HD locals over 3LNB in So Cal - help me understand.

[superduty]

I have read numerous posts, but I am still confused. I currently have Direct with a 3LNB and HR10-250. I have read alot about the new MPEG 4 and local HD channels. My questions are only in regards to Los Angeles:

1. Am I correct that at some point in the future, I will have to have a 5LNB and MPEG4 capable receiver in order to watch local HD channels (fed by satellite)?

2. Do we know when that time in the future will be?

3. When that happens will my HR10-250 no longer work for local HD channels (fed by satellite), but continue to work for everything else?




TIA

 

[bonscott87]

1. Am I correct that at some point in the future, I will have to have a 5LNB and MPEG4 capable receiver in order to watch local HD channels (fed by satellite)?

2. Do we know when that time in the future will be?

3. When that happens will my HR10-250 no longer work for local HD channels (fed by satellite), but continue to work for everything else?

1) Yes
2) Sometime very soon, within a year if not less.
3) Yes as well as eventually, probably less then 2 years, ALL HD on DirecTV will require an MPEG4 capable receiver and 5 LNB dish. The HR10 will then only be able to record OTA HD and the standard def channels.

DirecTV is very agressive about getting all HD to MPEG4 ASAP. 2 more sats go up next year to make that happen.

 

[superduty]

Forgive me if this is a dumb follow up, but Direct going to MPEG 4 for HD I am assuming this has no effect on OTA HD channels, those will continue in the same form as they have always been?

And if I hook up an OTA HD antenna to my HR10-250, will I have to switch some setting to get to an OTA channel guide, or will the OTA channels come up on the same guide? Does that make sense?

I guess the question is basically does some input setting have to be changed to change channels from eg., HBO to ABC HD OTA?

 

[charper1]

Forgive me if this is a dumb follow up, but Direct going to MPEG 4 for HD I am assuming this has no effect on OTA HD channels, those will continue in the same form as they have always been?

No worries there is no dumb question. For the foreseeable future the OTA will be the same.

And if I hook up an OTA HD antenna to my HR10-250, will I have to switch some setting to get to an OTA channel guide, or will the OTA channels come up on the same guide? Does that make sense? I guess the question is basically does some input setting have to be changed to change channels from eg., HBO to ABC HD OTA?

If the HR10 operates the same way my plain HD boxes work; the OTA will integrate into the EPG along with the other DirecTV guide info and when you select an OTA channel, the receiver will auto-switch appropriately.

 

[Mtnmike]

My guess is once the HR-20 becomes OTA capable you will see many 10-250 users migrate over.