DIRECT TV AT&T Satellite Signal Loss since AT&T acquisition Alexandria VA

Ever since AT&T has taken over DIRECT TV cable service I have been having trouble with my satellite reception. Once when I loss the signal I called their I service and was advised that for $49 I could have a repairman come out and fix the satellite. That was after I told them that my receiver was displaying code 771 - which means loss of satellite signal. Well after talking to the rep for a few minutes, he said that the price could be reduced, and then later in the conversation he told me that he could offer me a one-time free service call. I ended this conversation by telling the rep that I did not need a free service call because the satellite in question had nothing to do with me, that it was their responsibility to maintain their equipment, and I really thought that this was just a ploy to get more of the comsumers dollars. The TV reception came back on by itself a couple of hours later, but today once again I am unable to get what I pay for. The local channels are not visible and error code 771 is once again appearing. It is terrible what these companies do. Cable TV is a set it and then forget it service, the only time somethng goes wrong is when someone tampers with the system. I know this because for 2 years I had a scrupulous service man who 3 or 4 times a year toyed with the wiring from the satellite to my building in order to justify his salary, I complained to management of Direct TV - it took me almost 1 year to get them to look into what I was saying, but when they finally came out to my building and saw what was going on they figured out that the service man was bilking them (I think they get paid more when there is more service calls on their records) It ended up that they gave me a couple of months free service (which really did not equal the 2 years of harassment I was getting) but a settlement is better than nothing. At any rate, if anyone of you are having a satellitel signal problem with your DirectTV AT&T connection, do not just say you will pay for service, that bill is unjust