Wow, I assumed we were already covered. Imagine my surprise last night when I started surfing around.

OK, so back in the spring of '07 they said 70% of the nation was covered. When is it our turn?

Ah they just launched a satellite on March 19th and will supposedly be adding many more local HD areas very soon.

Don't count on that helping our area any time soon. They've said that same line to me many times in the past 2 years.

You're better off with an over the air antenna. You'll get more HD network channels as well as the other subchannels (which wouldn't be carried through HD locals anyway)

Right now, I think there are 14 that I'm able to pick up with my antenna

Just pick one up at Best Buy?

And I really, really think we'll have our locals by the end of summer unless that satellite falls out of orbit or something. It's adding 1500 more local HD channels and 50 more national HD channels.

[This message has been edited by PJYoung (edited 5/12/2008 12:25p).]

I actually got mine FROM directv and they hooked everything up at the same time. I had enough cabling in my house to where running new coax was not an issue. Now, here's the tricky part...

Until we get the HD locals from Directv, you need to make sure you have the right receiver especially if you're looking for an HD-DVR unit. There are 2 currently available, the HR20 and the HR21. The HR20 has the capability for the coax for the antenna..the HR21 does not. Meaning that if you plan on watching anything through an antenna, let alone record it.. the HR 20 is your bet..not the 21.

***Mid typing update***
The HR21 has a unit that includes a separate add-on unit that can handle the antenna in category. Through the directv website, its available for $50

I just planned to hook it up directly to the tv.

I had one of those also.. a cheapo one from best buy that you can plug in to boost the power a bit. If its an indoor antenna, there wont be much you can do with it. You're going to have to manually adjust the ears or the loop thing because the stations are not all pointed in the same direction.

Mine is integrated with my dish, and pole mounted outside. I like having the channels integrated into the guide, because I dont have to change the video source on my tv everytime I want to watch something in HD.

Ahhhhh. Very nice. Thanks for explaining.

I don't get! What?

October.

quote:

---

Upcoming HD Local Market LaunchesAugust: Augusta, GA.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Lincoln-Hastings, Neb.; Rochester, N.Y.

September: Baton Rouge, La.; Burlington Vt.-Plattsburgh, N.Y.; Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, Ill.; Mobile AL-Pensacola, Fla.; Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C.; Richmond-Petersburg, Va. ; South Bend-Elkhart, Ind.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Youngstown, Ohio

October: Boise, Idaho; Charleston, S.C.; Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colo.; Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo.; Davenport, Iowa-Rock Island, Ill., Moline, Ill.; Dayton, Ohio; Evansville, Ind.; Fort Smith, Ark.; Greenville-New Bern-Washington, N.C.; Harlingen-Brownsville, Texas; Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.; Macon, Ga.; Norfolk-Newport News, Va.; Savannah, Ga.; Springfield-Holyoke, Mass.

November: Des Moines-Ames, Iowa; El Paso, Texas; Fort Wayne, Ind.; La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wis.; Peoria-Bloomington, Ill.; Rockford, Ill.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Traverse City-Cadillac

December: Bangor, Maine; Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas; Butte-Bozeman, Mont.; Harrisonburg, Va.; Tallahassee, Fla.

---

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/channelChart2.jsp?assetId=1100086

Being old and without a clue, maybe some informed person could answer this question about DirecTV.

I have a Hughes DVR and an older TV that is not digital. Everything works fine. I have a TV antenna in the attic that I can use when I lose service due to bad weather. I understand that I will be fine when the switchover comes next year to digital because the DVR has a built in converter. Will I be OK on those occasions that I lose service after the switch over or will I need one of those digital converters for the attic antenna between the antenna and the DVR?

I know, I know, I need to get a cool new digital/HD TV but I thought I'd wait for a while.

[This message has been edited by oldvalleyrat (edited 8/9/2008 9:23a).]

[This message has been edited by oldvalleyrat (edited 8/9/2008 9:24a).]

get in your requests for east/west coast local HDs before we get it officially. I just got east coast FOX HD that will be a blast during football season!

