Cinemax and HBO have been added

[cypherstream]

Is this above statement accurate? I thought all broadcast (non PPV & VOD) HD channels are max 1080i/720p (~1024x720)... not 1080p (1920x1080) unless it's over VOD. Which means we're already below 1440x1080 for transponder channels. Also, you would never change the resolution. That would completely screw up how the image renders on you TV. DTV would need to add in extra compression to increase stations per transponder. Or am I just crazy?

Current broadcasts are either:
1920x1080i
1280x720p

Rumor has it that Dish Network downresses 1920x1080i to 1440x1080i. Maybe this is how they get 8 HD channels per transponder.

Sure, you don't have to touch the resolution. You can use better encoders. Variable bit rate encoding. You can mix and match the right level of motion demanding channels, vs highly compressible static, slow moving channels. You wouldn't want to put say 6 channels that all show action movies and sports together. You would split it up with news style (talking heads), shopping, already highly compressed content, 720p content mixed with 1080i in the proper mixes, etc...

Cable uses advanced encoders by Imagine Communications, RGB Networks and Cisco Systems to get 3 HD channels in 6 MHz of bandwidth, as opposed to older encoders that only fit 2 HD channels in that same space. It works as long as the content is properly chosen. Perhaps 2 720p channels and 1 1080i channel. Or 1 720p channels, 1 1080i "talking head" (like HLN) and another 1080i like TNT or something.

Its the proper choice of content that helps minimize bit starving other networks on a very limited bandwidth transponder.

 

[JerseyMatt]

There is no reason in this day and age to not draw a line in the sand and say, all future receivers will be HD and we will be phasing out SD equipment over the next couple years. It would be worth the minimal churn (those clinging to late 90's technology) as it would allow focus on what should be their core business - high quality, high definition television.

^^ This.

I also don't see what people's issues with taking a contract in exchange for thousands of dollars worth of free equipment and probably programming deals that's several orders of magnitude better than what you already have. It's not like a cell phone where the technology is evolving to the point where you're locked into a 2 year contract and stuck with a phone that's obsolete in 2 months and worn out/broken in a year and have to limp through the second year or pay the non-subsidy price for a new phone.. It's not even like the TV technology itself, which has new features and technology coming out every few months. Now that 3D capable receivers are here, it will be several more years before something groundbreaking happens as far as the providers go.

People are much less likely to switch from a TV service that they've had for a a long term, unless there is a good reason (customer service fumble, huge rate increase, etc). There is a learning curve involved, and they just don't want to be bothered to learn new channel numbers, remotes, and interfaces. So the provider you have now is most likely the provider you will have two years from now, whether you are in a contract or not. It's not like they'd be forcing you to run out and buy an HDTV either. If you're one of those technophobes that insist on clinging to your old tube-o-vision for whatever reason, you can still hook it up to the HD box and watch in SD.

 

[Mr Tony]

in some areas they only install HD equipment (the markets where the locals are only in HD) so that helps. The issue is there are lots of folks who may have HD receivers but still have 1 or 2 SD units around. My mom is one of them. 3 HD units and 1 D12 SD receiver

 

[petsheep]

Current broadcasts are either:
1920x1080i
1280x720p

Right, but in terms with bandwidth, the two resolutions above have just about the signature. So one 720p channel will take up the same space in the stream as one 1080i using the same Mbps compression.

 

[Bill_KY]

See if I understand this... spend money on two new receivers, a new DVR a new dish and then on top of it a two year commitment because the company decides that everyone needs to be HD ? Sounds like something Dish would pull on their customers. We will not be buying any new receivers, dishes or being stuck with new commitments. If it means leaving Direct...so be it...

 

[riffjim4069]

Good addition to the HD lineup.

Sent from my HTC EVO using SatelliteGuys App

 

[treyatl2006]

I also agree with the notion that Directv should go all HD but they have to do it in a smart way. They have to wein their customers off sd content. They should have put in plans to go all HD 3 years ago. They start off by making sure all new customers get HD equament. Then announce a 5 year transition to HD only. Next they should give their current customers an incentive to upgrade. Lastly, for the customers that remain they should just give them HD receivers without the contract extention. I believe all the HD receivers can down convert. At least the ones I own do. Cell phones companies have been doing this for years. They transitioned from analog to CDMA/GSM. And in a few years they will be transitioning to LTE.

 

[satjay]

I am also guessing that there are some customers without any HD TV's

 

[treyatl2006]

I am also guessing that there are some customers without any HD TV's

The HD receivers I have can down convert and connect to SD TV's through s-video port. Most tv's have s-video connections. And if it doesnt then a cheap 2 dollar adapter will convert it to coax or composite.

 

[Jimbo]

I would imagine IF D* decided to go ALL HD and swap out all the SD recvrs, it would be pricy to them and the sub, however, I'm sure they would be offering some sort of deal to get them changed over, possibly like having NO new Commitment for the change over recvrs.

Or, there also the people like ICE said earlier that are already in HD markets where everything that comes out is HD, however, if you don't have HD sets, you don't get the HD signal and don't pay the extra for the HD Fee (which is free for most of us anyways).

 

[tvropro]

Contracts are just a way to make you a slave to the provider, be it cell phones, tv or whatever. Making you take a new contract everytime you change something is just pure greed on their part. All the tier two providers of tv programming (pizza, cable, twisted pair) should have been migrating to full HD lite all along and do away with SD lite. The SD that they all sell is bandwidth crippled to the max and if they don't put caps on, the HD will follow suit. If a person has a SD only tv the STB's should down convert the HD feeds just like the converter boxes do for OTA. At least watching a HD lite feed in SD will give you more of what the SD first gen actually is.

