View Full Version : Going HD ??
roehrle
11-11-09, 06:25 PM
Been a D* customer a number of years with an old Tivo which is starting to give me problems. Thinking about getting a new 42" Plasma HD and since I am retired on a fixed budget I'm trying to figure out if I can afford the new system. Been reading some threads that appear it may be possible to get a new HD DVR for just the shipping cost and a 24 month re-up. Is this possible or do I have to paid $200 for a new DVR ?? Also it appears some people are getting free HD. Since I watch mostly talk programs and I'm really not interested in whether I can see if people have bad skin I don't know if it is worth $10/m for HD. Is it easy to drop paying for HD if I don't see it's worth the extra money?
Also would appreciate a link where a HD newbe can get educated.:sure:
sigma1914
11-11-09, 06:31 PM
Best advice call & ask the retention department.
Also, why buy a HD plasma TV if you don't want to pay for HD? HD is great!
After watching the HD channels on a nice TV, you don't want to go back to the SD channels.
Yeah, this post is obscurred. Why bother getting an HD TV and HD receiver if you don't even care for HD? It's useless.. I, on the other hand LOVE HD and can't get enough. I also feel it's worth the price we pay!
roehrle
11-11-09, 07:26 PM
Yeah, this post is obscurred. Why bother getting an HD TV and HD receiver if you don't even care for HD? !
It's not that I don't like HD. I think it's great. The units I have seen in the stores have knocked my socks off but like I said I don't watch a lot of movies or documentaries where HD shines. Is it going to make politics more understandable in HD ??? I don't think so.
jdspencer
11-11-09, 07:35 PM
Nothing lately will make politics understandable.:)
You might want to consider getting a new LCD HD TV, they are a little less expensive than plasma.
I'd suggest you do this in stages. Get the new TV and use it with your current DirecTV TiVo receiver. If the TiVo does die, you could get an SD DirecTV DVR (the R16). DirecTV most likely will send it for the cost of shipping.
roehrle
11-11-09, 07:44 PM
Nothing lately will make politics understandable.:)
. If the TiVo does die, you could get an SD DirecTV DVR (the R16). DirecTV most likely will send it for the cost of shipping.
I think I'm going with plasma because I do like to watch pro football where I understand LCD can be a problem.
Can I get an HD DVR to replace my Tivo (shipping cost only) if it fails like it appears to be in it's final stage..
MountainMan10
11-11-09, 08:38 PM
If you watch football or any sports you must get HD. After watching a game in HD you will never be able to watch one in SD again.
If the TV is in a bright room you should get LCD. Plasma is good for a darker room. Plasma reflects much more background light.
The Merg
11-11-09, 08:38 PM
I think I'm going with plasma because I do like to watch pro football where I understand LCD can be a problem.
Can I get an HD DVR to replace my Tivo (shipping cost only) if it fails like it appears to be in it's final stage..
You can always get any type of receiver to replace what you currently have. However, for a defective replacement, DirecTV will replace with a similar style receiver. In your case, you would get a SD-DVR for the cost of shipping. You could at that time request to get an HD-DVR, but you might not get it for free.
One thing you can do is to go on-line and see what price they are offering you for a HD-DVR. As for having an HD-DVR and no HD service, when you activate the HD-DVR you are required to sign up for HD service.
- Merg
CCarncross
11-12-09, 06:44 AM
As a reminder, if you get an HD receiver you are required to carry the HD service...sure some people say they have gotten around it, but thats not what is supposed to happen.
ctaranto
11-12-09, 06:59 AM
If the TV is in a bright room you should get LCD. Plasma is good for a darker room. Plasma reflects much more background light.
This now depends on the plasma TV. I have a Panasonic G10, which faces 4 large windows to the south. Even during sunny days, the TV is perfectly watchable (no TV is going to display great in that environment).
The issue in the past was plasmas weren't as bright as LCD, thus required a darker room to see the picture. Depending on the plasma model, that's not true anymore. I have mine set at about 1/2 on brightness and it's fine on bright days.
/c
roehrle
11-12-09, 06:59 AM
.
I noticed you have the same Plasma TV that I am considering buying. Just wondering what your opinion is on this unit.I haven't seen one in the store yet but I like so far what I have read about them. It looks like Sears has the best price that I have found so far which surprised me.
hilmar2k
11-12-09, 07:19 AM
I think I'm going with plasma because I do like to watch pro football where I understand LCD can be a problem.
You have that backwards. A 120hz LCD will be better for football than a plasma. Plasma is better for movies, LCD for sports.
