks
We are only strangers until we meet; however, some of us are stranger than others

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #14 –
In addition to Pat's Directv RV phone number here is the Direct RV web site:

www.directv.com/RV

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #15 –
We presently have the enhanced "distant Network" for Travelers.  We do not own a home, and we signed the waiver that said the equipment is mounted on our RV and is not portable.  It itemizes out at $14 per month and we are getting ABCe, ABCw, NBCe, NBCw, CBSe, CBSw, and FOXe, FOXw.  East Coast news comes from NYC ... West Coast news from L.A.  We also pay $2.50 per month for PBS that seems to be just generic and not from any "local" east or west affiliate. 

From the Directv website .....
What is Distant Network Service (DNS)?
Distant Network Service (DNS) enables you to receive ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC channels from New York or Los Angeles. It's a great solution for travelers who want to enjoy these channels on the road in their mobile vehicle. If your main residence is qualified to receive Los Angeles/New York stations, you can also receive them in your RV, car or boat. If your main residence doesn't qualify for DNS, you may submit qualifying paperwork to obtain DNS channels. Please call DIRECTV at 1-800-531-5000 for more information.

Please note that a separate DIRECTV account is required for DNS. Mirroring to the home is not allowed.
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs
 

Re: Directv local distant channels

Reply #16 –
Post card MUST be postmarked by 11-18-2010 and returned soon to get the $20 east and west.  Otherwise you get east OR west based upon your installation location.  EST & CST get east.  MST & PST get west.
 
You can always change back to east, but can never get east and west if post card is not returned.  All who get post cards are in an advantaged position.
 
We record channels from east and west on our DVR, up to two channels at the same time.