Directv HD: Any good? - Blu-ray Forum

Maxell · 01-21-2008, 08:26 PM

I might get Directv next month with an HD receiver. How is the video quality? And what are some good things that have or are showing on their hd channels? I'm eager to see some Discovery channel HD among others.

BTW, I currently only have basic cable (free with my apt) and Over The Air HD channels (ABC, FOX, etc), as well as blu-ray of course!

misterzadir · 01-21-2008, 08:28 PM

the bit rate for both direct TV and dish are pretty terrible. But especially Direct TV. I don't have the link to that site anymore that compared bit rates but i THINK direct tv was like 10.... whereas hd-dvd is 28 and blu-ray is 40.

T-Town Oil · 01-21-2008, 08:30 PM

i love it....as far as the bitrate is i dont know, dont care. the picture is outstanding and has many many channels that are HD. looks 10 times better than standard def direct. i say go for it

Hassoon · 01-21-2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misterzadir

the bit rate for both direct TV and dish are pretty terrible. But especially Direct TV. I don't have the link to that site anymore that compared bit rates but i THINK direct tv was like 10.... whereas hd-dvd is 28 and blu-ray is 40.

Which provider in your opinion has the best bit-rate, satellite (Dish/DirecTV) or cable (Time Warner/Comcast)?

Sling · 01-21-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxell

I might get Directv next month with an HD receiver. How is the video quality? And what are some good things that have or are showing on their hd channels? I'm eager to see some Discovery channel HD among others.

DTV HD mpeg4 is pretty good with outstanding HD channel line up.
Ask for the Slimline dish & HR20 700 series receiver.You will get better function and faster firmware updates when available.

I Bleed Blu · 01-21-2008, 08:34 PM

You better double check everything their salespeople tell you regarding channels they say you will get like local's in HD and the national feeds in HD; I was flat out lied to and told I would be able to get both and could not get either. Needless to say I canceled immediately after I realized the guy lied to me and switched back to my basic cable w/ HD which is just about as good for a lot less. There still trying to get $300 out of me for canceling. Just be cautious.

misterzadir · 01-21-2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hassoon

Which provider in your opinion has the best bit-rate, satellite (Dish/DirecTV) or cable (Time Warner/Comcast)?

From the information that I saw, HD from digital cable was acually a little better (bit rate wise) than both direct & dish. They're all good enough though, I was just being picky with the fine details. It's all good. (although I haven't seen apple's HD downloads yet -- their bit rate is around 4, 10x's lower than blu)

MozartMan · 01-21-2008, 08:38 PM

HD from satellite sucks because it is HD-Lite.

DirecTV - 1280×1080
Dish - 1440-1080.

I am glad I havd HD from Comcast.

Here is a good article:

Here’s what fake HD video looks like

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=962

Alan Gordon · 01-21-2008, 08:39 PM

DirecTV's newest HD channels (being broadcast in MPEG4) look great, but some of the older channels still being broadcast in MPEG2 can look pretty crappy at times. The good news is that they too will be converted to MPEG4 later this year.

Please note that some channels like SpikeTV-HD and Speed-HD carry very little HD programming at this time, but will most show more in the future.

BravoHD has (to my knowledge) only aired one weekend of HD programming, and TBS-HD sucks!

The moral of this story, overall, I'm very happy with it, but even good PQ won't matter if the channel is crappy!!

~Alan

MozartMan · 01-21-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hassoon

Which provider in your opinion has the best bit-rate, satellite (Dish/DirecTV) or cable (Time Warner/Comcast)?

Cable.

See link in my previous post.

Evan702 · 01-21-2008, 08:40 PM

While it's no substitute for a BD, I find the quality of DirecTV's HD offering to be pretty nice especially now that they're broadcasting them in MPEG-4. I believe my favorite HD channels are Sci-Fi HD & the Big Ten Network HD (the football games look great!).

Spankey · 01-21-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

DirecTV - 1280×1080
Dish - 1440-1080.

Directv is now 1920x1080 on all MPEG4 channels. HD Lite is no longer an issue on Directv. The vast majority of HD channels on D* are MPEG4. The PQ is outstanding.

Read the article you linked to..

Quote:

The following is a sample from AVSForum user Xylon who digitally ripped some images from DIRECTV and Dish Networks satellite service 1.5 years ago.

T-Town Oil · 01-21-2008, 08:42 PM

the MHD channel looks absolutely amazing. i love watching the great concerts and what nots that they have

Alan Gordon · 01-21-2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spankey

Directv is now 1920x1080 on all MPEG4 channels. HD Lite is no longer an issue on Directv. The vast majority of HD channels on D* are MPEG4. The PQ is outstanding.

While I don't believe that we know for a fact that the DirecTV is now sending 1920x1080 on all (1080i) MPEG4 channels, most people critical of PQ have been happy with the new status of PQ on DirecTV.

Plus, last I heard, Dish Network downrezzes some of their 1080i channels to 720p. If they went back up on all their 1080i channels, someone correct me!

~Alan

Sling · 01-21-2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spankey

Directv is now 1920x1080 on all MPEG4 channels. HD Lite is no longer an issue on Directv. The vast majority of HD channels on D* are MPEG4. The PQ is outstanding.

Read the article you linked to..