Biggest issue with plasma is ghosting. This has been fixed to some extent with newer models, but it is still an issue. If you watch a game for a while, and then change the channel, the score bar will stay on the screen faintly for a little while. can get pretty annoying. Not an issue at all with LCD.
roehrle
11-12-09, 07:45 AM
You have that backwards. A 120hz LCD will be better for football than a plasma. Plasma is better for movies, LCD for sports.
.
What I have read is that 120Hz causes some kind of "distortion ??" in movies that I don't understand. Something about the background looking unnatural. The explanation didn't make any sense to me. Perhaps someone can clarify this for me because it is one of the reasons I decided to look at plasma instead of LCD.
ctaranto
11-12-09, 08:05 AM
You have that backwards. A 120hz LCD will be better for football than a plasma. Plasma is better for movies, LCD for sports.
Biggest issue with plasma is ghosting. This has been fixed to some extent with newer models, but it is still an issue. If you watch a game for a while, and then change the channel, the score bar will stay on the screen faintly for a little while. can get pretty annoying. Not an issue at all with LCD.
That isn't backwards. Until very recently, plasma was the best for viewing sports and fast action. The LCD refresh was slow and would cause bluring. The 120Hz and 240Hz LCDs were created to fix that problem. Plasma never had a refresh issue.
The ghosting issue on plasma has been an issue until very recently as well. New plasmas hardly have that issue. My Panasonic G10 doesn't have it at all.
In the end, buy whatever looks better to your eyes and fits your budget. Both LCD and plasma, today, are very good.
/c
ddrumman2004
11-12-09, 09:54 AM
Mt step-daughter went out and bought a 50" plasma television and when I asked if she and her hubby were going to get HD....she asked me why.
I then asked why she bought a 50" plasma HD television. Her response? 'It looked good in the store."
Anyway, it took her husband to see the difference in picture quality on our 42" LCD screen....difference between SD and HD feed on a football game....to convince him.
Otherwise, I told them that they could have saved the cash on the plasma and stayed with the CRT television they had.
Check your account on-line and/or call and talk to a CSR. You should be able to get an upgrade to HD-DVR for some amount of discount, most likely $99 (as opposed to $199). It depends on a lot on your individual account details.
HD service will cost you a monthly fee, but everyone who has HD feels it is worth it (or they wouldn't have HD, right?). It would be a shame to get a nice new HD TV and not have HD service though.
[QUOTE=ddrumman2004;2273365]Mt step-daughter went out and bought a 50" plasma television and when I asked if she and her hubby were going to get HD....she asked me why.
I then asked why she bought a 50" plasma HD television. Her response? 'It looked good in the store."
[QUOTE]
:scratchin
scrybigtv
11-12-09, 01:25 PM
Too much misinformation (Plasma vs. LCD) for such a small thread.
roehrle
11-12-09, 02:09 PM
Too much misinformation (Plasma vs. LCD) for such a small thread.
OK , so educate us
hilmar2k
11-12-09, 02:42 PM
That isn't backwards. Until very recently, plasma was the best for viewing sports and fast action. The LCD refresh was slow and would cause bluring. The 120Hz and 240Hz LCDs were created to fix that problem. Plasma never had a refresh issue.
The ghosting issue on plasma has been an issue until very recently as well. New plasmas hardly have that issue. My Panasonic G10 doesn't have it at all.
In the end, buy whatever looks better to your eyes and fits your budget. Both LCD and plasma, today, are very good.
/c
I agree with your last comment 100%.
To me, LCD is much better for sports. My friend has a 50" Sammy plasma and the ghosting makes it hard to watch. It's about a year old, and I know they are improving that issue all the time, but I have 2 LCD TV's and football is awsome on them (especially my new 120hz Vizio).
Bottom line is look at them both and choose which one you prefer. For me, it's still LCD.
Too much misinformation (Plasma vs. LCD) for such a small thread.
OK , so educate us
I don't know which one is the can of worms and which one is the mine field.;):D Such a simple statement and such a simple request and yet....
scrybigtv
11-13-09, 12:34 PM
Sorry, guys. I've been away from my computer and just now got back. Didn't mean to portray myself as an authority on Plasma vs. LCD. But a few of the statements seemed pretty far off base.
The statement that LCDs are much more economical (cheaper) than plasmas is just not true. Traditionally, LCDs have been the more expensive of the two. And like ctaranto stated, LCDs – not plasmas – were the ones with slow refresh rates (blurring).
Things have changed, however, over the past couple of years. Now, in most cases, the price differential is negligible, and blurring is no longer a big problem with the 120 and 240 hz. LCDs.
As for the ghosting problem that someone made reference to on plasmas, I've been a plasma owner for about three years and I've never experienced the ghosting. I'm not saying it doesn't exist – just that it doesn't on my TV.
