Upgrading DirecTV to HD, need new dish?

The new HD channels require a 5LNB dish and an HR20/21 DVR or H20/21 receiver. DVRs with Tivo cannot get the new channels. They are Ka band MPEG4 encoded and HR10s don't have the proper hardware.

What's with this phone message from DirecTV telling me that I need to get the new dish or I won't be able to get my HD channels anymore?

I have NFL Ticket, HBO and 9.99 HD package with a HD Tivo receiver.

Your older 3 LNB dish does not have the ability to pick up the new sats at the 99 and 103 location and the older HD receivers can not decode MPEG4. Only the AT-9 or Slimline 5 LNB dish can pick up the new sats and only the receiver models greywolf posted can tune to those sats and decode MPEG4.

are they any option that will allow me to keep my OTA antenna? I stopped by BB and opened up an HR21-700 and WTH no OTA input?

The HR20 allows for OTA support, but D* wants to get new subscribers the HR21 that doesn't have the OTA tuner. See if you can get an HR20 from D*.

What's confusing? You need a 5-LNB dish and one of the new gen receivers/dvrs. End of story. With your old equipment, you can still get the old MPEG-2 HD channels (channels 70-79) but they will be moving those next year over to MPEG-4, which will require the new dish and receiver/dvr.

so D* is offering me a free HD DVR upgrade and free Dish with no 2 year commitment but I will lose my LA HD channels 81 and 89 (CBS & FOX) but have been grandfathered in for the standard digital NYC/LA 380, 381, 388, and 389. I am really attached to the LA HD feeds Utah locals suxor.

I don't know what to do, the free upgrade offer is available til the end of the year.

Suggestions? Is there any way to get out of the 4.99 lease fee?

If you keep your same programming package you should be able to keep your LA HD feeds. And I'd double check on that "no two year commitment." I'm pretty sure all new HD DVRs come with a new two year commitment.

No, there is no way out of the 4.99 lease fee.

Even if you lose the LA HD feeds though, you're going to gain some really excellent HD channels.

I believe it's an FCC requirement that if they can offer your locals in HD, they have to pull the national feeds.

The lease fee is the same as the mirror fee, if it's your only receiver you won't pay a lease fee, if its an additional you pay the lease fee instead of the mirror fee you use to pay.

Upgraded to new receiver over a year ago H20 D* Lost NY stations (was in Boston at the time) mjones is right on cncerning when locals are offered in HD

Well since D* called me and I already had a H10-250 Tivo they said it wouldn't require a 2 year commitment and if they offer HD locals in my area which they do 2, 4, 5 and 13 I will lose the free LA feeds of CBS and FOX (waiver since I'm in an O & O market). They said it's an FCC requirement that if they can offer your locals in HD, they have to pull the national feeds.

I get to keep my old HD Tivo maybe I'll move it upstairs and use it until it ceases to receive signals.
I'm in the system for the free upgrade they left me a phone number for the free upgrade line, don't know how I qualified but the CSR spent a lot of time on the phone with me answering all of my questions. He said D* is trying to convert the existing subscribers to the new system and the free upgrade is a little nudge.

How are you surviving without them? I think it would be stupid of me to hold up the deal because of it but I use those LA HD channels to time shift my season passes on several programs so I'm not locked into the 2 programs that will be recording at the same time. I could go to my TV tuner and view the other HD programs on at the same time but I wouldn't be able to record. Well at least I'll still have the digital NYC/LA CBS and Fox stations (grandfathered).

suggestions?

The FCC just says you can't get nationals from the other side of the country. I get my SF locals in HD but also get 3 LA HD feeds. It's actually up to the networks to give you a waiver or not, and it's much more difficult than it used to be.

I still have my O&O national feeds along with my MPEG4 locals. I'm kinda surprised because others have posted they lost theirs when they got MPEG4 locals.