Does DIRECTV charge for equipment?

Television programming in millions of American households is provided through satellite television service company DIRECTV which operates in United States. It always causes questions among the customers when subscribing to a service as the DIRECTV when they are asked if there are any fees for the equipment required to access the satellite service. This includes the satellite dish, receivers, cables and remotes that are used to access the DirecTV programs. Here is a detailed breakdown of all the fees that DIRECTV charges to provide the equipment and installation to get your home ready for TV service.

Upfront Equipment Fees Sometimes when you subscribe to a new plan for DIRECTV, there are some equipment charges that go hand in hand with installation and other settings. The rates can be influenced by several factors, including the DIRECTV package selected, promotional offers, or discounts received. Here is an overview of what equipment fees are typical:Here is an overview of what equipment fees are typical:

Satellite Dish: DIRECTV often allows customers to keep the satellite dish even if they subscribe to the most basic service package. Because this equipment is necessary to even tune into the satellite signal and programming, DIRECTV does not impose a fee for it.

Receivers: DIRECTV usually has a price that it charges per each of the HD receivers that it installs in your home. This enables you to watch high definition programs from DIRECTV on your television set. This fee is most often between 15 and 30 dollars per each High Definition receiver. Hence, there will be additional charges if you want the features of HD-DVR or if you wish to have High Definition on more than one television set. There are also high end “Genie” models that are slightly more expensive with prices ranging from $25 and above.

DVR Service: If you desire the ability to record programs, DIRECTV does indeed charge a monthly DVR service fee. This is approximately $10-15 per month depending on the bundle that your specific equipment comes with. It also has the possibility of initial DVR receiver charges.

Installation and Setup Costs Apart from any initial equipment purchasing or leasing fees, DIRECTV also requires general installation and configuration fees. A usual professional installation may go for as low as $199. This includes the technician physically installing the satellite dish, installing all cables and receivers, configuring your TV access and testing. As a rule, installation takes two to four hours of the specialist’s time.

Some of the promoional offers can be waivered with the installation fee. Sometimes, new customers can get the installation for free for a service if they fit the requirements for the free installation while existing customers can also benefit from free installation if, for instance, they are needing to upgrade equipment or requiring a new service.

In some areas, self-installation options are available for $99. As you agree, this means that you need to work on it to make the equipment functional although this will save on cost. It is however advisable to employ the services of a professional in order to ensure that there are no reception problems.

Additional TV Hookup Fees If you want DIRECTV service on multiple television sets in your home, there are some additional fees to be aware of:If you want DIRECTV service on multiple television sets in your home, there are some additional fees to be aware of:

Additional TV Connections: The installation of DIRECTV programming on another TV set is possible for an additional $6 monthly charge for each TV. Therefore, to have the privilege of having access on 3 TVs in total, you will have to pay an additional $12 monthly. These fees include the work of integrating multiple receivers and providing the ability to view.

Additional Receiver Fees: There is also a $6 per month ‘Mirror TV’ fee if you still have a second connected receiver that shows the same content as the main television. For instance, if you wished to watch content in the bedroom that is the same as the program schedule you are watching in the living room. You receive the same rights to two TVs while paying for a single subscription but $6 extra per month for the additional functionality of the receiver.

Long-Term Service Fees Once you have signed up for DIRECTV and the service has been installed and activated in your home, you might have to pay recurring monthly charges depending on the equipment used and services available to you. Common ongoing fees include:

DVR Service: As mentioned above, the DVR receiver functionality often includes a monthly DVR service fee. This can range from $10 to $15+ per month depending on your chosen DIRECTV package.

Advanced Receiver Service Fees: If during installation, you chose the Genie or the HD receiver models, you will be charged higher monthly fees for these superior models. Additional fees for the advanced receiver are in the range of $15 to $25 per TV per month.

Additional TV Fees: The extra TV connection charges and the charges for mirror TV access are calculated on a monthly basis depending on the number of TV access points in a home. Estimate about $6 per each additional receiver connected per month.

Protection Plans: DIRECTV sales additional service packages that includes technical support help, equipment repair or replacement among others. Protection Plan fees usually increase your total expenses by $5-$10 per month.

However, like most services, DIRECTV will charge for recurring DVR, receiver, and all other types of fees but you won’t be charged monthly or annually just to rent the basic satellite dish or use the DIRECTV service. Contrary to other satellite providers, there is no regular “equipment rental fee” to maintain DIRECTV system in your house. So long as you remain an active subscriber and continue to make payments for your general package rates every month, any satellite dishes and the first television connections are free from additional equipment charges.

In regards to equipment, there is a question that most clients might be asking themselves, that is, does DIRECTV charge for their equipment? The Short Answer To recap the key details, here is a quick summary answering whether DIRECTV charges equipment fees:To recap the key details, here is a quick summary answering whether DIRECTV charges equipment fees:

No, but DIRECTV does require upfront costs for items such as HD receivers, DVR boxes, and some installation equipment for their services. These normally range from $15 to $25 per TV as the cost. DIY installation costs $99 while professional installation is $199 though sometimes the later is waived based on a plan or offer.

However, DIRECTV does NOT require monthly equipment rental fee just because you have opted for DIRECTV service in your home. If one maintains constant usage with continuing service, one can use a given satellite dish and the first television connection without any requirement of monthly equipment fee. Extra equipments such as other receivers, digital video recorder and multi television access does bring $6 to $15 extra charges on monthly basis depending on what other equipments you have at home.

This means that although you may incur costs for equipment and installation when signing up with DIRECTV, there are no hidden costs in your bill later on for maintaining their satellite or even basic television connections. Extra device capabilities does keep appending monthly charges for as long as you utilize and pay for those higher services.