Upgrading to HD questions....

[CsrLiz344]

I'm sure the answers are out there somewhere, but I can't track them down, so TIA for anything you can tell me.

1) If I go to DTV HD, can I still use my R-10 to record SD channels and not worry about recording the HD ones? I keep reading negative things about the HD DVR that D* uses now, so I don't think it's gonna be worth getting one, and I don't have the money to buy any other.
2) I'm confused about the OTA HD thing on DTV. I have local channels now, and I'm not sure I'm worried about if they are HD or not-can I still use the same dish, with HD sevice, or no?

[rbtravis]

If you are using only OTA HD then there is no need to change your Dish. You only need the 5 LNB dish if you are getting your signal from Satellite. :)

[rlj5242]

1. DTV (digtial television) is a subset of HD. If you are going D* (the proper abbreviation for DirecTV), then the R10 will work fine with any upgrade. I use my GXCEBOT (series 1 DirecTivo) along with my HR10-250 (HD DirecTivo) and HR20-100 (DirecTV HD DVR). They are all independent of each other. Upgrading the dish to receive the HD channels that you want does not impact the performance of the older receivers.

2. OTA can be received independent of DirecTV by using the proper UHF/VHF antenna. I like my HR10 and HR20 because OTA DTV (digital television) is integrated into the guide and can be recorded seamlessly by either DVR. My older E86 D* receiver would integrate local channels via satellite, local DTV channels and local NTSC (OTA analog) channels seamlessly into the guide. (Now you see where the appropriate abbreviations work together)

-Robert

[CsrLiz344]

According to the D* website, my locals are not HD. So, I guess until they are, I will keep my local dish.

[rlj5242]

According to the D* website, my locals are not HD. So, I guess until they are, I will keep my local dish.The D* website only shows that channels are in HD if they are carried in HD on the satellite. The majority of the TV stations in the US have already made the conversion to digital. All you will need is an HR20 (hard to get) or the HR21 and the OTA tuner (due out in March) to get national HD channels via satellite and local HD via antenna.

-Robert

[williamtheis]

I got a lifetime tivo subscription with DirectTV for my series 1. what happens when HD happens? will there be standard NTSC broadcast. any upgrade path to convert lifetime subscription to HD? even any rumors?

Bill

[rlj5242]

I got a lifetime tivo subscription with DirectTV for my series 1. As we tell everyone, the lifetime subscription is now tied to your account. It covers every DVR (not just DirecTivos) on your account. It is in effect as long as your account is active.

what happens when HD happens? Since you are a D* customer, absolutely nothing. The transition to DTV (digital television) only impacts over the air broadcasts. As you see, I didn't say HD. HD is not a requirement in the transition. D*, E* and the cable companies are not required to make any changes. What they are doing is responding to market demand for more HD channels by adding them.

any upgrade path to convert lifetime subscription to HD? even any rumors? Like I stated earlier, your lifetime covers all DVRs on your account. You can go to Best Buy and "buy" (lease) an HR21 DVR, activate it, upgrade your programming to the HD package and enjoy many national channels that have been in HD for the last 5 years. Depending on your location, you may get your locals in HD via satellite. In March, you can add on an OTA tuner to your HR21 that will allow you to get your local digital channels via antenna (again depending on your location and choosing the correct antenna).

This forum (the HD section anyway) constantly discusses the new HD channels, upgrade specials (like when I got an HR20 HD DVR, new dish and installation for $19.95) and any rumors that are flying around. D* has been advertising new HD channels for well over a year. There have been many press releases stating their plans.

-Robert

[mrdbdigital]

1. DTV (digtial television) is a subset of HD.

Actually, HD is a subset of DTV.

[rlj5242]

Actually, HD is a subset of DTV.Thanks for the correction.

-Robert

[williamtheis]

As we tell everyone, the lifetime subscription is now tied to your account. It covers every DVR (not just DirecTivos) on your account. It is in effect as long as your account is active.

