WARNING: Those looking to get HDTV From DirecTV

[HDTVMan]

What seems like a good deal for $500.00 for A HD Tivo you may want to reconsider.

This is really something DirecTV needs to address.

You can read the rest here.
http://www.tvpredictions.com/buydirectv042805.html

BLURB
However, there is a catch. When DIRECTV begins offering local HD, it will only be available on new DIRECTV MPEG-4 receivers and dishes, which have yet to go on sale. Yes, that means that any HDTV dish or receiver you buy from DIRECTV today -- or currently own -- will eventually be obsolete. The satcaster says that the new MPEG-4 receivers and dishes will be needed for the local HD signals, and eventually, all of DIRECTV's HDTV programming. (The switch could affect more than 500,000 DIRECTV subscribers.)

When pressed by TVPredictions.com in January, DIRECTV hinted strongly that it will offer either a discount or some other incentive for current dish owners to upgrade to the new MPEG-4 system when it becomes available. However, nearly three months later, DIRECTV has still not revealed its plans for replacing the old receivers.

(Sorry I posted in Deals but this is where I believe this needs to be posted since the HD-Tivo is for sale this week. Its bothersome they still sell it since Direct Tv if making that equipment Obsolete.)

 

[kyparrish]

Good heads up. I actually know a guy who paid $999.99 like a year ago for his HD DirecTivo, and it's going to be obsolete now.

 

[HDTVMan]

I know I have buddy with 2 HD receivers who isnt happy. One he is able to do optical out to record the programming and he is going to lose that ability. He paid like 700.00 for that box not long ago.

What really bothers me the HD-Tivo's for Direct TV are on sale this week and many of the deal sites are pushing them as a bargain. They should know better.

There are a few good egg sites not pushing it which is good to see.

Also Consumer based places should pull the products sale unless they give out a paper stating they will get a free replacement. Its bothersome to see them selling equipment that is not going to be supported.

I suspect unless free replacements are in order there will be a class action lawsuit on this.

 

[Devistater]

Don't forget as well, Toshiba's official info that HD DVD players will ONLY output HDTV on the digital HDMI connectors. Analog (RCA/COAX, S-video, component) or any others will be downsized to 480p max.

 

[kyparrish]

Originally posted by: Devistater
Don't forget as well, Toshiba's official info that HD DVD players will ONLY output HDTV on the digital HDMI connectors. Analog (RCA/COAX, S-video, component) or any others will be downsized to 480p max.

That sucks. My Sony CRT set only has 1 HDMI input, and I enjoy using that for my Scientific Atlanta 8300 HD DVR. I was really hoping I could swap my 480p DVD player for an HD player and keep using the component inputs.

 

[Ike0069]

It seems as though once you are a customer, DirectTV doesn't give a sh!t about you.
If it weren't for the damn Sunday ticket package that I MUST have, I would go to Dish Network, or maybe even cable.

 

[imported_motodude]

Who the fvck watches tv anymore?

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
It seems as though once you are a customer, DirectTV doesn't give a sh!t about you.
If it weren't for the damn Sunday ticket package that I MUST have, I would go to Dish Network, or maybe even cable.

not too sure I can agree with that.

When i got my HDTV 18 months ago, DirecTV installed a brand new dish for free and did not force me to renew my contract. And yesterday morning, they installed a TiVO receiver in my bedroom. They charged me $50.00 for the box... the going rate for ppl with no contract, not the $99.00 that current customers age being charged. And I did not have to make any renewal commitment.

Been with DirecTV for almost 6years.. havent had a contract in almost 5yrs. I stay because the price is good, the service is great an they treat me well. But, I dont wait for them to call me up and say... hey here is a freebie... I call them and ask what they will do to keep me and they always are very kind.



edit: spelling errors.

 

[Matt L]

People, this has been in discussion for months now by people more in the know. There will be a transition period of perhaps years. D has always taken care of it's customers when a change of this magnitude has happened, why wouldn't they now? Plus, if you live in any moderate to large market you can get the HD signals FREE, over the air, and the HD TiVo will record them for as long as you own it. The only thing affected by the transition to MPEG 4 is the new HD locals, and that will be rolled out slowly. From what I've read D has no plans to replace all the receives now, so there are MILLIONS of receivers out there using MPEG 2 and will be for some time, and the HD TiVo will record this which are 99% of the D channels for as long a D supports these boxes.

If you really want to get mad about something that is a problem, do a little research on D's HD Lite, that is something worth getting upset about.

I've had an HD TiVo for over a year now and D will have to pry it from my hands, it is undoubtedly the best entertainment investment I've made, even with it's shortcomings.

 

[HDTVMan]

Originally posted by: Matt L
People, this has been in discussion for months now by people more in the know. There will be a transition period of perhaps years. D has always taken care of it's customers when a change of this magnitude has happened, why wouldn't they now? Plus, if you live in any moderate to large market you can get the HD signals FREE, over the air, and the HD TiVo will record them for as long as you own it. The only thing affected by the transition to MPEG 4 is the new HD locals, and that will be rolled out slowly. From what I've read D has no plans to replace all the receives now, so there are MILLIONS of receivers out there using MPEG 2 and will be for some time, and the HD TiVo will record this which are 99% of the D channels for as long a D supports these boxes.

If you really want to get mad about something that is a problem, do a little research on D's HD Lite, that is something worth getting upset about.

I've had an HD TiVo for over a year now and D will have to pry it from my hands, it is undoubtedly the best entertainment investment I've made, even with it's shortcomings.

How are you going to feel is DTV sends you a letter saying you need to spend $300.00 upgrading you equipment because its no longer supported? For those who cant get HD OTA and especially those who spent 999.00 on the HD Tivo when it came out arent going to be very happy they have to spend more to continue when they have already spents a lot of money.

