Directv's new satellite questions

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Directv is launching two more satellites in 2007. A satellite Directv just
launched is supposed to be operational this fall. At some point, Directv is
supposed to be moving from an MPEG2 compression technology to and MPEG4
compression technology (renders current MPEG2 recievers obsolete). I am
concerned that my HD reciever might become obsolete. Will it the MPEG
transition happen in fall or in 2007? When this transition is supposed to
occur is a closely guarded secret or I was jsut unable to find out anything
about it on the web. I did read something that Directv is intending to add
more local channels. Anyway I probably have a lot of this wrong. What is
supposed to happen this fall? What kind of new channels will we get? Will
they be using MPEG4 compression technology?

noone
 
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Here's my understanding...take it for what it's worth as I'm no expert (for
more info go to http://www.avsforum.com/) and the HDTV programming section

they are moving to MPEG4 and yes, your reciever will be obsolete when they
do. The reality is that DirectTV will almost assuredly do a receiver swap
when you must move to MPEG4. Whether that new MPEG4 reciever is comparable
to your current is I guess the big ?. They also have this HD DVR home
networking solution which appears pretty neat on paper, so maybe if you have
an HD Tivo they'll subsidize it with a swap of the new HD DVR????

But when that change will happen is I guess a big ?. This fall they are
releasing HD locals for the top 12 DMAs I believe. I'm sure those will be
in MPEG4. If you want or need those, my guess is you'd need a reciever
that can do MPEG4, though I could be wrong. But the rest of your HD (HBO,
HDNET, etc.) will likely remain in MPEG2 for quite some time. So I suspect
the force swap of recievers won't be needed until 2007 or so when all the
channels move off of MPEG2 to MPEG4. By then you probably won't much care
that your current reciever needs to be swapped out.

I think HD locals are their priorty right now, but there was rumors on the
forum I mentioned above that with this new satellite launch they intend to
add some new non-locals HD (Starz, INHD, etc.) though it's all rumors as of
now.

"nonone" <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:TTmwe.1045402$w62.103728@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Directv is launching two more satellites in 2007. A satellite Directv just
> launched is supposed to be operational this fall. At some point, Directv
is
> supposed to be moving from an MPEG2 compression technology to and MPEG4
> compression technology (renders current MPEG2 recievers obsolete). I am
> concerned that my HD reciever might become obsolete. Will it the MPEG
> transition happen in fall or in 2007? When this transition is supposed to
> occur is a closely guarded secret or I was jsut unable to find out
anything
> about it on the web. I did read something that Directv is intending to
add
> more local channels. Anyway I probably have a lot of this wrong. What is
> supposed to happen this fall? What kind of new channels will we get? Will
> they be using MPEG4 compression technology?
>
> noone
>
>
 
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On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 02:20:44 GMT, "bbodin" <nospam!bbodin@airmail.net>
wrote:

>Here's my understanding...take it for what it's worth as I'm no expert (for
>more info go to http://www.avsforum.com/) and the HDTV programming section
>
>they are moving to MPEG4 and yes, your reciever will be obsolete when they
>do. The reality is that DirectTV will almost assuredly do a receiver swap
>when you must move to MPEG4. Whether that new MPEG4 reciever is comparable
>to your current is I guess the big ?. They also have this HD DVR home
>networking solution which appears pretty neat on paper, so maybe if you have
>an HD Tivo they'll subsidize it with a swap of the new HD DVR????
>
>But when that change will happen is I guess a big ?. This fall they are
>releasing HD locals for the top 12 DMAs I believe. I'm sure those will be
>in MPEG4. If you want or need those, my guess is you'd need a reciever
>that can do MPEG4, though I could be wrong. But the rest of your HD (HBO,
>HDNET, etc.) will likely remain in MPEG2 for quite some time. So I suspect
>the force swap of recievers won't be needed until 2007 or so when all the
>channels move off of MPEG2 to MPEG4. By then you probably won't much care
>that your current reciever needs to be swapped out.
>
....

