New to HR10-250, a few questions...

[jerbae]

Just got my HR10-250 hooked up and using it with my new Sony 40" HDTV 1080p. A Few questions if anyone can help me... :confused:

1. The HR10-250 is going to the tv via HDMI, but the picture isn't good quality, and I can't get any HD channels. Directv says I don't get the HD channels because I have a round dish and they need to change it. They say that is also accounting for the poor picture on non-HD channels. Does this sound right? especially as far as the poor picture quality on the non-hd channels??? DVDs look great on my TV, but Directv looks awful!

2. I haven't upgraded my HR10-250 from the initial 3.1 (or whatever it is) software because I've heard about the problems with 6.3a. With 3.1, is there a way to specify the quality of the recording? I have a series 2 tivo where you can specify the recording quality.

3. Not having folders on my HR10-250 is driving me nuts! Is it too early to upgrade to 6.3b???

Thanks in advance for any help or comments.
A.J.

[videojanitor]

Yes, it's true -- with a few exceptions, like a couple of the distant network HD feeds, all of the HD channels are on satellites that require the 3 or 5 LNB dish. There is nothing about the round dish however that will cause poor picture quality on the non-HD channels -- those look bad because they ARE bad. They are compressed down to as low a bit rate as "the average person" will tolerate, but for anyone looking for good quality pictures, you won't find it there.

You can't specifiy the recording quality with 3.1 or 6.3 or any DirecTV DVR -- there's no need to, because the recorders are essentially just "bit buckets" -- they just record the data stream off the satellite. Thus, the "recorded" signal is the same as you would get when watching "live."

Finally, no, it's not too early to upgrade to 6.3b -- if you can get it. There's no way to tell what version you will get if you allow your unit to upgrade, though from some reports, it seems like if you find that after forcing a phone call, the machine is staying connected for a very long time (like, more than 15 minutes), then it is probably downloading 6.3a. At that point, you might want to pull the phone plug.

On the other hand, it's likely that everyone will have 6.3b within the next couple of weeks, so if you can live with the potential pitfalls of 6.3a for that long, it's worth a shot.

[restart88]

I'm just curious. If memory serves the old HD programming was on 110 and you could get a special lnb from D* for like $15 to use a 2nd round dish or older oval. Is that still an option? Or is it better to just pay the $99 for the new multi dish? Assuming you can't get a CSR to comp it, that is.

[rlj5242]

1. Just upgrading the dish will do nothing for the channels you get now. The CSR was as usual, giving out mis-information. "Can't get any HD channels" - Have you put up an antenna for your local digital channels? That's the easiest way to watch HD.

I'm just curious. If memory serves the old HD programming was on 110 and you could get a special lnb from D* for like $15 to use a 2nd round dish or older oval. Is that still an option? Or is it better to just pay the $99 for the new multi dish? Assuming you can't get a CSR to comp it, that is. MPEG2 HD channels are on 101 (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa101.html), 110 (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa110.html) and 119 (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa119.html).

-Robert

[jamesbobo]

If you're going to get a new dish, I'd get the 5 lnb dish. This way you'd be ready when the MPEG4 channels kick in. Yes, you would need a new receiver, but at least you wouldn't need another dish.

[restart88]

1. Just upgrading the dish will do nothing for the channels you get now. The CSR was as usual, giving out mis-information. "Can't get any HD channels" - Have you put up an antenna for your local digital channels? That's the easiest way to watch HD.

MPEG2 HD channels are on 101 (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa101.html), 110 (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa110.html) and 119 (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa119.html).

-Robert

Guess I apparently learned something new with this thread.

I do have an old 3-position elliptical dish but never got the other 2 lnbs since 119 was Spanish and I didn't have a HD set yet. But I went back to a round 18" dish because it was much better with respect to rain fade. Hardly any, in fact.

But for all the trouble installing & aligning it sounds like I should sell off the old dishes and just buy a 5 lnb antenna so it will be MPEG 4 capable.

OTOH, I got mom a larger round dish and a 32" SD TV some time ago years ago because she never cared for the whole HDTV thing. Gee, I hope when she comes down for New Years she doesn't want to scrap everything to go HD. :eek:

Well, I guess it's ok if she does but that JVC weighs a ton. :(

But the nephew would be VERY happy with it, even if he is a cable customer. ;)

[jerbae]

Thanks for this information. I'm glad I found this site.
Thanks again!