Digital tv box needed?

Is a cable box for each tv needed for DirecTV to get any channels at all?

• My parents want to go from Comcast to DirecTV, but, they dont want cable boxes in the bedrooms, just the basic 100 channels. Is this possible? Do you need a box for a tv with DirecTV? Dont say that you need it to get all the features, because thats not what we're asking and we know that answer(;

• Answer:

  As Stephen M said, the "cable box" you are referring to is your satellite receiver. No receiver, no reception. Satellite tv is different than cable. All the channels are coming from satellites in outer space. Your dish gets the signals, and the receiver converts them to images and sound on the TV screen. I had DirecTV for several years, because there was no cable service where I lived. It's sort of okay, but has it's drawbacks. It really doesn't get you any more channels than enhanced Basic Cable Service, if you are only buying a Basic package from them. I think it costs more (it was $53 a month for me, for a Basic package, from 2002-2005). Every time it rains, you lose the signal. I'm not kidding. Every time it rained, we'd just put in a movie, because otherwise you sit there staring at a blank screen most of the night. Also, customer loyalty means nothing to them. After my fiance died, I had trouble with the bills. I just got slightly behind, called to explain the situation to them and tell them when I would get caught up. They shut off my service (on Labor Day!), were really nasty towards me on the phone, and hounded me for payment. For 3 years, I had never sent in one late payment, ever, and that was the thanks I got. You really aren't missing anything. Stick with Comcast. You don't get anything more from DirecTV, in fact you get less. No service when it rains, snows, or gets really cloudy. If you are bent on getting satellite TV, check out Dish Network, or anybody else, but not DirecTV. I have heard from other people, I am not the only one who has been treated badly by them. Hope this helps!