ALL DirecTV channels moving to MPEG4 in 2007 or some other year is
no more than speculation.

When has DirecTV obsoleted a receiver in the past? It is unlikely
that all channels from DirecTV will become HD or be transmitted only
in MPEG4.

DirecTV does provide receiver upgrades at minimal expense but isn't
likely to make current (non-HD) receivers or DVRs obsolete.
 
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bbodin wrote:
> Here's my understanding...take it for what it's worth as I'm no expert (for
> more info go to http://www.avsforum.com/) and the HDTV programming section
>
> they are moving to MPEG4 and yes, your reciever will be obsolete when they
> do. The reality is that DirectTV will almost assuredly do a receiver swap
> when you must move to MPEG4. Whether that new MPEG4 reciever is comparable
> to your current is I guess the big ?. They also have this HD DVR home
> networking solution which appears pretty neat on paper, so maybe if you have
> an HD Tivo they'll subsidize it with a swap of the new HD DVR????
>
> But when that change will happen is I guess a big ?. This fall they are
> releasing HD locals for the top 12 DMAs I believe. I'm sure those will be
> in MPEG4. If you want or need those, my guess is you'd need a reciever
> that can do MPEG4, though I could be wrong. But the rest of your HD (HBO,
> HDNET, etc.) will likely remain in MPEG2 for quite some time. So I suspect
> the force swap of recievers won't be needed until 2007 or so when all the
> channels move off of MPEG2 to MPEG4. By then you probably won't much care
> that your current reciever needs to be swapped out.
>
> I think HD locals are their priorty right now, but there was rumors on the
> forum I mentioned above that with this new satellite launch they intend to
> add some new non-locals HD (Starz, INHD, etc.) though it's all rumors as of
> now.
>
> "nonone" <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:TTmwe.1045402$w62.103728@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
>>Directv is launching two more satellites in 2007. A satellite Directv just
>>launched is supposed to be operational this fall. At some point, Directv
>
> is
>
>>supposed to be moving from an MPEG2 compression technology to and MPEG4
>>compression technology (renders current MPEG2 recievers obsolete). I am
>>concerned that my HD reciever might become obsolete. Will it the MPEG
>>transition happen in fall or in 2007? When this transition is supposed to
>>occur is a closely guarded secret or I was jsut unable to find out
>
> anything
>
>>about it on the web. I did read something that Directv is intending to
>
> add
>
>>more local channels. Anyway I probably have a lot of this wrong. What is
>>supposed to happen this fall? What kind of new channels will we get? Will
>>they be using MPEG4 compression technology?
>>
>>noone
>>


I'd like to see an FX HD channel at somepoint. They have some great
orginal shows. I'm sure most of them are being done for HD anyway.


Steve
 

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On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 03:40:17 GMT, Jack Ak <akjack@excite.com> wrote:

>ALL DirecTV channels moving to MPEG4 in 2007 or some other year is
>no more than speculation.
>
>When has DirecTV obsoleted a receiver in the past? It is unlikely
>that all channels from DirecTV will become HD or be transmitted only
>in MPEG4.
>
>DirecTV does provide receiver upgrades at minimal expense but isn't
>likely to make current (non-HD) receivers or DVRs obsolete.
>


It may not be obsolete, but it would mean that there will channels
that won't be able to be received without a new dish and receiver.
 
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Thanks for the information on what is happening this fall. HD locals a
priority? I was hoping for more HD channels.

I asked this question about the receiver going obsolete at the place where I
bought the HD reciever. They install satellite dishs. They really didn't
know much about it, but they did point out that Directv would go out of
business if they had to swap out receivers or if the recievers went
obsolete, so the idea of swapping out receivers is probably unrealistic from
a financial standpoint. I did call directv and they said my reciever would
not be obsolete in the fall; however I did not have any confidence in that
the person knew what they were talking about.

