reducing compression

[durl]

Is anyone aware of any plans in the works to ease the amount of compression currently used on Directv signals? I know that with the addition of the new HD package that more bandwith is going to be used and I'm not sure if that's going to make the problem worse. I'm sure that they're working on ways to force more data into the signal while improving picture quality but as far as concrete efforts underway, I'm completely unaware of them. Or perhaps Directv is planning on placing another satellite into service?

Basically I'm happy with Directv, but ever since I upgraded to a HD monitor, the pixelation is much more evident. I know that the increased pixelation can be due to the TV's efforts to smooth out the resolution so there's only so much you can do. Still, I'd like to see better PQ from my non-HD channels.

[Silversurfer01973]

Compression is currently up due to the addition of more local channels at the 101 location. D* is adding a new spotbeam satellite sometime this fall which should help alleviate this problem.

[Mike123abc]

Don't get your hopes up that compression artifacts will go away when D-7s goes up. Yes there will be some help, but probably not much. Looks like only 1 to 1.5 transponders worth of locals are on a national beam instead of spot beams on 101.

Compression is part of DBS life. It shows up on large screen and HDTV screens because the screens do not blur the compression artifacts away. The good news is that compression technology keeps improving giving a better and better picture with less and less bandwith. The bad news is that they tend to add more channels rather than improve the picture.

[Greg Bimson]

Mike123abc, DirecTV is currently using more space for CONUS locals than you think:

8 channels for Tucson (should be 9)
7 channels for Richmond
7 channels for Louisville (should be 8)
7 channels for Jackson
7 channels for Roanoke
5 channels for Des Moines (should be 6)
5 channels for Shreveport (should be 6)
4 channels for Wilkes-Barre (should be 6)

DirecTV is currently using 50 channels on CONUS slots for locals; it should be 56. That is about 4 or 5 transponders for locals bandwidth at CONUS slots.

[Mike123abc]

You are right, looks like they slipped a few more in there on 101 CONUS. But, even when they are put on spot people will still see artifacts on HDTVs and Large screen projection. People have been complaining about this for years, long before they put these locals up.

[Jacob S]

I dont see compression per channel being reduced for a good while due to all the local markets yet to be offered and especially HD coming about.