Are you ready for DirecTV's new HD channels?
It appears that DirecTV is mailing letters to their customers to let them know that just because they have the latest HD dish, multi-switch and HD receiver, it doesn't mean they're ready to receive the new HD channels this fall. The possible missing piece is included with every MPEG4 capable HD receiver, but not usually installed. It is that little box called the BBC, (B-Band Converter) that must be wired in-line between the dish and the STB and is not currently needed, but will be if you want to enjoy all the HD goodness that will start beaming down from DirecTV 10 sometime next month. If you haven't thrown it away yet, go ahead and get it connected, otherwise call 1-800-DirecTV and say B-Band at the prompt to receive another one for free.Thanks Carl!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wesley Hester @ Aug 12th 2007 11:04AM
I will need to get the new dish.
SimbaDogg @ Aug 12th 2007 12:23PM
whew...good thing i didnt' throw that crap away
Brendan @ Aug 12th 2007 2:06PM
You also need a b-band converter if you want HD locals and live outside of LA or NYC. I Added a 5lnb dish 6 months ago and also got a h20(needs 1 b-band converter). A couple months ago I got a HR20-100(needs 2 b-band converters). After I upgraded to the 5lnb dish half a year ago a supervisor came out and inspected the install and checked that the b-band converter was installed by the tech and it was.
When all the movie channels go into HD in the middle of September I'm going to have upgrade the internal hard drive in the HR20-100 to an external SATA 3TB raid, can't wait.
ghostdoggy @ Aug 12th 2007 2:20PM
And what if those paying for the HD Package but do not have an MPEG4-capable STB? For instance, I have a Samsung SIR-TS160, which predates anything MPEG-4 DirecTV had in orbit. Also, I do not have the latest dish, but rather mine is a simple 3-LNB unit.
And while I have been a DirecTV HDlite subscriber for about three years now, they haven't done anything to get me to upgrade the hardware. Probably because of their ailing attitudes toward out of contract accounts.
PeterB @ Aug 12th 2007 4:55PM
Call them up and at the very least you can get a new slimline 5-lnb and a H20 reciever for $15 "shipping" cost.
I was able to haggle them into a HR-20 and the new dish installed for $99.
Ben Drawbaugh @ Aug 12th 2007 2:22PM
They're hoping you'll call them, if they were to call you, you'd expect everything for free. This way they can charge you a minimal fee and get you to renew for two more years. Not sure when they are going to start calling people to upgrade, but I'd bet another year or two.
Michael @ Aug 12th 2007 11:13PM
I hate to break it to you but you won't be able to view anything HD on your Samsung SIR-TS160 once they migrate to MPEG-4. I'm not 100% sure that the current channels are migrating to B-Band but from the info DTV sent out by email regarding the new BBC & 5-LNB Sat requirements, I'm fairly sure its at least likely they will be.
I also had this Samsung receiver and a 3-LNB sat but I went ahead and upgraded when I moved earlier this year. I was told at that time that I would still be able to receive the current HD programming with my Samsung but that I couldn't get any of our locals in HD or upcoming channels as they were added. I wrangled with them for a couple of weeks before I got an acceptable deal and didn't have to pay for my new equipment upgrades. It may take you a few phone calls (it took me four different calls over about two to three weeks) but in the end DTV really came thru for me and I've been completely happy with my service. I'm a lot happier with my newer receivers and I'm even getting used to using a non-Tivo DVR. The fact that everything in my house is now HD makes it worth every minute I had to go thru to get it taken care of. Plus, the new boxes are HDMI and your Samsung is only DVI capable. Oh, and the remote is a billion times better than that weak ass Samsung remote. I can change the channels from anywhere in my room now.
http://www.myspace.com/scoobarama
Jeff @ Aug 12th 2007 11:06PM
Did you have to commit to another two years? The told me if I wanted the 5 lnb, I would have to. I told them to stick it up the ass. Their 2021 upgrade has killed my HDMI port, I had to switch back to components. Fios is 2 months away, fiber has been laid behind my house. FULL HD
Russell @ Aug 12th 2007 4:58PM
Does anyone know what the new channels will be? While I love HD Sports, I am hoping that the majority of new channels are not sports channels.
tobin92 @ Aug 12th 2007 8:02PM
Once DirecTV offers full HD at a decent bit-rate, I will get them.
This HD Lite isn't worth my money
Michael @ Aug 12th 2007 11:00PM
Damn tobin, what the hell are you waiting for??? Once these new channels begin transmitting, DTV will have upwards of 50+ "HD Lite" channels for under $10. That's under twenty cents per month apiece! I fail to see the logic in your argument, that for whatever reason it isn't worth your money. Regardless of the fact that DTV isn't full HD, it is still far better quality than any other HD option out there.
Oh, and in case you doubt how serious I am about HD, I am currently watching on a Pioneer Elite 60" capable of 1080i along with a full Elite & Polk Audio home theater sound system. "HD Lite" is VERY watchable on my system and the viewing quality is miles ahead of the crappy Time Warner signal I used to get. For that matter, it is also miles ahead of the non-HD channels I'm also getting thru DTV. Get off of your high horse and stop bitching about something you really don't know a thing about. Twenty cents per month per channel costs less than the daily news in my neighborhood and that's a good deal in my book.
http://www.myspace.com/scoobarama
Iscariote @ Aug 13th 2007 9:32AM
That 1080i plasma is probably sweet, huh?