Thanks again,
noone


"bbodin" <nospam!bbodin@airmail.net> wrote in message
news:0Anwe.626$Ox3.388@newssvr12.news.prodigy.com...
> Here's my understanding...take it for what it's worth as I'm no expert
(for
> more info go to http://www.avsforum.com/) and the HDTV programming section
>
> they are moving to MPEG4 and yes, your reciever will be obsolete when they
> do. The reality is that DirectTV will almost assuredly do a receiver swap
> when you must move to MPEG4. Whether that new MPEG4 reciever is
comparable
> to your current is I guess the big ?. They also have this HD DVR home
> networking solution which appears pretty neat on paper, so maybe if you
have
> an HD Tivo they'll subsidize it with a swap of the new HD DVR????
>
> But when that change will happen is I guess a big ?. This fall they are
> releasing HD locals for the top 12 DMAs I believe. I'm sure those will be
> in MPEG4. If you want or need those, my guess is you'd need a reciever
> that can do MPEG4, though I could be wrong. But the rest of your HD (HBO,
> HDNET, etc.) will likely remain in MPEG2 for quite some time. So I
suspect
> the force swap of recievers won't be needed until 2007 or so when all the
> channels move off of MPEG2 to MPEG4. By then you probably won't much care
> that your current reciever needs to be swapped out.
>
> I think HD locals are their priorty right now, but there was rumors on the
> forum I mentioned above that with this new satellite launch they intend to
> add some new non-locals HD (Starz, INHD, etc.) though it's all rumors as
of
> now.
>
> "nonone" <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:TTmwe.1045402$w62.103728@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > Directv is launching two more satellites in 2007. A satellite Directv
just
> > launched is supposed to be operational this fall. At some point,
Directv
> is
> > supposed to be moving from an MPEG2 compression technology to and MPEG4
> > compression technology (renders current MPEG2 recievers obsolete). I am
> > concerned that my HD reciever might become obsolete. Will it the MPEG
> > transition happen in fall or in 2007? When this transition is supposed
to
> > occur is a closely guarded secret or I was jsut unable to find out
> anything
> > about it on the web. I did read something that Directv is intending to
> add
> > more local channels. Anyway I probably have a lot of this wrong. What is
> > supposed to happen this fall? What kind of new channels will we get?
Will
> > they be using MPEG4 compression technology?
> >
> > noone
> >
> >
>
>
 
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"Jack Ak" <akjack@excite.com> wrote in message

> ALL DirecTV channels moving to MPEG4 in 2007 or some other year is
> no more than speculation.
>
> When has DirecTV obsoleted a receiver in the past? It is unlikely
> that all channels from DirecTV will become HD or be transmitted only
> in MPEG4.

I was referring to HD channels (since it's an HD forum), although it's
likely to assume that all channels will migrate to MPEG4 (why have 2
technologies) especially when they can get rid of the current compression on
SD channels given that new available bandwidth?
 
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"nonone" <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:x5ywe.1048438$w62.797180@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Thanks for the information on what is happening this fall. HD locals a
> priority? I was hoping for more HD channels.

I think most of us agree. At least in my case I can get my local HD OTA so
HD LIL is not that important to me, though I know that's not true for
everyone. The reality is, DirectTV really must focus on the locals in order
to compete with cable (who already have HD Locals in those citys).

> I asked this question about the receiver going obsolete at the place where
I
> bought the HD reciever. They install satellite dishs. They really didn't
> know much about it, but they did point out that Directv would go out of
> business if they had to swap out receivers or if the recievers went
> obsolete,

That's not really accurate. DirectTV practically gives them away for free
now (I think you can get the Hughes HD for < $100 now) and the non-hd ones
in most cases ARE free now for 1 year commitments. They make their money on
your programming commitment and a year or 2 commitment for a receiver swap
will more than make up for the money they lose in the hardware cost. That's
also not to say that they will do a complete swap, maybe they allow you to
swap in an old one and get a new one for $50 or something, but I doubt that
will be the case if the old ones are really obsolete.