How did you do that exactly? (I'm lazy)

keep calling directv and requesting things

If you currently receive programming from cable or satellite..and have a set top box.. you'll be fine. If you run your antenna through the same box.. you'll still get the programming as well. If you don't, you will not be able to watch anything from the antenna at all.

For the Fox network feeds, all you have to do is request them from DirecTv. They have a part of their website that lets you enter your address and zipcode to see if you're eligible for distant networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX). In our area, you're automatically eligible for the east coast (NY Feed) of Fox for $1.50/month. I use that because you can only pick up local HD Fox with an antenna on 48-3..and then that's just video.. there is no surround sound audio during any programming.

MB.....WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN????

"If she smokes, she pokes..."

Mucho work! I had some downtime and thought I was gonna get some action, but she blew me off because she doesn't pay for texags and I do..so I went to Def Leppard alone.. sad times!

You?

That's not good! She wasnt worth it anyway.

Not much here, just work and playing in h-town, which ROCKS btw...

"If she smokes, she pokes..."

Thanks for the T&P.. I had to go alone with 3 of my bestest friends in clear heels, they were sure appriciative of my situation.

I was just up there a few weeks ago. Astros/Cubs.. private box! That's how I roll..

supporting single moms again MB? niiccceee.

$1 at a time

I was at that series too...not in a box. I will also be at sunday's biggio number retirement game....

glad to see your modesty has grown...

"If she smokes, she pokes..."

Dick in a box?

"If she smokes, she pokes..."

STOP HIJACKING THE THREAD!!!

5 down 11 to go

quote:

---

October: Boise, Idaho; Charleston, S.C.; Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colo.; Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo.; Davenport, Iowa-Rock Island, Ill., Moline, Ill.; Dayton, Ohio; Evansville, Ind.; Fort Smith, Ark.; Greenville-New Bern-Washington, N.C.; Harlingen-Brownsville, Texas; Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.; Macon, Ga.; Norfolk-Newport News, Va.; Savannah, Ga.; Springfield-Holyoke, Mass.

---

7 down 9 to go.

quote:

---

October: Boise, Idaho; Charleston, S.C.; Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colo.; Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo.; Davenport, Iowa-Rock Island, Ill., Moline, Ill.; Dayton, Ohio; Evansville, Ind.; Fort Smith, Ark.; Greenville-New Bern-Washington, N.C.; Harlingen-Brownsville, Texas; Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.; Macon, Ga.; Norfolk-Newport News, Va.; Savannah, Ga.; Springfield-Holyoke, Mass.

---

[This message has been edited by PJYoung (edited 10/8/2008 11:40p).]

Where are you getting the updates? I can't wait to have the locals in HD for all the different sporting events and nice looking weather ladies.

www.directv.com > press releases

And yes, Belen in HD will be something to behold.

I saw that November was the target date for our market.. we'll see, but that's already very soon.

I've been happy with my integrated DirecTv dish with antenna to pick up local HD for the past 2 or so years now.

Where'd you see November? Their press release says October.

http://directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=3620002

I saw this a few days ago from one of the websites that has satellite tv news/info http://www.dbstalk.com/ That site has a wealth of information and some inside info from their board members.

Ah. I've been watching their rollouts and they haven't been late yet. In fact, at least one market was early. I would expect us to have HD by the 29th at the latest. Or else.

10 down 6 to go. They've only done 3 the past 2 weeks. November might be correct after all.

quote:

---

October: Boise, Idaho; Charleston, S.C.; Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colo.; Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo.; Davenport, Iowa-Rock Island, Ill., Moline, Ill.; Dayton, Ohio; Evansville, Ind.; Fort Smith, Ark.; Greenville-New Bern-Washington, N.C.; Harlingen-Brownsville, Texas; Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.; Macon, Ga.; Norfolk-Newport News, Va.; Savannah, Ga.; Springfield-Holyoke, Mass.

---

I had to reset my receivers on the 21st for software updates. I thought for sure they had made the change.

Dammit!!!