View Full Version : Technical Site for DTV's Receivers
Loubiere
03-19-2008, 07:54 AM
Is there a technical site that I could obtain more information DirectV's receivers. I am in the process of upgrading my TV's to HDTV. I am looking for information to compare DTV and Verizon FIOS.
JimSpence
03-19-2008, 08:39 AM
Exactly what kind of info are you looking for?
There are all kinds of forums on the internet.
This might be a good place to start.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/
This will get you satellite infiormation
http://www.dbstalk.com/index.php
mr.unnatural
03-19-2008, 08:48 AM
Try the DirecTV website. They have manuals for all of their receivers and DVRs available for download as well as detailed info on their program packages. If you have FIOS available in your area then I'd highly recommend giving it serious consideration over DirecTV. I had DTV for over 10 years and dropped them last year in favor of FIOS. The picture quality rivals, and probably exceeds, anything DirecTV offers. I can get 12 locals in HD via FIOS vs. the whopping four channels DirecTV says I can receive. I was at a point where I was no longer in a commitment with DirecTV and I had to decide whether or not I wanted to get into another one by switching to their HD DVRs after they abandoned the HDTivos. Once the S3 Tivo was released it became perfectly clear that FIOS was the better choice for me.
DirecTV does currently offer more HD channels but many of them have little or no actual HD content. Verizon is supposed to add more HD channels sometime before the end of this year. There is absolutely no commitment with FIOS whereas DirecTV will increase or extend your commitment with every hardware change you make. The overall cost between the two services will be fairly close, depending on what package and extras you get.
With FIOS you can get a discount if you agree to a commitment whereas DTV makes it a requirement with no discount. FIOS internet is worth the switch all by itself (I couldn't wait to dump Comcast for better service at about two-thirds the cost). If you lump your TV, internet, and land-line phone service (includes unlimited long distance at no extra cost) together I believe you get an additional 5% discount. You can also get them put together into a single monthly bill along with your Verizon wireless service.
My Mother-in-Law recently signed up for FIOS and they gave her a new HDTV just for signing up! It's only a 20-incher but it's a flat screen set she can use in the bedroom. I got a $100 gift card or signing up and another $50 as an apology for not getting the fiber line buried in a timely manner (it was the middle of February, the ground was frozen, and they sent out a crew with jackhammers to do it the day after everything was initially installed). DirecTV would have left me hanging for weeks with no apology or compensation of any kind. They might give you a "free" DVR that you don't actually own (and a 2-year commitment as well).:rolleyes:
I've dealt with installers from both companies and the Verizon guys put DirecTV to shame. Every one I've met has been totally professional and very well trained. Many of the DTV guys gave me the impression that someone loaded them into a pickup truck that morning from the corner where the migrant workers hang out in hopes of finding work that day.
scottt
03-19-2008, 09:10 AM
DTV package $54.99 + HD package $9.99 + 2 additional DVR's $9.98.
Total DTV $74.96 + about $3.25 in taxes
FIOS package $47.99 + 3 DVR's $47.97
Total FIOS $95.96 + taxes
No brainer for me.
DTV package $54.99 + HD package $9.99 + 2 additional DVR's $9.98.
Total DTV $74.96 + about $3.25 in taxes
FIOS package $47.99 + 3 DVR's $47.97
Total FIOS $95.96 + taxes
No brainer for me.
Scott, the Tivo HD would be $15 cheaper on a one-year prepay or 12.95 monthly x 3 = $38.85. That is 86.84 plus typically a much faster broadband speed.
I would definitely sign up for FIOS if it were available here. In my mind, their total package is much better than anyone else with the technology they are offering, plus they have the base for the video explosion that will be occurring over the internet in the next few years. I don't think they have to worry about how much a customer downloads over the internet like a lot of the cable companies do.
HiDefGator
03-19-2008, 10:10 AM
DirecTV does currently offer more HD channels but many of them have little or no actual HD content.
funny how this incorrect comment is always made by people not capable of watching those channels.
funny how this incorrect comment is always made by people not capable of watching those channels.
funny how some of these new HD channels seem to repeat the same shows 13 times a week. Oh, I guess it must be for the poor folks that don't have dvrs ... or could it just be that they don't really have the shows:confused::confused:
sjberra
03-19-2008, 08:04 PM
funny how some of these new HD channels seem to repeat the same shows 13 times a week. Oh, I guess it must be for the poor folks that don't have dvrs ... or could it just be that they don't really have the shows:confused::confused:
And this is different from the SD channels that do the same thing?
