DIRECTV and other companies offering direct-to-home (DTH) satellite TV service have historically expected customers to install a satellite dish to get the signals. These satellite dishes are directed towards the provider’s satellite in space to receive the signals and relay them to your home. However, with the advancement in technology, satellite providers have been in a position to offer online cable TV packages without the dish. So is it possible to get DIRECTV without having a satellite dish installed on your home? Let's discuss the options.
DIRECTV Stream – No Dish Needed
DIRECTV has an internet live TV streaming service under the brand DIRECTV Stream, which does not need satellite. This functions like virtually all the other live TV streaming services available in the market. DIRECTV just transmits their video streams through the Internet instead of satellites.
To use DIRECTV Stream, all you need is:
- A home internet connection that is fast
- The supported streaming device(s) that is/are connected to your home network
So as long as you have those two items, you can sign up for DIRECTV Stream packages and watch live television on your devices without requiring any DIRECTV satellite kit. DIRECTV Stream is not tied to an annual contract so you can cancel it at any time.
Supported Devices
DIRECTV Stream is compatible with several well-known streaming devices and platforms. Supported devices include:
- Apple TV
- Roku
- Amazon Fire TV
- Android TV
- Google Chromecast
- iPhone and iPad
- Android mobile devices
- Web browsers
You probably already have a device in your home that can support the DIRECTV Stream app. Transfer it to your streaming devices or your mobile devices and begin watching the DIRECTV channels and on-demand films with the help of no receiver or dish.
No Equipment Installation
Another obvious advantage of watching satellite TV through streaming is the absence of the necessity to invite professional technicians for installation. However, with traditional DIRECTV satellite service, a technician has to come to your home and install a dish on the roof or the wall and then have cables fitted to the house to install satellite boxes. This process can take hours and during this time, the cell phone is exposed to radio waves from the base station.
DIRECTV Stream does not require a credit check, contract, or installation appointment; you just sign up online, download the streaming app to your devices, and plug those into your home Wi-Fi. There are no cables, satellites, or equipment at all and for you to get started with the DIRECTV Stream, you may not even take 10 minutes alone. It also makes it easy to start and stop service without incurring a lot of costs in the process.
However, even the conventional DIRECTV Satellite Service is still far from being fully dish-less.
However, it’s useful to establish that even the basic satellite TV packages offered by DIRECTV entail professional satellite equipment installation. If you are interested in other channel packages than those available through the DIRECTV Stream package, then you will have to use DIRECTV satellite service along with standard receiver boxes. This does offer more options and a clearer video feed than streaming.
However, it also requires commitment involving signing a 2-year contract most of the time and booking installation appointments. For the spherical dish, you must have a clear line of sight to the south for installation. Satellite signals can also be disrupted by trees, buildings, weather, and other forms of interference. Traditional DIRECTV satellite service therefore has more barriers to get over than the ease of streaming over the internet.
As for those who value having more than 200 channels and the highest video quality, a standard DIRECTV satellite is still preferable. However, their streaming alternative erases dish and installation necessities for a better experience.
No Long-Term Contracts
One of the biggest benefits of going with DIRECTV Stream over satellite is not having to sign up for a long-term contract. DIRECTV satellite TV usually demands most of its consumers to sign a 2-year contract to enjoy the advertised prices. If you wished to terminate your service before the agreed time, then you were charged a prorated ETF that could go up to $460 in the first year.
DIRECTV Stream does not have any contracts. The payment is made every month, meaning that you can cancel your subscription at any time without incurring further charges. Thus, DIRECTV Stream will be perfect for people who have a second home or rent an apartment and don’t expect to live there for more than a couple of months. Since no equipment is involved, you can cancel and start the service at a time that is convenient for you.
Check Availability First
Satellite dishes aren’t required for this service but you do need a good, high-speed home broadband connection to support multiple HD video streams at the same time. The minimum internet connection requirements mentioned on the DIRECTV Stream website are 8 Mb/s per stream for the best experience.
It is also advised to run a speed test to verify your home’s internet compatibility before subscribing to any streaming TV services. This will cause streaming quality and reliability to suffer when the internet speed is slow. More so, data limitations from your internet service provider can result in extra charges in case you are a heavy streamer. Make sure that you have the right Internet package because once you throw away your satellite dish, you cannot use it anymore.
Stream DIRECTV Without Satellites
Thanks to the availability of streaming and app based programming, satellite dishes are no more a mandatory requirement to get the DIRECTV TV. DIRECTV Stream lets you get live, local channels, and the most popular cable networks on your devices without having to put up with ugly rooftop antennas.
Therefore, if the broad channel lineup including premium movie channel is the most important, then the traditional DIRECTV satellite is the best way to go. However, those consumers who cut off their cables or watch television occasionally, who do not need a contract-free streaming service, can now get live TV from DIRECTV without the need for satellite technology. The freedom and flexibility that the streaming platform offers cannot be compared to that of satellite dishes.
Transform your viewing experience with DirecTV! Call us today at +1 855-213-2250 to explore our plans and find the perfect package for you. Our experts are ready to assist you and get you set up with top-notch entertainment. Don’t wait—contact us now!