I agree that there's no right or wrong type of TV to purchase. I believe everyone should buy whichever type they prefer.
hilmar2k
11-13-09, 01:26 PM
What I have read is that 120Hz causes some kind of "distortion ??" in movies that I don't understand. Something about the background looking unnatural. The explanation didn't make any sense to me. Perhaps someone can clarify this for me because it is one of the reasons I decided to look at plasma instead of LCD.
That's not the 120hz, it's the smooth motion feature that accompanies it. It can be turned off, and I certainly suggest doing just that. It makes everything look like a soap opera. It's very annoying. Even with that featured disabloed, the set is still 120hz, as there's no turning that off.
Been reading some threads that appear it may be possible to get a new HD DVR for just the shipping cost and a 24 month re-up. Is this possible or do I have to paid $200 for a new DVR ??
I emailed DirecTV when I was looking to change to HD. They replied with an email saying that a new HD-DVR would be $99. I replied and said that with money being tight I might have to look elsewhere. They immediately sent a message back saying I could have it for free, including new dish, installation etc.
Give them a try. You have nothing at all to lose. They can only say no.
Is it going to make politics more understandable in HD ???.
That won't happen on any kind or size TV :D
jdspencer
11-13-09, 06:00 PM
..
I then asked why she bought a 50" plasma HD television. Her response? 'It looked good in the store."...I love this kind of response. Of course, it looked good in the store, it was being fed an HD signal.:D
Another thing to consider, is which set has the better viewing angle? I've noticed with my 32" LG that with side viewing angles the picture starts to wash out. This might be more of a manufacturer thing.
ctaranto
11-13-09, 08:03 PM
Another thing to consider, is which set has the better viewing angle? I've noticed with my 32" LG that with side viewing angles the picture starts to wash out. This might be more of a manufacturer thing.
That's typical of LCD screens, at least in the past. They've gotten a bit better recently. Manufacturer to manufacturer, even models within a single manufacturer, vary.
One who's looking at LCD TVs should consider viewing angle as a part of their purchase. Very good point.
/c
celticpride
11-14-09, 01:04 PM
FYI the panasonic G10 plasma hdtv has a 600 HZ rate compared to just 120 or 240 hz that most lcd tvs have! everything looks great on this tv i highly recommend it ! (just my own personal opinion of course). I promise you once you go to HD you'll wonder why you never switched to HD sooner !,best of luck to you.
hilmar2k
11-14-09, 01:27 PM
FYI the panasonic G10 plasma hdtv has a 600 HZ rate compared to just 120 or 240 hz that most lcd tvs have! everything looks great on this tv i highly recommend it ! (just my own personal opinion of course). I promise you once you go to HD you'll wonder why you never switched to HD sooner !,best of luck to you.
That's not really true. Almost all plasma TV's are 60hz (I believe that Pioneer makes a 72hz line). The 600hz refers to the subfields. Basically, Panasonic (and others) divide the screen in multiple secitons, in the case of 600hz, 10. They then claim 600hz because each of the 10 subfields refreshes at 60hz.
At the end of the day, it's a 60hz tv.
Boston_bill
11-14-09, 01:49 PM
As a reminder, if you get an HD receiver you are required to carry the HD service...sure some people say they have gotten around it, but thats not what is supposed to happen.
You'll love HD but it's more money. If you like PPV events they also cost more money for HD. That beig said Ill never go back to SD and I hate when I watch soemthings in standard def.
Boston_bill
11-14-09, 01:51 PM
I love this kind of response. Of course, it looked good in the store, it was being fed an HD signal.:D
Another thing to consider, is which set has the better viewing angle? I've noticed with my 32" LG that with side viewing angles the picture starts to wash out. This might be more of a manufacturer thing.
We have a 32" Sanyo and it's best viewed head-on. Our living room is quite small so the 32" works great
jdspencer
11-14-09, 01:53 PM
My understanding of why 120hz refresh is used is so that the TV can display 1080p/24 and 1080p/60. It wasn't that long ago that some 1080p TVs couldn't handle the /60 version or was it the other way around.
hilmar2k
11-14-09, 02:06 PM
It wasn't that long ago that some 1080p TVs couldn't handle the /60 version or was it the other way around.
Other way around.
My understanding of why 120hz refresh is used is so that the TV can display 1080p/24 and 1080p/60.
Yes and no. The main reason was to reduce motion blur. Being able to handle 24 FPS was secondary. Otherwise they would have just gone to 72hz.
roehrle
11-14-09, 05:51 PM
Hi Guys:
I finally got a Panasonic 42"S1 LCD. Just got finished hooking it up to S-video. It looks pretty good for not having a HD DRV. I tried ordering the HD just to see if there was an improvement but it would allow me to get HD unless I order the receiver. I thought someone said that I could order HD while still using my SD tivo.
