DISH And DirecTV Versus C-Band
Dear Gary:
Much has been written about the two satellite providers, but not one word have I read about the old C-Band providers. Yes, the analog days are gone forever, but the dish owners can buy a box provided by Uniden that will provide you with services similar to DISH Network and DirecTV (depending on the package). They claim that with the big dish, you’re getting an uncompressed feed directly from the networks. If this be the case, why hasn’t Widescreen Review looked into this? I also subscribe to Home Theater, while keeping an eye on Sound & Vision’s Web site. Neither magazine has had one article about this. Sure would like to hear something because my neighbor is under the impression he can’t do a thing other than dismantle that wonderful old C-Band dish of his.
Carl, crk123@q.com
Contributing Editor Charles Wood Comments:
editorgary@widescreenreview.com
Regarding C band dishes, the available services have been diminishing, and at this point they number far less than those on DirecTV or DISH. Although their analog/Digicipher feeds are uncompressed, they are standard-definition NTSC. The number of HD services on C and KU band are also far smaller in number than on DirecTV or DISH. In theory, they should look slightly superior, but in practice they essentially look no better than the MPEG 4 HD services on DirecTV or DISH.
As for the number of HD channels available from satellite versus cable, if you eliminate the movie services from the count on cable and satellite, the number of channels is fairly close. All of the important HD programming that provides the best quality (live HD video or HD video recorded), such as the major networks, Discovery channels, National Geographic, ESPN, etc., are available on cable and satellite. As for the comment that film doesn’t live up to HD standards, that's really not a logical comment. HD film transfers look far better than standard-definition film on DVD. Film has a different look, that’s all, but everyone I know prefers HD film transfers versus SD. So, yes, film channels do count in the mix, in my opinion.
And yes, the FCC did overturn homeowner association restrictions on small dishes.
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