MPEG 4 or ??? Dish sending conflicting messages.

[ebaltz]

So what is Dish's plan? Tech Chat said no MPEG 4 for quite some time, then Charlie says yes, MPEG 4 in January with new HD and new receivers. Which is correct? What boxes will be available. Which birds will carry new HD? Seems like each time someone at Dish opens their mouth its a new story.

[navychop]

Any of the satellites can pass thru an MPEG-4 signal.

DISH is now shipping receivers that are MPEG-4, HD & 8PSK capable. These are the 411 & 211. Later, the 622 will ship. These are capable of receiving MPEG-4, etc. It is on the sending end that there is a delay. Since the currently available real time encoders only gain about 20% - 30% over MPEG-2, DISH will hold off transmitting in MPEG-4 until that percentage is up- say, to 40% or 50%. This saves them from buying encoders that are obsolete in a year or 2, and allows more time for more MPEG-4 receivers to be fielded. The exact timing is no doubt unknown. For one thing, they need to be sure the next satellite, Echostar X, makes it to orbit and works. They need to gain full ownership of the Rainbow satellite at 61.5, which has been dragging. And other satellite failures could affect the timing, as can manufacturing delays for receivers. Maybe we'll know something more in the spring.

[James Long]

So what is Dish's plan? Tech Chat said no MPEG 4 for quite some time, then Charlie says yes, MPEG 4 in January with new HD and new receivers. Which is correct? What boxes will be available. Which birds will carry new HD? Seems like each time someone at Dish opens their mouth its a new story.All great questions which remain unanswerable until E* clarifies the issue - just like we've been saying in the other threads.

JL