Anybody know what is the problem ?? I still have not heard from D* after sending an e-mail asking if I could exchange my failing SD Tivo for a HD20. It has been over 24 hrs.Do they answer e-mails on the weekends ?
The Merg
11-14-09, 06:28 PM
DirecTV will not let you subscribe to HD service unless you have an HD receiver on your account. If you don't, you probably need your dish upgraded anyways to receive HD, which DirecTV usually does at no cost when you sign up for HD service.
As for swapping out your SD-Tivo for an HR2x, DirecTV just looks at it as if you are adding the new HD receiver and then deactivating the SD-Tivo. Their system does not see it as a swap.
- Merg
We have a 32" Sanyo and it's best viewed head-on. Our living room is quite small so the 32" works greatI have a 50" Panasonic plasma and a 42" Samsung LCD and there is a much wider viewing angle on the plasma. The LCD loses color depth when you are at a sharp angle and the plasma doesn't.
roehrle
11-15-09, 09:18 AM
Hi Guys;
I forgot to mention that I got my plasma at PC Richards. I was impressed with their service. They wouldn't let me take that tv home until they checked it out in the store to see if there were any problems. Also they beat the Sears price by $30 and through in a 2 year warranty for $20 that I thought was pretty good.
Also one thing that I haven't resolved.I can't mute the sound using the D* peanut but every thing else works.
Thanks for all the helpful suggestions I have gotten so far.
roehrle
11-16-09, 08:02 AM
Solved my D* peanut mute problem..Forgot I had to reinitialize the unit for a new TV.
roehrle
11-17-09, 10:23 AM
Hi Guys;
Called D* and will be getting a new HD VDR for $99 and they won't charge me for the HD service for 6 months. Not free like some have gotten but $40 is a lot better than $200. Getting service tomorrow to install new dish and set-up new DVR which is really fast. Thought I would have to wait a least a week. Seems like they take in consideration that you are a good customer and don't have a service commitment in deciding whether you get a deal or not. I guess you can put me down as a satisfied customer for now... Thanks again for all the help and suggestions.
[edit]Seems like they take in consideration that you are a good customer and don't have a service commitment in deciding whether you get a deal or not.[edit]
BINGO!
ejohnson85
11-17-09, 01:34 PM
Hi Guys;
Called D* and will be getting a new HD VDR for $99 and they won't charge me for the HD service for 6 months. Not free like some have gotten but $40 is a lot better than $200. Getting service tomorrow to install new dish and set-up new DVR which is really fast. Thought I would have to wait a least a week. Seems like they take in consideration that you are a good customer and don't have a service commitment in deciding whether you get a deal or not. I guess you can put me down as a satisfied customer for now... Thanks again for all the help and suggestions.
They, as well as any company like this, take into consideration that it costs a lot more to gain a new customer than it does to keep an existing one. So they give discounts like these if you make them think you'll leave.
rudeney
11-17-09, 01:49 PM
Hi Guys;
Called D* and will be getting a new HD VDR for $99 and they won't charge me for the HD service for 6 months. Not free like some have gotten but $40 is a lot better than $200. Getting service tomorrow to install new dish and set-up new DVR which is really fast. Thought I would have to wait a least a week. Seems like they take in consideration that you are a good customer and don't have a service commitment in deciding whether you get a deal or not. I guess you can put me down as a satisfied customer for now... Thanks again for all the help and suggestions.
This is why it always bothers me when people dismiss being put under a new commitment by saying, "I'm not going anywhere so it doesn't matter." It does matter because being a good paying customer outside of a commitment term is the only leverage you have when negotiating with D*.
Shades228
11-17-09, 02:57 PM
This is why it always bothers me when people dismiss being put under a new commitment by saying, "I'm not going anywhere so it doesn't matter." It does matter because being a good paying customer outside of a commitment term is the only leverage you have when negotiating with D*.
I assume you have some proof in that being out of an agreement gets you something more than being in one? I can understand the logic due to other business models like cell phones but I'm betting that most people that get the deals they get here are still under an agreement when they get the deal.
Good paying customers in an agreement leaving are still a loss in revenue. Sure they gain $20 a month for the agreement but that's not even as much as someone going to family and having 1 standard receiver.
rudeney
11-18-09, 08:53 AM
I assume you have some proof in that being out of an agreement gets you something more than being in one? I can understand the logic due to other business models like cell phones but I'm betting that most people that get the deals they get here are still under an agreement when they get the deal.
Yes, I do. I have been told this by several CSR's. There is a provision where customers can get discounts on a new receiver once a year, but I promise you can do better if you aren't under a commitment. Go back and read all the threads about what people are getting when they call Customer Retention.
