DirecTV Launches 21 New HD Channels

[Shane]

I expect there is more to come later today in the form of an official announcement, but below is information on the stations launched this morning. These new channels appear along-side the existing channels in my guide.

[url=http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/news/2007/09/directv_launche.php]Read the Full Article[/url]

[dwightward]

The new channels are listed in my guide but as yet there is no picture, only the message signal not found with a code 771 shown. Next to the channels that were in HD on the 70's work fine. Maybe this is a problem with my setup. Two HR20 and One HR20 DVR.

[Shane]

You must have your B-band converters installed to see the new simulcast channels. Which channel were you getting the 771 on?

- Shane

[dwightward]

I have the B band converter installed on the line. I am getting the 771 message on all of the new channels except those that are also on the 70"s channels

[akirby]

Do you have the new 5LNB dish? Are you using a diplexor to combine OTA signals with the satellite signal?

[myerardi]

I must confess I am not a techie, but I had a new HD DVR and 5 LNB dish installed about 2 months ago. The new channels are not viewable for the most part. Emailing D today for some info but something is not right. don't bother with technical questions, cause its unlikely I know the answer beyond the basics.

[docrog]

If you have the converters in place, it's likely that you have to go to the set-up menu on the receiver and have it recalibrate for the new satellite feeds, as what has probably been stored is now out of date. Although it appears to be a relatively easy procedure, perhaps you could get DirecTV to walk you through it over the phone or have a technician come to your place. I hope this helps.

[dwightward]

I have the new 5 LNB dish and I do use a diplexer to combine over the air signals with the DTV signal. Does that make a difference. I have the B band converter attached to the TV. last thing in line.

[akirby]

I have the new 5 LNB dish and I do use a diplexer to combine over the air signals with the DTV signal. Does that make a difference. I have the B band converter attached to the TV. last thing in line.

It makes all the difference in the world. The new satellite which carries the new channels occupies the same frequency as your OTA signals so combining them causes interference. Try removing the OTA input and see if that fixes it.

The B band converter takes this signal and converts it back to a higher (or lower - forget which exactly) signal before it reaches your receiver. Some claim if you put the B band converter closer to the dish and diplex in the OTA signal AFTER the B band converter that it will work. But I'd try it without OTA first to make sure that's the problem.

[danerigden]

After a quick review of the new channels that I can receive, they seem to fall into two groups which I like to call "Real HD" and "Fake HD".
The real ones include The Smithsonian (which is brilliant), CNNHD and TLCHD.
The "fake" ones include A&EHD, HISTHD and TBSHD which transmit a 4:3 signal stretched into a 16:9 signal instead of showing the 4:3 picture in HD with side bars. Even when a 16:9 version of what they are showing exists, they transmit the 4:3 cut, stretched horizontally, degrading the so called HD resolution. An HD signal of a blurred and distorted picture still results in a blurred and distorted picture on my plasma screen.