When considering an HDTV Satellite system, what is your pref

[Sadoun]

Now the market is moving towards HDTV at a faster pace. DN and DirecTV are competing for bandwidth by acquiring and launching new satellites. The cable companies are also scrambling to update their cable networks to provide the necessary bandwidth. Also, the internet streaming videos, etc.

Where do you stand and what has been your experience so far?

[vj9999]

I voted for Local cable (although that is not a HDTV satellite system ) since that is what I have.

I think all of them have their pros and cons. VOOM is impressive with their content, but a bit shakey financially. Dish Network is slower than thers to add programming (althought they have TNT HD). Directv is good and with new satellites and the swithch to mpeg4 are going to start offering locals in HD. Directv HD Tivo is a plus as well.

As or cable, I am happy with my Comcast service. I get INHD 1&2, ESPN,HBO,SHO,Starz, Cinemax, ABC,NBC,CBS,FOX,WB (WGN), Discovery HD Theater and CSN HD (for all the Bulls, Cubs and White Sox games). Plus they have been increasing their HDTV OnDemand offerings although it is too pricey for me to pay $5.99 for an HD movie I can't even record. I also like my DCT 6412 Dual Tuner DVR that lets me record two progams at the same time.

[videobruce]

Who voted for the last choice?

[Shawn95GT]

I voted 4DTV. If you can get away with a BUD it's the best quality you're going to see with satellite HDTV.

I had Voom (VaVaVoom) and loved it. I wish one of the DBS providers would step up to the plate with 40ish HD channels (not counting locals!).

Shawn

[joaomach]

what is up with the FTA market, there seems to be less and less receivers on the market, and are there any HD FTA receivers out there? I am trying to go FTA but would like to receive HD chanels as they come available?

Thanks, Joao

[Shawn95GT]

Originally Posted by joaomach

what is up with the FTA market, there seems to be less and less receivers on the market, and are there any HD FTA receivers out there? I am trying to go FTA but would like to receive HD chanels as they come available?

Thanks, Joao

The problem is that aside from feeds, about all that's out there in HD & is FTA is PBS.

There are a couple recievers out there that will do HD FTA but they start out around $600.

I'm hoping that the 'reasonably priced' FTA recievers will get on board with HD / 4:2:2.

I'd like to see something along the lines of the Pansat 3500s that would be 480i/p / 720p / 1080i capable. If it came in under $250 that would be awesome.

Right now for HD FTA the best bet seems to be a stand alone blind-scan reciever and a PCI card or USB DVB tuner.

Shawn

[videobruce]

There are a couple recievers out there that will do HD FTA but they start out around $600.

Ok, enlighten us exactly what?

[reallyniceguy]

dish already went mpeg 4 , they got the 622 dual tunner dvr both sides are HD! and its 299 of course there are special rebates... wow direct tvs dvr is 599 , 300 i believe after rebate ;/ . Also a rep adviced me free olympics in hd and 25 hd channels, also hd locals launchin in march. o.0 ..

[Admin]

Dish Network has by far the most HDTV channels. I like the ViP622 receiver with its DVR capabilities.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by videobruce

Ok, enlighten us exactly what?

QualiTV. They go for around $650.00 and are HD 4:2:2 capable set top boxes.

[DruzeTito]

Originally Posted by Shawn95GT

I voted 4DTV. If you can get away with a BUD it's the best quality you're going to see with satellite HDTV.

I had Voom (VaVaVoom) and loved it. I wish one of the DBS providers would step up to the plate with 40ish HD channels (not counting locals!).

Shawn

I agree with Shawn. 4DTV is awesome it gets the feed from the channel DIRECTLY from the source satellite and this is where you will have max eye popping HD qualityat it's best. Directv/Dish take the source signal, reuplink to their satellite and then the end user gets this signal. I believe there is some quality loss here. Its not to say that it doesn't look good!!

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by DruzeTito

I agree with Shawn. 4DTV is awesome it gets the feed from the channel DIRECTLY from the source satellite and this is where you will have max eye popping HD qualityat it's best. Directv/Dish take the source signal, reuplink to their satellite and then the end user gets this signal. I believe there is some quality loss here. Its not to say that it doesn't look good!!

4DTV here although I do have a OTA receiver and the picture quality on it is excellent.

[tdti1]

I use 4dtv, I have seen DTV and Dish and was not happy with there PQ, 4dtv HD is very limited but the quality is great, we should finally have the NFL network HD soon also so thats a plus for 4dtvers.

