http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/ Engadget HD Comments for Hands-on with DirecTV's new HD channels http://hd.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://hd.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/
Maybe Cox will get off their ass. Maybe not. Verizon needs to knock on my door. People a mile away can get it, but not me.]]>Oct 5th 2007 9:37AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/
I hate when I read this crap, and my response is always the same:

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

The federal government trumps the condo association rules, meaning you CAN get a dish regardless of what they say. If you want DirecTV/Dish, print out the rules, send it to the condo board, and tell you're installing a dish. There's nothing they can do, as long as you follow the FCC rules.]]>Oct 5th 2007 10:22AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 5th 2007 9:49AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/
Actually, the reason I was on the channel for 10 minutes was I was going through guide data for about 48 hours. I ended up recording A TON of stuff. Different concerts, the recent awards show and a block of music videos. I’ll probably fast forward through most of it, but I’m checking it out this weekend.
]]>Oct 5th 2007 9:57AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 5th 2007 10:13AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/
Balcony is north facing. Roof is common area.

Hence, no dish allowed...]]>Oct 5th 2007 10:37AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 5th 2007 11:35AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 5th 2007 12:55PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 5th 2007 11:00AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 5th 2007 10:58AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 5th 2007 12:23PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 5th 2007 12:55PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/I think they still do HD lite.

wopr21]]>Oct 11th 2007 9:13AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/
Subject: TBS-HD stretch-o-vision

To whom it may concern,

I was very happy to wake up on October 2nd to 4 new HD channels in my area, one of which was TBS HD. I couldn't wait to watch my favorite shows (Family Guy, The Office, Seinfeld, etc.) in HD quality. I am no stranger to HDTV and I know most old shows have not been converted to HD yet, so I was expecting to see these shows in full screen but in much better quality through your HD feed. Instead, like TNT has been doing for way too long, you insist on stretching your content to fit the screen. This makes these shows exteremly difficult to watch, because everything is way too WIIIIIIIDE. Not to mention, once the baseball playoffs are over, I'm wondering how much actual HD coverage your channel will have. And The Office (which has been filmed in HD since its inception) isn't even presented in HD on TBS HD!! As an avid TBS viewer, I would love for you guys to cater to your HD fans (there are plenty out here in TV land, and our numbers are growing larger by the second!) and present shows in their OAR (original aspect ratio) until the studios decide to re-master their shows in HD. Thank you very much.]]>Oct 5th 2007 12:39PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 5th 2007 12:35PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/
Incorrect.]]>Oct 5th 2007 1:54PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/
Since Mpeg4 is lossy, the decompressed bitrate is whatever you want it to be -- some bits will always be inferred. Further, some things compress better than others, so you also can't look at the compressed bit rate.

In the end, it's subjective. All you can do is look at the image, and the Mpeg4 images of HD are stunning. Stretch-o-vision SD, like A&E uses, is stunning in another way (bad).]]>Oct 5th 2007 3:53PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/
So about the only real situation where it MAY have an effect in dealing with homeowner associations that seem to have an ability to pass "rules" that if enacted by government, would be highly illegal. For most of the rest of us, it doesn't mean squat.

Keep in mind that it really IS up to your landlord/coop board. I've seen buildings that have a south facing wall that have about a half dozen Direct dishes mounted on the exterior wall, right next to windows. As such, the landlord COULD order them removed and this "rule" would NOT apply.]]>Oct 5th 2007 3:06PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/
My experience with condos is that it is all political, and they often start out with "NO" until a few people explain that they will vote for someone else at the annual election. Since almost no one votes, or cares, this means they change their minds or get replaced. Either way, you win.]]>Oct 5th 2007 3:58PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 5th 2007 4:09PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 5th 2007 8:02PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 11th 2007 4:18PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Can any of you tell me if Stargate Atlantis was broadcasted in HD Friday night]]>Oct 8th 2007 10:47AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 8th 2007 12:14PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 8th 2007 2:07PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Thanks for the info. I was just curious to see what I was missing on SciFiFri on DirecTV. Congrats on getting to see new episodes of Atlantis in HD! I'm stuck watching old episodes in HD on UniversalHD on Cox in CT. Hopefully Cox will get a carriage aggreement to aid SciFi HD before new Battlestar start up.

Another question, do they show SciFi Sat. night movies in HD?
Thanks for the reply]]>Oct 8th 2007 3:11PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Oct 9th 2007 9:19PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/
Looks like I was right.]]>Oct 14th 2007 7:12PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/Summary
4 Major Networks
39 National HD Channels
11 New MPEG4 Premium Movie Channels
10 PPV
14 New MPEG4 HD Regional Sports Networks Broadcast Nationally
Sport Packages (over 25 HD channels)
--------
Count that any way you want but the grand total is 103 Current HD Channels

Announced
22 National HD Channels
14 RSN HD Channels

Here are the exact channels...

