Why can't DirectTV give you an HD signal? It's not like they use a different satellite for the folks out in the boonies.
When I moved near Coloma in 2008, (from Orangevale).. the DirectTV guys came out to transfer service to my new house, and they looked at the tree cover and hill looming on the south western side, and said "I can't get an HD signal here I'm sorry, we can do standard def for you."
I was really bummed and resigned to not having HD.
I called DISH and the guy they sent out was a real character - a hillbilly right out of Duck Dynasty. The guy actually licked his thumb and stuck it out in front of him like a rifle sight or something... grimaced, nodded... and he said "I can GET you HD!!".
And so he did.
DirecTV gave me no relief on the contract cancellation fee - they took my $100 even though they were unable to transfer my same service. I was soooo p!ssed off!!
So now I have DISH, I throw away DirectTV junk mail unopened and never miss a chance to slam them (more than $100 worth so far), and I love my HOPPER by the way. So it is great if they work this out.