Los Angeles Locals to MPEG 4 Only?

[crissyO]

Need some help here...got a call from Direct telling me they were going to give me a FREE upgrade to a 5 lnb satellite and a Directv HDDVR...I currently have a Tivo HDDVR that I LOVE, but they told me that to get new HD channels I need the Directv box. They ALSO said that I would no longer be able to get local channels on my Tivo box because they are going to be broadcast in MPEG-4, and my Tivo is only MPEG 2. (Later, someone else at Direct told me this is NOT the case.)

I don't care too much about getting the new channels, but I don't want to lose the locals. They also told me they are going to take my Tivo if they give me the upgrade, which is somewhat infuriating. What are they going to do with it? Perhaps their CEO prefers TiVo? I guess what I want to know is, should I take the upgrade? Will I hate the HR20 and miss my TiVo terribly? Or will I screw myself if I wait and end up paying for these upgrades? Any advice appreciated!

[Stuart Sweet]

LA Locals are in MPEG2 for the use of national subscribers with no HD locals (called Distant Network Services or DNS). It's true that this will be phased out at some point, but we don't know when.

As far as how you will feel about an HR20, there are plenty of stories on both sides in our HR20/HR21 forum. I for one really like mine.

And.. :welcome_s to DBSTalk!

[BGreen965]

They didn't require I return the hr10-250 when I got my new hr20's so you might be able to keep it. I haven't heard much about them being collected as they serve D* no purpose.

[inkahauts]

Do you subscribe directly to D* , or are you activated through a third party and maybe that is who called you. I have not actually heard of anyone that has had to return their HR10, especially since you purchased that unit, whereas all the new units today are leases....

By the way, you are missing a local now (that is currently available to you)... you would get KTLA (5) in HD off sat today if you had an HR20, and soon KCAL (9) too, and neither of those will ever show up on your Tivo. Also, all the locals are mapped to their actual channel number rather than being in the 80's.... Also, all the MPEG-4 channels take up less space when you record a program than the Mpeg-2 you are using now....

[RobertE]

And so it has begun. !devil12:

[Tony Chick]

You never actually got "HD locals" before, its just that the national feeds of the 4 major networks for the Western US happened to be the LA O&O stations. All of the spot-beamed HD locals are MPEG-4, including some duplicates of the MPEG-2 national feeds.

[Earl Bonovich]

As another note:

ALL MPEG-2 SAT based HD will be converting to MPEG-4... not just the locals... but all.

[tonyd79]

Hmmm...that sounded like you have a date in your brain, Earl.

[Tonedeaf]

Hmmm...that sounded like you have a date in your brain, Earl.

My guess would be.... soon. :lol:

[Earl Bonovich]

Hmmm...that sounded like you have a date in your brain, Earl.

I have a relative time frame in my brain, but no date.

[Steve Robertson]

I love that word soon can't wait to see it a 1000 more times

[CJTE]

Need some help here...got a call from Direct telling me they were going to give me a FREE upgrade to a 5 lnb satellite and a Directv HDDVR...I currently have a Tivo HDDVR that I LOVE, but they told me that to get new HD channels I need the Directv box. They ALSO said that I would no longer be able to get local channels on my Tivo box because they are going to be broadcast in MPEG-4, and my Tivo is only MPEG 2. (Later, someone else at Direct told me this is NOT the case.)

I don't care too much about getting the new channels, but I don't want to lose the locals. They also told me they are going to take my Tivo if they give me the upgrade, which is somewhat infuriating. What are they going to do with it? Perhaps their CEO prefers TiVo? I guess what I want to know is, should I take the upgrade? Will I hate the HR20 and miss my TiVo terribly? Or will I screw myself if I wait and end up paying for these upgrades? Any advice appreciated!

As previously stated, the info in regards to your account type would be helpful. Meanwhile, it sounds like you're getting the same free HD Swap as atleast 2 others have mentioned (and created threads) about.
Now, in regards to them taking your Tivo... If its an OWNED receiver, they cant take it, but they can deactivate it from your account, and although your not supposed to, you can activate it back later. If its LEASED, they CAN take it, however, its highly unlikely that they WILL.