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Palm Springs, CA - HDTV - Page 9

post #241 of 249
4/1/12 at 9:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hdbrew View Post

Still trying to figure out local HD TV broadcasting. Does anyone have FIOS or Directv in the Palm Springs area? If so, do all of the local channels broadcast prime time shows in HD? Meaning, do you get American Idol on FOX in HD here? Do you get Survivor on CBS in HD? Do you get The Office in NBC? Do you get Dancing with the Stars on ABC in HD? Sometimes these companies say they offer these local channels in HD, but it's only a football game on Sunday's and nothing else. Can anyone confirm this on FIOS or Directv?

I have Time Warner Cable myself, but my neighbor has DTV and he gets all the locals in HD all the time just like I do. Can speak to FIOS.
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post #242 of 249
4/1/12 at 1:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Weaselboy View Post

I have Time Warner Cable myself, but my neighbor has DTV and he gets all the locals in HD all the time just like I do. Can speak to FIOS.

Cool... I've been nervous because I know dish will say they have it and don't get Fox hd. Or in the past, the stations only showed some programming in hd. Even over the air, Fox and ABC or the like weren't shown at the same time in hd based on the station handling both networks and limited resources. This may have all changed, but like to confirm before pulling the trigger on a two year commitment from dtv.
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post #243 of 249
4/2/12 at 9:10pm
^ Hey, I visited the Palm Springs area about a month ago, and was able to pick up NBC/CBS/ABC/FOX all in HD. FOX is carried over the air in HD on KCWQ 26.

From what I could tell from TSReader, Time Warner Cable was re-compressing KMIR/NBC and KPSP/CBS, so unless going with Fios you'd probably get a better picture with an antenna.
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post #244 of 249
4/3/12 at 7:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mjjckc View Post

^ Hey, I visited the Palm Springs area about a month ago, and was able to pick up NBC/CBS/ABC/FOX all in HD. FOX is carried over the air in HD on KCWQ 26.

From what I could tell from TSReader, Time Warner Cable was re-compressing KMIR/NBC and KPSP/CBS, so unless going with Fios you'd probably get a better picture with an antenna.

Yes, as I'm learning, I believe you're right. I may have to check my OTA signal where I live, however I remember checking a while back and couldn't get much north of Indio. Also learning that Directv is simply picking up the HD signals over the air and rebroadcasting them from the satellite...sure that works, but talk about issues... I think that would explain my thoughts that the picture was being compromised or not true HD... FIOS may be the answer, but I like Directv's options better. Thanks for the feedback.
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post #245 of 249
4/7/12 at 9:17pm
Saw a friends Directv at 7:00 p.m. tonight...an hour before prime time. Entertainment Tonight (NBC), Wheel of Fortune (CBS) and Family Guy (FOX) were not in HD. All SD signals... CBS looked terrible because it was being stretched. I wonder if this is because it wasn't prime time, but it is clear, the local stations are not always passing on an HD signal...I'm still hoping they do in prime time, but waiting for the proof before I pull the trigger on DTV>.
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post #246 of 249
4/8/12 at 12:13pm
Uh, why don't you go back to your friends place DURING PT & see for yourself...
Also, you DID verify that "your friend" IS actually paying (or has it FREE) for HD service on his DirecTV account? In your market, DirecTV ONLY installs HD receivers...even for SD ONLY subs (because it's an all MPEG4 locals market) so just possessing HD receivers is NOT enough to get HD service.

If you do NOT have HD Access on your DirecTV account, the receivers are all locked down to 480I/P on EVERYTHING...including your HD-only local channels. You can easily look at the front of his receivers & verify they ARE on 720P or 1080I output; if they are locked down to 480, you will be unable to change those settings.

BTW, you can take this all to the bank - our market here is an MPEG4 only locals market as well...

Also a (sort of) unrelated question...have you also considered DISH network? (instead of DTV)
They too have your "big 4" local networks in HD as well. Depending on your (HD) programming tastes...you might find DISH to be more to your liking over DTV. (although if you ARE really into sports, DTV IS the way to go...)