JD @ Aug 12th 2007 11:12PM
Keep drinking the kool aid. What an ass you are. All that money doesn't mean you know more. And Fios is about to eat DTV ass for HD. YOU'RE 50 years old and have a my spacepage. :rofl:
Michael @ Aug 12th 2007 11:23PM
Be careful what you ask for. In most cases when FIOS lines are laid, the copper lines usually get pulled because of the cost of copper now. Once you commit to FIOS you may have a very difficult time switching to anything else - a fact they conveniently neglect to tell you when they are making the sales pitch. I've read numerous stories where users were screwed once they converted and were stuck with the sky high pricing.
Also, FIOS isn't an option for 99% of the country yet. For those of us living outside the city limits, it is likely we won't ever have it as an option.
Brendan @ Aug 12th 2007 11:33PM
You're any age still using rofl that's pathetic.
Great news that FIOS is coming to 90%+ of America that isn't covered yet, did you figure that out before or after you dropped acid?
Michael @ Aug 12th 2007 11:40PM
BTW, the money doesn't mean I know more, agreed. My decision to spend it on this particular equipment is what makes my case. I've been using audiophile quality audio and video equipment for nearly thirty years and I've had a home theater with a screen size no less than 60 inches in my house for the past twenty five. I think that qualifies me to say that I know just a bit more than the average consumer - and yes, that would definitely include you JD.
Brendan @ Aug 12th 2007 11:26PM
I guess all these Directv haters only watch Blu-Ray or HD-DVD Movies + local networks using OTA.
All TV providers compress their TV signal even FIOS, with the new MPEG-4 channels Directv's compression should look much better.
1 Blu-Ray/HD DVD movie $30
1 month Directv HD $10
tobin92 @ Aug 13th 2007 3:09AM
I am not expert, But I have seen evidence.
Do an A/B comparison or go over to the AVS forums and view the HD Lite threads with D* vs. E* vs. Cable.
Cable>E*>D* in Picture quality
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=704350
PeterB @ Aug 13th 2007 9:19AM
Unless you live in some magical place with utopia cable, they rest of the world's cable companies offer little, if any HD content, so the cable>E>D comparision is invalid. I am in a comcast city and outside of the locals, (minus our ABC channel) the HD channels you get are the A&E stretchfest, Mojo, MHD, NesnHD, ESPN 1&2, HBO and Sho.
Thats it. if your lucky enough to be in a cox city, you get the local ABC, and the food network.
FOIS is at LEAST 2 years away from the majority of us, so a 2 year DTV commitment isnt that big of a risk. And I am much happier with "HD-Lite" than I am with "HD-Nothing"
Brendan @ Aug 13th 2007 12:16PM
Tobin you're using a year old hyperlink that compares outdated Mpeg-2 to Mpeg-2 with a piss-poor capture using Electra and if I remember correctly the IRobot pics were much better but are gone. Mpeg-4 is what all the new DirecTV channels will be built around so I guess a new comparison will be order in a month.
DEEZNUTZ @ Aug 13th 2007 3:01PM
As a CABLEVISION subscriber, I currently receive over 40 HD channels for the magical price of FREE! Thats right, no extra $10 for HD... no extra $$ for an HD box. Picture looks amazing, AND CABLEVISION has been upgrading their network to FIBER so future HD channels are in the horizon. So much for FIOS in my area (FREEPORT, LONG ISLAND, NY)
I use to hate CABLE being a former DIRECTV subscriber. When I moved, I decided to try CABLEVISIONS triple play deal and I've been hooked since. Plus 15 down/5 up for internet is great.
For all the $$ we already pay for cable, they shouldn't gouge us an extra $10 or $20 just for HD. It really hinders mass adoption of HDTV's by REGULAR consumers.
b1c50733 Engadget password @ Aug 13th 2007 4:25PM
Congrats on the Voom channels there Deeznutz. The paint drying channel that Voom is adding next quarter should immediately increase Voom viewership 10 fold.
DEEZNUTZ @ Aug 13th 2007 10:44PM
@b1c50733
Thanks douche... CABLEVISION and the added VOOM channels are much better than your OTA SD rabbit ear antenna. Make sure to upgrade your B/W UHF TV before the 2009 analog turnoff. Moron.
Jnetty @ Aug 13th 2007 4:57PM
I just order the HD upgrade today for free. Yes I had to commit for two more years.
Can't wait to get the new stuff.
Walter @ Aug 13th 2007 8:18PM
My guess is that it doesn't matter. I suspect DirecTV is running FiOS channels (did you notice DSL/DTV program they have been running). Also, please refrain from using terms like Full HD, that has een branded to mean 1080p by the TV companies; you will simply confuse people. No broadcast is going to be Full HD, just 1080i. Try Normal HD or use 1080i.
FiOS does have superior HD right now and the Cable companies suck. Constant signal problems that I have seen with Comcast, Cable Vision and Time Warner from personal experience being in different counties in NJ. You know those glitches you see from time to time? It happens all the time every few minutes on cable. And lets not get into those DVRs...TiVo excluded.
b1c50733 @ Aug 13th 2007 11:31PM
Rabbit ears or what I actually have in the pipeline as of next month 40+ movie channels in HD, all Discovery Channels in HD, History Channels in HD, National Geographic in HD, A&E, etc. and out of market high definition nfl, you know one or other. If an additional $10 dollars for TV makes or breaks your monthly budget, you shouldn't have paid Television at all let alone a HD Television. I guess the only thing I'm gonna miss is that paint drying channel I've hearing so much about on Voom.