DirecTV @ CES - HD local channels second half 2005
With 13 total satellites already up or planned for use by 2007, DirecTV will be launching high definition local channels in the second half of 2005 in twelve markets. The first cities will be New York, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington DC, Detroit, and Tampa. HD locals will be transmitted with MPEG4 AVC HD transmission (the first live demo will be shown on the CES floor), but users will need a new satellite receiver to receive those MPEG4 AVC feeds and perhaps a new satellite dish (they completely dodged the new dish question).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
I'd say that most folks that have DirecTV haven't shifted to their HD dish, which has been available for some time. If it means holding off a little longer for *another* new dish of the HD persuasion, I'm sure it's worth it.
Not surprising that they've dodged it - but considering it's a $349 minimum cash drop to get one, it's probably something they won't be able to avoid forever.
Brian Behrend @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
Is the MPEG4 AVC HD transmission a good thing or a bad thing? Is it less compressed or something?
The new receiver bit makes me glad I've put off getting DirecTV for so long. Hopefully my crappy cable company (Grande Communications) will off HD and digital cable to my area (Dallas) by then and I won't need satellite at all.
Brian Eng @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
I'm continually frustrated with Directv. I'm a long time customer, and it's hard (especially being a hard-core geek like me) when your friends (in the Chicago and Denver area) have Comcast... with local HD and HD PVR... with no equipment to buy!
Colin Davis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
The new compression is a Good Thing. The current DirecTV feeds are MPEG2, which while good are a) not really designed for HDTV and b) fat. The newer compression techniques give much higher quality (read: less blockiness) with much less bandwidth. Using MPEG2, I don't really see there to be any way DirecTV can add loads of HD channels.
Of course, they can always bit-throttle the new ones too, degrading their picture.
The real question I am interested in is: will the new HDTiVos (the one's that came out in 04) be able to play the new feeds with an upgrade in software? I would think so - after all, TiVos are just PCs, but it would be a real bummer if they couldn't get the new feeds.
Larry @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
I have been a long time DirecTV Customer. I have had an HDTV for almost 4 years!!!I just invested in my THIRD HD Receiver. The latest one being the HD-250 HD Tivo PVR. If that new $1000 unit cannot be upgraded to receive MPEG4 then I will be on a major campaign to convince on my HDTV buddies to drop DirecTV like hot potatoe!!
Kon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
1. Your dish is not 'HD'. It allows reception from multiple satellites, which carry HD programming.
2. MPEG4 AVC (comparatively) does HD in 7Mbits as opposed to 12+Mbits with MPEG2
4. HDTivos won't be able to play MPEG4 AVC
5. AVC does not eliminate Macroblocking
6. Goodbye Tivo...
sMoRTy71 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
Yeah, DirecTV is really starting to tick me off, too. I've been a subscriber for 8 years. If I lose DirecTiVo AND am asked to buy another $400+ HD receiver, I will have to consider cable. Wow, I can't believe I even said the "c" word.
Lee @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
So it begs the question. With most of the country not getting the HD locals until 2007 how is Directv going to convince anyone to purchase a $1,000 HD Tivo that can't receive the new MPEG4 content, and is can't be upgraded? Bummmer! Comcast may turn out to be the logical choice.
Barry Schwartz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
I purchased a HR10-250 HD Tivo last December and eveything worked well until July. Then the receiver failed (frozen picture, I think a bad hard drive). Because it was more then 6 months old, DTV sent out a reconditioned one as a replacement...that one didn't work either. Two more replacements were sent to me (the first one... HDMI port didn't work and the other... same problem as the original I purchased). Now I'm waiting for my fifth unit to be shipped. I hope they exchange the HR10-250 for a free MPEG4 receiver. I'm pissed off now over this situation and paying extra $$$ for a new dish and receiver will make me a cable fan (Adelphia no less)or a Dish Network fan!
Barry Schwartz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
I purchased a HR10-250 HD Tivo last December and eveything worked well until July. Then the receiver failed (frozen picture, I think a bad hard drive). Because it was more then 6 months old, DTV sent out a reconditioned one as a replacement...that one didn't work either. Two more replacements were sent to me (the first one... HDMI port didn't work and the other... same problem as the original I purchased). Now I'm waiting for my fifth unit to be shipped. I hope they exchange the HR10-250 for a free MPEG4 receiver. I'm pissed off now over this situation and paying extra $$$ for a new dish and receiver will make me a cable fan (Adelphia no less)or a Dish Network fan!
Stephen R Castle @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
I'm no expert, but I can call Direct TV like anybody else. So I did.
These are good people. They have no reason at all to lie to you. They are going to be simulcasting MPEG2 and MPEG4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding) for years. You don't have to dump your stuff.
All they have now is Tivo HD, HR10250 and Huges HTLDHD and none of these can ever decode MPEG4 AVC. Software upgrade? Forget it. You may need a dual core cpu, or at least hardware dedicated to do this. There is no CPU in the field now that can add this on and do this in software -- I feel sure. Just look at the numbers. It's more than twice the through put.