While I was posting this, found a couple of articles that seem related

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=551441&highlight=MPEG4
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=550622



> I did call directv and they said my reciever would
> not be obsolete in the fall; however I did not have any confidence in that
> the person knew what they were talking about.

If it was a CSR then you're right to not have any confidence in them...they
generally don't know anything and you get more info from the forum I posted
above.
 
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"Jeff Rife" <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.1d2ccc0c4ffbf47989e18@news.nabs.net...
> Since everybody would already have a new
> receiver, I don't see how there would be any complaints.

well if the new recievers weren't comparable to the ones you have I'm sure
there would be complaints. I myself paid $800 for my HD reciever at the
time and it has very good HD quality. I've heard several people that
compared their reciever to some of the "cheaper" ones (like the Hughes) say
that the quality is noticeably different since the newer ones use a cheaper
technology. And of course there are the things like caller id, etc that 1
reciever may have and the replacement may not...I can see cases where people
would be upset regardless.
 
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"bbodin" <nospam!bbodin@airmail.net> wrote in message
news:s9ywe.756$U61.743@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...

> I was referring to HD channels (since it's an HD forum), although it's
> likely to assume that all channels will migrate to MPEG4 (why have 2
> technologies) especially when they can get rid of the current compression
> on
> SD channels given that new available bandwidth?

Don't assume ANY provider will reduce or "get rid" of compression for any
reason. These providers have all done research that shows them how much
compression the average viewer will put up with. With that statistic
determined they then use any additional capacity or throughput gains to
provide more channels not higher quality. Voom is really the only provider
that I can recall ever selling quality of signal over quantity of signal and
unfortunately there were not enough takers. All the other companies will
brag about "all digital or digital signal" but heck...I can hold up my
middle finger and claim the same thing. It means almost nothing.
 
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"bbodin" <nospam!bbodin@airmail.net> wrote in message
news:s9ywe.756$U61.743@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...

> I was referring to HD channels (since it's an HD forum), although it's
> likely to assume that all channels will migrate to MPEG4 (why have 2
> technologies) especially when they can get rid of the current compression
> on
> SD channels given that new available bandwidth?

Don't assume ANY provider will reduce or "get rid" of compression for any
reason. These providers have all done research that shows them how much
compression the average viewer will put up with. With that statistic
determined they then use any additional capacity or throughput gains to
provide more channels not higher quality. Voom is really the only provider
that I can recall ever selling quality of signal over quantity of signal and
unfortunately there were not enough takers. All the other companies will
brag about "all digital or digital signal" but heck...I can hold up my
middle finger and claim the same thing. It means almost nothing.
 
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bbodin (nospam!bbodin@airmail.net) wrote in alt.tv.tech.hdtv:
> I myself paid $800 for my HD reciever at the
> time and it has very good HD quality. I've heard several people that
> compared their reciever to some of the "cheaper" ones (like the Hughes) say
> that the quality is noticeably different since the newer ones use a cheaper
> technology. And of course there are the things like caller id, etc that 1
> reciever may have and the replacement may not...I can see cases where people
> would be upset regardless.

If people are upset because their new, free receivers that get more
channels than the old ones aren't good enough, I suspect that DirecTV's
attitude would be that they can cancel their service.

--
Jeff Rife |
| http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/99/Apr/columbine.html
 
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"Jeff Rife" <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote in message

> If people are upset because their new, free receivers that get more
> channels than the old ones aren't good enough, I suspect that DirecTV's
> attitude would be that they can cancel their service.

I'm sure that would be there attitude, but they're not exactly free are
they? I bought my $800 reciever and they are forcing a replace of that. So
you can't see why some people would be upset they paid $800-$1k for a
reciever that is being forced replaced with a lower quality, lower feature
reciever? I don't care if it does get more channels, that would get some
people upset. (not that I'm saying the new recievers will be less quaility
or features or that I'd care by then about the $800 since I've gotten plenty
of use out of it before the replacement...but my thinking's not always in
line with others).

