[Rich]

Does anyone have access to a simple guide that details which channels are in MPEG4? I've seen the satellite pages and that's just confusing. What I'm looking for is a simple list like this:

Local ABC MPEG4
Local NBC MPEG4
TNTHD MPEG?
HBO MPEG?

Just a simple, easy to understand list.

Thanx,
Rich

 

[RunnerFL]

Does anyone have access to a simple guide that details which channels are in MPEG4? I've seen the satellite pages and that's just confusing. What I'm looking for is a simple list like this:

Local ABC MPEG4
Local NBC MPEG4
TNTHD MPEG?
HBO MPEG?

Just a simple, easy to understand list.

Thanx,
Rich

All HD channels except the ones in the 70's are Mpeg4 now.

 

[Rich]

All HD channels except the ones in the 70's are Mpeg4 now.

Would you happen to know about when this happened? I'm trying to figure out why I'm not getting as much capacity on a 750 eSATA as I should.

Rich

 

[TomCat]

There is also a simple test. Go to a channel and hit pause for 15 seconds, then go to FFW1 speed. If it is choppy, it is MPEG4. If it is smooth, it is MPEG2.

 

[TomCat]

Would you happen to know about when this happened? I'm trying to figure out why I'm not getting as much capacity on a 750 eSATA as I should.

Rich

With MPEG4, you should actually be getting about 30% more capacity.

 

[tonyd79]

Would you happen to know about when this happened?

With the launch of D11. End of July. How did you miss this? All over this forum.

 

[Rich]

There is also a simple test. Go to a channel and hit pause for 15 seconds, then go to FFW1 speed. If it is choppy, it is MPEG4. If it is smooth, it is MPEG2.

Will this work with recordings?

Rich

 

[Rich]

With the launch of D11. End of July. How did you miss this? All over this forum.

I didn't miss it, I just couldn't remember when it happened and I didn't realize it affected all the channels except the 70s. Bad rememory.

Rich

 

[TomCat]

Will this work with recordings?

Rich

Absolutely. Remember, even "live" viewing on DVR involves a write/read to/from the HDD, so "live" content is also essentially "recordings" as well.

The test works because of the nature of MPEG4 GOP structure vs. MPEG-2 GOP structure, with MPEG-4 having I frames every half second and MPEG-4 having them as far apart as 6 seconds (probably about 3 seconds on DTV, actually). Having a lot fewer I frames makes FFW/RWD a bit harder to do smoothly on the consumer level.

 

[inkahauts]

Also, don't forget if you record anything over OTA then that will also be MPEG-2...

 

[tonyd79]

Also, don't forget if you record anything over OTA then that will also be MPEG-2...

And the biggest files of all of them.

 

[Radio Enginerd]

And the biggest files of all of them.

I used to do a lot of MPEG2 recording last season. Ouch, yeah, real big! Pretty darn reliable though in bad weather.

 

[reubenray]

What (if any) of the MPEG4 channels can I get with a 3 lnb dish? I have 2 residences and pack a receiver back and forth when I visit one of them. It still has the old 3 lnb dish.

 

[wingrider01]

What (if any) of the MPEG4 channels can I get with a 3 lnb dish? I have 2 residences and pack a receiver back and forth when I visit one of them. It still has the old 3 lnb dish.

No 5 LNB dish is required

 

[Doug Brott]

Yup, if you are recording OTA, that is where most of the space is going. There is also a 100GB reserved area, so if you are expecting the full 750GB, then you'll need to recheck that calculation.

 

[Rich]

Absolutely. Remember, even "live" viewing on DVR involves a write/read to/from the HDD, so "live" content is also essentially "recordings" as well.

The test works because of the nature of MPEG4 GOP structure vs. MPEG-2 GOP structure, with MPEG-4 having I frames every half second and MPEG-4 having them as far apart as 6 seconds (probably about 3 seconds on DTV, actually). Having a lot fewer I frames makes FFW/RWD a bit harder to do smoothly on the consumer level.

Thanx, good info. What the devil is a GOP?

Rich

 

[Rich]

Also, don't forget if you record anything over OTA then that will also be MPEG-2...

I live in the NYC Metro area and have no need of OTA. I think. Can you think of a use for it? I get all my locals in HD and don't know what good an antenna would do for me, but I'm always open to suggestions.

Rich

 

[Rich]

I used to do a lot of MPEG2 recording last season. Ouch, yeah, real big! Pretty darn reliable though in bad weather.

I know that this is not true, I think, but it seems to me that the MPEG2 recordings are clearer than the MPEG4. Or is this an optical delusion?

Rich

 

[Rich]

Yup, if you are recording OTA, that is where most of the space is going. There is also a 100GB reserved area, so if you are expecting the full 750GB, then you'll need to recheck that calculation.

No, I know about the 100GB reserved space. I just ignore it in my calculations. Makes life easier. Path of least resistance and all that.

Rich