need some guidance on what to do

[seltech]

Hi all, I'm new here so please bare with me. Currently I have a Direct TV SD receiver (the little black one). I run this to a Benq DLP projector, but here is my issue. I can either hook it up through composite or s-video, composite look like junk (lowest quality ) and S-video isn't bad but my colors are shadowed (they arn't aligned correctly over s-video output) so I cannot run s-video, and have no way to adjust the color alignment. I do have HDMI on the projector (via HDfury DVI-RGB hdcp converter, nice little device indeed) I currently run my upscaled dvd player to that, looks amazing. I figured i would just upgrade to DTV HD to get the HD receiver with HDMI out (not sure on the model number here) but they couldn't contact any satellites but the 101 (which is standard channels) I told the gentleman installing the system I don't care if i can't get HD channels i just want that HDMI output, even after saying i don't care about the extra 9 a month, to me its worth it having that HDMI out, he still wouldn't do it. Nonetheless they canceled the install due to line of sight issues. got my money back just fine but I still would like a HD receiver with HDMI output, the installer told me i can run the receiver with my current setup, just won't be able to get HD channels, which is fine by me. So can I purchase a reciever that has the HDMI out and get it activated? What would be the best way to accomplish this without going through direct tv for the receiver (they told me untill I cut down trees I can't get the receiver through them, since they will cancel the install due to line of sight) also what receiver should I get? i've read things that certain receivers upscale on component and hdmi outputs, any truth to this? any info would be great, pretty much i need the ability to either have DVI out or hdmi out. I simply need that connection for quality purposes, even if it still is standard definition. Also if i get the reciever myself and install it, then activate it, will i have to pay the 9$ HD charge a month?

[Jhon69]

Hi all, I'm new here so please bare with me. Currently I have a Direct TV SD receiver (the little black one). I run this to a Benq DLP projector, but here is my issue. I can either hook it up through composite or s-video, composite look like junk (lowest quality ) and S-video isn't bad but my colors are shadowed (they arn't aligned correctly over s-video output) so I cannot run s-video, and have no way to adjust the color alignment. I do have HDMI on the projector (via HDfury DVI-RGB hdcp converter, nice little device indeed) I currently run my upscaled dvd player to that, looks amazing. I figured i would just upgrade to DTV HD to get the HD receiver with HDMI out (not sure on the model number here) but they couldn't contact any satellites but the 101 (which is standard channels) I told the gentleman installing the system I don't care if i can't get HD channels i just want that HDMI output, even after saying i don't care about the extra 9 a month, to me its worth it having that HDMI out, he still wouldn't do it. Nonetheless they canceled the install due to line of sight issues. got my money back just fine but I still would like a HD receiver with HDMI output, the installer told me i can run the receiver with my current setup, just won't be able to get HD channels, which is fine by me. So can I purchase a reciever that has the HDMI out and get it activated? What would be the best way to accomplish this without going through direct tv for the receiver (they told me untill I cut down trees I can't get the receiver through them, since they will cancel the install due to line of sight) also what receiver should I get? i've read things that certain receivers upscale on component and hdmi outputs, any truth to this? any info would be great, pretty much i need the ability to either have DVI out or hdmi out. I simply need that connection for quality purposes, even if it still is standard definition. Also if i get the reciever myself and install it, then activate it, will i have to pay the 9$ HD charge a month?



Suggest you try to pickup a HR10-250 off of EBay.;)

[seltech]

Awesome thanks for that info, Now as for activation, are they going to give me a hard time since i dont' have an HD dish etc, remember i just need the HDMI output. Also I'm sure i have to return the leased unit. Anyone have an experience similar to this that could chime in! I noticed that model the HR10-250 has built in TiVo,is there a similar unit without tivo? this won't make for more problems considering my situation will it? i know theres also a tivo charge and if i get the HD charge also then i dunno if it will be worth it.

[davidpoe]

Be very careful with the HR10-250 unit and HDMI, the are notorious for HDMI problems. The HDMI on my unit, which is now my secondary (bedroom) unit, never worked. If you buy one on eBay, make sure they are positive there where no HDMI problems. I always used component, so I didn't care.
Dave in NJ

[seltech]

thank your for your input david! I'd rather stay away from ebay, dont' want to get a unit thats still under lease, I found that best buy carrys the H21-200 (non dvr model) for 99$ I think i might just pick that up and get it activated. Now will that require me to get the HD service charge? or can i use this receiver without having that extra 9 dollar a month charge? thats the only part i'm unclear on.

