directv/dish question

[petsounds]

Hi all..new the forum.

Okay, so I've had a HD-ready TV for a couple years now, but the Pioneer decoder was always too expensive and I've been stuck with Adelphia cable so I've never viewed HD on my set.

So now I've got the chance (via my landlord's approval) to switch to DirecTV or Dish Network and get HD feeds.

From what I've seen so far, there's no STBs that contain both HD decoding and TiVo support. I guess this falls in line with DirectTV/Dish's support for the DVI standard, since they are trying to protect their content from being copied. Am I correct, or am I missing something? It seems very frustrating to me that I can't have both HD support and PVR features in one receiver.

The other thing going around in my head is whether I should go ahead and upgrade to a plasma set now to get the 720p and more compatibility with future standards. My 510-HD is quickly losing all of its value and quickly feeling very obsolete. I was amazed at how much the plasma sets have dropped in price this year.

Sorry for all the rambling. I guess I'm just a little overwhelmed trying to figure out what to do.

[TheBigE]

Pet,

The copy protection scheme is not based on D* or E* protecting thier content...they really don't have any content. They just transmit it. It's the networks and movie studios that want to protect THEIR content.
Now I am sure this has some bearing on an HD PVR being released, one of the major hurdles has been technological, both in terms of functionality and saleability. E* has "announced" and HD PVR for the first half of 2003, but tpricing has not yet been formally set. Guesstimates go from $1000 to $2000. At $1K I can see a fair number of sales but at $2k I would think the number would drop dramatically. Especially when you consider that HD viewers are still a VERY small percentage of the TV viewing public, as are PVR users.
Where SD broadcasts consume approximately 1GB of hard drive per recorded hour, HD broadcasts require 6-8 TIMES that much per hour.
I assume the D* camp will not be long in announcing something similar. It all seems to be coming together here shortly...

[kevinw]

The other thing going around in my head is whether I should go ahead and upgrade to a plasma set now to
get the 720p and more compatibility with future standards. My 510-HD is quickly losing all of its value and
quickly feeling very obsolete. I was amazed at how much the plasma sets have dropped in price this year.

Like all new purchases the value drops as each new model come out. You sound like most people who want the bigger, newer better. I call it 2ft-itis-The need for some thing 2 feet bigger. Your TV is no where close to becoming obsolete.

First of all Most HD is OTA -Meaning you need an antenna. Dish or Direct will not get you your local channels.
Secondly, Your tv will work with any STB not just the Pioneer STB which is a discontinued model and way overpriced anyway.
Upgrading for 720p-Why? Only ABC and ESPN do 720p and any STB will convert it to 1080i.

[petsounds]

Originally posted by kevinw
Like all new purchases the value drops as each new model come out. You sound like most people who want the bigger, newer better. I call it 2ft-itis-The need for some thing 2 feet bigger. Your TV is no where close to becoming obsolete.


Well part of the reason is, seems like in a couple years most of the home theatre sales will be plasma sets. RPTVs will be on their way out. Which, if I want to trade-in my set or sell it, it will have much less value than if the plasma revolution wasn't around the corner.

The second reason for my thinking about upgrading is the DVI issue; I'm afraid I'll left out of future HD options by companies that require a DVI lock on content. Perhaps that is being overcautious.


First of all Most HD is OTA -Meaning you need an antenna. Dish or Direct will not get you your local channels.
Secondly, Your tv will work with any STB not just the Pioneer STB which is a discontinued model and way overpriced anyway.


So it's not possible with Dish or Direct to receive HD signals through their local channel package? Antenna only?

Upgrading for 720p-Why? Only ABC and ESPN do 720p and any STB will convert it to 1080i.

Point well taken.

Thanks a lot for the responses guys. It's really helped.


(edited to fix formatting)

[kevinw]

Well part of the reason is, seems like in a couple years most of the home theatre sales will be plasma sets.
RPTVs will be on their way out. Which, if I want to trade-in my set or sell it, it will have much less value
than if the plasma revolution wasn't around the corner.

Makes sense except that Plasma in the consumer marketplace is relatively new. 6-7 years from now Plasma will be predominant like HD RP is to Analog. Since plasma is 1st or 2nd generation now, they will only get better and less expensive.

As to DVI We are still talking 5-6 years down the road before encryption would take place for recording and maybe longer for a total shutoff of the analog availabilty.

Currently neither DISH or Direct offer HD locals but 3-5 years down the road they will be supplying HD locals, after 2006-2008 all analog will be shut off anyway

[TheBigE]

Originally posted by kevinw
Currently neither DISH or Direct offer HD locals but 3-5 years down the road they will be supplying HD locals, after 2006-2008 all analog will be shut off anyway

kevin, while this is quite true, is it not also very possible that DBS locals will not be Hi-Def...but instead be a FOX-like expanded DTV?
I don't think there is any mandate that a DTV broadcast or transmission HAS to adhere to the top Hi-Def standard.
Although I am rooting for DBS (and may get lucky because I live in LA) I have to wonder about DBS' ultimate ability to totally service true Hi-Def on all channels due to bandwidth limitations. And please, oh lordy, don't even mention additional compression :eek:

[kevinw]

is it not also very possible that DBS locals will not be Hi-Def...but instead be
a FOX-like expanded DTV?

Doubtful, considering that the cable companies will and do broadcast in HD. Cable is the competition.

As for bandwidth, I think the DBS companies would drop the loosers like music channels and other filler.