Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

JB · Feb 21, 2005

I'm so confused.

I bought a HDTV. Love it. Now I want to receive HD signals from my DirecTV satellite dish. Can't get a straight answer from DirecTV about cost, etc. without comitting. Aint gonna do that without hard facts. I see many DirecTV HD receivers and dishes on ebay. Can I just buy a receiver and dish on ebay, hook it up and then call DTV and change my service to include HD? What is the "access card" about? Is it likely to be included in a receiver? There are a wide variety of prices the units on ebay are getting. I can figure out that the ones that include DVRs should be worth more, but I don't care about that. Why are the Sonys going for so much more than the RCAs, for example? This is humiliating. I have a BSEE and taught electronics and automatic control systems (robotics) among other subjects up until I retired, and that was only 8 years ago. I really feel old tonight.

Is there somebody (of course there is) out there who is current on this stuff that can advise me?

Sea Six · Feb 21, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

I'd go to Best Buy and see what they have on display. Check this out: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...70123&productCategoryId=cat03026&type=product Then you can shop prices on the net. You must have an access card or the receiver will not work. This is one product I'd be careful about on e-bay.

crab bait · Feb 21, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

good post JB.. now you know how the common average inteligent SOB feels..

..

boatneck · Feb 21, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

JB, I bought an HDTV and then upgraded my DishNet to HDTV by leasing their HDTV set-top box. I leased instead of purchased since at some point in the future there is a chance the FCC will come out with uniform standards which all HDTV purveyors will have to meet. My set-top box is controlled by HDTV via digital control signals which are apparently overlaid on the broadcast signal. There is no card like they have on their standard set-top box. If you choose to buy a set-top box, you can get it anywhere and the price/warranty varies. You still have to pay DishNet or DirecTV for access per month.

chuckz · Feb 21, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

JB, The access card is the encryption decoder. It determines which channels you can receive. HDTV signals have been standardized by the FCC. If you really want to you can go to the FCC web site and get detailed information. HDTV is broadcast as a digital signal, conventional TV is analog. An analog receiver is not going to decode HDTV signals. Even if the satellite link is digital, the two systems use completely different modulation schemes. I wouldn't count on Best Buys sales people to know anything helpful to you JB. A couple of years ago I did some work for a major satellite TV system equipment manufacturer. Most of their people didn't understand digital radio. Why are Sony's more than RCA? Marketing and brand recognition. Also, Sony always has the latest bells and whistles. Sometimes they push superior technology into the marketplace but it never takes hold. Remember Betamax? Hope this helps.

PierBridge · Feb 22, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

JB, I thought we were going to start with OTA FREE HD channels. Did you hook up your current antenna or did you buy a new one yet? Your well within range of the DFW local over the air "antenna" High Definition channels. You could buy one off of E-Bay, if it does not come with a card Direc TV will sell you one for $10. My guess is Direc TV would be able to get you the best deal on your equipment, HD receiver, 3 lnb Dish, and installation. I'll be home later to break down the cost of HD and what channels you get, if you want all of the Direct TV's HD content your looking at $80 or more a month if you don't need the HBO's,Showtime's you can save a little...

JB · Feb 22, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

Thanks, GG. Yes, I can get the two digital OTA channels from DFW. . . .when atmospherics are right. My set is a Sony Grand WEGA 55" with the digital receiver built in. I finally found a price of $299. . . on Circuit City's site. . .but it didn't include the dish or installation. It did include many improved user friendly features that my 5 year old Hughes analog doesn't have or doesn't match. I have been paying $10/mo to lease that thing forever; bet I bought it several times over. Don't want the movie channels, just the basic HD package.

KaGee · Feb 22, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

JB.. I just did the upgrade here. I called customer retention @ 800-600-8977. Tell them you now have HDTV and are considering an upgrade. However, dish network is offering a screaming deal to new customers and you are considering changing services. Very nicely ask them if they have any programs that may cause you to reconsider. The first time they offered me the receiver, dish, installation and six months of free HD programing for $200 plus tax. I said I'd think about it. Called two days later and told them of seeing others on the internet get a better deal (no lie, I actually did). After hem-hawing around, she knocked off another $50. So, I got the system upgraded with installation and six months of HD programing for $149.99 plus tax net. My bill showed the system billed out at $349.99 with a $200 credit applied. I had to commit to another 12 months of service.

JB · Feb 22, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

HEY!! KaGee, you are DA MAN!!

Thanks a bazillion. I will call them in the morning.

PierBridge · Feb 22, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

That's the way to go....customer retention... So your using your old antenna for the ota HD locals? You should be able to get with the right antenna. 4-1 Fox 5-1 NBC 8-1 ABC which is vhf channel and will require an vhf add on to your uhf antenna. 8-2 Weather Map 11-1 CBS 13-1 KERA 21-1 UPN/HDNET 21-2 Weather Map 24-1 Univision 27-1 KDFI 33-1 WB 39-1 Telemundo 48-1 No idea (spanish) 51-1 No idea 68-1 PAX which of these are you getting now? Where as your Direct TV HD package will include. ESPNHD, UHD, Discovery HD, HDNet Movies, HDNet, one PPV.

JB · Feb 22, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

Wow! I have only been getting 5.1 and 5.2 (weather). Clearly I need to fix my antenna and lead in. Or does HD require a different antenna? Finally got an Email reply from DTV. It said they hope to include local HD channels by the end of the year. Thanks, GG.

PierBridge · Feb 22, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

Originally posted by JB: Wow! I have only been getting 5.1 and 5.2 (weather). Clearly I need to fix my antenna and lead in. Or does HD require a different antenna?

Well it all depends on how far you are from the towers of these station's if your close enough simple rabbit ears can work, I live about 10 miles from the farthest tower I use the old antenna that came with my house. I don't know for sure how far you are from Dallas/Fortworth but on a map it looks like about 50 miles...?....if you could give a ballpark figure on how far it is to Dallas or Fortworth that would help. If it's more then 50 miles or there are variable's like living in a low area or mountains or hills in the way then you may need a different antenna with an amp. Did I say mountains in Texas....time for bed...

KaGee · Feb 23, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

There is no such thing as a "HDTV" antenna. Any TV antenna is fine. Although JB, sounds like out there in "The Hideout" you need a fairly good one to draw in the locals. You may qualify to receive the network HD feeds. Sometime later this year DIRECTV will offer the local stations in HDTV format. Right now there is not enough satellite transponders.

JB · Feb 23, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

I do get the local stations on my DTV, but because I often want to use the PIP feature to monitor two events at once I have the antenna as well. The TV requires seperate signal sources to do this. New question. If I get the multiple-room dish and receiver from DTV will I be able to do the PIP with different satellite inputs?

KaGee · Feb 24, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

Sorry for the delay in answering... my cable got wacked yesterday by some bonehead burying the next door neighbor's cable. I just now got back on-line. Your answer is yes JB if you hook up one of the other receiver's RF output to one of your TV's RF antenna inputs. (I assume that you have two 75 ohm RF jacks on the back of that Sony)

JB · Feb 24, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

Cool, KaGee. Thanks.

JB · Mar 4, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

Well, I did as KaGee suggested and was able to wangle the same deal. Installed today and the quality of the pic is really awesome!

Now I need to get my antenna working so I can get all of the OTA HD channels from DFW. Thanks again, KaGee. You saved me a lot of hassle and probably saved me quite a few bux, too.

KaGee · Mar 5, 2005

Re: Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

Good deal JB. Glad to be of help. The difference is awsome. I love mine.

Upgrading Satellite to HDTV.

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