Direct TV got Spaceway1 and Spaceyway2 in the air long ago. 1St HD went up in April. Think that is 1st of 4 HD satellites. Two new satalites are going up in the next few months. They will for sure increase the 8 HD's -- ESPN, Discover, HDnet, HDnet Theater, Universal, HB and ShowTime before Dec 31st. Dish got Zoom, DirectTV has gotta do it. Plus going for 1500 locals.
HD off air is free with $50 add in antenna. And when it rains, you still get it. For the 12 major market's forget the $5 or $9 per month for 17 local stations. They are all sending out MPEG2 and playing with MPEG4 at the same time. You can not tell the difference if you already have a 5th generation receiver now. SOME DAY, they will use all they have to get a lot more channels. Right now they are just trying to make it all work. Not better. Just work.
I really think that the Spaceway8 bird is prepped for launch. You are acting like MPEG4 is a revolution. Hell this is going to be an evolution. They are going to co-exist for years. There are bugs to be worked out. This is tough stuff. I will be willing to bet you for sure, that when they do come, and they may come in the next two or three months, the MPEG4 TIVO decoder boxes from DirectTV will cost $999 not the $649 - 100 = $549 they do now. In fact I do not think the price has ever been below $499 even for a Dish customer WinBack.
Bottom line. Your MPEG2 box will get the same stations the MPEG4 AVC box will get -- maybe for 12 months. DirectTV is no way going to piss off all the people that bought boxes - period. Your safe for now.
Stephen R Castle @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
I'm no expert, but I can call Direct TV like anybody else. So I did.
These are good people. They have no reason at all to lie to you. They are going to be simulcasting MPEG2 and MPEG4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding) for years. You don't have to dump your stuff.
All they have now is Tivo HD, HR10250 and Huges HTLDHD and none of these can ever decode MPEG4 AVC. Software upgrade? Forget it. You may need a dual core cpu, or at least hardware dedicated to do this. There is no CPU in the field now that can add this on and do this in software -- I feel sure. Just look at the numbers. It's more than twice the through put.
Direct TV got Spaceway1 and Spaceyway2 in the air long ago. 1St HD went up in April. Think that is 1st of 4 HD satellites. Two new satalites are going up in the next few months. They will for sure increase the 8 HD's -- ESPN, Discover, HDnet, HDnet Theater, Universal, HB and ShowTime before Dec 31st. Dish got Zoom, DirectTV has gotta do it. Plus going for 1500 locals.
HD off air is free with $50 add in antenna. And when it rains, you still get it. For the 12 major market's forget the $5 or $9 per month for 17 local stations. They are all sending out MPEG2 and playing with MPEG4 at the same time. You can not tell the difference if you already have a 5th generation receiver now. SOME DAY, they will use all they have to get a lot more channels. Right now they are just trying to make it all work. Not better. Just work.
I really think that the Spaceway8 bird is prepped for launch. You are acting like MPEG4 is a revolution. Hell this is going to be an evolution. They are going to co-exist for years. There are bugs to be worked out. This is tough stuff. I will be willing to bet you for sure, that when they do come, and they may come in the next two or three months, the MPEG4 TIVO decoder boxes from DirectTV will cost $999 not the $649 - 100 = $549 they do now. In fact I do not think the price has ever been below $499 even for a Dish customer WinBack.
Bottom line. Your MPEG2 box will get the same stations the MPEG4 AVC box will get -- maybe for 12 months. DirectTV is no way going to piss off all the people that bought boxes - period. Your safe for now.
Stephen R Castle @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
New direct TV model that will decode MPEG-4 AVC
is H20 and think this will replace the H10
Spaceway2 launch has been delayed form June to
October.
Selling H10 box now for $199
Looks like some version of MPEG-4 can do 1080i
Full High Definition 1920x1080, 24p 7-8 Mbps
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/technologies/h264/
but just not sure as some MPEG-4 variations seem to be limited to 720p max.
http://www.chiariglione.org/mpeg/standards/mpeg-4/mpeg-4.htm
Tivo 40gb $99 w/$99 rebate = free (not hd)
Tivo 80gig will be replacing 40gig
120gig is upgrade = aprox 100 hours low def
HR10250 is HD Tivo 250gig aprox 25-30hrs HD
Was $499.99 for only 2 weeks, now $549 after
$100 rebate.
Thing to ask for is off air antenna that
gets all local in high deff w/o the
$5 per box fee for local stations that now
are not yet high def. $49 or $50 one time
fee only for new installs.
Dish was offering but now some oders are told this option has to be ordered only through "partner" installers who are offering this deal.
Looks like needs all high quality RG6 cable, so if too long or old RG59 cable can not deliver signal strong enough to decode all the off air. May need amplifier to get it to work. Tricky I guess.
Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
I switched to Comcast for now because of their HD DVR and the capability to record even the local HD channels because it's through the cable and not OTA. It's awesome having the HD DVR and only paying $9.95/month for it. I was not willing to pay $600+ for the Directv HD Tivo when it cannot record local HD and will be obsolete once the MPEG4 streams are active.
The Comcast HD DVR is pretty good, but buggy. It works very similar to Tivo, but Tivo is better. The Comcast HD Tivo will be out in 2006. I might stay with Comcast because of the HD Tivo but, I'll definitly be looking at going back to DirecTV AFTER they have the MPEG4 HD streams broadcasting in my area AND an HD DVR. But, if the DirecTV HD DVR for MPEG4 is going to cost $1000.....I'LL STAY WITH COMCAST!!
Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
When is Directv planning on launching the local channels in HD to the public? I heard that it was supposed to be available in July/August. I sure hope Directv plans on compensating its exsisting customers with a year free of HD or at least something with all the upgrades costs to HD and all the bugs and recent changes they've made regarding their HD project. As long as HD has been on the market, you'd think Directv would be ahead of the game! It makes cable TV very tempting.
Joel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
Well guys I just called directv because I bought the H10 yesterday. I didn't know jack about MPEG4 but I looked into revies for the H10 and seen people writing about MPEG4 so I called Directv. Jason told me they had just been informed about an hr. Before that the new satelite was going up and it was going to be avalabe in detroit next month. H20 IS the new model and no H10 250 well not be upradable..........The good news is Free H20 and new 5LNB sat. For all the have HD right NOW with a new agreement of course.....made my move just in time....
Joe L @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
I just got D* mpeg-4 h20 receiver with new 5 LNB Dish installed. The tech who put it up griped about how heavy it is and that it shouldn't be put on a roof mount put I made him do it anyway 'cause the trees prevent me from getting OTA. It IS a beautiful thing! "LOST" looked great! I get 4 local (Detroit) channels now. My old Tivo goes on my non-HD TV and works just fine. While he was on the roof I mounted the 6x8 muti-switch. It is important that you terminate all unused ports as signal can bleed through that switch. The new receiver cost me 250.00 with a $200.00 rebate. Installation was $0.00. At this time there is a slight sync problem with voice and picture but not too bad. I'm sure this will be addressed.
Henry Chang @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
I am the idiot who listened to DirecTV and purchased HD equipment in January 2005. Now I am stuck with an obsolete HD receiver which I paid $399 less some rebate. The off air antenna never worked for me because the major stations were 50 miles away. The main purpose for my HDTV was to watch local HD channels. The few HD channels that DirecTV offered in their HD package did not worth the $11 monthly fee to me.
When I signed up early this year, I was told that local HD channels should be coming to this area later this year. This they did. I was also promised free upgrade to existing HD customers if new equipments were necessary. I was afraid that the new stations would affect the tuner in the HD receiver and I might need an add-on tuner.
Now the local HD channels have arrived. DirecTV told me that I need to pay for the replacement of my current receiver and dish. I should have waited until the local HD channels are available. Then I would have new equipment and save on the monthly HD package. I don't have confidence with DirecTV taking care of their customers. Until the HD environment is more stable, I won't purchase any new HD equipment. I am also switching to cable. They rent the equipment to their customers and I won't be stuck with obsolete equipment again.
Henry Chang @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
Yes, DirecTV has changed their HD system to MPEG4. To receive the new local HD channels, you need its H20 receiver. After complaining and planning to switch, DirecTV agreed to replace the H10 receiver I bought from them in January this year for free, but with a new two year commitment. Otherwise, it would be $99 for the new dish and H20 receiver.
K. Federico @ Dec 19th 2005 1:47AM
I also had been told that mpeg4 upgrades would be free back in April. I just got off the line with Directtv and was told it would cost $400. Unfortunately, they do not ever publish anything and any guarantees ever made become uverifiable.
Greg S. @ Dec 22nd 2005 4:08PM
Has anyone else ordered the new 5LNB and be told their exisitng HD DVR would work? D* told me no problem! Luckly I checked some web sites and found out my DVR would not work. Any idea when the new DVR is to come out? Good luck as I guess it is up to us to train the D* sales people.
John V @ Dec 23rd 2005 9:29AM
I contacted DirecTV several times only to find that their own employees were uninformed with regards to local HD within the Boston area. I finally found someone who had a clue on the third try. Since I had paid their ransom for my current Samsung HD receiver they agreed to provide a MPEG4 receiver for $99 along with installation. There is no need to pay the optional local channel fee since the local channels are now part of the basic package.
Geoffrey Nicholson @ Dec 27th 2005 1:43AM
I am thinking of switching from Dish Network to Directv, is this a good idea?? One of the reasons for switching is that I am under the impression that I will be able to receive the local channels in HD if they are broadcasting in HD, without having to switch to the old standard antenna for local stations...with all of the discussion, will I be safe switching to Directv with the HD with DVR receiver??
Your input will be highly valued.
Geoffrey Nicholson @ Dec 27th 2005 1:58AM
I should have added that I am in the San Antonio area.