FWIW, I just upgraded all my existing DISH Network stuff to HD, & am in the process of ditching DTV for good! The dead slow-ass HD-GUI interface on both my HD-DVR's (& the fact that DTV would NOT lift a finger to replace them) was the final straw for me. Plus the fact that they are in dead LAST place for having basic HD channels after all these years, such as HLN, TCM, E!, etc. - pretty sad that our local Comcast system has had ALL of these (missing) HD channels & more, for over a year now!
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post #247 of 249
4/8/12 at 10:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dishrich View Post

Uh, why don't you go back to your friends place DURING PT & see for yourself...
Also, you DID verify that "your friend" IS actually paying (or has it FREE) for HD service on his DirecTV account? In your market, DirecTV ONLY installs HD receivers...even for SD ONLY subs (because it's an all MPEG4 locals market) so just possessing HD receivers is NOT enough to get HD service.

If you do NOT have HD Access on your DirecTV account, the receivers are all locked down to 480I/P on EVERYTHING...including your HD-only local channels. You can easily look at the front of his receivers & verify they ARE on 720P or 1080I output; if they are locked down to 480, you will be unable to change those settings.

BTW, you can take this all to the bank - our market here is an MPEG4 only locals market as well...

Also a (sort of) unrelated question...have you also considered DISH network? (instead of DTV)
They too have your "big 4" local networks in HD as well. Depending on your (HD) programming tastes...you might find DISH to be more to your liking over DTV. (although if you ARE really into sports, DTV IS the way to go...)

FWIW, I just upgraded all my existing DISH Network stuff to HD, & am in the process of ditching DTV for good! The dead slow-ass HD-GUI interface on both my HD-DVR's (& the fact that DTV would NOT lift a finger to replace them) was the final straw for me. Plus the fact that they are in dead LAST place for having basic HD channels after all these years, such as HLN, TCM, E!, etc. - pretty sad that our local Comcast system has had ALL of these (missing) HD channels & more, for over a year now!

Thanks, all good points! I know...right...it's like trying to find someone with DTV here and then inconveniently inviting myself over at 8:00 p.m. during the week just isn't working out...ugh.

I am sure they have HD service and ABC appeared to look HD widescreen, not stretched or low res...but ABC was showing The 10 Commandments, which probably didn't help! Just my luck. Yep, should have looked at the front of the receiver...didn't think of that, because who knows if they really had it set up right.

I have considered DISH but the last time I checked, they didn't have FOX here in HD, but do have the other locals...still I need FOX. Don't care about sports, so that's not an issue. Love the "Hopper" and the prime time recording, but no local FOX HD? I just checked again online for FOX in HD and I think I realize now my problem...I've been going to dishtv.com and not dish.com...are these two different sites? On dish.com I see it says FOX in HD... Crazy. Okay, we may be on to something here! Thanks for the feedback! Now, I have to see if some of the ridiculous channels my wife watches are on Dish as well. Any other feedback on Dish vs. Directv, let me know. Thanks!

Or, if anyone has Dish in Palm Springs and gets locals in HD, please report here.
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post #248 of 249
4/9/12 at 9:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hdbrew View Post

Thanks, all good points! I know...right...it's like trying to find someone with DTV here and then inconveniently inviting myself over at 8:00 p.m. during the week just isn't working out...ugh.

I'm not sure if they still have it, but the Palm Desert Best Buy had a DirecTV demo running in the store trying to sell subs. You might go over there at 8PM and lurk.
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post #249 of 249
7/17/12 at 9:28pm
Well, I pulled the trigger and got Directv in Palm Springs today. The good news, all of the major networks prime time programming thus far is coming in in HD...except KESQ ABC is NOT an HD picture...it is 480p at best, when the prime time HD shows should be coming in at 720p. When you switch all of the format settings on the Directv box from 480i through 1080i, the picture quality does not change. I can't imagine why they're feeding such a poor quality image when all of the other networks look great. I will do my pushing and research now, but unfortunately, KESQ / Directv is not broadcasting anything close to an HD picture in Palm Springs, which is what Directv advertises. Odd...and what I was worried about...
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