Good paying customers in an agreement leaving are still a loss in revenue. Sure they gain $20 a month for the agreement but that's not even as much as someone going to family and having 1 standard receiver.
You are correct, but when the ETF's are in the hundreds of dollars, most subscribers won't leave. Think of it this way: If you want a new HD DVR, that's a $200 up-front lease fee. If you call and they won't give it to you for free, what are you going to do? If your ETF is less than $200, and you think you can get a better deal elsewhere, then it might be worthwhile to leave. if it's over $200, then why not just pay the $200 for the new HD DVR, which would be less than the ETF. My guess is that D* understands this logic and thus that is why they offer some discounts every year (when the ETF is around $240 for most subscribers) and really good deals if our commitment has expired and you have nothign to lose by leaving.
I recently also decided to go HD. The process was a bit MORE complex than I imagined. Since I want to use my R22 as my HD receiver. Well I have NO HD equipment. So I had to order a basic HD receiver from D*. Then get the HD upgrade JUST so I can use my R22 for HD. A pain. But as others stated. I also am on a budget. I decided to get a Vizio 32" 1080P LCD HDTV. I ordered a Philips 32" at the start, but the reviews weren't that good so I cancelled it. Got the Vizio instead. I hope it's good. The Vizio line seemed to have better reviews for being a bit cheaper. Irony like the OP. I plan to record 85-90% of my programming in SD. Why!? To get more HDD space. I usually get my R22 to 23% remaining on SD programming. That's well over 150 hours! (It's not that I record alot. I just don't watch much TV so it takes me longer to get it all watched.) But a few programs like Nascar races and my This Old House Hour series and others that CROP the sides off and content is lost. Up side my mom who has another R22 will beable to watch REAL HD minus the HDTV of course. Then for added kicks. Since I MUST have a REAL HD unit on my account for HD access, I was lucky that the D* rep offered me half off on getting a basic HD receiver. The H?? D* HD unit will be set to SD only. Fun isn't it. HD better be worth it! Now the fun will be explaining this to the install tech when he upgrades my SD to HD. "Yes I will be installing the HD unit on an SD TV and the HD will be running from my R22." I can see the tech saying that won't work! I'm really looking forward to this. But I'm just glad to be getting HD. I've seen HD in the stores. Being honest SD worked FINE for me. I want HD for future proof. HD will over take SD SOMETIME! I want to be ready. Plus more and more national channels will be 4:3 CROPPING their channels vs Letter boxing them. Prior to the DTV change most ALL letter-boxed the programming now 90% crop them off so you lose a head or extra info from the cropping.In those and future shows HD will be a God send!
One ADDED question. I asked the D* rep if I drop the "real" HD receiver from my account do I lose HD access they said yes. Ofcourse if I went that route they'd repo my HD unit and remove HD access. My question to avoid that. If I decide to drop HD. Can I DROP HD and still keep my HD H?? receiver? So I don't have to buy it again in the future if I went HD again!?
CCarncross
11-18-09, 10:41 AM
Bottom line, HD receiver(s) on the acct are supposed to require HD access, if not you have no need for an HD receiver in the 1st place. I can attest that HD on an SD set looks way better than its SD channel counterpart.
Bottom line for me. If I DO (probably won't) but If I do, DROP HD access will D* allow me to keep the H?? HD receiver. Even without HD access? So I wouldn't have to repay the lease fee if/when HD access was added back.
rudeney
11-18-09, 11:26 AM
Probably not. If you deactivate a leased receiver, they usually want it back and will send you a recovery kit for shipping it. Sometimes they don't do this, or they don't do it "quickly". If you do return the H2x, and later decide to add it back, they will once again want an up-front lease fee and a new two-year commitment term for that additional receiver.
Probably not. If you deactivate a leased receiver, they usually want it back and will send you a recovery kit for shipping it. Sometimes they don't do this, or they don't do it "quickly". If you do return the H2x, and later decide to add it back, they will once again want an up-front lease fee and a new two-year commitment term for that additional receiver.
No. What I was talking about is NOT dropping the HD receiver BUT. DROP the HD Access. If I ever did that could I keep the HD receiver as long as I pay the $5.99 mirror fee?
CCarncross
11-18-09, 02:38 PM
I answered that above, HD receivers require HD access on the acct, the ONLY exception is where they install HD receivers in an MPEG4 SD locals area....if you choose to have an HD receiver you're not supposed to be able drop the HD access....thems the rules.
Thanks. But I'm a still bit confused. Keep in mind I've never had HD before so I don't know what the "rules" are.
