<----Another DirecTV fan. Had them since 1998 and love the picture quality, channel selection, music (which is now XM!), and the customer service is top drawer. Sadly, since moving I've been trapped in Comcast's world and it blows in comparison. Still have DTV at the farm though and I'll have the service turned on whenever I visit; would the cable company embrace such a on/off policy???? Pfft!
Of more relvance to this thread....my DTV box is never connected to a phone line.