New to HDTV - A General Question re: DirecTV

rode2005 · 06-30-2005, 09:33 PM

I recently bought a 50"LCD rear projection HDTV Sony and am very pleased so far. I want to now begin enjoying HDTV from my satellite provider, DirecTV (I've been with them for about 1.5 yrs. now). I was very surprised to learn that to subscribe to HD programming you need to pay a monthly fee (of course - just as one would with cable) HOWEVER, it seems that DirecTV requires a different type of dish and a special satellite receiver. I believe that the total out-of-pocket UPFRONT cash costs to DirecTV comes to about $400 - even before you pay the monthly $12.

Here's my question - I've been told by my local cable company that if a cable subscriber wants to upgrade to HD programming, all the customer has to do is pay the monthly $11. Why is it that DirecTV charges customers the additional upfront equipment procurement costs when cable does not?

If I were to go back to cable would my HD broadcasts be 100% digital and, therefore, of the same image quality as what DirecTV offers? I understand that the non-digital channels on cable are still analog.

It seems to me that DirecTV's product is programming - that's what people pay monthly for. Why is it that subscribers (who wish to upgrade to HD) have to pay for equipment so that DirecTV can continue to sell its product (programming) to you???

Is it possible that my cable company is lying (re: no hardware or installation costs - just the monthly fee of $11).

I really want to beign enjoying HD programming, however, the $400 outlay (contrary to what cable charges) seems ridiculous. Opinons??? Advice? I will go back to cable in a heartbeat if the consensus of people out there feel there would be no compromise in picture quality (on HD programming).

Many thanks for reading this. I look forward to delving through the posts and learning more aobut HDTV.

Rich

**rbinck** · 06-30-2005, 10:02 PM

There is not much difference between cable and Directv, IMO. The analog channels will be a blessing in most cases as the SD channels on digital cable look worse than the analog channels on most HDTVs. This is because of the compression artifacts that are amplified on TVs larger than 40" and the same is true of Directv.

If I were in your shoes I'd go to cable for sure. Here in Houston we can get a HD DVR for the same fee, so you might want to check that out also.

For more information on SD on a HDTV see: Poor SD On HDTVs

rode2005 · 06-30-2005, 10:21 PM

Thanks for the reply! Good article referenced (you're a celebrity!!!).

The marketing (profession) in me is puzzled by the fact that DirecTV sells programming only, yet, seems to be able to convince subscribers to pay $400 upfront to buy their product (programming). Maybe I"m making too much out of this, however, can you imagine the reaction if a grocery store (whose product is groceries) charged customers an exorbitant entrance fee merley to shop (and, buy their product)?

I'm not sure if the analogy works, but it's all that comes to my mind right now.

anwar1979 · 06-30-2005, 10:54 PM

Don't pay the $400. D* is good for lower their pricing if you know how to talk them down. Tell them you heard that someone bought it for less and they will work for you. i bought my package from D* and they credited me $200.

hoorta · 07-01-2005, 01:08 AM

IMHO, the only reason to go with D* for HD is if you're a huge NFL fan, and HAVE to have your NFL games in HD. othewise, Dish Network, or cable is a better deal. BTW, D* Sunday ticket in HD will set you back another $250 for the 2005 season.

oblioman · 07-01-2005, 06:40 AM

Sunday Ticket is not offered in hi-def,,,you have to have the Sunday Ticket and the SuperFan package in order to get hd games from DTV. With no guarantee in which games will be HD. If one opts not to pay DTV for thier ST & SF packages,,DishNetwork & OTA is the way to go for HD.

rode2005 · 07-03-2005, 10:15 PM

Thanks to all for their replies. I've also been told that Dish Network offers free hardware for their HDTV. Given that I'm not an NFL fanatic and the information provided that seems to give Dish Network the edge on HDTV (apart from the NFL programming), switching to Dish seems attractive. The info provided re: analog input (cable's non-digital channels) actually looking better than SD programming on HDTVs also makes the cable alternative attractive (no hardware costs for HD, video-on-demand, local Weather Channel downfeeds, no contract commitments, etc.) also makes cable attractive.

Not to confuse things and get way off this thread's topic, I've a generla question re: Dish Network - my DirecTV dish is now pointing between high and wide trees - the tech did a nice job of finding a great "sweet spot". If the elevation angle were a little lower, it's unlikely I'd get a good, clean line-of-sight. As a general rule, is the elevation angle (in the layman's terms I understand it to be how high in the sky the satellite is) lower for Dish Network? If the dish for Dish network were to be less angled up into the sky I likely would be trying to draw a signal through dense trees and the signal would proabably not be suffifient.

rode2005 · 07-03-2005, 10:19 PM

Cutting down or thinning out the trees is not an option since they are my neighbor's trees and although we get along, he likes the shade (and privacy) they provide.

nowitall · 07-04-2005, 10:31 AM

rbinck, I guess you've had better luck with the Houston cable provider than I did. I had their hdtv for one weekend, went thru a couple of their scratched and dented hdtv receivers, and still had lotza artifacts and a very un-hidef hd picture.

DTV sent me a replacement receiver (for a problem caused by a softward download) faster than I ever have been able to get the Houston cable provider to come out to the house.

But enough complaining. Have a good July 4th. Eat some 'cue. Watch some sportz....

nowitall · 07-04-2005, 10:33 AM

rode, you have to rent the hd box from cable companies. It don't take too long for you to have paid the same moolah as you pay to buy the superior DTV box. (Bet I'll get some comments on whether the DTV box is superior, eh?!)

