ABCW 84 a HD Channel?

[bimplebean]

I am slumming, just entered the world of HTDV with a monster Toshiba 36" CRT behemoth. I have hooked it up just fine to my HR10-250 and all works well here in Los Angeles. I have been using the HR10-250 for SD programming only.

However, I discovered that ABC7 (locally in SD) looks really good on the ABCW feed on channel 87. It looks kinda like HD! Yet I have the standard antenna, no DTV subscription to HD, at least not yet.

Am I getting free HD, or am I just seeing a better quality in the SD image because the source image is in HD format?

[RAD]

If you're in the LA DMA then you should be getting 81 (CBS), 83 (NBC), 87 (ABC) and 89 (FOX) which are your local channels in HD. This are the old MPEG2 versions of your locals and not the new MPEG4 versions if you wer to upgrade to the 5LNB dish and a H20 or HR20 HD receiver. Eventually, the rumor is, that those MPEG2 feeds will be going away, but no word when. Also, since you don't have a MPEG4 setup you won't be able to receive any of the new HD channels that DirecTV is supposed to fire up in mid September.

If you've been a good D* customer you might want to call them and say you have the HR10-250 and would like an upgrade to a HR20 and new dish, many folks have received the upgrade for a very low cost and you get to keep the HR10-250, just be nice when calling and don't demand anything.

As for the HD enabling fee, since you've had the receiver I think you're grandfathered in and won't have to pay the extra fee until you get the new hardware IIRC.

[VeniceDre]

Some of the HD programming sits on the basic 101 antenna. Very few channels though. As suggested you should contact DirecTV for the upgrade.

[bimplebean]

Thanks for the info -- I already understand all you have advised me. My question is purely technical, however. I have not yet subscribed to DTV HD, yet this channel looks a lot better than ABC 7. Is this actually coming to me in HD? It seems implausible given my SD subscription and old-style satdish, yet it looks noticeably clearer and sharper! What the heck could account for that?

Thanks for your quick response above...

[bimplebean]

Thanks, VeniceDre -- so it looks like I'm getting a few scraps of free HD. Woo hoo!

Signed,

Mr. Cheap :lol:

[VeniceDre]

Actually ABCW is Ch. 87... I was looking at the transponder lists and all of LA local MPEG2 HD is on 110, 119... If you are seeing ABCW you probably have the 3 LNB dish, which you would need to upgrade anyway to the new 5 LNB... but in the meantime you should be able to see 81, 83, 87, 89. right now.

Try direct tuning to the channel or adding them to your favorites so they show up in your guide.

[bobnielsen]

Lyngsat says that 81 (CBS) is on 101 and the others on 119, but things get moved around at times.

[VeniceDre]

Lyngsat says that 81 (CBS) is on 101 and the others on 119, but things get moved around at times.

Lyngsat hasn't been very good lately at updating it's lists... I was going off this one that was updated last week:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=92450

The link lists 81 on 110, the rest of MPEG2 LA on 119.

[bimplebean]

Yeah, that was my mistake in the forum topic. ABCW is 87, not 84.

[bonscott87]

Thanks for the info -- I already understand all you have advised me. My question is purely technical, however. I have not yet subscribed to DTV HD, yet this channel looks a lot better than ABC 7. Is this actually coming to me in HD? It seems implausible given my SD subscription and old-style satdish, yet it looks noticeably clearer and sharper! What the heck could account for that?

Thanks for your quick response above...

You get HD locals as part of getting locals in general. That's why you're seeing it. Most likely you're still on an older package and thus you are grandfathered into getting the HD locals without the HD Access package.

[bimplebean]

Verrry nice. Thanks, bon.

[Church AV Guy]

I am slumming, just entered the world of HTDV with a monster Toshiba 36" CRT behemoth. I have hooked it up just fine to my HR10-250 and all works well here in Los Angeles. I have been using the HR10-250 for SD programming only.

However, I discovered that ABC7 (locally in SD) looks really good on the ABCW feed on channel 87. It looks kinda like HD! Yet I have the standard antenna, no DTV subscription to HD, at least not yet.

Am I getting free HD, or am I just seeing a better quality in the SD image because the source image is in HD format?

The actual answer to your question that has been sort of missed is YES! Channels 81 (CBS), 83 (NBC), 87 (ABC) and 89 (FOX) are all HD feeds of the channels that should also be on 2, 4, 7 and 11 (the SD feeds). You are getting and receiving the HD signal on channel 87. It seems that at the moment that channel is mapped to a transponder that you can get, and that you are grandfathered into getting the local HD channels, so enjoy!

[bimplebean]

Yep, me lucky. Me happy.

I just have to take some serious Advil now. Getting that 214 pound MONSTER of a TV up my stairs was no small task, even with the help of a dolly and a neighbor. The price was right, though, and I'll heal. Eventually. :grin:

[bimplebean]

Well dernit, it's not as good as I'd hoped, but it's something.

I only see 87 (ABC) and 89 (Fox) in HD, not CBS or NBC. I don't get them. Oh well. I'm getting an OTA antenna soon. I'm in LA, in the Yellow Zone, so I should do pretty well.

Thanks to all here for your information.