Both the HD and SD on 4dtv blows the pants off mini dish hands down

[bobkat]

Hey !! You left Bell ExpressVu HD off the list.... They have close to 20 channels of great HD programming!!

kat

[bobkat]

Never mind -- I just fixed it...

kat

[etype2]

Hi,
I'm new here. Had DirectTv from it's inception,late 93,I believe. Started with the basic dish,then 3 sat and now 5 sat. Being forced to move to an apt. due to loss of job. Close to retirement though. DirectTv tech's unable to lock all the sat's with the new slimline 5 sat dish on my 3rd story balcony. Good line of site,but they said I had reflection problems. Any experience with this?

Now I'm going to try Dish network for the first time with thier Dish 1000 to see if that system will work.

So I guess,DirectTv is my favourite up to this time. I'm intrigued about the new 99 sat. DirectTv says they will have up to 250 HD channels with it. Anybody know more about this?

I live in Dublin,Ca. That's about 45 miles southeast of San Francisco.

[elgemcdlf]

Originally Posted by etype2

Hi,
I'm new here. Had DirectTv from it's inception,late 93,I believe. Started with the basic dish,then 3 sat and now 5 sat. Being forced to move to an apt. due to loss of job. Close to retirement though. DirectTv tech's unable to lock all the sat's with the new slimline 5 sat dish on my 3rd story balcony. Good line of site,but they said I had reflection problems. Any experience with this?

Now I'm going to try Dish network for the first time with thier Dish 1000 to see if that system will work.

So I guess,DirectTv is my favourite up to this time. I'm intrigued about the new 99 sat. DirectTv says they will have up to 250 HD channels with it. Anybody know more about this?

I live in Dublin,Ca. That's about 45 miles southeast of San Francisco.

Does that mean he gets scared when he looks in the mirror? On a side note never heard of such things.

[Sadoun]

DirectTv says they will have up to 250 HD channels with it. Anybody know more about this?

I haven't heard about that, yet. Anyone heard it?

[pictureon]

Originally Posted by etype2

they said I had reflection problems. Any experience with this?

could they mean( Reflector problem )??

[GeshAsi]

I run into thousands links of him. Thewriter keeps himself a pen name in order to bypass Israeli censor, Obadiah publishes some bizarre things about Middle Eastern doings.

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by GeshAsi

I run into thousands links of him. Thewriter keeps himself a pen name in order to bypass Israeli censor, Obadiah publishes some bizarre things about Middle Eastern doings.

WTH ?? Please explain what you are talking about.

kat

[rainman]

Originally Posted by bobkat

WTH ?? Please explain what you are talking about.

kat

I think this guy has found my still kat.LOL

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by rainman

I think this guy has found my still kat.LOL

HeHeHe... I told you to make sure nobody's following you when you head down to Louisville to buy that copper line...

kat

[rainman]

I need to get one of those hemi cuda's that way they wouldn't be able to keep up.

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by rainman

I need to get one of those hemi cuda's that way they wouldn't be able to keep up.

Yeah, that would do it - or else a big black Dodge, Johnson County Sheriff painted on the side... ah, you know the rest....

I would likely choose a '72 Pontiac GTO or a '70 Buick GS 455; although I wouldn't complain about a nice '68 Cuda !!

kat

[rainman]

Originally Posted by bobkat

Yeah, that would do it - or else a big black Dodge, Johnson County Sheriff painted on the side... ah, you know the rest....

I would likely choose a '72 Pontiac GTO or a '70 Buick GS 455; although I wouldn't complain about a nice '68 Cuda !!

kat

johnson county wouldn't work thats just where my internet runs through so we will go for a blue dodge with KSP.on the side that way we don't have to worry.LOL

[elgemcdlf]

If you just drive fast enough nobody will know what color it is anyway. Sorry Kat can't drive that fast in a GM

[be236]

I'd like to get a HD FTA receiver that can also receive OTA HD as well. hehe...

Why is HD decoder so expensive, adding an extra $200-$300 to the receiver? Is there royalty that has to be paid for the HD technology??

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by elgemcdlf

Sorry Kat can't drive that fast in a GM

Uh oh... them's fightin' words, mister !!!

kat

[rainman]

Originally Posted by bobkat

Uh oh... them's fightin' words, mister !!!

kat

don't get upset kat those GM's run pretty good down hill with a strong tail wind.LOL