06-30-2005, 09:33 PM	#1
rode2005 How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 22	New to HDTV - A General Question re: DirecTV I recently bought a 50"LCD rear projection HDTV Sony and am very pleased so far. I want to now begin enjoying HDTV from my satellite provider, DirecTV (I've been with them for about 1.5 yrs. now). I was very surprised to learn that to subscribe to HD programming you need to pay a monthly fee (of course - just as one would with cable) HOWEVER, it seems that DirecTV requires a different type of dish and a special satellite receiver. I believe that the total out-of-pocket UPFRONT cash costs to DirecTV comes to about $400 - even before you pay the monthly $12. Here's my question - I've been told by my local cable company that if a cable subscriber wants to upgrade to HD programming, all the customer has to do is pay the monthly $11. Why is it that DirecTV charges customers the additional upfront equipment procurement costs when cable does not? If I were to go back to cable would my HD broadcasts be 100% digital and, therefore, of the same image quality as what DirecTV offers? I understand that the non-digital channels on cable are still analog. It seems to me that DirecTV's product is programming - that's what people pay monthly for. Why is it that subscribers (who wish to upgrade to HD) have to pay for equipment so that DirecTV can continue to sell its product (programming) to you??? Is it possible that my cable company is lying (re: no hardware or installation costs - just the monthly fee of $11). I really want to beign enjoying HD programming, however, the $400 outlay (contrary to what cable charges) seems ridiculous. Opinons??? Advice? I will go back to cable in a heartbeat if the consensus of people out there feel there would be no compromise in picture quality (on HD programming). Many thanks for reading this. I look forward to delving through the posts and learning more aobut HDTV. Rich

06-30-2005, 10:21 PM	#3
rode2005 How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 22	thanks! Thanks for the reply! Good article referenced (you're a celebrity!!!). The marketing (profession) in me is puzzled by the fact that DirecTV sells programming only, yet, seems to be able to convince subscribers to pay $400 upfront to buy their product (programming). Maybe I"m making too much out of this, however, can you imagine the reaction if a grocery store (whose product is groceries) charged customers an exorbitant entrance fee merley to shop (and, buy their product)? I'm not sure if the analogy works, but it's all that comes to my mind right now.

07-03-2005, 10:15 PM	#7
rode2005 How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 22	Thanks! Satellite elevation levels (general) for Dish Network? Thanks to all for their replies. I've also been told that Dish Network offers free hardware for their HDTV. Given that I'm not an NFL fanatic and the information provided that seems to give Dish Network the edge on HDTV (apart from the NFL programming), switching to Dish seems attractive. The info provided re: analog input (cable's non-digital channels) actually looking better than SD programming on HDTVs also makes the cable alternative attractive (no hardware costs for HD, video-on-demand, local Weather Channel downfeeds, no contract commitments, etc.) also makes cable attractive. Not to confuse things and get way off this thread's topic, I've a generla question re: Dish Network - my DirecTV dish is now pointing between high and wide trees - the tech did a nice job of finding a great "sweet spot". If the elevation angle were a little lower, it's unlikely I'd get a good, clean line-of-sight. As a general rule, is the elevation angle (in the layman's terms I understand it to be how high in the sky the satellite is) lower for Dish Network? If the dish for Dish network were to be less angled up into the sky I likely would be trying to draw a signal through dense trees and the signal would proabably not be suffifient.

07-03-2005, 10:19 PM	#8
rode2005 How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 22	Addendum to prior post Cutting down or thinning out the trees is not an option since they are my neighbor's trees and although we get along, he likes the shade (and privacy) they provide.

07-04-2005, 10:31 AM	#9
nowitall DLP is good. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: A large southern city with an inland port. Posts: 187	rbinck, I guess you've had better luck with the Houston cable provider than I did. I had their hdtv for one weekend, went thru a couple of their scratched and dented hdtv receivers, and still had lotza artifacts and a very un-hidef hd picture. DTV sent me a replacement receiver (for a problem caused by a softward download) faster than I ever have been able to get the Houston cable provider to come out to the house. But enough complaining. Have a good July 4th. Eat some 'cue. Watch some sportz.... Last edited by nowitall; 07-04-2005 at 10:36 AM.

06-30-2005, 10:02 PM	#2
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,337	There is not much difference between cable and Directv, IMO. The analog channels will be a blessing in most cases as the SD channels on digital cable look worse than the analog channels on most HDTVs. This is because of the compression artifacts that are amplified on TVs larger than 40" and the same is true of Directv. If I were in your shoes I'd go to cable for sure. Here in Houston we can get a HD DVR for the same fee, so you might want to check that out also. For more information on SD on a HDTV see: Poor SD On HDTVs

06-30-2005, 10:54 PM	#4
anwar1979 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 43	Don't pay the $400. D* is good for lower their pricing if you know how to talk them down. Tell them you heard that someone bought it for less and they will work for you. i bought my package from D* and they credited me $200.

07-01-2005, 01:08 AM	#5
hoorta Mitsu Man Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 231	IMHO, the only reason to go with D* for HD is if you're a huge NFL fan, and HAVE to have your NFL games in HD. othewise, Dish Network, or cable is a better deal. BTW, D* Sunday ticket in HD will set you back another $250 for the 2005 season.

07-01-2005, 06:40 AM	#6
oblioman OTIS,,me hero Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Someville TN Posts: 4,558	Sunday Ticket is not offered in hi-def,,,you have to have the Sunday Ticket and the SuperFan package in order to get hd games from DTV. With no guarantee in which games will be HD. If one opts not to pay DTV for thier ST & SF packages,,DishNetwork & OTA is the way to go for HD.

07-04-2005, 10:33 AM	#10
nowitall DLP is good. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: A large southern city with an inland port. Posts: 187	rode, you have to rent the hd box from cable companies. It don't take too long for you to have paid the same moolah as you pay to buy the superior DTV box. (Bet I'll get some comments on whether the DTV box is superior, eh?!)