Just called DirecTV to verify that all you have said is true and it most certainly is! :D

Thanks so much. now to go shopping for that Directv DVR. they did say they wouldn't sell/install the HD version unless I owned an HD TV set :confused:

one step at a time. But THANX

[rlj5242]

Thanks so much. now to go shopping for that Directv DVR. they did say they wouldn't sell/install the HD version unless I owned an HD TV set :confused: Tell them you have one. My installer didn't care what TV I had. But he was impressed with the HD picture from my projector and 103" screen. :D

-Robert

[everklier]

i can seem to find my answer here or in google. if i go HD with DTV, will i get my locals in HD. thanks.

[rlj5242]

if i go HD with DTV, will i get my locals in HD. thanks. Please see post #3 for proper abbreviation usage.

If you upgrade to HD with D* I have no idea if you will get your locals in HD. I don't know what demographic market area (DMA or basically what locals you get based on where you live) you live in. You location of Illinois is not specific enough.

-Robert

[rbtravis]

Everklier
see your location is Chicago, Ask the CSR if Chicago Locals are Broadcasting in HD
and if Directv has enabled them. Ask CSR before you order.

[everklier]

im in cook county right outside of chicago. i called d* and the rep. told me the following locals were in hi def for my area. 2 cbs, 5, nbc, 7 abc, 9 wgn, and 32 fox. can someone verify please. thank you.

[rlj5242]

im in cook county right outside of chicago. i called d* and the rep. told me the following locals were in hi def for my area. 2 cbs, 5, nbc, 7 abc, 9 wgn, and 32 fox. can someone verify please. thank you. You can check the D* web site or Lyngsat (http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa103.html). According to the link, it is CBS, NBC, ABC, CW and Fox. If you want WGN-DT you need an antenna. Chicago digital channels (http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast-market.php?dma_name%5B%5D=Chicago).

-Robert

[fadein34]

Please see post #3 for proper abbreviation usage.

If you upgrade to HD with D* I have no idea if you will get your locals in HD. I don't know what demographic market area (DMA or basically what locals you get based on where you live) you live in. You location of Illinois is not specific enough.

-Robert

Seriously. Is there a dictionary here somewhere? I wouldn't say I'm a super user of any kind... just signed up recently because of my system rebooting 796 times a day but have browsed when needed over the years. Your two posts in this one thread are the first two I've ever seen with your AC.

Throw a dog a bone. Maybe?

[rlj5242]

Seriously. Is there a dictionary here somewhere?The Echostar Knowledge Base Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations hosted by DBS Talk (http://ekb.dbstalk.com/glossary.htm).

DTV is the appropriate abbreviation for digital television. Hence the site DTV Answers (http://www.dtvanswers.com/) run the the assciation of broadcasters that covers the transition from analog to digital TV. But DTV is sometimes used for DirecTV. That's fine until you start mixing digital TV/HD into the mix.

The use of the asterisk as part of the name came from the old newsgroups and discussion of the Alphastar and Primestar satellite systems and the equipment supplier, Echostar. The asterisk represented the "star" portion of the name along with the first letter. When DirecTV started, the format just carried over with D*. When Dishnetwork started, we couldn't have two companies represented by D* so we just used E* since Echostar is the parent company of Dish.

-Robert

[bob2208]

I need a new antenna for my upcoming (4/14) HR21 installation. (Yes, I know the HR21 has no OTA input).

I would like 1) omnidirectional and 2) something relatively small for an outdoor installation where I currently have a very old Radio Shack unit. I really don't want to go with the traditional yagi type, but will if that is the only alternative.

I live 25 miles north of the two Chicago transmission locations and all my desired stations are either yellow or light green. Right now I can get only WBBM on 2.1.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[bob2208]

A friend told me that the HR21, while it will buffer for 90 minutes, will not retain the buffer if the tuner is switched. In our current system, this double-buffering is about the most useful feature there is.

I hope my friend was wrong.

Bob

[rlj5242]

I need a new antenna ....Any suggestions would be appreciated. Go to AVS Forums and look in the Local HDTV section. Find the Chicago OTA thread and see if anyone in your area/neighborhood has gone through the trial and error process of finding the perfect antenna.

I hope my friend was wrong. Your friend is 100% correct.

-Robert