Tivo 2, weekend

I got a new Tivo 2 unit. No I didn’t pay for it. A few months ago I got a Tivo credit card and collected points that I used to get the new Tivo. This is the 2nd generation Tivo with even more features. It has built in support for broadband connections, it lets you view pictures and play music from a PC on your home network and allows you to schedule recordings from the world wide web. It’s a sweet box. I spent last night getting it all setup. For some reason getting my hands around some new geek gear inspired me to contact directv to see about the possibility of picking up local channels through the satellite. Right now I just use it for the NFL Sunday Ticket and occasional PPV movies. However the picture qulaity coming off the satellite is soooooooo much better than the cable feed. It’s like night and day. So I called Directv and asked if I could just pick up local channels (major networks). At first they said no, my only option was to take their low end 41.99 per month package. I disappointedly said “That’s my only option?” The woman said she would check on something. She came back in a bit and said since I was a customer since 2000, they would add on the local channels for only 6 bucks a month. Ah cool, that will work. However she said I would need a different dish to receive the locals. I asked her if it cost anything to get the new dish and she said, no, and transferred me over to that department.

I got a guy this time and I explained to him what the deal was. He said ok, that will be 50 bucks for the dish plus 15 shipping. “Hmmm I was just told that it shouldn’t cost me anything” He said he didn’t see any notes on my account saying anything about that but he put me on hold again. He came back and again said “Since you have been a customer for so long….” they were going to give me the dish and I would just pay shipping. Then he found out I would also need a new receiver as well which also would be free. Sweet. I wanted to install it myself since I did the original install but he said with a new receiver, an installer has to do it. They could send a guy out Saturday morning to do it, um ok, fine. So hopefully by Monday I will be watching crystal clear network TV pumped through my 140 hour Tivo 2 box.

On Saturday I am playing in my first volleyball tournament since the Pottstown Rumble. My last two tournaments with Randall didn’t go that well with us missing playoffs both times. I don’t have any expectations so that normally makes the day more enjoyable. I almost feel like skipping it cause there are so many little things around the house that I would like to get cleaned up and done. Oh well. Over the next month I am burning up my leftover vacation so I will have some long weekends to get stuff done.