But you're right, directTV's attitude will definitely be "TS".
 
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"bbodin" <nospam!bbodin@airmail.net> wrote in message
news:RjTwe.1219$U61.593@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...
>
> "Jeff Rife" <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote in message
>
>> If people are upset because their new, free receivers that get more
>> channels than the old ones aren't good enough, I suspect that DirecTV's
>> attitude would be that they can cancel their service.
>
> I'm sure that would be there attitude, but they're not exactly free are
> they? I bought my $800 reciever and they are forcing a replace of that.
> So
> you can't see why some people would be upset they paid $800-$1k for a
> reciever that is being forced replaced with a lower quality, lower feature
> reciever? I don't care if it does get more channels, that would get some
> people upset. (not that I'm saying the new recievers will be less
> quaility
> or features or that I'd care by then about the $800 since I've gotten
> plenty
> of use out of it before the replacement...but my thinking's not always in
> line with others).
>
> But you're right, directTV's attitude will definitely be "TS".
>
>

My guess on what DTV may do is have a "basic" hd & HDDvr units they will
tradeup free and then an additional more "Top of Line" type line of units
that you can up to for small fee instead. That way they can cover everyone
on the Mpeg4 front but also make some coin off of ppl who want that extra
qulity or features(for example maybe basic tradeup only has 80g hd and the
buy-up160g or something). I'm just waiting for August when whatever deals
they have are officially out. Been some comments at AVS and in fact I spoke
with someone at DTV today that also said they had some kind of equip deal
coming then but I want to see the actual offers
 
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bbodin (nospam!bbodin@airmail.net) wrote in alt.tv.tech.hdtv:
> I'm sure that would be there attitude, but they're not exactly free are
> they? I bought my $800 reciever and they are forcing a replace of that.

....and they will do so for free, so you don't lose anything.

> So
> you can't see why some people would be upset they paid $800-$1k for a
> reciever that is being forced replaced with a lower quality, lower feature
> reciever?

I see no indication that newer receivers are lower quality or that they
have less features. The new ones will likely have DirecTV interactive
features, which most old receivers do not.

--
Jeff Rife |
| http://www.nabs.net/Cartoons/Dilbert/NoHelpDesk.jpg
 
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"Jeff Rife" <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.1d2e0dab6058a0c989e21@news.nabs.net...
> bbodin (nospam!bbodin@airmail.net) wrote in alt.tv.tech.hdtv:
> > I'm sure that would be there attitude, but they're not exactly free are
> > they? I bought my $800 reciever and they are forcing a replace of that.
>
> ...and they will do so for free, so you don't lose anything.

I guess we're not on the same page.

Person A buys a reciever for $800 and was willing to pay more since when
compared to other cheaper recievers at the time it had better quality and
features.

Person B makes a purchase at the same time and pays $100 because he doesn't
really care about those extra features or quality

August 200X comes around and DirectTV tells both customers...you get this
brand new reciever that's equivalent to the $100 Person B bought, but with
MPEG4. We'll do the swap for free!

You feel persona A didn't lose anything? I'd say he'd lost $700 because he
now has the same reciever that person B has and person B only paid $100.

> I see no indication that newer receivers are lower quality

Compare a sony HD300 with and HD200 and HD100 and then make that comment.
There is a definite indication of lower quality as the manufacturers move to
cheaper chipsets to get the costs down.
 
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"Charles Tomaras" <tomaras@tomaras.com> wrote in message
news:UMadnXeFHLaThlnfRVn-
> Don't assume ANY provider will reduce or "get rid" of compression for any
> reason. These providers have all done research that shows them how much
> compression the average viewer will put up with. With that statistic
> determined they then use any additional capacity or throughput gains to
> provide more channels not higher quality. Voom is really the only provider
> that I can recall ever selling quality of signal over quantity of signal
and
> unfortunately there were not enough takers. All the other companies will
> brag about "all digital or digital signal" but heck...I can hold up my
> middle finger and claim the same thing. It means almost nothing.


agree. But I guess if they have the bandwidth WHY WOULDN'T they take
advantage of it. If it's just sitting there doing nothing, it would be one
more selling point to potential customers "Hey, we have Local HD and high
quaility SD...comcast compresses the hell out of their SD...come to us".
 