TolloNodre
03-19-2008, 09:00 PM
funny how some of these new HD channels seem to repeat the same shows 13 times a week. Oh, I guess it must be for the poor folks that don't have dvrs ... or could it just be that they don't really have the shows:confused::confused:
RS4! Like everyone doesn't already know you hate DirecTV...:D
DirecTV, like Dish, or TWC, only carries what's available to them.
It's not like the same channel (SD or HD) isn't repeating the same crap on cable.
That's why many of us go OTA only. Got tired of paying for stretched crap.
rminsk
03-19-2008, 09:03 PM
funny how this incorrect comment is always made by people not capable of watching those channels.I'll make the comment and I have all the equipment to receive and view the new HD channels.
DirecTV does currently offer more HD channels but many of them have little or no actual HD content.
Most of the new HD content I see is upconverted standard definition. So I get the same quality I get and the standard definition channel using more bandwidth (disk space)
classicsat
03-19-2008, 09:09 PM
Is there a technical site that I could obtain more information DirectV's receivers. I am in the process of upgrading my TV's to HDTV. I am looking for information to compare DTV and Verizon FIOS.
As far as the end use is concerned, they are practically similar enough not to bother.
What really matters is what is being carried, and the terms of hardware possession.
Don't forget TiVo compatibility though. FIOS can use the Series 3 TiVos, DirecTV cannot. OTOH, you can use DirecTV TiVos on DiecTV and use dual tuners fo all channels. On FIOS, the analog Dual tuner will at most get a handful of analog channels, if at all.
Mark Lopez
03-19-2008, 10:04 PM
DirecTV does currently offer more HD channels but many of them have little or no actual HD content.
You should have added 'that interests me' at the end. There is plenty of new HD content on channels like Discovery, History, etc. But if one's interests don't go beyond the mentality level of Survivor or American Idol, then there probably isn't much to watch.
scottt
03-20-2008, 08:32 AM
Scott, the Tivo HD would be $15 cheaper on a one-year prepay or 12.95 monthly x 3 = $38.85. That is 86.84 plus typically a much faster broadband speed.
I would definitely sign up for FIOS if it were available here. In my mind, their total package is much better than anyone else with the technology they are offering, plus they have the base for the video explosion that will be occurring over the internet in the next few years. I don't think they have to worry about how much a customer downloads over the internet like a lot of the cable companies do.
Already have FIOS for internet. Just can't see spending (as you state it) $12 extra a month (on top of buying the TiVo's).
RS4! Like everyone doesn't already know you hate DirecTV...:D
DirecTV, like Dish, or TWC, only carries what's available to them.
It's not like the same channel (SD or HD) isn't repeating the same crap on cable.
That's why many of us go OTA only. Got tired of paying for stretched crap.
I'm not sure what my dislike of Direct has to do with this. :confused:
Everyone except HiDefGator seems to realize that many of these channels still don't have full-time HD programs, yet his statement came down on the poster who was making an obvious comment, and demeaning the poster because he didn't have an HR2x. No smiley - no nothing - just typical D* fan-boy bs :rolleyes: - so I took it upon myself to point out the obvious:D
FiOS is in the process of eliminating analog channels. The NY area is scheduled to go all digital in April.
FiOS currently has more HD channels then DTV had 6 months ago, by the end of the year FiOS is expected to have a similar number of HD channles. I'd rather have fewer HD channels, that have real HD content and that aren't over-compressed. In other words I think FiOS has it right.
Don't plan on using a series 2 tivo to record analog channels.
FiOS requires a 2 year comittment, but unlike DTV guarantees your rates for the duration of your comittment.
mr.unnatural
03-20-2008, 02:49 PM
DTV package $54.99 + HD package $9.99 + 2 additional DVR's $9.98.
Total DTV $74.96 + about $3.25 in taxes
FIOS package $47.99 + 3 DVR's $47.97
Total FIOS $95.96 + taxes
No brainer for me.