With these companies brainwashing is the key. Force it down your throat until you accept it as the norm. It's the same thing they are doing with gas prices. Since when is $4.50 a bargain? But if you are forced into it long enough you believe it. Its the same with poor quality tv pictures. If you watch that smeary image long enough your brain accepts it until you really see what it should look like again from a good source.

 

[cypherstream]

The HD receivers I have can down convert and connect to SD TV's through s-video port. Most tv's have s-video connections. And if it doesnt then a cheap 2 dollar adapter will convert it to coax or composite.

Yeah I have an H21 on a Toshiba SDTV connected via component cables. Just have to change the resolution to 480i on the front panel, and in the settings only check 480i and set it to 4:3 aspect ratio. Works great and the color definition is much better than the composite video. But I do have the composite video also hooked up because when I do software downloads or red button reboot, the "Your receiver is starting up" or software download progess screen is scrambled on an SDTV over component. But that's rare anyway.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

Another thing they could do is slightly increase transponder loading (6 or 7 HD's per TP VS 5 as done today). I'm fine if bandwidth needs to be managed for select channels. Even if say E!, DIY, TCM and some others was downressed to 1440x1080 or 1024x720, it still beats the overcompressed muddy 480x480 versions they have today. Then when D14 is launched, rebalance the bandwidth to restore full res again. At least that would get us SOMETHING.

This would be TERRIBLE!!! Once bandwidth goes away, it never comes back. Having 5 HD channels per transponder is D*'s greatest strength IMHO. Otherwise we would watching the same psuedo-HD crap that E*'s subs watch.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

I would imagine IF D* decided to go ALL HD and swap out all the SD recvrs, it would be pricy to them and the sub, however, I'm sure they would be offering some sort of deal to get them changed over, possibly like having NO new Commitment for the change over recvrs.

Pricey to D* to say the least! Who knows how many SD receivers are in the field. Certainly well over 10 million. Let's say there are 12 million (although that may be too low). Now look at the total cost to upgrade. Sending out 12 million HD receivers, having nearly all of them installed, receiving back 12 million SD receivers (or even having the installers dispose of them), dealing with hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of additional support calls. At $200 per replacement (and I can't see how they could get the total cost this low), that would be $2.4 BILLION dollars.

It would be difficult to save anywhere near that much in decreased transponder cost.

 

[tvropro]

At some point Direct and Dish are going to have to bite the bullet and go all HD. They should start migration now & replace with HD every time a SD receiver craps out. Also they need to stop sign up of SD only or automatically send out a HD box with installs. At one point none of the masters will be in SD anymore Then Direct will be down converting them at the plant vs at the peoples homes and retransmit in glorious 480x480 Mpeg 2.

 

[Jimbo]

Pricey to D* to say the least! Who knows how many SD receivers are in the field. Certainly well over 10 million. Let's say there are 12 million (although that may be too low). Now look at the total cost to upgrade. Sending out 12 million HD receivers, having nearly all of them installed, receiving back 12 million SD receivers (or even having the installers dispose of them), dealing with hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of additional support calls. At $200 per replacement (and I can't see how they could get the total cost this low), that would be $2.4 BILLION dollars.

It would be difficult to save anywhere near that much in decreased transponder cost.

Except, we know very well that D* doesn't pay ANYWHERE'S Near $ 200 per box.

They probably pay about $ 25 per box out there, yes, still a considerable amount of money to replace, buit not nearly what they are asking us to pay to get them.

 

[Jimbo]

At some point Direct and Dish are going to have to bite the bullet and go all HD. They should start migration now & replace with HD every time a SD receiver craps out. Also they need to stop sign up of SD only or automatically send out a HD box with installs. At one point none of the masters will be in SD anymore Then Direct will be down converting them at the plant vs at the peoples homes and retransmit in glorious 480x480 Mpeg 2.

This process has already started ....
as mentioned before, there are alot of areas that are giving HD recvrs only, my DMA is one of them.
Just because you have a HD recvr doesn't mean you have to have HD, you just don't get the HD feeds.

 

[tvropro]

This process has already started ....
as mentioned before, there are alot of areas that are giving HD recvrs only, my DMA is one of them.
Just because you have a HD recvr doesn't mean you have to have HD, you just don't get the HD feeds.

Glad to hear they are doing something. Direct has the bucks for sure, part of the game is to spend to keep the ball rolling. Unless they are like AT&T refusing to upgrade the infrastructure in my area and doing band aid fixes daily just to rake in the gold for the corporate heads.

 

[charper1]

Isn't everyone tired of the anti-government, anti-corporation, anti-capitalism, anti-profit rhetoric yet? I think it has gotten way out of control with that being the excuse and complaint about any and everything.

 

[JerseyMatt]

See if I understand this... spend money on two new receivers, a new DVR a new dish and then on top of it a two year commitment because the company decides that everyone needs to be HD ? Sounds like something Dish would pull on their customers. We will not be buying any new receivers, dishes or being stuck with new commitments. If it means leaving Direct...so be it...

Don't let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out. Why should we suffer with SD because people like you are too stubborn to let go of your 27" Zenith console with the green tinge in the picture from the failing red gun? It's not that they DECIDED that everyone needs HD, it is textbook technological evolution. Eventually they have to throw out the old to bring in the new. It happened with analog cellular 4 years ago, it happened with analog/NTSC broadcast TV 2 years ago, and it is already in progress on cable and satellite. Wake up and smell the 21st century.