Re: DISH vs. DirectTV - local HD availability, etc.

On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:25:40 -0400, Alan Figgatt
<afiggatt@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Theo Gluck wrote:

<snip>

The DirecTV CSR is correct. The current DirecTV HD-DVR is an older
Mpeg-2 only model. The DirecTV satellite spot beam broadcast of the big

Spot beam? You sure they don't just go on the encoded zip code?

four locals to each region is done from a new satellite in Mpeg-4 to
squeeze more channels into the bandwidth. The replacement DirecTV DVR
which will record Mpeg-2 and -4 signals is not yet available. Your
friend is probably getting his HD locals over the air and not from the
satellite.

Dish, OTOH, has recently released their new VIP622 HD-DVR which can
receive and record both Mpeg-2 and -4 signals. You may want to look up a

The 622 is a great improvement over what DISH used to offer and yes it
will record of both tuners at the same time with one being HD.

Getting the local channels off satellite is not the optimum way to go
IF you can get them off the air. That is because most of them are
running as many as 4 different programs while cable and satellite only
carry the one HD channel.

Dish forum web site to read up on the opinions on the new HD-DVR. From
my cursory skim reads on the satellite users threads at
www.avsforum.com, most HD TV owners would take Dish over DirecTV at this
point.

There are a few things TVIO does that I wish the 622 would do, but
probably won't due to patents. OTOH the 622 is a great dual tuner
receiver with the second set using the UHF remote.


And another thing about Dish and the dual tuner option. If I understand
them correctly I can get a dual HD/SD box (with an HD DVR) and then, via
a wired connection to ANOTHER TV in the house, use the SD tuner on the
aforementioned dual box to get the programming on the second set...

Whether you go with another box or the 622 you are going to have to
run a cable to the second set. The nice thing there is you are no
longer stuck using channel 3 or 4 for the link.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Can't help you much with this. Good luck.

Alan F
.

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