They need to address this in a professional manner.

They give everyone the tivo for $50.00 all you have to do is call. The advantage is right now the regular Tivo is 99.99 with a full rebate making it free.

 

[50]

If I ever move I doubt I will keep my Directv service. They keep raising the price that now I think it is actually cheaper for me to get comcast highspeed internet + digital cable instead of comcast HSI + basic cable (10 bucks) + directv (it was 34 when I started this now its up to 39!). While this does really piss me off that they would do this, I don't think it will affect me that much because is this only going to be locals in HD or will there be a MUCH GREATER number of channels in HD? I can get all my locals OTA, and I would never pay the 10 dollars DTV charges for like 10 HD channels!

 

[KidViciou$]

thanks for the info, i was going to call up directv to hardball them into giving me HD, but now i know that i need to hardball them for the new equipment

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: Matt L
People, this has been in discussion for months now by people more in the know. There will be a transition period of perhaps years. D has always taken care of it's customers when a change of this magnitude has happened, why wouldn't they now? Plus, if you live in any moderate to large market you can get the HD signals FREE, over the air, and the HD TiVo will record them for as long as you own it. The only thing affected by the transition to MPEG 4 is the new HD locals, and that will be rolled out slowly. From what I've read D has no plans to replace all the receives now, so there are MILLIONS of receivers out there using MPEG 2 and will be for some time, and the HD TiVo will record this which are 99% of the D channels for as long a D supports these boxes.

If you really want to get mad about something that is a problem, do a little research on D's HD Lite, that is something worth getting upset about.

I've had an HD TiVo for over a year now and D will have to pry it from my hands, it is undoubtedly the best entertainment investment I've made, even with it's shortcomings.

I never heard of that before. Wanna save me some research time and give me a general idea on what it is all about?

edit: never mind, i looked and found it.

 

[Crashedout]

Yes the HD tivo will only record the old Mpeg-2 streams and ota BUT all they have said that all of their boxes will be DVR at some point in the near future and since you can now get their DVR free by calling retention I suspect the same will be true for the new boxes. Since the new stream is only mpeg-4 it should be easy for all their boxes to record it. I would not buy the HD tivo at 600, it is still overpriced but I think their retention department will help you when the time comes if you do buy it.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

I use dish, I know too many people who've had issues with directv.

 

[DesiDivo]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
I use dish, I know too many people who've had issues with directv.

I have had Dish Network for 6 years and they are very good. If you live in NY, NJ area, they have a very good special currently.

 

[rugby]

I'm waiting for the in-home media center package D* will hopefully come out with before Christmas. I put a hold on my D* service for the summer and am living off of HD OTA for now.

 

[drinkmorejava]

HDMI is pin for pin the same as DVI + audio though. I'm guessing they won't be sending the HD analog signal along with the digital too (LMAO if they do) but shouldn't someone out there be making a $30-$40 adapter to analog.

 

[labgeek]

When converting wouldn't the copy protection be lost? If so, such a device would probably be shut down before it ever got started for violating the DMCA.

 

[Crashedout]

There are DVi adapters that stip the protection for analog output. They are illegal in the US and cost close to 450. I have had no problems with Directv in the four years I have had them. The compression on the channels is getting bad but hopefully the move to Mpeg-4 will fix this. Since Dish has not annoucned anything along this line and their DVR's have been poor they are not a consideration to me. My great hope is Verizon's fios products, hopefully they don't screw that up.

 

[drinkmorejava]

W/E we all know there is just going to be a jumper inside to enable HD analog, or an unsoldered S-video connector with an HD signal inside.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

cable roxxorz my boxxorz
kthxbye

 

[Finnatic]

It sounds a little off-putting, the idea of having to replace all of your DirecTV equipment. However, DirecTV has historically proven to be willing to offer incentives. I was one of the $999.99 DirecTV HD Tivo buyers, and upon one phone call, I was offered about $300.00 in incentives. Yes, I took the first adopter plunge, but DirecTV made it right. I suspect that they will do the same for MPEG4 technology.

We should look forward to new innovations, and support the companies that innovate. It's easy to knock them for being huge, but DirecTV provides a lot of value for my entertainment dollar. I love my HD Tivo, and I hope I'll love my MPEG4 HD Tivo too!

I understand that not everyone is a Rockefeller, myself included. For those of us less able to afford the cutting edge, hopefully DirecTV will offer a mid-line or value-line alternative to ease the pricing sting somewhat.

 

[Shinare]

I currently have Dishnetwork and purchased a HDTV not long ago. Does all this information here about Dtv pertain to DishNetwork as well? I was about to get a Dish 811 (HD box for Dishnetwork) off of ebay, but should I wait? I still cant believe you have to purchase the HD box in addition to the programming. I have a 4 room system with a dual dish and didnt pay a dime for any of that equipment or the installation.

Is there a good place to go for information in this regard that relates to Dishnetwork?

 

[vfrjim]

Originally posted by: Shinare
I currently have Dishnetwork and purchased a HDTV not long ago. Does all this information here about Dtv pertain to DishNetwork as well? I was about to get a Dish 811 (HD box for Dishnetwork) off of ebay, but should I wait? I still cant believe you have to purchase the HD box in addition to the programming. I have a 4 room system with a dual dish and didnt pay a dime for any of that equipment or the installation.

Is there a good place to go for information in this regard that relates to Dishnetwork?

Most likely, since Dishnetwork has a Dish 962 HD PVR coming out in the fall from what I have been reading and older HD pvr's are not MPEG4 upgradable