I am moving into my new apartment April 1st. I do not know what to pick.I have the Sony 60" SXRD television set. I have a choice,I can get HD cable or HD Direct TV. I definately want to get a DVR. What should I pick?

 

Directv HD-DVR for mpeg4 is not out yet.

 

I had the same debate when we moved last spring... and I ended up going cable.

In the long run it ended up being cheaper since with satellite you have to buy all of the equipment. At the time I was also getting many more HD channels with cable. It looks like nowadays satellite is starting to give their HD receivers away, but you'll need to buy the HD-DVR receivers... which, at last check, were like $300 or so.

Best bet is to go to DirecTV's website and price out what you want, then go to the cable company's website and price out what you want... then take that info, compare the actual services, and make a decision.

 

Any idea when Directv HD-DVR for mpeg4 will be available?

 

Since I don't have DirecTV I really haven't been keeping up with their technologies. Hopefully one of the satellite users can chime in on that one...

 

DirecTV is leasing their equipment as of this month...no need to purchase and maintain your own equipment.

HD-DVR for mpeg4 "may" be available late spring to early summer.
Check with DirecTV, since they are leasing equipment, you should be able to to get a HD-DRV for mpeg2 now, and upgrade to the mpeg4 DVR for free when it is available.

 

I have had directtv for years, and our family is looking to buy HDTV. Along with that my dad wants to get an HD reciever for directtv. I was told along with buying an HD-DVR reciever you have to get a different dish installed as well... the money just seems to rack up if you want HD satelite

EDIT: just saw moogs post above, does that also go for the other dish we would need?

 

[jimcarey]Reee-heee-heealy?[/jimcarey]


Good to know about everything, but mainly the leasing!! May need to look into switching to dish later in the year.

One question though... when I looked into them they charged $10 for each receiver... was that only if you used theirs and didn't buy the HD receiver? In other words, if I bought an HD receiver, did they still charge you the $10/mo?

 

You should get the mpeg 4 dish upgrade for free....but check with DirecTV...if they give you any crap, request customer retention dept. and threaten to walk if you don't get what you want. You should be able to upgrade to HD, and get a reduction in your rates and/or free stars/hbo for a few months.

 

What the new HD mpeg 4 dish looks like.


DirecTV AT9 KaKu 5 LNB HDTV Dish
Includes (5) LNBs and the (4) way multi-switch
Satellites Ka 99-103 and Ku 101 110 & 119

 

thats how my dad described the dish, thanks for the help moog

 

No problem.

 

I just went to DirecTV's website.... seems like in my case cable is still cheaper. I'll have to go to Best Buy one of these days and price it out there, b/c the website doesn't really let you do too many different configurations. I have a feeling I'll be staying on cable....

 

Unless DirecTV begins broadcasting in 1920x1080 resolution for their HD broadcasts, I will be switching back to cable when my commitment is over.

Right now, DTV pushes 1280x1080 feeds (due to satellite bandwidth constraints), and this is technically NOT HD. The differences may be subtle, but IMHO cable provides a better picture.

Whether the entire service is better is debatable. But if you want the best HD picture quality, cable is where it is at these days.

 

Ok, I am going to go the HD Cable route. Comcast is the provider in my area. Anyone havd HD from Comcast? How is it? Any problems?

 

I have it. Every channel Comcast offers in my area is digital so even the SD looks good. In fact, the DVR they gave me doesn't even have an analog tuner. Their DVR sucks, I don't care what anyone says. I miss my Tivo.

When there is actual HD programming the PQ is fantastic. I'm disspointed in the lack of HD stuff. Try finding HD programming before 8pm on the major networks. Hell, even the new game show "Deal or no Deal" isn't in HD.

 

I've got D* and will keep it b/c of NFL. Yeah they send HD Lite right now but the new MPEG-4 should improve stuff. Several of my neighbors have Charter cable and I'm not impressed with either their selection of channels (don't even get all of their locals in HD) or the quality. It could be their displays (all of them are either LCD or DLP compared to my plasma) but I think their pictures are "softer" than mine. Again that could be the displays or the signal but their pictures do not "pop" like mine...

Like I said, I'm a D* guy b/c of Sunday Ticket so I don't even know about the price differences....