quakes: 6 matches (4 home, 2 away) rapids: 7 (7 h, 0 a) wizards: 10 (3 h, 7 a) united: 5 (0 h, 5 a) crew: 12 (5 h, 7 a) burn: 3 (2 h, 1 a) revs: 2 (0 h, 2 a) galaxy: 5 (3 h, 2 a) metros: 1 (0 h, 1 a) fire: 5 (4 h, 1 a)
Wow, flyover country wins big! Guess HDNet's just not interested in driving from Dallas to DC, Jersey, or Foxboro. There must be a team based on the west coast, I think it's a similar distance to SJ as it would be to Boston.
Please lets everyone send Time Warner Digital Cable a letter to make HDnet part of their HD lineup. You can go to HDnet web site and sign in and put your cable company,s name and they will send the letter for you. Thanks.
So, for the sake of argument, let's say that someone wanted to start watching HDNet by, oh I don't know, April 12. What would one need to buy in order to make that happen? My initial research shows the following: HDNet comes in on DirecTV on channel 199. You need a multi-satellite dish to get it -- HDNet is not on the main satellite which most DirecTV channels are on. So you get a 3-LNB dish or you get multiple single-LNB dishes and point them correctly. You need an HDTV-capable DirecTV receiver, or an HDTV set with a built-in DirecTV receiver. An HDTV-capable DirecTV receiver costs from $500-1000. There is a list here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=179095 Do you need an HDTV-specific display? Like if you just have a normal TV, can you hook up the HDTV-capable DirecTV receiver and have it display in widescreen mode or something? Because the displays are where you can start spending the real bucks. I know the picture won't be as good. I can probably swing the HDTV receiver and the new triple-LNB dish but don't know if I can drop several K on a new TV in the next two weeks. Anyone with HDTV experience who can help out? Also, which forum would be a better place to discuss this: TV/Books/Music is the only one which is kind of appropriate, but that's more about TV shows than technical TV hardware.
This forum is OK. We've had plenty of threads discussing the technical requirements and merits of various systems.
The other thing I'm interested in -> Does DirecTV have a receiver that allows for PPV updates via the internet instead of the phone line? I can save >$300/year if I get rid of my phone, which basically exists at this point so that my DirecTV receiver can get approval to enable the MLS Shootout PPV games. I can justify upgrading to an HD receiver - especially if I can turn around lose the phone. Does anyone know if either DirecTV or DISH offer an internet based receiver?
I haven't seen one. The Tivo Community guys are all into hacking the Tivo units (including the DirecTV/TiVo units) and putting network cards in, enabling web access, stuff like that since a TiVo is basically a PC running Linux -- but the DirecTV part of the DirecTV/TiVo units still need to make that damn phone call. I don't think they have found a hack for that yet. And there is certainly no off-the-shelf receiver which can do this, at least not today. Maybe things are different in the non-TiVo world but I doubt it.
HDNet Requirements OK, sorry if I'm repeating something that has been covered previously ... anyway of getting HDNet with digital cable? Or do I need some satellitely type thing? Thanks.
Re: HDNet Requirements According to www.hd.net, HDNet is currently available on the following systems: * DirecTV (channel 199) * Charter Communications in some parts of Dallas/Ft Worth That is all. It is coming to another Charter Communications cable subsidiary in the Los Angeles area but no timeframe has been given. As Brrca Fan mentioned, you can go to www.hd.net and click on a link to fill out forms which will be sent to your local cable company to ask them to carry HDNet, but it is unlikely that it will help you in time for this season. If your cable company does offer HDNet, they will need to offer it through a special HD service with a different cable box than the regular digital cable box. But the good news is that you don't need to buy your own set-top box, just a TV that can display HDTV signals. Also, the local cable companies will most likely offer any local stations that broadcast in HDTV. I'm still coming up to speed on this so my information may not be accurate. It's the internet, there is a ton of information out there but you just gotta sort through it...
I've got the DISH 6000 receiver, which is DISH's HD receiver, hooked to my 27" SD TV through the S-Video input. I get my local digital channels over the air through the antenna in the attic. I don't get to see stuff in HD, but what I do get doesn't suck. Whenever I'm watching an HD program on it, the picture quality is definitely better than watching an SD program (likely due to the fact that any compression artifacts at the high resolution are lost when the receiver downconverts the picture to SD) and it displays the HD program in a letterbox. Even on a SD screen, the difference in picture quality is quite remarkable, which should tell you how much detail you lose to MPEG compression on satellite or digital cable systems. So if you're looking to get into HD on the cheap, I'd definitely recommend this as the way to go.
I only have the oval dish w/ 2 LNB, not 3, and I get HDNet. I think you only need the 3LNB if you want Showtime HD, but not positive. When I got my oval dish (over a year ago) it was free from BlockBuster as part of special, w/ one-year committment. (free install too). I told them I needed the spanish package and I got the dish free. I suppose there may be other specials around...
Dustin, I know it's not directed at me, but please change your tag! Anyway, does DISH have a receiver that doesn't require a phone connection for PPV (read MLS Shootout) approval? Right now that's the hidden cost of the MLS Shootout for me. If I can ditch my $28/mo phone line, and just plug my receiver into my DHCP enabled router, I'll be able to quickly justify the expense of upgrading. Andy
On my old DISH setup, I ordered the Shootout over the phone and never ever plugged in my phone line to the receiver, and I received it no problem. But I haven't done it for a few years now that I have digital cable, so things may have changed.
No, they don't. But if you want to reduce your phone costs, check to see if your local phone company offers metered service. It costs several bucks less per month than regular service, but only gives you a limited number of free phone calls, with each additional call costing some token amount.
