DirecTV Ads for 70 HD Channels

[Stanley Kritzik]

DirecTV must have all their birds up, aligned and working, because they really "unloaded" with the equivalent of ten or more full-page color ads in yesterday's Wall Street Journal.  Their message: 70 HD channels now, going to 100 by year-end (or thereabouts).  They listed them, showed their icons, etc., and they dissed Dish and all cable services, by comparison.  Aggressive advertising.

So, it looks like they are ready for upgrades and new business.  I'm not there yet.  They will have new single-wire hardware out (called SWM), that will mean one wire to a box, and with a diplexer, the ability to get OTA signals, as well.  For multiple TV sets in the house, wires coming in underground, etc., I'm going to wait until all the good stuff is available.  I don't want to bust up the house running extra cables, when it will all be easier in a few months.  I just wish they'd hurry.

Stan

[gparris]

Wow...it that is true with SWM, then the single cable runs for TWC to HD DVRs would work, too, provided these cables are RG6 (for certain).
-No more double cable runs for HD DVRs for Directv boxes.
Then the Directv installers could use these original RG6 runs used for TWC cabling, swap out a Dish and antenna for the cable connections, change out STB's and authourize the boxes...you're done!:D

[Stanley Kritzik]

Wow...it that is true with SWM, then the single cable runs for TWC to HD DVRs would work, too, provided these cables are RG6 (for certain).
-No more double cable runs for HD DVRs for Directv boxes.
Then the Directv installers could use these original RG6 runs used for TWC cabling, swap out a Dish and antenna for the cable connections, change out STB's and authourize the boxes...you're done!:D

My understanding is that with SWM, a single RG6 line can be split at the DVR with an ordinary splitter for two received channels.  Also, if the DVR has an OTA tuner (see below), the OTA signals can be siphoned off at the DVR with a simple diplexer.  So, it can be one RG6 from the wiring closet/room to the DVR.  Also, the number of wires coming in from the dish to the house is down to four (plus one for the OTA antenna).  I'm close to right on this -- maybe 100%.  That's the good news.

The bad news is that DirecTV's newest receivers do not have OTA tuners.  I guess their attitude is that they are supplying the local channels.  Well -- yes and no.  I doubt that they will supply the likes of 10-1 thru 10-7 -- probably 10-1, only.  Also, during a rain fade, which happens occasionally, it is nice to tune in a local channel OTA (imagine a blizzard during the SuperBowl!).  It's pretty fussy to have a DVR for D* and have to use your TV set's tuner for OTA stuff, which you won't be able to record, set up in advance, etc.  I think it is short-sighted of them, and while a few of their older DVRs and receivers have OTA tuners, the new ones do not.  Even though those with cable boxes don't get OTA facilities, I hate to see D* give that convenience up.

Still and all -- 100 HD channels by year-end is pretty amazing to contemplate.

Stan

[madsdad]

The bad news is that DirecTV's newest receivers do not have OTA tuners. I guess their attitude is that they are supplying the local channels

I don't understand this.  Can you explain how this is not an OTA tuner?    My unit I just received from Direct TV an H20-100 model has an antenna input jack and you can then set up the antenna right through the guide. You do a channel scan on the antenna and any channel that is picked up can then be added right into the DIRECTV Guide. Is this not a tuner then?

Thanks

Newbie

Mark

[Tom Snyder]

The bad news is that DirecTV's newest receivers do not have OTA tuners

:huh?:

I have an HR20-700 HD DVR, and I'm getting 18, 24,30, 36 and 58 HD OTA through the antenna in. What DirecTV receiver are you talking about?

[vegasvic]

Yup my HR-20's have OTA.

[vegasvic]

But upon further review the brand new HR-21's do not have OTA input.  So if you need that get the HR-20.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=105066

[madsdad]

Ok so now if someone could just tell me how to get the radio antenna for this box from DirectTV  without having to pay $30 I would be extremly happy

Thanks

Mark

[Tom Snyder]

Any antenna will work, but the one that's best for you will depend on your proximity to the TV station antenna farm.  

And if the one you're thinking of getting from DirecTV is still the Terk that clips onto your dish, general consensus here is that it's a piece of junk.

[Stanley Kritzik]

:huh?:

I have an HR20-700 HD DVR, and I'm getting 18, 24,30, 36 and 58 HD OTA through the antenna in. What DirecTV receiver are you talking about?

The HR21, supposedly will succeed the HR20.  If you want OTA, grab an HR20 while you can.  They also have a non-DVR  receiver to succeed the H20 -- I don't know the model ID -- and it, too, does not have an OTA tuner.  (See the DBSTalk web site for details -- //www.dbstalk.com .)

So, down the road, it is still bad news, unless someone can do something awfully clever.  And, speaking of bad news, my HR10-250 D* Tivo with two receivers, buffers 30 minutes for each one, so one can retroactively decide to record a program, so long as the tuner is "on it".  My understanding is that for the HR20 and 21, the recording decision for the "other" tuner has to be made ahead of time -- there is no catch-up buffer.  This is another inconvenience vs. the nice Tivo feature.  It will take some getting used to.

Stan

[Tom Snyder]

If you want OTA, grab an HR20 while you can.

Good to know. I have no confidence that 58 Digital will EVER be available on D.*  So I just  called and upgraded my SD DVR to an HR20. Coming on Saturday.

I guess that means I have a Samsung SD Tivo DVR for sale.  Oh and an RCA DTC-100 and a HR10-250.

My understanding is that for the HR20 and 21, the recording decision for the "other" tuner has to be made ahead of time

Y'know, I just noticed that the other day. I thought I was doing something wrong.

[vegasvic]

From what I understand the HR-20 will still be available.  Customers will have a choice, HR-20 if they want the OTA and HR-21 if they don't.

[Stanley Kritzik]

From what I understand the HR-20 will still be available.  Customers will have a choice, HR-20 if they want the OTA and HR-21 if they don't.

I hope D* will continue to have receivers and DVRs with OTA tuners.  It makes everything simpler -- hook-ups to the TV screen, on-screen menus, recording, avoiding rain fade at crucial times, etc.  The problem is that nation-wide, and certainly in Milwaukee, cable boxes have overwhelmed OTA reception.  So, all these cute extra channels (10-2, -3, -4, etc.) are lost unless TW carries them.  I assume that D* won't carry all the extras.  Anyway, as things now stand, it is nice to have access to them all, with an integrated menu system.

Stan

[Tom Snyder]

I hope D* will continue to have receivers and DVRs with OTA tuners. It makes everything simpler -- hook-ups to the TV screen, on-screen menus, recording, avoiding rain fade at crucial times,

AMEN!  I was watching the news last night when we got a Thunderstorm that was causing a little rainfade.. was nothing huge, but it was nice to be able to pop over to 4-1 till the storm passed.