When we started FT'ing, we signed up for DirecTV's Distant Network Service. For the last several months, we've received the East Coast (New York) network feeds, which are the ones associated with our billing address (Livingston, TX).
We will be on the West Coast (or at least in Pacific time zone) for the next several months, and simply want to receive the West Coast (LA?) network feeds instead of New York. I thought this would be a simple matter...ha! I've been on the phone with, count 'em, FIVE different DirecTV reps, and they all say either they don't know how to do it, or that it can't be done. A couple have tried changing our service address--we just used the RV park we're in--but then they say they can't make the change because local broadcast channels are already available there (which is one of the two ways you can get DNS, if there's no local network provided), so the change isn't legally allowed. I keep telling them that I have ALREADY qualified for DNS under the "mobile receiver" rule, so that's irrelevant.
I'm now waiting to talk with a supervisor, 75 minutes into the call, but I'm losing hope.
Is changing the coast from which you get the DNS feed even possible? If so, is there a less painful way to do it??
Barbaraok said
06:57 PM Jan 26, 2017
Actually, I like having the NY feed when on the West Coast - - can get the programs early in the afternoon/evening, and then watch other programs or switch to OTA for local news.
David and Cheryl said
08:44 PM Jan 26, 2017
The only problem is that we're often in locations where we can't pick up an OTA signal, either because we're too far away from the transmitter or because there's no local broadcast.
Anyway, after an hour and a half, I finally got in touch with a supervisor, who knew exactly how to make the change. Five minutes later, we were receiving the west coast feeds instead of the east coast ones. I asked her what we should do next time we change coasts to avoid this hassle. She said that she noted in our account that we were qualified to receive DNS and either coast's feed, along with how to change it, so that a front line agent can make the change. I'm not terribly optimistic, but we'll see near the end of this year as we move back east.
CJSX2fromCT said
04:17 AM Jan 27, 2017
We just call in and give them the zip code we are in and they switch us to the local channels.
RonC said
06:43 PM Jan 27, 2017
CJSX2fromCT wrote:
We just call in and give them the zip code we are in and they switch us to the local channels.
That is the plan that we intend to use. So far, so good. What I like about this approach is that we get local weather on the Sat.
David and Cheryl said
08:57 PM Jan 27, 2017
RonC wrote:
CJSX2fromCT wrote:
We just call in and give them the zip code we are in and they switch us to the local channels.
That is the plan that we intend to use. So far, so good. What I like about this approach is that we get local weather on the Sat.
So neither of you have DNS, I assume? You're just changing your service address zip code?
I've heard that if you change locations frequently, they get suspicious. We're moving on average once a week, so I wonder if that would be a problem.
RonC said
08:59 PM Jan 27, 2017
We like to stay for a month at a time, but often ... if you don't move too far ... there is no need to change the service address As the "spot beam coverage" is pretty big.
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 27th of January 2017 09:10:14 PM
RonC said
09:06 PM Jan 27, 2017
They really never get suspicious, because there is no attempt to deceive. We're in an RV and have moved ... no need to trick or deceive anybody. DirecTV seems to understand our situation and, so far, it has not been an issue. I think in days gone by, this may have been an issue, but in 2017 ... not so much. David, you are correct that we do not subscribe to DNS and changing the service address is what we do. The billing address remains our "domicile address".
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 27th of January 2017 09:08:02 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 27th of January 2017 09:11:08 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 28th of January 2017 03:58:38 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 28th of January 2017 03:59:52 PM
CJSX2fromCT said
03:09 AM Jan 28, 2017
Here is the number we call to change 866 514 3582 they are aware we are full timers no issues at all
Neil and Connie said
01:29 PM Jan 29, 2017
RonC wrote:
CJSX2fromCT wrote:
We just call in and give them the zip code we are in and they switch us to the local channels.
That is the plan that we intend to use. So far, so good. What I like about this approach is that we get local weather on the Sat.
I've been told that they won't change DNS based on your current zip code but will do it if you don't have DNS. We just use the NY feeds on our DNS generally and have the AM-21 add on to get OTA local channels for weather. Back when we had a SD mailing service we alternated our "location" between it and our son's house in VA as needed to get the correct coast DNS for our physical location but we ended up with both east and west feeds a year or so ago on a change. There's nothing technical preventing them from giving you both.