Andy, when I first got the DISH Network the installer told me I really didn't need to hook up a phone line. I am 100% sure that I was able to order the Shootout package via the Internet web site. I'm pretty sure (but not completely positive) that I was able to watch my first Shootout game last season without ever plugging in the phone line. I am completely sure that after I moved I was still able to see Shootout games without plugging the receiver into a phone line in my new house. And, when I go to my purchase history display in the dish setup, it shows that I have purchased the MLS Package--it knew that without me ever plugging the receiver into a phone line. So, all that being said, I think there is a very good chance that you do not need your receiver plugged into a phone line (or into the internet, for that matter) in order to get the Shootout package on the DISH Network.
Andy -- keep in mind that DISH does not yet offer HDNet. So you can get a DISH receiver, drop DirecTV and your local phone line, and upgrade to HDTV, and you might not be able to watch MLS in HDTV this year. Dustin has been keeping up to date on when DISH will add HDNet to its lineup, I saw a post from him somewhere.
Is there anyone on here who will be watching the MLS game on HDNET on a HD TV? I have never seen soccer on HD and I dieing for someone to give a review. Soccer in a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio just sounds #%$@ing perfect. BY the way, the official announcement is up on mlsnet now. Its a 3 year deal! http://www.mlsnet.com/ Andy
I'm still, uh, "researching". OK, so I've narrowed down the model of set-top box I want. The Samsung SIR-TS160, retails for about $600. Unfortunately, the electronics store right next door to where I work doesn't carry them, it only has the more expensive and not more functional Sony SAT-HD200 (retails for $700-800). So that means I may need to go deal with the trolls at Circuit City across the street. (No, I don't want your ************ing extended warranty! Leave me alone!) As for the dish, you need either the 18x24 dual-LNB oval dish, or the 18x20 triple-LNB oval dish. The 18x20 dish goes for about $70 on eBay. The electronics store next door had the 18x24 dish for $150 -- again, more money for less functionality. So I'm going to be placing some eBay bids this weekend. Once the dish arrives, I will track down the set-top box and should be up and running by April 12. That leaves the final piece, the TV. I haven't decided if I'm going to get a new one by April 12 -- you can run HDTV to a regular TV and the signal will be downconverted -- not as good as a real HDTV but still... Unfortunately, April 12 is the only game I really need to see in HD -- the other five Quakes appearances are four at home and one in LA, and I will be at all five. So I expect that with another trip to the electronics store, I'll be sold on a 16x9 HDTV somewhere in the neighborhood of $2K, and that will be that.
ok, hopefully somebody can help me out here.... coincidentally enough, i bought direct tv equipment, including an hdtv receiver, last weekend. its scheduled to be installed tomorrow. i got direct tv to finally be able to get the mls package since my cable co sucks and i could never get it from them. with the announcements this week that mls games will be on FSW and HDNET, do I really need the shootout package? as long as everything is hooked up right and i order the sports package from direct tv (i.e. to get FSW), i should get 3 games on most weekends: ESPN2, FSW, and HDNET now i've already dropped all this coin, so what's another $50....maybe its just the curiosity....anyone have some insight?
If you don't buy the Shootout package, any games that are not on the national broadcasts (espn2/abc, fsw, HDNet) will be blacked out, even if you have the sports pack. Example, the first full weekend has LA @ Dallas on espn2, SJ @ Colorado on HDNet, and DC @ KC on FSW. You get those games with or without the shootout package. But, the other games (Cbus @ Metro, NE @ Chicago) may be on the regional sports channels, they will be blacked out if you don't buy the shootout package, even if you get the regional sports channels in the sports pack. So if 3 games/week is enough for you then don't worry about it. I like to see them all.
what dish do you have? For ...HDTV "DIRECTV® programming, you'll need an HDTV set with a built-in DIRECTV® Receiver or a standalone DIRECTV High-Definition Receiver. Also required is an 18"x24" DIRECTV Multi-Satellite dish antenna with a Sat-C kit or an 18"x20" DIRECTV Multi-Satellite dish antenna (Triple-LNB). Use our installation guide for helpful instructions on installing or upgrading your satellite dish.
Yes, but the KEY here is (pay close attention here) THREE LNB's on the oval dish. DirecTV is using a THIRD satellite (somebody else can tell you which one, but I think it's at 101 degrees - the others are at 110 and 119) It's the THIRD bird that has the HD signal. Now: if you have the 18X24 dish already DON'T LET THE BASTARDS TELL YOU THAT YOU NEED A NEW DISH. All of the oval dishes I've ever seen had an extra slot for another lnb (low noise block - you need one per sat) ALSO: and this is critical: check the wire all the way from your dish to your receiver. IT MUST BE RG6. (it will say in white letters every couple of feet) A lot of installations were done, and are STILL done, with RG59 cable. It will work, but it won't give you a good digital signal. It's not shielded well enough. Above all (I learned all this the hard way) if you have a professional install it (and DirecTV recommends that you do if you're putting in HD) ASK, DEMAND AND INSIST that they tell you of other HD installs that they've done. We had a guy from a big company here, their "senior installer", who swore he knew all about hooking up HD. He knew less than I did, didn't have a clue about the component video plugs, couldn't make it work and finally started banging on the side of my new $500 receiver, then sniffed it, told me it "smelled bad" and I needed to send it back. Ten minutes after I threw him out of hte house, I had followed the instruction manual and had it working. The point being: MOST OF THESE GUYS HAVE NEVER DONE AN HD INSTALL AND DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND IT. And they'll lie like hell and swear they do. But in the end: man, is it ever cool.