okay, I have found some really good deals on HDTV's, but I don't want to pay upwards of $500 for direcTV to come out to my house to put in the new receiver and dish. Will I still be able to watch HDTV on my HDTV? It has a built in tuner. I would use it for probably Discovery HD programming, and NFL in HD.
Thanks in advance!
2007-11-12 10:02:03 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Consumer Electronics ➔ TVs
I pretty sure the quality will not be the same as having an actual Hd DirecTV Box, but it will be better than having a non HD T.V.
2007-11-12 10:06:30 · answer #1 · answered by ASL 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
if you're asking about DirecTV HD content, then NO. You need a DirecTV HD receiver in order to decode the programming. And the correct dish.
In fact, the only receivers capable of pulling the information from the correct satellite are H20, HR20, H21 and HR21 models of receivers and even THEY need help. DirecTV just recently changed the way their HD content is broadcast (MPEG-4 instead of MPEG2), but the receivers still need a special connection (compatible with only the listed models) in order to properly receive and decode the information.
Your information on the cost is wrong, too. If you want just a regular HD receiver it's only $99 for the receiver plus $19.95 delivery and handling. A HD-DVR is $399+$19.95. Those are leased prices (owing the receivers costs much more). Those prices include standard professional installation and a dish upgraded if necessary.
2007-11-13 00:08:16 · answer #2 · answered by Laura 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Short answer, NO.
Long answer, HDTVs typically have 3 tuners
NTSC - the current analog format
ATSC - over the air digital TV including HD variants
QAM - the encoding used by digital cable providers
If you're using satellite TV exclusively, you don't even need a tuner in your TV -- the set-top box does all the decoding and outputs a video signal to your TV. But if you don't get the HD package from DirecTV, you'll only have NTSC-quality video.
You could get an external antenna, but that would only get you broadcast (over-the-air) channels, not Discovery and other non-broadcast providers. So unless your NFL game is on NBC/CBS/ABC/FOX, you'd be out of luck.
2007-11-12 12:50:39 · answer #3 · answered by link 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
As far as I know, you still must have your cable company set up an HD receiver. I am sure that if you contact your cable provider they can help you with this. My husband's parents just bought an HD compatible TV, and they still had to have Direct TV come out to change the receiver and satellite. Good luck dealing with them. You have to jump through a lot of hoops!
Best of luck to you!
2007-11-12 10:06:28 · answer #4 · answered by Kelli M 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
you need a rooftop antenna for hdtv because a non hdtv directv receiver will not give you any hdtv widescreen format programming unless you upgrade
2007-11-12 10:06:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes you will. As long as you have an HDTV tuner you will receive them through the built in antenna.
You may have to switch inputs back and forth from satellite to cable(Tuner)
2007-11-12 10:05:07 · answer #6 · answered by Kristiin Knows 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Who knows ask the people your going to buy it from what do you think you pay them for? The product only?
2007-11-12 10:05:39 · answer #7 · answered by noeusuperstate 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Very much doubt it.
2007-11-12 10:04:43 · answer #8 · answered by taxed till i die,and then some. 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