[darkserpant]

Let me begin by telling you guys that I went to comcast cable. I went there cause of Hd. But I have had nothing but problems with thus far. Regarding their piece of crap, and I mean peice of crap dvr. I am on my fourth one and I switched to Comcast about 4-5 months ago. Anyway can somebody please expain to me in detail how this hd signal works with directv. With comcast I don't need any external antenna for me to receive the signal. I was told with direc I would. And I was also told when I am watching tv to go to a channel that has hd I would need to switch something on the box.I am not quite sure on that. With Comcast all I have to do is just go to the channel that broeadcasts hd. I don't want a ugly external antenna sitting around whether it being a 1960's rabbit ears on top of the tv or a wall hanging antenna. I was hoping it would be a setup like Comcast. And if I do come back would I still be able to get the tivo r10. I heard to many stories on the r15. Thanks for all your help.

 

[dswallow]

1) Local HD channels are only available in the top 12 markets right now -- and only the 4 major networks. DirecTV is rolling out another 24 or so markets this year for sure, but again only the 4 major networks. Of course, these are provided in MPEG-4 and DirecTV's DVR that can handle MPEG4 HD won't be out till mid-2006.

2) If DirecTV isn't providing your local HD channels yet, the only way you can get them is over-the-air with an antenna (presuming you can get decent reception that way, of course). If DirecTV is providing your local HD channels, you'd need an antenna if you wanted to receive any stations beyond the 4 major network ones. By 2007 they'll be providing all local HD channels in most all markets -- if everything goes well.

3) DirecTV generally is only providing the R15 as an SD DVR, the TiVo models are available from dealers, though. If you were a customer before, all your existing equipment could just be reactivated.

4) Depending on where you live relative to local station transmitters, you might get away with using some compact, unobtrusive antennas that are smaller than your satellite dish.

5) The HR10-250 really still is, by far, the best HD DVR out there. If you can get all your locals using an antenna, you wouldn't miss out on anything.

 

[darkserpant]

Is there a way where I can find out what those top 12 markets are? And what new markets are supposed to come out this year?

 

[lee espinoza]

were do you live?

 

[disco]

There's no official "list". That said, DirecTV is basically following the Nielson markets ratings, but not directly. Detroit, while market 11, was the first to receive MPEG 4 local HDTV.

 

[HogarthNH]

There's no official "list".

.. at least, not one that we're privy to.

 

[disco]

.. at least, not one that we're privy to.

Right...of course.

 

[darkserpant]

I live in the harrisburg Pa. area. Is this one of the markets?

 

[lee espinoza]

I live in the harrisburg Pa. area. Is this one of the markets?

No

 

[dswallow]

I live in the harrisburg Pa. area. Is this one of the markets?

That's the 41st largest television market.

You're probably not going to be among the first 36 markets, but you might still make it this year depending on what DirecTV plans to do after the first 36 go live. They might just be waiting to do another group with the existing satellites or to see how much capacity remains before announcing what's next.

 

[newsposter]

Also note at this time, upn/wb/pbs are not in HD even in the top 12 markets nor will be on the sats at least this year by all accounts I've read. So stay with comcast if that's important to you.

 

[rborden]

Is there a way where I can find out what those top 12 markets are? And what new markets are supposed to come out this year?

There is a list. I will post it tommorow.

 

[SeattleCarl]

Check http://www.nielsenmedia.com/dmas.html

(Not sure why, when I click the link it does not find the page, but if I type that url in, it works.)

That is the nielsen rating of the top 200 or so markets in the US. Supposedly D* is going in roughly this order - although Detroit (11th on the Nielsen list) was the first city D* did. Someone else suggested that D* is going in accordance with how many HD subscribers they have in each market. Theoretically, that demographic should generally follow the market size demographic.

Carl

 

[cktb2793]

I have a question....... If you "live" in Key West....... (which is considered the Miami market for locals)........and you have the E/W Feeds due to Key West being a "white area" for OTA.......... what will happen when the Miami HD locals go live???

Will Key West still be able to have the E/W Feeds since they still will NOT be able to receive regular OTA signals?? Or will they be turned off?

 

[HogarthNH]

I'm pretty sure because you're in the Miami market, you'll have to migrate to MPEG4 locals.

Congress mandated that satellite broadcasters may not give Distant Network (E/W) feeds to anyone where they offer "local market broadcasts."

H

 

[rborden]

Cities to be added in 04/06(Baltimore,Birmingham,Charlotte,Hartford,Miami,Minneapolis,Nashville,Pittsburg,Sacramento,San Diego,Seattle,W. Palm Beach)...
To be added in 05/06(Cleveland,Columbus,Denver,Fresno,Indianapolis,Kansas City,Milwaukee,Orlando,Phoenix,Pittsburg,St. Louis,Salt Lake City)

 

[goony]

Correct link for Neilsen's DMAs list: http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html

 

[IOTP]

Cities to be added in 04/06(Baltimore,Birmingham,Charlotte,Hartford,Miami,Minneapolis,Nashville,Pittsburg,Sacramento,San Diego,Seattle,W. Palm Beach)...
To be added in 05/06(Cleveland,Columbus,Denver,Fresno,Indianapolis,Kansas City,Milwaukee,Orlando,Phoenix,Pittsburg,St. Louis,Salt Lake City)

Is that for the MPEG4 locals delivery over the dish??

I'm in Phoenix.