But If I comprehend your post correctly. I CAN DROP HD access package and STILL KEEP my leased HD receiver as long as I pay the Leese fee?
rudeney
11-18-09, 04:24 PM
No, you can't have any leased HD-compatible receivers on your account (except R22's in SD mode) unless you are also paying for monthly HD service. If you call to cancel the monthly HD service fee, they will (should) tell you that you must deactivate the H20 and return it. The same goes for DVR's - if you call to cancel the monthly DVR service fee, they will want you to deactivate and return all the DVR's on our account as well. I don;t believe this holds true if the equipment is owned, but I could be wrong, i.e. they would not make you return owned equipment, but they may not allow it to be activated on the account unless you are also paying for the monthly HD and/or DVR service that it is capable of.
fairsailing
11-18-09, 04:30 PM
Been a D* customer a number of years with an old Tivo which is starting to give me problems. Thinking about getting a new 42" Plasma HD and since I am retired on a fixed budget I'm trying to figure out if I can afford the new system. [snip]
Walmart TVs on Black Friday look to be just about a steal, you have good timing.
50-inch Sanyo Plasma 720p HDTV for $598
42-inch Emerson Plasma 720p HDTV $448
32-inch Emerson LCD 720p HDTV for $248
and at Target:
32-inch Westinghouse LCD HDTV for $246
Source:
http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/17/news/companies/walmart_black_friday_ad_2009/index.htm
I paid $1500 for a Samsung Plasma 720p HDTV not even 2 yrs ago, and that was a great price at the time.
No, you can't have any leased HD-compatible receivers on your account (except R22's in SD mode) unless you are also paying for monthly HD service. If you call to cancel the monthly HD service fee, they will (should) tell you that you must deactivate the H20 and return it. The same goes for DVR's - if you call to cancel the monthly DVR service fee, they will want you to deactivate and return all the DVR's on our account as well. I don;t believe this holds true if the equipment is owned, but I could be wrong, i.e. they would not make you return owned equipment, but they may not allow it to be activated on the account unless you are also paying for the monthly HD and/or DVR service that it is capable of.
Thanks for clearing that up. The DVR reference makes since. I understand now.
Stuart Sweet
11-18-09, 05:07 PM
True... the goal is not to let you "cheat" by having an R22 on your account without HD Access, it's to give a "perk" to those who already have HD Access.
True... the goal is not to let you "cheat" by having an R22 on your account without HD Access, it's to give a "perk" to those who already have HD Access.
It's one hell of a great perk! I really look forward to having HD on my R22. I'm willing to buy the HD receiver and get HD access to get it. I just hope doing that will enable HD access and it's not something where you HAD to have HD prior to some date.
roehrle
11-18-09, 08:21 PM
Hi Guys:
The tech came today and installed a new dish and hooked up the HD DVR.He spent about an hour trying to get the signal. He finally gave up telling me there was a problem on the satellite system. He said to leave the set on and the signal would come on after the problem was resolved. I waited about 3 hours for it to start before calling D*. After talking to 3 different people I finally got someone who seemed to know what was going on. We got the signal for SD but couldn't get HD. She told me that because I have a HR22 I needed a small box attached before the signal goes to the TV. This is to reduce the HD signal because it is much stronger than the SD signal. Don't know if this is logical but I don't know what else to do but ask for suggestions here.
sigma1914
11-18-09, 08:27 PM
Hi Guys:
The tech came today and installed a new dish and hooked up the HD DVR.He spent about an hour trying to get the signal. He finally gave up telling me there was a problem on the satellite system. He said to leave the set on and the signal would come on after the problem was resolved. I waited about 3 hours for it to start before calling D*. After talking to 3 different people I finally got someone who seemed to know what was going on. We got the signal for SD but couldn't get HD. She told me that because I have a HR22 I needed a small box attached before the signal goes to the TV. This is to reduce the HD signal because it is much stronger than the SD signal. Don't know if this is logical but I don't know what else to do but ask for suggestions here.
Sounds like he forgot the BBC connectors. Are there any in the box if he left it. Here's a picture:
http://www.21stcenturyent.com/catalog/images/LKRC2400.jpg
roehrle
11-18-09, 08:58 PM
I guess she is correct about needing the BBC box. When I go to a HD station I get a notice that it is searching for the satellite. I wonder why a strong signal would cause this kind of a problem??
Strong is usually good.
sigma1914
11-18-09, 09:12 PM
I guess she is correct about needing the BBC box. When I go to a HD station I get a notice that it is searching for the satellite. I wonder why a strong signal would cause this kind of a problem??
Strong is usually good.
You're signals on the 101 sat may be strong, but you need the BBCs to see the 103 & 99 sats.