Is that no brainer or just no brains? I looked into the pricing structure before making the switch and the Verizon DVRs were not even a remote consideration for me. One of the primary reasons I switched was because FIOS had more HD content than DirecTV at the time with far better picture quality (DTV's mpeg2 HD channels sucked by comparison and their SD content had deteriorated badly over the years). DirecTV was promising more HD channels but their track record wasn't too good for similar promises made in the past so I wasn't too confident that they would come through with the new channels. I didn't want to get into another 2-year commitment and be stuck with an inferior HD DVR that was still in the development stage. With FIOS I could still have a Tivo as my HD DVR, which made it an easy choice by a landslide. In all fairness, DirecTV did live up to their promise of more HD channels (although not necessarily that much more HD content to fill them, as others have also indicated) and the HR20 turned out to be a decent DVR (who knew?:rolleyes:).
FYI - My two S3 Tivos cost me less than two Verizon DVRs with more than triple the capacity (500GB vs. 160GB) and the ability to use more than one of them in the same room. I can also transfer videos to my PC, unlike the DirecTV HD DVR or the Verizon DVR. When you add up the total cost I think you'll find the price differential to be far less than you realize. I get an additional 5% off my TV package for having internet and phone service with Verizon, making it pretty much dead even on the monthly costs for each service when you factor in the cost of two S3 Tivos (one with a 3-year commitment @ $8.31/month and the 2nd @ $6.95 per month plus four cablecards @ $4.99 each). There is no HD package fee nor is there any DVR fee with Verizon. Did I also mention that FIOS gives me 12 local channels in HD vs. only four from DirecTV?
I believe the price you quoted for the Plus HD DVR package is a special deal that DirecTV is currently running and is only good for the first 12 months. I'm pretty sure it also only applies to new subscribers. The regular price is $72.99 per month according to the DirecTV website. When the special price expires it may will end up costing much more than what I currently pay for FIOS. Since I was already a DirecTV customer I would not have been eligible for the rates you posted, although I'm certain that customer retention would have given me a few incentives to stick around. Here's the actual cost breakdown as I see it:
DirecTV
Plus HD DVR package = $72.99 (includes one HD-DVR & HD package w/HD access)
One additional HD-DVR = $4.99
Total = $77.98 + local taxes, as applicable (currently 6% in MD)
FIOS
FIOS TV Premier = $47.99 (includes all non-premium HD & 12 local HD channels)
Two S3 Tivos = $31.22 (includes Tivo service and cablecards)
Total = $79.21 less 5% discount for bundled services = $71.29 + tax
I believe each package includes over 200 digital channels and numerous music channels. The main thing is that both services include the channels I would actually watch.
sjberra
03-20-2008, 02:52 PM
FiOS is in the process of eliminating analog channels. The NY area is scheduled to go all digital in April.
FiOS currently has more HD channels then DTV had 6 months ago, by the end of the year FiOS is expected to have a similar number of HD channles. I'd rather have fewer HD channels, that have real HD content and that aren't over-compressed. In other words I think FiOS has it right.
Don't plan on using a series 2 tivo to record analog channels.
FiOS requires a 2 year comittment, but unlike DTV guarantees your rates for the duration of your comittment.
Would suspect the primary falacy behind this thinking is the simple fact that the carrier (aka Directv, Fios, Uverse, Charter, Ad nauseum) is NOT the one that provides the content. The carrier may adverstise that it has 10 billion HD channels available but only 3 of those 10 billion actually broadcast from the station in HD. Total number of HD channels available mean nothing, total number fo true HD content broadcasts is what counts, and the carrier has no control over that, no matter what the sales weasels tell you.
the carrier has no control over that, no matter what the sales weasels tell you.
Of course the carrier has control, they can decline to carry "phony" HD channels. Conversely a carrier, like DTV, can carry channels with "phony" HD and over compress them so they can claim they have more channels.
ebonovic
03-20-2008, 04:15 PM
Of course the carrier has control, they can decline to carry "phony" HD channels. Conversely a carrier, like DTV, can carry channels with "phony" HD and over compress them so they can claim they have more channels.
Who determins it as a "phony" HD channel.
Let's take TNT for example...
A lot of their programming is converted, stretched.... but they do broadcast a lot of HD that is what most would call "true" HD.
SciFi - They only have two or three HD programs right now.