4 Major Networks
ABC
CBS
Fox
NBC

9 MPEG2 HD Channels (Still Compatible with HR10 & HR20)
70 - HBO HD East also 501 & 509
71 - Showtime HD East also 537& 543
72 - ESPN2 HD also 209 - ESPN2 HD
73 - ESPN HD also 206 - ESPN HD
74 - Universal HD
75 - TNT HD also 245 - TNT HD
76 - HD Theater
78 - HDNet Movies
79 - HDNet

3 MPEG2 HD PPV/Events Channels
95 - Miscellaneous HD Events Channel
98 - PPV Events
99 - PPV Movies

7 New MPEG4 PPV Channels (NOT Compatible with HR10)
135 - PPV Movies
136 - PPV Movies
137 - PPV Movies
138 - PPV Movies
145 - PPV Movies
146 - PPV Movies
147 - PPV Movies

30 New MPEG4 HD Channels (NOT Compatible with HR10)
101 - CD USA
202 - CNN HD
212 - NFL Network HD
215 - NHL Network HD
220 - Big Ten Network HD
229-1 - HGTV HD
231-1 - FOOD HD
242 - USA Network HD
244 - Sci Fi HD
247 - TBS HD
248 - FX HD
255 - MGM HD
265 - A&E HD
267 - Smithsonian HD
269 - History Channel HD
273 - Bravo HD
276 - National Geographic HD
278 - Discovery HD
280 - TLC HD
282 - Animal Planet HD
284 - Science Channel HD
296 - The Cartoon Network HD
332 - MHD
355 - CNBC HD+
359 - FOX Business HD
362 - Weather Channel HD
601 - NBA HD
604 - Versus HD / Golf Channel HD
607 - SPEED HD
612 - FUEL HD

11 New MPEG4 Premium Movie Channels
504 - HBO HD West
512 - Cinemax HD East
514 - Cinemax HD West
518 - Starz Kids and Family HD
519 - Starz Comedy HD
520 - Starz HD East
521 - Starz HD West
522 - Starz Edge HD
538 - SHO TOO HD East
540 - Showtime HD West
544 - The Movie Channel HD East

14 New MPEG4 HD Regional Sports Networks (RSN) Broadcast Nationally
622 - YES
623 - New England Sports Network
625 - SportsNet New York
628-1 - FSN Pittsburgh
629 - Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
636 - FSN Detroit
639-1 - FSN Houston
640 - Comcast SportsNet Chicago
643 - FSN Southwest
647-1 - FSN Midwest
648-1 - FSN Midwest Alternate
652 - FSN West
653 - FSN Prime Ticket
669-1 - FSN Detroit Alternate

Sport Packages (over 25 HD channels)
NFL Sunday Ticket Superfan (700's)
MLB Extra Innings (700's)
NHL Center Ice HD (700's)
NBA League Pass HD (700's)

22 Announced National HD Channels
ABC Family
Biography
CMT
CSTV
Disney Channel
ESPN News
MTV
Nickelodeon East
Spike
The Tennis Channel
Toon Disney
VH1 HD
BET
Chiller
MTV
Sleuth
MoreMax
HBO2-E
HBO2-W
HBO Family-E
HBO Family-W
HBO Signature

13 Announced RSN HD Channels
Altitude
FSN Arizona
FSN Bay Area
FSN Florida
FSN New England
FSN North
FSN Northwest
FSN Ohio
FSN Rocky Mountain
FSN South
MSG
SportsSouth
Sun Sports]]>Nov 4th 2007 5:12AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/
1) You can't place the dish on a "common" roof as that is shared by other people"

In response to these posts....

You may NOT be able to install it on the roof BUT if you read the WHOLE rules it says you can LEGALY install the dish as high as 100FT above your roof meaning your dish can be pole mounted and angled in ANY direction N,S,E, or W.....

Anotherwords, the dish would be pole mounted to your balcony (witch is legal because your balcony is NOT a common area) and would extend upwords to 100ft above the roof if needed (but would only need 3ft above if you ask me). Yes, this is all included in the installers cost and does not cost anything extra.

The one thing you MIGHT run into like we did is our landlord wants 300.00 before we have it installed (a 300.00 NON REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT) and IF we move we are NOT allowed to take the dish with us because somehow it becomes their property when its installed on their property?

I had DirecTV once before and would LOVE to get it back, I loved the quality of the HD and programming offered. This cable crap stinks and does cost more than my DTV ever did (even with the DirecTivo).

As for the set top boxes, I never had to rent a box untill I was forced to "rent" my DVR through Time Warner.]]>Nov 11th 2007 6:17AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/10/05/hands-on-with-directvs-new-hd-channels/ I broke down and purchased the contract for Directv and dumped Cox here in Arizona. I simply wanted football, and was sold on all the HD channels, however I didn't ditch Cox for about a month and I was able to do a lot of side by side viewing. In my opinion DirecTV HD isn't even close to the image quality that Cox's HD was. Even my wife thinks so. Skin pigment, and fast movements on the DirecTV start to pixelate and blemish. I've checked all my settings and I'm on 1080i.
Final thoughts. I miss the quality of HD on Cox, but I'll take 100 plus channels at 80% HD over 23 channels full. However I'd switch back tomorrow if Cox added more channels.

Anyone else agree with this statement? If you disagree and are not from Arizona I don't really care, because I've seen Comcast HD in the North West, and it's not the best either. So I'm assuming HD quality varries from region to region.]]>Nov 23rd 2007 9:10PM