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bbodin (nospam!bbodin@airmail.net) wrote in alt.tv.tech.hdtv:
> Person A buys a reciever for $800 and was willing to pay more since when
> compared to other cheaper recievers at the time it had better quality and
> features.
>
> Person B makes a purchase at the same time and pays $100 because he doesn't
> really care about those extra features or quality
>
> August 200X comes around and DirectTV tells both customers...you get this
> brand new reciever that's equivalent to the $100 Person B bought, but with
> MPEG4. We'll do the swap for free!

Well, if that's the way they were going to do things, then, yeah, it'd be
a problem. But the reality is that you won't get a $100 SD-only receiver
to replace your $800 HD receiver. It may only be a $250 HD receiver
because that's all they cost now, but that's not DirecTV's fault.

Anything with MPEG-4 will be HD-capable, so your comparison isn't valid,
anyway, because DirecTV *won't* be giving away HD-capable receivers to
people who don't already have them...at least not for quite a while.

> You feel persona A didn't lose anything? I'd say he'd lost $700 because he
> now has the same reciever that person B has and person B only paid $100.

If both users get the "top of the line" receiver, then I wouldn't say
"A" has lost anything, but rather that "B" has gotten something for free.

> Compare a sony HD300 with and HD200 and HD100 and then make that comment.
> There is a definite indication of lower quality as the manufacturers move to
> cheaper chipsets to get the costs down.

That's because those manufacturers wanted to make a profit on the
receivers. DirecTV doesn't care about that, at least not compared to
customer satisfaction.

--
Jeff Rife | "As we sit here and idly chat, women--female
| human beings--are rolling around in strange
| beds with strange men, and *we* are making money
| from that."
| "Is this a great country, or what?"
| -- "Night Shift"
 
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"bbodin" <nospam!bbodin@airmail.net> wrote in message
news:HEZwe.1298$U61.803@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...
>
> "Charles Tomaras" <tomaras@tomaras.com> wrote in message
> news:UMadnXeFHLaThlnfRVn-
>> Don't assume ANY provider will reduce or "get rid" of compression for any
>> reason. These providers have all done research that shows them how much
>> compression the average viewer will put up with. With that statistic
>> determined they then use any additional capacity or throughput gains to
>> provide more channels not higher quality. Voom is really the only
>> provider
>> that I can recall ever selling quality of signal over quantity of signal
> and
>> unfortunately there were not enough takers. All the other companies will
>> brag about "all digital or digital signal" but heck...I can hold up my
>> middle finger and claim the same thing. It means almost nothing.
>
>
> agree. But I guess if they have the bandwidth WHY WOULDN'T they take
> advantage of it. If it's just sitting there doing nothing, it would be
> one
> more selling point to potential customers "Hey, we have Local HD and high
> quaility SD...comcast compresses the hell out of their SD...come to us".

Because they would rather say we give you more channels for the same price.
Quantity over quality is all these companies seem to think that people want.
If I could pay the same price for 1/2 the channels at 1/2 the compression I
would....but they aren't asking me.
 
G

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Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Jeff Rife wrote:
> I see no indication that newer receivers are lower quality or that they
> have less features. The new ones will likely have DirecTV interactive
> features, which most old receivers do not.

I agree. Generally, most of the time with technology, newer = better,
faster, more features, cheaper price. For the most part, in my
experience this has been true. On occasion it isn't, but mostly it is.
I wouldn't be too worried about new equipment.

I'm just wondering what they will do in my case, since the HD DTV
receiver is INSIDE the TV! Maybe I'll just get a discount on a DTV HD
DVR?

Hope so! ;-)