After months of feuding and smear campaigning, both DirecTV and Dish Network agreed to drop their false-advertising suit on the “Why Pay More” commercials.  Both the initial lawsuit as well as any counterclaims that were filed have been dropped.  Many of the details were left out but it seems like executives were finally tired of shelling out ad money to smear the other company.  It was a stupid feud from the onset anyways.  This is America and we promote competition in industries.

The two companies have taken different roads in running their company.  The satellite industry race has tightened over the past two quarters and Dish is now leading DirecTV in net subscriber growth.  While Dish is concentrating on this, DirecTV has shifted its focus more on profitability rather than adding to its subscription base.

While the battle has been over who has more HD programming and the exact numbers of total channels, viewers have been reaping from the benefits.  By undercutting each other and providing more channels at less of a price, no matter which provider you chose you still ended up with a decent deal.  It’s nice to see that they will play nice for a little bit.  In the long run, results matter and the viewers will have the final say in who wins.  I believe each can profit and keep their shareholders happy, which is why I think them going their separate paths in strategy is key.  Always provide something the other company can’t is one of the rules in basic competitive marketing strategy.  That alone will entice people to try your company, not by smearing the other guy.

The little heard-of The Documentary Channel has doubled its subscriber base since its inception.  This has allowed it to grab the attention of DirecTV and has agreed to share its rights with the satellite giant.  I’ll be honest, as I’ve gotten older and wiser, I have been drawn to more documentaries.  I like seeing the “making of” or the back stories of significant events or people that have influenced the world.  Now with their new agreement, things could take off for the small channel.

The Documentary Channel will run 24-hour round the clock coverage of independent documentary features.  This allows them to reach over 25 million homes at any time.  This is a perfect thing for the DVR…you see a person you like or a story that interests you, record it.  Save the episodes for a rainy day and since the turnover can’t be that much, I’m sure that you can find a time that you can record that isn’t during primetime.  Even ESPN has been doing a 30 for 30 documentary series that has really taken off.  They’ve gotten big name directors to do film shorts of historical sporting events.

I’m sure that the channel will interest some folks.  There is only upside for the channel because if it does really well, then they also develop an option to expand even more, perhaps agreeing with Dish Network in the long run.  But for now, hooking up with DirecTV is good enough for them.  The exposure that they and their programming will receive doesn’t really have a pricetag.

I’ve been to Baltimore and survived without a problem.  My buddy lives there and he says stay out of the hood during the night.  That’s a pretty good rule-of-thumb for any city’s sticks.  But Baltimore has taken it one step further.  SpotCrime.com has taken their internet venture to the next level, satellite television.  As if Cops is not rebroadcast enough, as if we can’t get enough of Duane “Dog” Champan, as if we can’t get enough of the new Campus Cops on G4, here is the next step.  The internet company struck a deal with DirectTV, allowing subscribers to access the content.

This definitely bolsters DirecTV’s resume quite a bit…NOT.  So now, if you’re a baddie, you can see where it’s hot and where the 5-0 are patrolling.  That way, if you want to rob a bank or boost a car, you’ll be able to do it with much more ease.  What kind of person will watch this channel?  Either you’re president of the neighbor hood watch or you’re running your Godfather-type crime ring.  Either way, this is not a good idea for this type of information to be disclosed.  While their intentions might be good, this is detrimental to the police force.  This completely takes out the element of surprise.

The founder and president, Colin Drane, says that customers will be able to customize their crime data to view data based on a map or zip code.  Really, customization for this?  Not to mention, if you’re on the move, they also have an iPhone app for $2.99.  As surreal as this might be, if you are watching this at any point in your life, you have no life.

Dealing with several different remotes can be more than just a little bit aggravating. Often times you will find yourself with two or three that no longer have an obvious use including one from a VCR you owned in 1989, which you sold to your aunt last May (may she rest in peace).

One question that some have asked is whether it is possible to use a Tivo remote with a DirecTV HD DVR. The answer depends on the shape of your Tivo remote as to how easy it can be to do so.

The interesting thing is that DirecTV/DirecTivo use a remote control with a peanut shape. These remotes are interchangeable. If your Tivo remote is shaped like a peanut as well then you will find programming it for your DirecTV HD DVR will be quite easy. There are only a few steps in setting it up and you will be ready to go.