Hi Guys:
The tech came today and installed a new dish and hooked up the HD DVR.He spent about an hour trying to get the signal. He finally gave up telling me there was a problem on the satellite system. He said to leave the set on and the signal would come on after the problem was resolved. I waited about 3 hours for it to start before calling D*. After talking to 3 different people I finally got someone who seemed to know what was going on. We got the signal for SD but couldn't get HD. She told me that because I have a HR22 I needed a small box attached before the signal goes to the TV. This is to reduce the HD signal because it is much stronger than the SD signal. Don't know if this is logical but I don't know what else to do but ask for suggestions here.
First, the BBC's do not reduce signal level. The CSR does not know what she is talking about. (They are required though with an HR22).
If you do not have the BBC's installed, you need them. The installer should have known that and provided them.
With or without BBC's, you may also have a dish alignment problem.
If DirecTV has not scheduled a tech to return to your house and fix this problem, call them back and insist on it. Your installation is absolutely unacceptable.
hilmar2k
11-18-09, 09:52 PM
http://www.dbsinstall.com/Directv/b-bandConverter.asp
roehrle
11-18-09, 09:58 PM
Reducing the signal strength just didn't seem right to me but being new to this world of HD I couldn't argue with her. I wasn't too impressed with the Tech either. He really didn't do a good job outside. I'm going to fix some of the sloppy work he did. Don't want to get the guy in trouble but when I went out in my back yard and saw what he had done I thought he was coming back to fit things up but he was getting ready to leave. I didn't feel like telling him that I didn't like the sloppy job that he did. The box with the cables coming from the dish had one screw in it and you can rotate the box it was so lose. The cables from the dish were tied to the rain pipe. Just very unprofessional looking.
sigma1914
11-18-09, 10:03 PM
Reducing the signal strength just didn't seem right to me but being new to this world of HD I couldn't argue with her. I wasn't too impressed with the Tech either. He really didn't do a good job outside. I'm going to fix some of the sloppy work he did. Don't want to get the guy in trouble but when I went out in my back yard and saw what he had done I thought he was coming back to fit things up but he was getting ready to leave. I didn't feel like telling him that I didn't like the sloppy job that he did. The box with the cables coming from the dish had one screw in it and you can rotate the box it was so lose. The cables from the dish were tied to the rain pipe. Just very unprofessional looking.
You deserve better service. Email ellen.filipiak@directv.com and tell them what went wrong. Her office gets stuff done.
roehrle
11-19-09, 06:17 AM
It appeared that I was getting in the upper 90's when I checked the signal strength. Also I just don't feel good about reporting the sloppy work and getting possible someone fired. I may be be wrong but it was just not the way I would have done the job. He was here a little over 3 hours just to put the dish on the roof and connect the new cables from the dish. He used the 4 year old cables that were attached to the old dish that ran into the house. Just wondering if the old cables are up to spec for the new HD??
rudeney
11-19-09, 09:55 AM
Those old cables should be fine. D* requires RG6, and since that is what was installed with the original dish, that what they should be.
sigma1914
11-19-09, 10:05 AM
roehrle...Are they sending anyone to fix stuff? They should, at the very very very least, send you the BBCs
roehrle
11-19-09, 11:25 AM
Yes ,they are mailing the BBS's to me. Seems like there is probably a tech in the area that has then on his truck. I'm pretty sure they were not in the HR22 box. It seems that would have been the logical place for them. Just hope they get here before the Sunday football although it looks pretty good in SD 480p.
Just set up my clicker for RF. Seems to be working pretty good but the range is limited. In the manual it states to be sure the antenna is connected. Just where is this antenna located
veryoldschool
11-19-09, 12:35 PM
Yes ,they are mailing the BBS's to me. Seems like there is probably a tech in the area that has then on his truck. I'm pretty sure they were not in the HR22 box. It seems that would have been the logical place for them. Just hope they get here before the Sunday football although it looks pretty good in SD 480p.
Just set up my clicker for RF. Seems to be working pretty good but the range is limited. In the manual it states to be sure the antenna is connected. Just where is this antenna located
it's internal. This was only for the old H20 & HR20-100.
