Clarification On DirecTV® HD Story And HDMI
Dear Gary:
I'd like to clarify the information you've provided in the 2nd to last paragraph in the May issue (#108) on page 22 and also callers to DIRECTV® are receiving. Your article indicates Los Angeles doesn’t receive local HD from DIRECTV in Los Angeles. Local HD feeds of CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX are available with receivers dating back to the famous RCA DTC-100 up to the still current HR10-250 TiVo. These appear on channels 81, 83, 87, and 89, respectively. These are not MPEG-4 receivers. We don’t yet need the 5 LNB dish or the H20 receiver. The Web version of “The Observer” is correct, but doesn't mention that the old receivers still work with the venerable triple LNB dish.
To receive the new “locals on locals” where, for example, KCBS-HD appears on channel 2 rather than 81, you do need the 5LNB dish and the MPEG-4 H20 receiver. DIRECTV still advises our clients they can ONLY get HD in Los Angeles with the H20 and 5LNB dish. We’ve been setting up DIRECTV HD for our clients for several years.
Regarding HDMI: Denon recently held a great seminar in Los Angeles for dealers and carefully explained the “repeater” concept of HDMI. It appears the manufacturers of some cable boxes and satellite boxes have not included repeater codes. The question is, “are they likely to?” These providers seem to assume most of their customers have a set top box sitting next to their TV with no AV receiver. Some advise “don’t use the HDMI connection” when one calls for support.
While we are not a Monster® dealer, I commend them for trying to start a certification program. The task will be to get boxes, made as inexpensively as possible, to satisfy our more sophisticated market as well as the masses. As custom installers, we do have a choice in brands of TV’s, receivers, preamps, and DVD players we sell. What we can’t always control is the electronics for satellite and cable reception.
Dave Hirsch, President, Horizon Install Group, Inc., Mission Hills, California