D* MPEG 4 Equipment Help!

[Mags]

Well, I finally thinking of doing the changover from my beloved HR10-250 to the new D* equipment.  I'm hoping some of you have already done so and can help me out with a number of questions I have:

1.  I've heard that the current multi-switches will not work with the MPEG4 signal (I currently have a TERK multi-switch).  Is this true?  Will the installer bring a new one with him?  Is there a specific model I should have him bring or go buy myself?

2.  I've heard that it is no longer possible to diplex the satellite and antenna signal on one RG6.  Is this true?  I assume this to mean that I will need 3 coax coming to each TV at which I have a DVR.  Is this correct?

3.  Will my old HD DVR (HR10-250) still work with the new dish that needs to be installed?  I'd like to be able to put the old HR10-250 into a different room.

4.  What is the wait time to be able to get this done?  I've heard that there is a rather large demand for these services right now...

5.  I figure (if my understanding is correct) a new multi-switch, a new dish, 1 new HD DVR, and 2 new HD Non-DVR boxes.  What type of deals have people been able to get from D* customer retention?  FYI - I've been with D* since 1994.

Your help on this questions (along with anything I've missed) would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

[Bluto]

Well, I finally thinking of doing the changover from my beloved HR10-250 to the new D* equipment.  I'm hoping some of you have already done so and can help me out with a number of questions I have:

1.  I've heard that the current multi-switches will not work with the MPEG4 signal (I currently have a TERK multi-switch).  Is this true?  Will the installer bring a new one with him?  Is there a specific model I should have him bring or go buy myself?

2.  I've heard that it is no longer possible to diplex the satellite and antenna signal on one RG6.  Is this true?  I assume this to mean that I will need 3 coax coming to each TV at which I have a DVR.  Is this correct?

3.  Will my old HD DVR (HR10-250) still work with the new dish that needs to be installed?  I'd like to be able to put the old HR10-250 into a different room.

4.  What is the wait time to be able to get this done?  I've heard that there is a rather large demand for these services right now...

5.  I figure (if my understanding is correct) a new multi-switch, a new dish, 1 new HD DVR, and 2 new HD Non-DVR boxes.  What type of deals have people been able to get from D* customer retention?  FYI - I've been with D* since 1994.

Your help on this questions (along with anything I've missed) would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

1.  You need a new multi-switch.  DirecTV should provide it.  It's a Zinwell WB68, I believe.

2.  They say you cannot diplex in antenna, because of the B-band convertor (BBC) required to receive the new HD channels on the HR20.  That isn't true.  Instead of putting the BBC right before the HR20, move it so it's hooked up right after the multi-switch.  Then, diplex in your antenna like you do now.  There is more info on this at DBSTalk.com.

3.  The HR10-250 will still work.  You just won't receive the new MPEG4 HD channels.  But eventually (2008?), the existing MPEG2 HD channels will be converted to MPEG4, and you will no longer receive those either.

4.  Not sure on the current waiting period.  You'd have to call and ask.  or maybe someone here was a recent update and could answer that.

5.  IIRC correctly, I was able to upgrade my boxes for free.  I was an early adapter on the HR20, though.  People seem to have verying success here.  I think D* is less reluctant to give out the better deals lately, now that demand is up.  You may need to call a few times to get the best deal.  Again, maybe a recent convert could chime in on this one.

[Mags]

1.  You need a new multi-switch.  DirecTV should provide it.  It's a Zinwell WB68, I believe.

2.  They say you cannot diplex in antenna, because of the B-band convertor (BBC) required to receive the new HD channels on the HR20.  That isn't true.  Instead of putting the BBC right before the HR20, move it so it's hooked up right after the multi-switch.  Then, diplex in your antenna like you do now.  There is more info on this at DBSTalk.com.

3.  The HR10-250 will still work.  You just won't receive the new MPEG4 HD channels.  But eventually (2008?), the existing MPEG2 HD channels will be converted to MPEG4, and you will no longer receive those either.

4.  Not sure on the current waiting period.  You'd have to call and ask.  or maybe someone here was a recent update and could answer that.

5.  IIRC correctly, I was able to upgrade my boxes for free.  I was an early adapter on the HR20, though.  People seem to have verying success here.  I think D* is less reluctant to give out the better deals lately, now that demand is up.  You may need to call a few times to get the best deal.  Again, maybe a recent convert could chime in on this one.

Thanks so much for the reply!  Based on your reply, I'm assuming that the anntenna hookups on the new HD TIVO are operational. Do they work the same way as they do on the HR10 (integrate the channels in the program guide?)

[Bluto]

Yes, the antenna hookup works.  The OTA channels are right in with the satellite channels on the guide.  So, you have WTMJ-HD from D*, WTMJ-analog from D*, 4-1 and 4-2, for example.