The first step is to turn on your television. Now take your Tivo remote and set the mode to TV. Now, press the Select and Mute buttons at the same time and hold them until you see the small green light at the top of the remote blinks twice.

In your Tivo remote manual there should be television codes for all the different models. Find your television code here, check online, or call customer service to get the code you need. There is a code that may work if others are unsuccessful. Try using 9911. However, keep in mind  that it may not work for very old or very new models.

After entering the code press Channel Up and release. Keep slowly pressing the button until your television shuts off. Once it does press the Select button. Now, turn your television back on and do the previous steps again this time pressing DTV rather than TV. This will allow you to control your DirecTV system as well. You should now be ready to use the Tivo remote for your DirecTV and TV as well.

Unless you live in a tropical climate (you lucky jerk-faces), you will have to deal with cold weather and winter precipitation. If you have a satellite dish, this can be very problematic. Ice and snow buildup can cause signal interruption and let’s be honest, an interruption in the middle of your favorite reality TV show sucks. Not only can snow/ice/damnation mess with your signal, it could, if not dealt with, cause damage to your satellite dish. This can be a very expensive piece of equipment to replace so you want to take care of it right away to avoid the damage.

Here is a method for ice removal that is very effective.

You will need:

• A Small Spray Bottle
• An Old Shop Rag or Towel
• Windshield Washer Fluid

Step One:

If there is any snow on the top of the ice brush it off with the rag or old towel.

Step Two:

Take and fill the small spray bottle with the windshield washer fluid. Be very careful not to create a lot of bubbles while doing this, for the bubbles can block the flow of fluid out of the spray bottle. So it is best to fill the bottle slowly.

Step Three:

Now spray the windshield washer fluid on the satellite dish, be generous with the amount. This being said do remember there may be electronics that could be exposed.

Step Four:

Let the washer fluid set so that is soaks in to the ice, this is what melts the ice and allows for easy removal.

Step Five:

Spray another layer of the windshield fluid onto the remaining icy places on the satellite dish antenna.

Step Six:

Use the old towel or shop rag to wipe off the loose ice. If the satellite is not clear of ice repeat Steps E and F, until the ice is completely removes from the dish antennae.

When it comes to our daily lives there is no denying that “busy” is the name of the game. However, this should not be a limiting factor when it comes to enjoying our favorite television programs. While a DirecTV HD DVR is great to have, there is no reason why you should be limited to recording a few shows that you would have to either see over and over or delete so you can record the next one.

By hooking a DVD recorder up to your DVR you can burn your shows to DVD and enjoy them any time you wish. There are a few things that you will need including your DVR, DVD recorder, audio video cables, RCA composite cables and S-video cable.

Make sure that your DVR and DVD recorder are both hooked up properly. The recorder should be hooked to the television. Now, take the S-video cable and run it from the S-video input on the recorder to the S-video input on the television.

Take the composite cables that connect to the DirecTV DVR loose and hook them into the composite cable output on the rear of your DVD recorder. Connect the audio video cables and hook them up to the DVD recorder’s input terminals. Now plug the other ends into the DVR’s output terminals.

You should now be all set to record your shows from your DVR to DVD. Keep in mind that just because you have the ability to record from DVR you should not abuse it. Do not sell or rent out the DVDs to others as this would be a violation of the law.
Also, if you find that your television does not have the necessary inputs or outputs you can always pick up a component hub that will give you the hookups you need. You should also make sure to push the “Record to VCR” button on the DirecTV DVR remote when recording to DVD.

Anyone who knows much about the Internet may remember just how slow it was waiting on web pages to load. This was due to the fact that computers had to hook up to existing land line telephone jacks. Telephone lines could only handle a certain amount of traffic which limited the speed at which one could connect.

Satellite customers would have to connect their systems up to telephone lines for software updates and other such uses. Internet across DirecTV was once just a mere suggestion that private homes could not access. As technology has advanced and costs have dropped, the dream of satellite Internet is now a reality.

No longer do people have to depend on having a home phone line in order to enjoy accessing the Internet. This is great considering how many people are now choosing to use strictly cell phones rather than having a dedicated landline.

This can actually present you with a great cost savings. By leaving the landline behind you will no longer have a phone bill to worry about. This means that you will have the extra money for a better Internet package through DirecTV.