So while a lot of the other content is matted or stretched.... I love the fact that I can get StarGate Atlantis in HD first run, and will be able to have BSG in HD first run.
NBC Chicago..... we know what they broadcast in the evenings... but non primetime and sports... is either matted or stretched.
So what is a "phony" HD channels.
If it is 24x7 all the time HD... then off the top of my head... I can only think of three maybe four channels (HDNet/HDMovies/Discovery Theater/Smithsonian) that would fall into that category... maybe MGM... I haven't watched it enough..
Every other single HD channel out there, either shows a matted SD upconverted, or some stretched version of something else.
Intelligent people can debate what's real HD vs phony. You have 4 good examples near the end of your post. I think the Universal channel also qualifies. Networks that give us real HD during at least prime time meet my definition. Almost anytime I look at TMC, Starz, Sho HD channels the movies appear to be real HD. I guess my definition would be to look at the shows that are broadcast during peak "prime" viewing time.
Any HD channel that exclusively, or almost exclusively, shows a matted SD upconverted, or some stretched version of something else is a "phony" HD channel. Many of us discount the number of HD channels DTV claims to broadcast.
You make a valid point, a HD channel has merit to you if a show you watch is broadcast in HD.
Who determins it as a "phony" HD channel.
Let's take TNT for example...
A lot of their programming is converted, stretched.... but they do broadcast a lot of HD that is what most would call "true" HD.
SciFi - They only have two or three HD programs right now.
So while a lot of the other content is matted or stretched.... I love the fact that I can get StarGate Atlantis in HD first run, and will be able to have BSG in HD first run.
NBC Chicago..... we know what they broadcast in the evenings... but non primetime and sports... is either matted or stretched.
So what is a "phony" HD channels.
If it is 24x7 all the time HD... then off the top of my head... I can only think of three maybe four channels (HDNet/HDMovies/Discovery Theater/Smithsonian) that would fall into that category... maybe MGM... I haven't watched it enough..
Every other single HD channel out there, either shows a matted SD upconverted, or some stretched version of something else.
TyroneShoes
03-23-2008, 07:10 PM
...incorrect comment...It's actually very correct.
I have yet to see a HD program listed on SpikeHD. FXHD has a few movies, (and many more not in HD) but a lot of channels that are HD are carrying shows in SD that were actually in HD when they originally aired on the networks. TNTHD and TBSHD do the same thing, only they compound the felony by using that horrid "stretch-o-rama", which makes everything completely unwatchable.
FOX studios has 6 HD telecines sitting idle in LA, yet most of the movies they program MyTV and FX with are still in SD, including those from the FOX studios movie library. All of the movies in the FOX library will eventually have to be converted, and it would cost them next to nothing to do this now. What are they waiting for? BTW, where's the FMC in HD?
funny how this incorrect comment is always made by people not capable of watching those channels.
Funny how the DTV supporters ignore any facts they don't like.
Also funny how people who are capable of watching those channels don't even know what they're really watching.
Ebonovic is probably the biggest DTV supporter on TCF, even he admits much of the programming on the HD channels isn't true HD.
TyroneShoes gives other examples.
FiOS may not have as many "HD" channels as DTV, but they have the channels that actually show HD programming. Smithsonian is being added.
Let's take TNT for example...
A lot of their programming is converted, stretched.... but they do broadcast a lot of HD that is what most would call "true" HD.
SciFi - They only have two or three HD programs right now.
So while a lot of the other content is matted or stretched.... I love the fact that I can get StarGate Atlantis in HD first run, and will be able to have BSG in HD first run.
NBC Chicago..... we know what they broadcast in the evenings... but non primetime and sports... is either matted or stretched.
So what is a "phony" HD channels.
If it is 24x7 all the time HD... then off the top of my head... I can only think of three maybe four channels (HDNet/HDMovies/Discovery Theater/Smithsonian) that would fall into that category... maybe MGM... I haven't watched it enough..
Every other single HD channel out there, either shows a matted SD upconverted, or some stretched version of something else.
It's actually very correct.
I have yet to see a HD program listed on SpikeHD. FXHD has a few movies, (and many more not in HD) but a lot of channels that are HD are carrying shows in SD that were actually in HD when they originally aired on the networks. TNTHD and TBSHD do the same thing, only they compound the felony by using that horrid "stretch-o-rama", which makes everything completely unwatchable.
