I'm in the process of switching to Direct TV since they stole the baseball package from cable, but when reading the terms of service I got to this part; Since I don't have a land line, as I use my cell for everything, does this mean I'm SOL? Not really down with having a tech show up and pwn me with the bad news and kill my baseball dreams at the last minute.
I have had DirecTV for years without being connected to a land line. The phone connection is for making pay-per-view purchases. If you do not intend on watching the pay-per-view stuff you shouldn't need the land line. However, that being said, you may need the land line for the original set up. Just tell them it's hooked to the phone line when they ask.
What you really need is the landline for set-up I believe. I dont have a land based line, and I have NBA League Pass which has the same requirements. Just get a landline with the most basic of services, set it up, then after the season starts, cancel the landline. At least I think this will work. I believe they want to make sure you aren't in a bar and charging money to see pay per view events and that is the purpose of the rule.
I've had Direct Tv for years and never had any of my recievers connected to a land line including during setup. You shouldn't have any problems as long as you don't intend to order any PPV content.
Thanks for the help. As for PPV, will I still be able to order events online or over the phone? From what I understand I just won't be able to order it direct through the remote without a land line. Pretty stoked about finally ditching cable.
I don't have a land line and I change my service over their website without any problems, I would guess that PPV would act the same. The land line is used for the receiver to initiate some data transfer (updating firmware, ordering PPV, during setup). When I've been setting up a receiver I just told the person on the phone that I don't have a land line and they would start the data transfer from their end. And I've never gotten a surcharge for not having one.
Yeah, you don't need a landline. I'm about to get rid of mine just because I never use it, and I have DirecTV. It will prompt you to update the firmware occasionally if it can't call out, but I'm sure there is a way to disable that. Also, if you have a wireless network at your house you can get an adapter that hooks up to your DVR, and it can download the updates through that. But to answer your question, no...you don't have to have a phone line.
I ordered a couple of fights over the phone. All they need is the home phone number and that's it. NO, you don't need a phone line connected at all times. Just let them know you won't have it connected. You shouldn't have to pay anything extra for that.