To get yourself started, simply give DirecTV a call and tell them that you are interested in taking advantage of an Internet package. If they ask whether you are interested in a home phone option tell them no thank you. Stick with your cell phone provider or give an Internet phone provider such as Vonage a look.

Such providers tend to be a bit cheaper than relying on phone service through your landline or your satellite system. Enjoying the Internet across your DirecTV satellite system is no longer a dream. It is now an affordable reality. You could soon be surfing in style and saving money at the same time.

With all the programming available to record on your DirecTV DVR, it is easy to get it cluttered up with programs that you have watched about a million times. Perhaps you bought a used DVR box or were given one by a friend who no longer needed it. This means you might want to get rid of the programming that is already on it, but removing every show one by one can be a drag. By using the DirecTV DVR’s “System Reset” button, one can remove all programming with the push of a few buttons. Plus, it is also typically used to solve some of the common issues that you may have when using your DVR with DirecTV.

You will not need any special tools to do the reprogramming. Just follow the instructions below, and before you know it you will be able to start all over with a clean programming slate on your DirecTV DVR.

Step One:

Turn on both your television and your DirecTV DVR box.

Step Two:

On your remote control press the “Menu” button. Then use the “Up” and “Down” arrow buttons to select the “Reset” option on your menu. This will open the programming reset menu on your screen.

Step Three:

Select either the “Clear and Delete Everything” option or the “Reset Everything” option on the reset menu list. Which one is on your screen all depends on the programming that you have on your particular DirecTV DVR.

Step Four:

Now you just wait for your DVR hard drive to reformat itself.  Be patient, this process could take up to an hour.

Step Five:

Once the DVR is reformatted you will need to go through guided set up to reset your DVR. This will help insure that your DVR is ready to record again. The On screen instructions will make doing this easy.

There are several types of programming that DirecTV satellite TV transmits and some of these programs are not kid-friendly. This means parents or guardians may not want their children watching these programs, but how do you configure your DirecTV box to restrict certain types of programming while allowing others?

DirecTV offers a parental lock feature that allows parents to restrict the types of programming that your young ones can watch. You can choose to block certain programs or even whole channels from being viewed. There is even a time limiting feature, so that you can not only monitor what type but how much TV your Kids watch. This is accomplished through a password protected mechanism.

Step One:

Turn on the TV and press the “Menu” button on your DirecTV remote.

Step Two:

There will be a menu pop up on your TV. Select the “Parental” and the “Edit Settings” option on this menu.

Step Three:

Now, follow the instructions on your screen. There will be options such as spending, hours, ratings, and channel block options. The spending option allows you to set limits on the amount of pay-per-view movies that can be watched per month. The “Hours” option allows you to monitor and limit the hours of viewing your children can spend each day. The ratings option means you can block movies and shows based on ratings (this includes Pay-Per-View selections).

Step Four:

After you have made your selections choose the “Lock Now” option. Now you will be asked to put in your pass code or PIN. The PIN is given to you when you buy the service. If you do not have one or have lost it call customer service and they will give you a new one.

Step Five:

Enter the PIN; your parental locks are now enabled.

Picking the right provider for your satellite television needs can sometimes be a bit confusing. Once you have a system installed you may find that it was not actually what you were looking for. Never fear however. There are steps you can take to get the system you were looking for in the first place.

Take for instance switching from Dish Network to DirecTV. It can be rather easy to make the switch when you know just how to go about it. Before you decide to just call DirecTV you should first take the time to check out the company’s various programming packages.

Take a look at your monthly budget and make sure that your new package will fit in. Take into account the fees, including extra receivers and DVRs, so that you will not get caught short when monthly bill time comes around. Remember; introductory pricing is just that. Eventually full pricing will come into effect. Keep this in mind as well.

Once you have decided on the package you want it is time to give the company a call. You can call (800) 494-4388 for residential or (888) 200-4388 for a business. These are the numbers to call for general issues and for signing up. When you call the DirecTV agent will go ahead and schedule a time for the installation.

When the installer comes out make sure that he or she does not damage any property. Also, if they take down your Dish Network equipment keep it on hand. Dish may require that you return it. You might also want to resell it. Switching satellite providers is an easy task when you give it a little forethought about the particular package you will want. It will also help you to feel less pressured by the salesperson when you call DirecTV to sign up.