When necessary I just called them up and told them I was moving to my "other address" and gave it to them and told them I needed to switch my DNS. Ask for the RV/mobile department. Occasionally I had to hang up and call back. Call the tech support number…not the sales number (or press whatever for tech support when the answer, can't remember which one it is).
We like our AM21 because it gives us whatever local OTA channels there are, puts them in the guide so we can record them if we want to, and doesn't require switching the set from the DirecTV receiver to the batwing to use the OTA antenna.
nwtraveler said
07:54 PM Feb 10, 2017
It's been a few years since we signed up for DNS so I don't remember the specifics, but we have both
East and West coast feeds. We haven't been on the road in a few years now but still get both coasts
as well as our local feeds, so it's just a matter of selecting the channel for either an East coast or West
coast feed or local.
Bill and Linda said
09:47 AM Feb 11, 2017
nwtraveler wrote:
It's been a few years since we signed up for DNS so I don't remember the specifics, but we have both East and West coast feeds. We haven't been on the road in a few years now but still get both coasts as well as our local feeds, so it's just a matter of selecting the channel for either an East coast or West coast feed or local.
For new DNS signups - One can only get the east or west coast HD feeds - not both. (FCC lawyer stuff) So one gets, usually, the east or west coast DNS stations based on their billing address. In the past both were available at the same time and those who had DNS prior to the new FCC rules got to keep them. So if you have both, don't cancel and expect to ever get both east and west back.
These comments are just for DNS - not for changing the local stations from one place to another.
Just FYI and YMMV
Bill
David and Cheryl said
12:36 PM Feb 12, 2017
Bill and Linda wrote:
nwtraveler wrote:
It's been a few years since we signed up for DNS so I don't remember the specifics, but we have both East and West coast feeds. We haven't been on the road in a few years now but still get both coasts as well as our local feeds, so it's just a matter of selecting the channel for either an East coast or West coast feed or local.
For new DNS signups - One can only get the east or west coast HD feeds - not both. (FCC lawyer stuff) So one gets, usually, the east or west coast DNS stations based on their billing address. In the past both were available at the same time and those who had DNS prior to the new FCC rules got to keep them. So if you have both, don't cancel and expect to ever get both east and west back.
These comments are just for DNS - not for changing the local stations from one place to another.
Just FYI and YMMV
Bill
That's what I had understood as well. But when we called in and finally got to the supervisor who knew what she was doing, she said we could sign up for both east and west coast feeds, but that each one would be $15/month (that is, 2x what we were already paying). I declined since we don't change east-west locations that often. For sure though, if you had both feeds and you're grandfathered in, don't give that up--at the very least it will end up costing you more if you ever want to go back.
Barbaraok said
07:04 PM Feb 12, 2017
Not sure why, if you are on the West Coast, you want west feed; use OTA antenna for locals and get network things EARLY. That's how we use ours.
David and Cheryl said
09:03 PM Feb 12, 2017
Barbaraok wrote:
Not sure why, if you are on the West Coast, you want west feed; use OTA antenna for locals and get network things EARLY. That's how we use ours.
Because it's often TOO early, LOL. We don't have a DVR.
Many times we aren't in an area with OTA reception, so the satellite feed is our only source.
RonC said
06:44 PM Apr 7, 2017
CJSX2fromCT wrote:
Here is the number we call to change 866 514 3582 they are aware we are full timers no issues at all
That's not a good number. Tried it and got connected to a virtual conferencing center.
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 7th of April 2017 08:32:34 PM
CJSX2fromCT said
02:58 AM Apr 8, 2017
sorry 866 514 3528
RonC said
09:00 PM Apr 8, 2017
Really thinking about switching to DNS (if I get East Coast Services). Because we seldom watch live shows and the DVR would work best on DNS. We'll see.
When we started FT'ing, we signed up for DirecTV's Distant Network Service. For the last several months, we've received the East Coast (New York) network feeds, which are the ones associated with our billing address (Livingston, TX).