FOX studios has 6 HD telecines sitting idle in LA, yet most of the movies they program MyTV and FX with are still in SD, including those from the FOX studios movie library. All of the movies in the FOX library will eventually have to be converted, and it would cost them next to nothing to do this now. What are they waiting for? BTW, where's the FMC in HD?
jimb726
03-24-2008, 08:16 PM
Funny how the DTV supporters ignore any facts they don't like.
Also funny how people who are capable of watching those channels don't even know what they're really watching.
Ebonovic is probably the biggest DTV supporter on TCF, even he admits much of the programming on the HD channels isn't true HD.
TyroneShoes gives other examples.
FiOS may not have as many "HD" channels as DTV, but they have the channels that actually show HD programming. Smithsonian is being added.
What channels does FIOS offer that DirecTV doesnt as far as HD is concerned? Everyone knows that the carrier doesnt have any control over what amount of the programming is HD. You say that FIOS offers channels that show HD programming which would imply that there are many channels that DirecTV does not have carriage contracts with.
sjberra
03-25-2008, 07:15 AM
Funny how the DTV supporters ignore any facts they don't like.
Also funny how people who are capable of watching those channels don't even know what they're really watching.
Ebonovic is probably the biggest DTV supporter on TCF, even he admits much of the programming on the HD channels isn't true HD.
TyroneShoes gives other examples.
FiOS may not have as many "HD" channels as DTV, but they have the channels that actually show HD programming. Smithsonian is being added.
If both carriers have the same HD chennel, take Discovery Hd for an example, both carriers will see the exact same program in the exact same format. If the channel broadcasts the program in HD, they will both get it in HD. Not the fault of the carrier, but of the broadcaster. The broadcaster will not look at who the carrier is and say - oh this is FIOS, they get all the HD programs, this is Directv, they get none.
Directv has had Smithsonian-HD for a while also...
I guess I'm not wording my posts very well.
DTV claims to have 90 HD channels. Let's say your local cable system carries 25 HD channels. Does DTV really have an advantage if the extra 65 HD channels carried by DTV doesn't have any HD programming? Is the cable (or FiOS) system better if they're able to have superior picture quality by limiting the number of HD stations they carry?
Discovery HD, prime time network programming, HDNet, HDMovies, Discovery Theater, Smithsonian, the HD movie channels and maybe TNT seem to be about the only HD channels that actually show HD content.
I understand the provider doesn't give DTV an inferior signal but it seems like DTV decides of "over compress" the signal so they can carry more stations.
If both carriers have the same HD chennel, take Discovery Hd for an example, both carriers will see the exact same program in the exact same format. If the channel broadcasts the program in HD, they will both get it in HD. Not the fault of the carrier, but of the broadcaster. The broadcaster will not look at who the carrier is and say - oh this is FIOS, they get all the HD programs, this is Directv, they get none.
Directv has had Smithsonian-HD for a while also...
sjberra
03-25-2008, 08:02 PM
I guess I'm not wording my posts very well.
DTV claims to have 90 HD channels. Let's say your local cable system carries 25 HD channels. Does DTV really have an advantage if the extra 65 HD channels carried by DTV doesn't have any HD programming? Is the cable (or FiOS) system better if they're able to have superior picture quality by limiting the number of HD stations they carry?
Discovery HD, prime time network programming, HDNet, HDMovies, Discovery Theater, Smithsonian, the HD movie channels and maybe TNT seem to be about the only HD channels that actually show HD content.
I understand the provider doesn't give DTV an inferior signal but it seems like DTV decides of "over compress" the signal so they can carry more stations.
A station may have a HD broadcast signal, but never broadcast show one in HD, if carrier one and carrier two have it, it is still a HD channel, the fact that it does not have HD capable programs means nothing. Have been over a friends house and seen the same non-HD show being broadcast on one of the exact same channels that multiple carriers advertise as being HD, so where is the difference? Basicly this is nitpicking, FIOS, Uverse, Charter, and all the othe "HD carriers" do the exact same thing. They advertise having a HD channel available, even if the channel does not broadcast in true HD 7x24x365
TyroneShoes
03-25-2008, 09:59 PM
I guess I'm not wording my posts very well.
