hdtv is it worth it

[hogzilla]

just got a hi def tv and im thinking of getting a hd receiver and im wondering if it's worth it . I have to buy a new sat dish $ 140 then the receiver $700 and now i heard that i can't get my local channels that are hd unless i put ant. on my roof and pray if i could pick up anything because i am about 50 miles from nyc. How is hd on local channels like cbs picking it up with a ant. I don't know how many stations are hd on direct tv and i don't know if they are something that i like. I know sopronos are hd. I guess what i'm getting at is are there enough programs out there to invest that kind of money or should i wait until direct tv has more to offer.

[zarlor]

Well, first off your figures might be a little off, depending on how you go about getting the stuff you want. You can get a DirecTV HD receiver for as little as $450 from what I have seen, depending on features. You might also be able to get DirecTB to get the dish to you for $20-30 if you get through to the right CSR, but you'll probably have to buy a 1 year package. THat should save you a good bit right there, though.

Currently DirecTV has HBO-HD (which you don't actually need a different kind of dish for, since they recently moved it over to their standard satellite), SHO-HD (which requires the thrid LNB to be installed, also called a SAT C kit), and HDNet (arguably one of the best HD channels around) which reverts to an HD PPV channel in the very late evenings. There have been rumors that DirecTV has been in negotiations with Discovery to get Discovery HD Theater, but I'm not sure anyone is expecting that in the very near future. ESPN will also be offering an HD channel in April of next year, according to some news releases, but there is no indication at this time if either DirecTV or Dish network will be carrying the channel. (Personally I think they'd be nuts not to get that one!)

As for OTA, have you checked out http://www.antennaweb.org, as I believe is suggested in the FAQ forum? Antennas are not that hard to get installed and, depending on terrain and a few other factors, 50 miles shouldn't be too bad from some reports others around here have mentioned. You may need a preamp, but I think your chances might be decent. Antennaweb will also let you know who is currently, as well as who will be, broadcasting digitally in your area.

As for quality of local digital channels, remeber that this is digital so you (generally speaking) either get a crystal clear phenominal picture, or you get nothing (or at least a lot of dropouts and pixellation). OTA with an antenna is probably some of the best, minimally compressed, HD you'll find! Definitely worth it!

Finally, if you ask me, if you just spent a few thousand for an HDTV you are really wasting its potential if you don't get some HD programming to it. HD is where it's at! (DVDs look pretty good, too, but HD is still worlds better!)

[Rusty]

"Currently DirecTV has HBO-HD (which you don't actually need a different kind of dish for, since they recently moved it over to their standard satellite),..."

I was thrilled to see this since I would love to try HBO if I could get it in HD but am not sure enough about our viewing habits to get the new dish.

Called HBO. After much searching, the rep found a note that the move is TEMPORARY and will change back in December. So, you will need an oval dish to get HD-HBO after December.

Darn.

(Waiting for my SAT HD200 so that I can join the HD club.)

[FreckleBoy]

I agree with the previous post about your numbers being a little off.
If you go to Blockbuster, you can get either a one room ($10) or a 2-room system (about $30) and ask for the Para Todos system - this will give you the oval dish at no extra charge. (Not to mention that you will also get a 52 rental pass for free, so it's like getting about $200 worth of free rentals!)
Next, you can get a Hughes E86 at Best Buy, on sale for $475 - or hope to find an open box deal like I did for about a hundred dollars less. If you buy this, make sure you have gone to Blockbuster first, because if you buy the receiver at Best Buy first, then you won't be considered a new customer when going to Blockbuster for the installed system.
The third piece I purchased was a Radio Shack Double Bowtie attenna, which is a discontinued item and can be found for $5.99 with some calling around.
Now with this information, you just need to know how much OTA material you can actually receive. For me, the cost is justified when combining the OTA channels (I get all major networks in Orlando) with what DirecTV has to offer in HD. If I couldn't get the OTA signals I get, then I would say that NO, the cost was too great for the amount of programming I would get on DirecTV alone.
Hope this helps,
-= Henry =-

[rman]

Long time reader…first time poster…OK maybe not that long.

I agree with everyone here, if you shop around you can find a better deal. I just had a Dish Network satellite system installed with an HD receiver. I pick up all the local DTV channels here in Houston with a Radio Shack $19 outdoor antenna. Oh, I have a Mitsubishi WS55-411 by the way.

Anyway, as a first time subscriber to Dish, I got the satellite package with the receiver for $299. I did have to purchase the 8-VSB cartridge for $148, which you could probably find for less. Picking up all the local channels alone was worth the deal as well as getting rid of the over priced non-HD cable provider. If you want the satellite HD channels, you can purchase a second dish for $99. Keep in mind all of this includes installation.

I didn’t get the second dish, as my main goal was to get rid of cable and get all the HD programming on the major networks. As it turns out, I ended up with the second dish at no extra cost. The installers must have been confused as they installed a second dish even though I didn’t order it. When activating the service, the lady on the other end said I had to pay the extra fee for the 2nd Dish. I then went back to the Vendor who in turn gave me an escalation number to Dish. The man was really nice and said it would cost more to send a tech to remove the dish than to just leave it up.

I ordered this Dish package at allsat.com
Total for the entire package including shipping, taxes, etc: $469 (includes installation)
I spent $40 at Radio Shack for the outdoor antenna and mast (installed myself)

Watching all the HD programming is awesome. I can tell you I am very satisfied with my purchase and glad I made the move.

Shop around…either way; you will be amazed watching HD programming.

[kevinw]

As a bonus, if any of your locals are on the 61.5 satelite-the same bird that HD channels are on, Dish will give you the extra saucer and install it for free.

[HokieD]

Note regarding local channel reception...don't let your current analog reception fool you. I couldn't pick up any analog stations with my antenna, but was able to tune in all the local digital channels from the major networks.