We will be on the West Coast (or at least in Pacific time zone) for the next several months, and simply want to receive the West Coast (LA?) network feeds instead of New York. I thought this would be a simple matter...ha! I've been on the phone with, count 'em, FIVE different DirecTV reps, and they all say either they don't know how to do it, or that it can't be done. A couple have tried changing our service address--we just used the RV park we're in--but then they say they can't make the change because local broadcast channels are already available there (which is one of the two ways you can get DNS, if there's no local network provided), so the change isn't legally allowed. I keep telling them that I have ALREADY qualified for DNS under the "mobile receiver" rule, so that's irrelevant.
I'm now waiting to talk with a supervisor, 75 minutes into the call, but I'm losing hope.
Is changing the coast from which you get the DNS feed even possible? If so, is there a less painful way to do it??
Anyway, after an hour and a half, I finally got in touch with a supervisor, who knew exactly how to make the change. Five minutes later, we were receiving the west coast feeds instead of the east coast ones. I asked her what we should do next time we change coasts to avoid this hassle. She said that she noted in our account that we were qualified to receive DNS and either coast's feed, along with how to change it, so that a front line agent can make the change. I'm not terribly optimistic, but we'll see near the end of this year as we move back east.
That is the plan that we intend to use. So far, so good. What I like about this approach is that we get local weather on the Sat.
So neither of you have DNS, I assume? You're just changing your service address zip code?
I've heard that if you change locations frequently, they get suspicious. We're moving on average once a week, so I wonder if that would be a problem.
We like to stay for a month at a time, but often ... if you don't move too far ... there is no need to change the service address As the "spot beam coverage" is pretty big.
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 27th of January 2017 09:10:14 PM
They really never get suspicious, because there is no attempt to deceive. We're in an RV and have moved ... no need to trick or deceive anybody. DirecTV seems to understand our situation and, so far, it has not been an issue. I think in days gone by, this may have been an issue, but in 2017 ... not so much. David, you are correct that we do not subscribe to DNS and changing the service address is what we do. The billing address remains our "domicile address".
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 27th of January 2017 09:08:02 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 27th of January 2017 09:11:08 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 28th of January 2017 03:58:38 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 28th of January 2017 03:59:52 PM
I've been told that they won't change DNS based on your current zip code but will do it if you don't have DNS. We just use the NY feeds on our DNS generally and have the AM-21 add on to get OTA local channels for weather. Back when we had a SD mailing service we alternated our "location" between it and our son's house in VA as needed to get the correct coast DNS for our physical location but we ended up with both east and west feeds a year or so ago on a change. There's nothing technical preventing them from giving you both.
When necessary I just called them up and told them I was moving to my "other address" and gave it to them and told them I needed to switch my DNS. Ask for the RV/mobile department. Occasionally I had to hang up and call back. Call the tech support number…not the sales number (or press whatever for tech support when the answer, can't remember which one it is).
We like our AM21 because it gives us whatever local OTA channels there are, puts them in the guide so we can record them if we want to, and doesn't require switching the set from the DirecTV receiver to the batwing to use the OTA antenna.
East and West coast feeds. We haven't been on the road in a few years now but still get both coasts
as well as our local feeds, so it's just a matter of selecting the channel for either an East coast or West
coast feed or local.
For new DNS signups - One can only get the east or west coast HD feeds - not both. (FCC lawyer stuff) So one gets, usually, the east or west coast DNS stations based on their billing address. In the past both were available at the same time and those who had DNS prior to the new FCC rules got to keep them. So if you have both, don't cancel and expect to ever get both east and west back.
These comments are just for DNS - not for changing the local stations from one place to another.
Just FYI and YMMV
Bill
That's what I had understood as well. But when we called in and finally got to the supervisor who knew what she was doing, she said we could sign up for both east and west coast feeds, but that each one would be $15/month (that is, 2x what we were already paying). I declined since we don't change east-west locations that often. For sure though, if you had both feeds and you're grandfathered in, don't give that up--at the very least it will end up costing you more if you ever want to go back.
Because it's often TOO early, LOL. We don't have a DVR.
Many times we aren't in an area with OTA reception, so the satellite feed is our only source.
That's not a good number. Tried it and got connected to a virtual conferencing center.
-- Edited by RonC on Friday 7th of April 2017 08:32:34 PM