Direct TV HD question

[Fatter than Joey]

Hi --

 

I am considering getting a HD TV -- and I currently subscribe to DTV. -- After perusing their website, it seems like their HD channel offering is pretty meager -- Is this in fact true, or have I missed something?

 

(added tag --1992)

[cweber39]

As of right now you have maybe 10 or so HD channels not including the ABC, NBC & FOX. However, they are suppose to be turning on a new satellite this year which is suppose to bring well over 100 HD channels.

[Fatter than Joey]

So how does that work. -- do you watch the non-HD channels on the HD TV? -- does your TV somehow make an adjustment?

[burniebrewer]

So how does that work. -- do you watch the non-HD channels on the HD TV? -- does your TV somehow make an adjustment?

 

I think I follow your question. Yes, you can watch the non-HD channels on the HD TV. I contacted customer service a few weeks ago about a similar issue. I'm getting my HD TV in two weeks and wanted to know how that would work with my current receiver and such. I'm going to stick with my current setup and see how it looks before I upgrade. Unlike many others, I'm not that gung-ho over HD.

 

If you want to receive HD programming, you have to order a HD box from DirecTV. If you stick with your basic receiver, you will not be able to get their HD programming. I don't know if it's only a receiver change, but for some reason I thought my parents also had a new dish installed when they went HD.

[Fatter than Joey]

I don't know if it's only a receiver change, but for some reason I thought my parents also had a new dish installed when they went HD.

 

I think you have to get a dish as well.

 

I am also curious if the new receivers have any capabilities to interface with PCs so I could make DVDs of games and the such.

[Pedro]

DTV launched a new satellite in July; by all accounts the testing has gone well and it should be operational and delivering new HD channels by mid-September (some reports are DTV has asked FCC approval to begin September 10th). HD channels will include: A&E, Animal Planet, Big Ten Network, Discovery, Food Network, HGTV, History, National Geographic, NFL Network, TLC, Cinemax (multiple), Starz (multiple), HBO (multiple), regional sports networks and a few others. Other reported additions for later this year include: Bravo, Chiller, FX, USA and SciFi.

New dish and receiver required.

[JonnyLungs]

Right now the HD channels show up from channel 70-79 with a few in the 90's occaisionally. I don't believe you see these on a non-HD receiver.

[HebrewHammer]

They will have a lot more HD content soon, as others have mentioned.

 

You need to get a Satellite capable of receiving HD and a box too. They'll tell you what you need when you call them.

 

You receive the HD channels and all the regular old channels. Your TV has no problem showing the old stations because your box takes the old signals and upconverts them to an "HD" signal. So the picture isn't very good (it's typical 480i resolution) but it's there. It's like watching regular old TV. Also the aspect ratio is 4:3 instead of 16:9, so you'll have black bars on each side of the picture. In short, don't worry, you'll get all the HD and non-HD channels. HD channels will be in pristine 1080i or 720p with a 16:9 aspect ratio and the non-HD channels will be of lower quality obviously and in 4:3 aspect ratio.

 

THE DIRECT TV CAVEAT IN MILWAUKEE:

Direct TV in Milwaukee doesn't have an HD contract with CBS here, so you will NOT get CBS (channel 58) in HD in the Milwaukee area. You get every other local network in HD, but not CBS. This sucks because they carry a lot of golf and the NFL.

 

So, you have to get an OTA (over the air) antenna, put it outside and send the OTA signals to your TV as well if you want to watch CBS in HD. Major pain the butt for a single station. But it's kinda worth it because you get every local station in HD and the signal is perfect for OTA signals. The picture quality will be greater with these signals than the one Direct TV sends you. Direct TV compresses the signal some to make more bandwidth available.

[cweber39]

I think you have to get a dish as well.

 

I am also curious if the new receivers have any capabilities to interface with PCs so I could make DVDs of games and the such.

Yeah there is a new dish you have to get aswell, and you need the HD box. Also you will need the new little boxes on the back of the receiver I think they are something like transistor B boxes or something. I am not sure about the new receivers I would have to look at mine when I get home. They have 2 boxes you can get one made by DirecTV or TiVo. The TiVo one is $800 through Best Buy, and I am not about to pay that so I have DirecTV's version.

[Pedro]

They have 2 boxes you can get one made by DirecTV or TiVo. The TiVo one is $800 through Best Buy, and I am not about to pay that so I have DirecTV's version.

For the new channels, you are going to need the DirecTV (HR20) receiver; the new HD channels are compressed in MPEG4, which the old DirecTivo (HR10-250) cannot receive.