Customers with HD DNS channels will start to see crawls on their HD DNS channels starting Wednesday. These are intended to communicate to MPEG2 customers the urgency of them needing to switch out their MPEG2 hardware to MPEG4 hardware.
The crawls will appear at the top of each hour initially and may be throttled up depending on how many customers react and how quickly.

As first reported at satguys.us:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/1189800-post1.html

Dammit! %$@#(*^@)*&!~~!

Interesting. I thought the conventional wisdom is that HD DNS was going away completely? If that's the case, I guess it won't be anytime soon ...

Hopefully the core HD channels will be next...

I don't think HD DNS was ever going away, it's just harder to get approval for and is going to only be in MPEG4 very soon.

Hopefully they will increase the bandwidth on the other MPEG2 HD channels.

Hopefully they will increase the bandwidth on the other MPEG2 HD channels.
Why would they do that? They'll be right behind the DNS channels on the MPEG4 train. The time is up for MPEG2 HD, it's time to either move up or move out.

You think they will use the new bandwith on the ku sats to do MPEG4 ku HD channels?

You think they will use the new bandwith on the ku sats to do MPEG4 ku HD channels?

The DBS birds aren't using Ku, I believe it is Ka.

Damn close though, closer than Ku is to C :D

Dumb question: What does DNS stand for? I know it means the national (NY or LA) network feeds, but never knew what the initials meant.

DNS = Distant Network Service
Why would they do that? They'll be right behind the DNS channels on the MPEG4 train. The time is up for MPEG2 HD, it's time to either move up or move out.
Or they could increase the bandwidth of SD channels...

The DBS birds aren't using Ku, I believe it is Ka.

Damn close though, closer than Ku is to C :D

101, 110, and 119 are all Ku signals, 99 and both at 103 are Ka

The DBS birds aren't using Ku, I believe it is Ka.
The DBS birds are using Ku. The new birds are using Ka. And DirecTV will not/can not use Ku on the new birds.

Hopefully they will use the bandwidth to either boost SD signals or toss a couple of MPEG4 HDs into the slots that the MPEG2 HDs were at.

I know that sounds very simple, but I'm guessing that it will require some upgrades at the D* broadcasting centers. I'm not sure if the current equipment used to uplink mpeg2 would need to be replaced/upgraded to be able to uplink an mpeg4 signal.

I'm not sure if the current equipment used to uplink mpeg2 would need to be replaced/upgraded to be able to uplink an mpeg4 signal.
The data payload makes absolutely no difference to the equipment. MPEG2, MPEG4, doesn't matter.

The data payload makes absolutely no difference to the equipment. MPEG2, MPEG4, doesn't matter.
Thank you, so they can do MPEG4 on the KU birds and give us even more HD right?:)

Thank you, so they can do MPEG4 on the KU birds and give us even more HD right?:)
There is nothing technical stopping DirecTV from broadcasting MPEG4 on the Ku birds. But I highly doubt that they will do that any time soon. They will have more than enough space when D11 is launched, and there will be more satellites after that.

There is nothing technical stopping DirecTV from broadcasting MPEG4 on the Ku birds. But I highly doubt that they will do that any time soon. They will have more than enough space when D11 is launched, and there will be more satellites after that.
Especially if all goes well with the D11 launch. They could always send up D12 if things get tight instead of keeping it as a ground spare.

Were would D12 go? 99a and 99b are going to be taken up, 103a and 103b have no space there as well.

Were would D12 go? 99a and 99b are going to be taken up, 103a and 103b have no space there as well.
Those are just different options on the signal meter. They don't really mean anything as to how much space is available.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but won't this switch of DNS to MPEG-4 require replacing a 3 LNB dish with the new 5 LNB dish in order to receive these channels?

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but won't this switch of DNS to MPEG-4 require replacing a 3 LNB dish with the new 5 LNB dish in order to receive these channels?

Yes.

Thank you for confirming so quickly BG.

How difficult is the installation of a 5 LNB dish? I've heard they are much harder to align.
I have a "false" address (actually a remote cabin of mine) listed with D* so that I can receive these DNS channels. So having them install is not an option (unless someone has a way around this too.) I do this because D* does not offer local channels in my area and none of the networks here broadcast in HD. So, no DNS, no HD networks. Not really an option if you know what I mean.

I understand your situation completely. I've personally installed my 5lnb dish and can say its not that bad. Yes, there is more work to it, but really if you have a clear view of the sky and you can use a wrench its definitely doable. It's also helpful to have someone to read the meter on the tv screen. Believe me, its a lot easier than dealing with the CSR's to "Move" to your current location then wait for the install and then "Move" back to your cabin. Plus, you will probably have some downtime with your DNS while you are moving.

Good Luck!

A friend of mine with the same scenario (listed address) simply called D*, asked for a new HD upgrade, and gave his current address for the install. D* said nothing and he had no problems. I'm afraid of losing my DNS channels. Some of these CSRs are difficult. Can't afford that.

I guess I could just use your moving idea if that happened. Isn't there a moving fee though? I'll most likely do the dish installation myself. I've done them all (2) up to this point anyway.

Isn't there a moving fee though?
No.

I moved back to my house last week. CSR didn't say a word about turning off my DNS. He even mentioned that I was eligible for locals in HD (my locals are not yet available in HD) Installer came, set it all up and now I have glorious HD plus my DNS in HD.

My former address was very close to my home address but it was in a "white" area.

I've got to think it was just luck until I read the prior post.

:)

I started getting these new feeds last week sometime, I now have 8 LA HD-DNS channels.

From a post over at DBSTalk, and from my own observations, it appears the MPEG2 west coast DNS feeds(81, 83, 87 and 89) have finally been shut off.

New MPEG4 west coast DNS feeds at 391, 393, 397 and 399, and come in fine via the HR20.

No more DNS for those legacy MPEG2 STBs.

No more DNS for those legacy MPEG2 STBs.
It's important to note that until at least 8/31, the channels are still being broadcast from the Ku satellites, so the 5LNB dish isn't necessary yet.