[raoul5788]

thank your for your input david! I'd rather stay away from ebay, dont' want to get a unit thats still under lease, I found that best buy carrys the H21-200 (non dvr model) for 99$ I think i might just pick that up and get it activated. Now will that require me to get the HD service charge? or can i use this receiver without having that extra 9 dollar a month charge? thats the only part i'm unclear on.

IIRC, any hd equipment activation requires you have an hd package of at least $9.99.

[TigersFanJJ]

If all you want is the hdmi and you don't care about the $9.99 a month charge, you can pick up an H20 from Best Buy or Circuit City for $99 and swap it out yourself. If your current dish is a 3 lnb, you may even be able to pick up a few hd channels coming from the 110 or 119 satellites. However, you will only get sd channels with the single lnb dish.

[seltech]

awesome thnx guys, i did exactly that last night, got the new H21-200 hooked it up called and bam done, and Tigersfan you kinda partially answered my next question. I"m under the assumption that the 101 is SD channels 110 and 119 are HD and there are 2 ka band sats for locals? So with a 3 lnb dish could i point it to 101, 110 and 119? I have a friend who just moved to dish network and has a dtv Multi-satilite dish (he said thats what it says on the front) Is that a triple LNB dish?

i currently have the old school round single lnb dish, also have a unused hughsnet dish (with the LNB's and transmitter removed) and i have a old primestar dish from the 90's you should see the angle on that sucker :)

[Michael D'Angelo]

awesome thnx guys, i did exactly that last night, got the new H21-200 hooked it up called and bam done, and Tigersfan you kinda partially answered my next question. I"m under the assumption that the 101 is SD channels 110 and 119 are HD and there are 2 ka band sats for locals? So with a 3 lnb dish could i point it to 101, 110 and 119? I have a friend who just moved to dish network and has a dtv Multi-satilite dish (he said thats what it says on the front) Is that a triple LNB dish?

Welcome to DBTalk

The 3 LNB dish is for 101, 110, and 119 but 99 and 103 are for HD locals and all the new HD channels. Every new HD channel that has launched since September is on 103c and whatever national HD channels that are added from here on will either be on that SAT or 99c once that is launched. Plus all HD locals will be on 99 or 103. Also the HD channels that are on 110 and 119 will be moved to the new SAT's at some point this year.

[seltech]

Welcome to DBTalk

The 3 LNB dish is for 101, 110, and 119 but 99 and 103 are for HD locals and all the new HD channels. Every new HD channel that has launched since September is on 103c and whatever national HD channels that are added from here on will either be on that SAT or 99c once that is launched. Plus all HD locals will be on 99 or 103. Also the HD channels that are on 110 and 119 will be moved to the new SAT's at some point this year.

Thanks bmore! So finding a 3 LNB dish is kinda a waste of time since HD's will be moved to the new sats (99,103)? Should i just look for a 5lnb dish? Is the discovery HD channels on 110 or 119? all i watch is discovery and science channel and would love them in HD :lol:

[Michael D'Angelo]

Thanks bmore! So finding a 3 LNB dish is kinda a waste of time since HD's will be moved to the new sats (99,103)? Should i just look for a 5lnb dish? Is the discovery HD channels on 110 or 119? all i watch is discovery and science channel and would love them in HD :lol:

Yes at this point the 3 LNB dish is a waste. I believe DirecTV will still upgrade you to a 5 LNB dish for free if you have MPEG4 HD equipment.

Discovery I believe is on 110 but it could be 119. The Science channel is on 103c.

[carl6]

You absolutely will need the 5-LNB dish. You can either (a) call DirecTV or (b) order one on-line from someplace like Value Electronics or Solid Signal.

Carl

[seltech]

Yes at this point the 3 LNB dish is a waste. I believe DirecTV will still upgrade you to a 5 LNB dish for free if you have MPEG4 HD equipment.

