Response
My original post wasn't about a SatelliteGuys regular, existing DirecTV customer, do-it-yourself-er, who loves learning about AV equipment options. It's about non-DirecTV customers who are promised the world by DirecTV sales personel.
Are you new to DirecTV? If you are, did you research this before you decided to switch? I gather from your OP, that you were a Dish customer? I assume that you were used to the TV2 function on Dish? My point is that this is nothing new with DirecTV's equipment. The Hx and HRx series receivers have not had RF outputs since the beginning. They were never really designed to be used that way. In the past I used a HR21 that way, and had absolutely no problem. I just got a cheap Belkin RF modulator, and another remote for the location where I wanted to modulate the signal, and I was in business. I cant see why you are so upset if you did your research. Of course, if you didn't I guess it is a case of live and learn.
I have never been a DirecTV customer nor a Dish Network customer. Re-read my post please.
The original poster is completely correct about having to run a second line. And it really is no way to diplex the outgoing signal with the incoming satellite signal. It completely trashes multi room viewing capabilities. And make no mistake about it, as an installer myself very few people seem to have vcr's in their closets anymore as previously posted further upthread.
I believe the original reason for posting was more of a rant from his personal experience installing, and as a possible warning to other potential customers
Correct.
My remote is RF and I mirror with a simple HDMI splitter, pretty easy IMHO. The OP is full of it.
You missed the point of the post entirely. YOUR remote may be RF, and YOU may have an HDMI splitter you got for free, and YOU may have had thirty minutes of free time with nothing better to do as well as the knowledge and expertise and willingness to mirror. YOU are the exception.
Totally agreed, but OP already said he was miroring instead of MRV due to MRV cost. As far as i am concerned MRV is to be preferred over Mirroring. It is easier to Do, and 2nd TV is HD.
I wasn't comparing mirroring to MRV. I was actually comparing DirecTV mirroring to Dish Network mirroring as I specified in the first line of the OP.
Costly? The HDMI splitter was under $30 at Monoprice, HDMI cable was under $10 and it works like a charm. Only need one receiver no MRV. Simple and done!!
So you're price on materials was $40, and your time is worth $0. A technicians time is worth >$0. Any competant technician should charge at least $45, as he would also provide a warranty that the mirror continues to work for a certain period of time, typically 90 days minimum. $40 + $45 = $85.
I didn't see anything in the op that said he needed any particular length of cable, much less 60-70 feet. I also didn't see anything about the csrs misrepresenting how much it would, or wouldn't cost. He did claim it would cost $85 at a minimum to mirror, which is way off. At the least it would be the cost of some coax and connectors if you already have a vcr to use as a modulator and if you already have a dvr with an rf remote. The most would be for the cost of an HDMI cable of no certain length, which would probably add around $30, and the cost of an rf remote, about $20. The total would be about $50. I forgot the cost of some component cables, maybe $5.
And you forgot that people don't work for free. $45 + $50 = $95. (Unless you're a Dish Network technician. Those guys work for free ALL THE TIME. But this is about installing DirecTV, not Dish Network.)
Clearly, OP prefers the company of gentlemen.
[Can't tell if trolling, or if insulting detractors with hyperbolic sarcasim.]
Lesse, I was with Dish for ~4 years... I had 2 TV2s on the 622.. $6/month * 2 TVs = $12/month * 48 months == $576 saved (minus the ~$20 I spent on the extra remote) (and I had "whole home DVR" 5 years before DirectTV). Worth every penny in my opinion.
... Right, it's easy to sell a customer on possibly saving $500 over the course of four years by spending $100 now. Piece of cake.
