Anyone know how long Orlando HD locals will remain on MPEG2?

[Solari]

Greetings,

I lucked out and bought a HR10-250 at the local Circuit City as an open box for $239. Just got a HDTV set so it's perfect timing. I have the regular DirecTivo.

I get the Orlando locals and they look good in HD, but after reading here about MPEG4 becoming the standard, I'm wondering how much longer I can enjoy this new box with the local HDs?

I'm avoiding the HR20 because of its closed captioning problems (am deaf as a doorknob).

Thanks.
Ray

[litzdog911]

Your HR10-250 receives your Orlando local HDTV channels using an over-the-air antenna. They're not provided by DirecTV's satellites. Those over-the-air channels will always be receivable on your HR10-250. The MPEG4 stuff you've read about is the new local HDTV channels beamed by DirecTV's new satellites. You'll need an HR20 HD DVR and 5-LNB satellite dish to receive those.

[chris_h]

Since you said you relied on CCs, you may want to do a search here for CC. There is one thread where I was helping a user who also needed CCs to try to resolve an issue with intermittent problems on HBO-HD and SHO-HD. I am not sure if you get these channels or not, but you may want to do a search anyways, just so you know.

Actually, I had it bookmarked. Here is the URL:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...=307200&page=2

[Solari]

Originally Posted by litzdog911

Your HR10-250 receives your Orlando local HDTV channels using an over-the-air antenna. They're not provided by DirecTV's satellites. Those over-the-air channels will always be receivable on your HR10-250. The MPEG4 stuff you've read about is the new local HDTV channels beamed by DirecTV's new satellites. You'll need an HR20 HD DVR and 5-LNB satellite dish to receive those.

Actually, they're coming through the satellite. I don't have it set yet to receive OTA yet. I get what DirecTV calls the Orlando-Daytona FL locals.

Ray

[SpankyInChicago]

Originally Posted by Solari

Actually, they're coming through the satellite. I don't have it set yet to receive OTA yet. I get what DirecTV calls the Orlando-Daytona FL locals.

Ray

Then you are not getting HD.

The only way for you to get HD locals via DirecTV is to use an HR20.

Alternatively, if you had waivers you could get the national HD feeds of the major networks over the sat. But these would be the stations from New York, not Orlando.

So, you either:

1) Don't have an HR10-250 and are getting the HD locals from DirecTV through an HR20

2) Have an HR10-250 and are mistaking local SD channels for HD.

3) Have an HR10-250 and are receiving local HD channels OTA even though you don't have an antenna hooked up (possible but unlikely)

4) Have an HR10-250, have waivers, and are getting New York HD channels from DirecTV

Other than for NYC and LA, the HR10-250 is not capable of receiving any local HD channels sent by DirecTV.

[litzdog911]

Originally Posted by Solari

Actually, they're coming through the satellite. I don't have it set yet to receive OTA yet. I get what DirecTV calls the Orlando-Daytona FL locals.

Ray

Looks like you're getting your Standard Definition locals from DirecTV then, not HiDef. Those SD locals will be around for a long long time.

[Solari]

Odd, I asked the DirecTV CSR if I had HD locals and she said yes after pulling up my account. Guess I'll find out for sure later tonight when I tune in to some HD programming.

Are there any local markets still getting their HD locals via MPEG2 these days?

Ray

[SpankyInChicago]

Originally Posted by Solari

Are there any local markets still getting their HD locals via MPEG2 these days?

LA & NYC. These are the only local markets to ever receive HD locals in MPEG2.

[Sir_winealot]

Originally Posted by Solari

Odd, I asked the DirecTV CSR if I had HD locals and she said yes after pulling up my account. Guess I'll find out for sure later tonight when I tune in to some HD programming.

Are there any local markets still getting their HD locals via MPEG2 these days?

Ray

Perhaps she meant that yes, you have HD locals in your area...but they are only available via MPEG4.

[Solari]

Well I was more specific than that - I said where are the HD locals on this machine (she was the one activating it) and she gave me the channel numbers. Prolly another confused CSR.

Now I don't know what to do because the HR20 has numerous captioning problems and are virtually worthless to me until those are resolved.

Sigh.

Ray

[Sir_winealot]

Plus the HR20 is not yet recording consistantly for many people.

Why can't you simply hook up an OTA antenna? You shouldn't have a problem in Orlando at all....go to:

http://antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

and plug in your address and check it out.

I'm in the Tampa Bay area, and get all our locals beautifully with a Channel Master antenna hanging off a truss in my attic.