Discovery I believe is on 110 but it could be 119. The Science channel is on 103c.

thanks BMore for this info, helps me out alot. I think i might just get that 3LNB of my friend for now, its free so why not :) even if it gets me only 1 channel :D

is there a list of what channels are on what sats anywhere?

[seltech]

You absolutely will need the 5-LNB dish. You can either (a) call DirecTV or (b) order one on-line from someplace like Value Electronics or Solid Signal.

Carl

Thanks Carl I'll check out those websites :up:

[Michael D'Angelo]

thanks BMore for this info, helps me out alot. I think i might just get that 3LNB of my friend for now, its free so why not :) even if it gets me only 1 channel :D

is there a list of what channels are on what sats anywhere?

Check out the link below.

http://directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P4380112

The channels in the section where ESPN and ESPN2 are on 110 or 119.

All other national channels are on 103c.

[seltech]

Check out the link below.

http://directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P4380112

The channels in the section where ESPN and ESPN2 are on 110 or 119.

All other national channels are on 103c.

hrmm please pardon my noobness, but what stops me from using the 3 lnb to talk to 103c instead of 110 or 119? is it have to do with the KA band?

[Michael D'Angelo]

hrmm please pardon my noobness, but what stops me from using the 3 lnb to talk to 103c instead of 110 or 119? is it have to do with the KA band?

Because you need 101 for your DirecTV service to work and if you point it at 103 you will not be able to pick up 101 with a 3 LNB dish.

Also I am not sure since 99 and 103 are MPEG4 if the LNB's are different than the ones used for 101, 110, and 119.

[seltech]

Because you need 101 for your DirecTV service to work and if you point it at 103 you will not be able to pick up 101 with a 3 LNB dish.

Also I am not sure since 99 and 103 are MPEG4 if the LNB's are different than the ones used for 101, 110, and 119.

I appreciate you sharing the knowledge Bmore, I think my last question is, how do i work out the position of the other sats. I mean my dish is pointed at 101 atm wth 96% strength. i'm assuming that 110 will be a little more in the west and 119 with be even more westerly (i'm in Maine) Does my reciever tell me the Azmuith and Elevation in need for the individual sats? I know my elevation is around 31 degrees roughly. but arn't 110 and 119 on different elevations?

[Michael D'Angelo]

I appreciate you sharing the knowledge Bmore, I think my last question is, how do i work out the position of the other sats. I mean my dish is pointed at 101 atm wth 96% strength. i'm assuming that 110 will be a little more in the west and 119 with be even more westerly (i'm in Maine) Does my reciever tell me the Azmuith and Elevation in need for the individual sats? I know my elevation is around 31 degrees roughly. but arn't 110 and 119 on different elevations?

You need to run the SAT setup again and change your receiver to 3 LNB dish from 1 LNB dish. When you do that it will tell you what you need to set the dish to. Once you do that and mount it you should have a signal. But you will need to play with it a little to get a better signal.

[bobnielsen]

Since 99 and 103 are so close to 101, I really doubt that you would have problems receiving them. It may be that 110 and/or 119 were the reason the installer wouldn't put up the 5 LNB dish. In any case, I would not recommend a 3 LNB dish. You could get by without 110 and 119 but would miss a few HD channels (temporarily, as those will be moving to 103/99 probably later this year).

[seltech]

You need to run the SAT setup again and change your receiver to 3 LNB dish from 1 LNB dish. When you do that it will tell you what you need to set the dish to. Once you do that and mount it you should have a signal. But you will need to play with it a little to get a better signal.

Excellent, thanks much Bmore and all, your knowledge us very appreciated! :D

[seltech]

Since 99 and 103 are so close to 101, I really doubt that you would have problems receiving them. It may be that 110 and/or 119 were the reason the installer wouldn't put up the 5 LNB dish. In any case, I would not recommend a 3 LNB dish. You could get by without 110 and 119 but would miss a few HD channels (temporarily, as those will be moving to 103/99 probably later this year).

Ahh thats great news then, the installer was constantly checking only the 110 and 119 sats, and once he new he coudln't get to them he just called of the install. He never tried the 99 or 103.

[seltech]

Just wanted to update, got my slimline and installed it yesterday and I get the 99, 101 and 103 sats with excellent signal. Thanks all for your help :D