roehrle
11-19-09, 03:21 PM
The manual talks about the rf clicker having control as far as 200 ft away from the TV. I lose control in about 20 feet. Works great in the same room where I can point it anywhere and it works. I have a transmitter wireless unit so I can watch a second TV
while on my treadmill in the basement which is only about 20 feet away. Seems like being in a lower level shouldn't effect the RF signal. I could set the clicker on IR and it would be able to change channels on the 2nd TV in the basement but it would be too much trouble switching back and forth between IR & RF. Would appreciate any suggestions on how to increase the RF range so that I can fast forward through the commercials while on the treadmill. I don't know if I bought a 2nd clicker set for IR that if this is possible for two clickers to work on the same receiver. Allso there is no metal beween the two TV's
rudeney
11-19-09, 05:06 PM
The manual talks about the rf clicker having control as far as 200 ft away from the TV. I lose control in about 20 feet. Works great in the same room where I can point it anywhere and it works. I have a transmitter wireless unit so I can watch a second TV
while on my treadmill in the basement which is only about 20 feet away. Seems like being in a lower level shouldn't effect the RF signal. I could set the clicker on IR and it would be able to change channels on the 2nd TV in the basement but it would be too much trouble switching back and forth between IR & RF. Would appreciate any suggestions on how to increase the RF range so that I can fast forward through the commercials while on the treadmill. I don't know if I bought a 2nd clicker set for IR that if this is possible for two clickers to work on the same receiver. Allso there is no metal beween the two TV's
I have no clue as to the range - the two I use in RF mode are very close, less than 10ft from the receivers. As for using two remotes on one receiver, you can do that, but they have to both be RF or both IR - you can't mix and match. To do this, just repeat the RF setup keypresses on both remotes.
roehrle
11-19-09, 07:47 PM
Finally switched back to the IR mode so that I can change channels on the basement TV. The RF function is nice but I really can't see that I will ever have to change channels 200 feet away.
roehrle
11-20-09, 08:16 AM
Hi Guys:
Don't know if I have managed to add a photo of my recent installation that I believe not to be up to D* standards. The box is being held by one small screw and it is so lose it can be rotated.
http://www.dbstalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=20149&stc=1&d=1258726151
CCarncross
11-20-09, 11:10 AM
There is really nothing wrong with that although it probably could be grounded better. So do you actually have cabling that goes into your basement from there? If so, like in my install, the 4 cables form the dish go into the basement, into my Zinwell WB68, then out to other rooms from there.
roehrle
11-20-09, 02:52 PM
UOTE=CCarncross;2279944]There is really nothing wrong with that although it probably could be grounded better. So do you actually have cabling that goes into your basement from there? If so, like in my install, the 4 cables form the dish go into the basement, into my Zinwell WB68, then out to other rooms from there.[/QUOTE]
No... Nothing goes to the basement..The switch box was only attached by one small screw. It looks like he may have just hung it there temporarily and forgot to go back to mount it correctly.
I can not see where it is grounded. There is a ground wire on the box but I don't see it grounded anywhere to a pipe or stake in the ground. I wonder if that is only for lightning purposes ??
roehrle
11-20-09, 07:52 PM
For those who are following this thread my BBc's came today and I am now able to get all my HD channels. The tech that installed by HR22-100 must not be on the job that long. Seems he should have know that the BBC's are needed with the hr22. Apparently they aren't needed with the single cable SWM
For those who are following this thread my BBc's came today and I am now able to get all my HD channels. The tech that installed by HR22-100 must not be on the job that long. Seems he should have know that the BBC's are needed with the hr22. Apparently they aren't needed with the single cable SWM
Glad that solved the problem. Correct, they are not required with SWM.
I REALLY hope my new dish will be SWM setup. No BBCs and legacy ports for my R15-100 receiver.
hilmar2k
11-21-09, 07:38 AM
I REALLY hope my new dish will be SWM setup. No BBCs and legacy ports for my R15-100 receiver.
I doubt it. Most SWM setups currently are the Swimline dishes with the SWM LNB, no legacy ports. Word is there are serious shortages of the SWM8 systems.
roehrle
11-21-09, 09:09 AM
I didn't get a HR22 manual but I downloaded one from the net. It reports that A/v & RGB cables are included but not HDMI.
Anybody recently get a new HR22 with an HR22 manual and cables ??
I was disappointed that the remote isn't capable of frame by frame like I could do with the Tivo peanut. With the peanut it was a little grainy and I was hoping the HD would be a clearer image. Watching football I like checking all the missed Ref calls that occur every week. I guess this might be something that can be down the road with a software fix ???
hilmar2k
11-21-09, 09:13 AM
I didn't get a HR22 manual but I downloaded one from the net. It reports that A/v & RGB cables are included but not HDMI.
Anybody recently get a new HR22 with an HR22 manual and cables ??
I was disappointed that the remote isn't capable of frame by frame like I could do with the Tivo peanut. With the peanut it was a little grainy and I was hoping the HD would be a clearer image. Watching football I like checking all the missed Ref calls that occur every week. I guess this might be something that can be down the road with a software fix ???
All HR2x's come with HDMI cables. Only the very first ones didn't.
roehrle
11-21-09, 09:20 AM
I actually got 2 HDMI cables. Unfortunately my older DVD & VCR don't have HDMI connectors.
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