That is correct but they still have a few still on mpeg2 that should carry over to mpeg4 in a few months

chasswen · 01-21-2008, 08:44 PM

dtv rocks and much cheaper then comcrap in this area anyways.
now if fios is around in your area i would do that in a heartbeat.

Spankey · 01-21-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sling

That is correct but they still have a few still on mpeg2 that should carry over to mpeg4 in a few months

How many? 3 out of 70+? HDNet and HDNet movies have looked spectacular lately.

Sling · 01-21-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasswen

dtv rocks and much cheaper then comcrap in this area anyways.

I agree.
Ive been installing for them about 11 years now and they have came a long way in a short time.

Phane · 01-21-2008, 08:47 PM

Not all cable providers are equal, either. My parents have Time Warner and their HD is crappy. It had more artifacts than the smithsonian even when displaying a fixed camera view of a beach with a bunch of birds standing around (little or no movement). It looked like something being streamed off of Youtube only at a higher resolution. So I'd avoid Time Warner, if you have the option.

Charter (my cable provider) has pretty good picture quality, on the other hand. I've heard Comcast is good, too, but I have not seen it with my own eyes.

Alan Gordon · 01-21-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MozartMan

Cable.

Also, for those not aware, some cable systems are of lesser quality than satellite.

It really depends on where you live and what your choices are.

~Alan

01-21-2008, 08:26 PM	#1
Maxell Expert Member Member since:Aug 2007	Directv HD: Any good? I might get Directv next month with an HD receiver. How is the video quality? And what are some good things that have or are showing on their hd channels? I'm eager to see some Discovery channel HD among others. BTW, I currently only have basic cable (free with my apt) and Over The Air HD channels (ABC, FOX, etc), as well as blu-ray of course! Last edited by Maxell; 01-21-2008 at 08:38 PM.

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01-21-2008, 08:28 PM	#2
misterzadir Member Member since:Jan 2008	the bit rate for both direct TV and dish are pretty terrible. But especially Direct TV. I don't have the link to that site anymore that compared bit rates but i THINK direct tv was like 10.... whereas hd-dvd is 28 and blu-ray is 40.

01-21-2008, 08:30 PM	#3
T-Town Oil Expert Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Tulsa, Oklahoma Home Theater Gallery:20 Blu-ray collection:42 Blu-ray reviews:3	i love it....as far as the bitrate is i dont know, dont care. the picture is outstanding and has many many channels that are HD. looks 10 times better than standard def direct. i say go for it

01-21-2008, 08:34 PM	#6
I Bleed Blu Senior Member Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Lexington, KY Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:86 Trading Score:23	You better double check everything their salespeople tell you regarding channels they say you will get like local's in HD and the national feeds in HD; I was flat out lied to and told I would be able to get both and could not get either. Needless to say I canceled immediately after I realized the guy lied to me and switched back to my basic cable w/ HD which is just about as good for a lot less. There still trying to get $300 out of me for canceling. Just be cautious.

01-21-2008, 08:38 PM	#8
MozartMan Active Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:HockeyTown	HD from satellite sucks because it is HD-Lite. DirecTV - 1280×1080 Dish - 1440-1080. I am glad I havd HD from Comcast. Here is a good article: Here’s what fake HD video looks like http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=962

01-21-2008, 08:39 PM	#9
Alan Gordon Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Dawson, GA 4K collection:868 Blu-ray collection:2456 DVD collection:437 MA collection:1874 Digital collection:2065 iTunes collection:4103 Prime collection:1896 Trading Score:44	DirecTV's newest HD channels (being broadcast in MPEG4) look great, but some of the older channels still being broadcast in MPEG2 can look pretty crappy at times. The good news is that they too will be converted to MPEG4 later this year. Please note that some channels like SpikeTV-HD and Speed-HD carry very little HD programming at this time, but will most show more in the future. BravoHD has (to my knowledge) only aired one weekend of HD programming, and TBS-HD sucks! The moral of this story, overall, I'm very happy with it, but even good PQ won't matter if the channel is crappy!! ~Alan

01-21-2008, 08:40 PM	#11
Evan702 Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Las Vegas, NV Blu-ray collection:35	While it's no substitute for a BD, I find the quality of DirecTV's HD offering to be pretty nice especially now that they're broadcasting them in MPEG-4. I believe my favorite HD channels are Sci-Fi HD & the Big Ten Network HD (the football games look great!).

01-21-2008, 08:42 PM	#13
T-Town Oil Expert Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Tulsa, Oklahoma Home Theater Gallery:20 Blu-ray collection:42 Blu-ray reviews:3	the MHD channel looks absolutely amazing. i love watching the great concerts and what nots that they have

01-21-2008, 08:44 PM	#16
chasswen Active Member Member since:Jun 2007 Blu-ray collection:275 Blu-ray reviews:2	dtv rocks and much cheaper then comcrap in this area anyways. now if fios is around in your area i would do that in a heartbeat.

01-21-2008, 08:47 PM	#19
Phane Active Member Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Rochester, MN	Not all cable providers are equal, either. My parents have Time Warner and their HD is crappy. It had more artifacts than the smithsonian even when displaying a fixed camera view of a beach with a bunch of birds standing around (little or no movement). It looked like something being streamed off of Youtube only at a higher resolution. So I'd avoid Time Warner, if you have the option. Charter (my cable provider) has pretty good picture quality, on the other hand. I've heard Comcast is good, too, but I have not seen it with my own eyes.

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