DTV claims to have 90 HD channels....They can safely claim that because it is a fact. I counted 96 way back in December.
I guess I'm not wording my posts very well...Let's say your local cable system carries 25 HD channels. Does DTV really have an advantage if the extra 65 HD channels carried by DTV doesn't have any HD programming?...That's a moot point because those channels probably all do have some HD programming. The only one I have never seen anything listed on is SPIKEHD, but that doesn't mean that they don't. Also I'm sure they will all begin to add more as time goes by. Channels adding HD that you have means you get it right away. Channels adding HD that you don't have means you don't get it until you eventually get the channel, so that's a definite advantage, in my view.
...Is the cable (or FiOS) system better if they're able to have superior picture quality by limiting the number of HD stations they carry?...it seems like DTV decides of "over compress"[/B] the signal so they can carry more stations.DTV's launch of MPEG-4 on Ka is the very solution to that problem. No system is better just because it has fewer channels, its a ratio of how much bandwidth they have vs how they use it. If a service has bandwidth dedicated to stuff I don't watch rather than dedicated to stuff I do watch, then that's a negative in my book, no matter who they are. If one service has 3 HD channels that are the 3 channels I watch, and another has 100 HD channels none of which I watch, guess which service I will subscribe to, assuming other issues are equivalent?
The compromising of PQ is an overblown issue. It may not be if DTV or cable or some FIOS vendor does it aggressively, but currently there is little difference between a channel on one vendor or another. My sister has the same 60" Sony I have, and cable looks virtually the same on hers as DTV does on mine. BTW, she is envious of DTV's superior DVRs, selection, VOD capability, and service.
IOW, PQ is not a reason to choose a vendor. Selection, service, price, convenience, DVR user interface, reliability, all of those are more compelling comparison points. Content is king, and that is why DTV is going that way, I would venture to guess. If not for DTV's aggressive stance on launching HD, many of the channels that cable or FIOS (or even DISH) is considering launching would not even exist yet. DTV solved the "chicken vs. egg" problem by supplying both.
shibby191
03-26-2008, 12:52 PM
I guess I'm not wording my posts very well.
DTV claims to have 90 HD channels. Let's say your local cable system carries 25 HD channels. Does DTV really have an advantage if the extra 65 HD channels carried by DTV doesn't have any HD programming? Is the cable (or FiOS) system better if they're able to have superior picture quality by limiting the number of HD stations they carry?
Discovery HD, prime time network programming, HDNet, HDMovies, Discovery Theater, Smithsonian, the HD movie channels and maybe TNT seem to be about the only HD channels that actually show HD content.
Wow, you need to do better research, there is tons of HD content out there. ;) My wife and I watch HD content on a whole lot more then that. I watch HD shows on SciFi all the time. Even Spike HD has HD movies and such on it. All the HD channels DirecTV carries have some HD programming on it.
You are going on the same argument that was posed 5 years ago. If ESPN-HD only showed 3 HD events a week was it really and HD channel? Please, of course it is. And those 3 HD games a week were awesome. Now they are closing in on 100% HD. Same with all these new HD channels. Some only have a few hours a week in HD, but it's growing. And DirecTV carries the channel. So what HD there is, you get it. Why is that a bad thing?
If your cable company has just 25 HD channels and the content on the other 65 that DirecTV carries you don't care about then sure it doesn't matter *to you* that they have 65 more HD channels. But it sure might matter to *me* if there is HD content on those 65 that I care about. So again, why is it a bad thing for that choice to be there?
jimb726
03-28-2008, 09:42 AM
They can safely claim that because it is a fact. I counted 96 way back in December.
That's a moot point because those channels probably all do have some HD programming. The only one I have never seen anything listed on is SPIKEHD, but that doesn't mean that they don't. Also I'm sure they will all begin to add more as time goes by. Channels adding HD that you have means you get it right away. Channels adding HD that you don't have means you don't get it until you eventually get the channel, so that's a definite advantage, in my view.
Actually SPIKE does have some HD content. On the weekend they have a block of shows they refer to as powerblocktv, its a bunch of car shows and several of them have had HD in the past, and I am pretty sure now at least two of them, HorsepowerTV, and MuscleCar and possibly even Trucks is in HD this season.
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