[HDefinicktion]

Yeah, I had taken the Diplexers out of my system until recently.  By moving them into the basement where the feed from the dish comes in works great.  One feed is about 30 feet long, and the other is more like 50 feet.  Neither of them are seeing any loss of quality or signal.  I also backfeed the Directivo feed through one diplexer into the basement to a regular splitter so I can watch that on channel 3 everywhere in the house now as well.

[Bluto]

Liking the backfeed idea....

[HDefinicktion]

It has worked out very well in my favor.  A cheap 30 dollar RF remote from Amazon, and now I make my wife record all of her SD shows on the Directivo, leaving the HR20 open for all the new HD.  I had thought about getting rid of it, but this has worked out perfectly.  Since the Tv's that I have HD hooked up are not using the cable jack, I thought that I better make every attempt to use the entire jack pack.  It is then feed to the two TVs by the bar, and into the theater area, bedroom tv, and living room...a really good way to get a lot of use out of one receiver.

[bubbaridesfast]

Well, I finally thinking of doing the changover from my beloved HR10-250 to the new D* equipment.  I'm hoping some of you have already done so and can help me out with a number of questions I have:

5.  I figure (if my understanding is correct) a new multi-switch, a new dish, 1 new HD DVR, and 2 new HD Non-DVR boxes.  What type of deals have people been able to get from D* customer retention?  FYI - I've been with D* since 1994.

You might get 3 boxes cheaper if you can spread out replacing all of them over time. Always best to call D*, sometimes more than once.

[Mags]

Actually, they are coming tomorrow to do the change over.... I think I got a good deal ....

$396 for 2 HD DVR's, 2 HD boxes, new multi-switch, new slimline dish, 125 ft of RG6 cable and install

PLUS

$10 monthly credit for 12 months ($120 total)
Free HD package for 6 months ($59)

So, my net is $217 for everything.

Maybe not the best deal out there, but pretty good.  Although I've been with D* since 1994, so I'd better have gotten a good deal...

[bubbaridesfast]

Actually, they are coming tomorrow to do the change over.... I think I got a good deal ....

$396 for 2 HD DVR's, 2 HD boxes, new multi-switch, new slimline dish, 125 ft of RG6 cable and install

PLUS

$10 monthly credit for 12 months ($120 total)
Free HD package for 6 months ($59)

So, my net is $217 for everything.

Maybe not the best deal out there, but pretty good.  Although I've been with D* since 1994, so I'd better have gotten a good deal...

Looks pretty good to me.

[gparris]

Mags, outside of owning that fabulous Sony KDS-R70XBR2 set, you are one lucky person with such a deal!
Directv's website shows a lot more than that and no credits for service in compensation.

As long as you can get your HR20s and H20s grab all the local HD channels, you are good to go
You should throw a party dumping Time Warner Cable, including the boxes being sent back...good for  you!:D

[vegasvic]

{cheers}  Very nice

[Mags]

Mags, outside of owning that fabulous Sony KDS-R70XBR2 set, you are one lucky person with such a deal!
Directv's website shows a lot more than that and no credits for service in compensation.

As long as you can get your HR20s and H20s grab all the local HD channels, you are good to go
You should throw a party dumping Time Warner Cable, including the boxes being sent back...good for  you!:D

Thanks GParris - yea, the Sony is a great TV.  I've been very happy with it....

FYI - I'm not dumping TWC - I've never had them.  I've been with D* since 1994 - and as long as they have NFL season ticket, I won't be going anywere.  And with all the HD channels they now have, where would I go anyway?

I just decided it was time to update my boxes and dish and give up my beloved TIVO.  I'm not excited about that part, but at least my loss of TIVO will be offset by a bunch of new HD channels...

They come tomorrow (Wed) to put up the new dish, new multi-switch, and bring the 4 boxes.  It should be a simple install - basically just plug and play, with no wiring to do (i've done it all, including putting in dedicated RG6 runs for the antenna, which was easy as our basement is unfinished - just a little "fishing" in walls and wallplate/termination work).

I'll let everyone know who comes to install and what type of job they do...

[Mags]

Well, Premier communications came today to do the new dish install, etc.

It was a fiasco from the word go.  First they called me this morning and said they didn't have any HD DVR's and they are not coming.

Then they called and said they had 1 HD DVR and they would come.

They showed up, and remounted the new dish on the roof instead of the side of the house where it was.  They said it would be a better mount on the roof - personally, I thought it would be more subjected to wind on the roof, rather than on the side of the house.  

Then they put in the new multiswitch and installed on HD DVR.  While it works ok, to me the picture looks "softer" than with the old HD TIVO.  I haven't had time to play with it yet, but I'm not happy that is the case.

They plan on bringing the other HD DVR next week - supposedly.

Has anyone else noticed a "softness" of picture with the new DVR/Dish setup verus the old HD 10-250?

[Bebop]

PQ for me is about the same as my old Tivo. Try switching between 720p and 1080i, 1080i always looks better on my TV. My installer didn't like to put the dish on the side of the house either.