Thread: HD subchannels

I wonder how does dish creates HD subchannels to SD channels that have them. I just got upgraded to HD and I can switch between same SD and HD channels. HD channels seem to be all over 4xxx 5xxx 9xxx. Seems like lots of wasted space on satelite. Why dish still sends signals in SD if there are same HD channels box could down conver them to sd for customers with old tv

There are still SD subs so they have to send both.

The same channel at different numerical location is from mapping done by software, they are uploaded once and appear at the various locations. The bandwidth used is that of one channel.

The SD boxes do not have the ability to "receive" (not the best technical word, but used for better understanding) any of the HD channels, so Dish still has to send out the LIL's in both SD and HD. However, both Dish and Direct are working towards what you said in your post: only having to send up one HD stream of that channel so that everyone can receive it and SD subs boxes can down-convert it to SD, but that would require a complete swap-out of legacy boxes with all new ViP boxes. That would be really expensive. That isn't going to happen soon, but it is their goal for the long-term future.

However, Dish will be soon swapping out legacy SD QPSK boxes for more recent models capable of 8PSK for SD. This will allow Dish to put more SD channels per transponder (with about the same picture quality). This will free up transponders for, presumably, more HD without having to acquire more satellite slots.

Also, Dish has something called the Eastern Arc that was implemented last year. All new subs in the eastern portion of the country (with a few exceptions) must look at a separate group of satellites where all the channels, both SD and HD is in MPEG4 8PSK. Those subscribers must also have ViP boxes only, as those are the only ones today that can handle and display MPEG4 8PSK. So, the Eastern Arc is actually the more efficient system you suggested in your original post

Your suggestion is right on, but, as with any business, no matter how great the new technology and better the solution, we always have to contend with LEGACY. Hope that made sense.

Originally Posted by DishSubLA

So, the Eastern Arc is actually the more efficient system you suggested in your original post.

Aren't the SD channels with HD counterpart still uplinked?

Yes for national channels, but as locals get switched to HD on the EA the SD is dropped.

Originally Posted by BobaBird

Yes for national channels, but as locals get switched to HD on the EA the SD is dropped.

Why bother keeping the SD nationals?

There are still many many people who have SD only receivers and many of them cannot read the HD signal.

Originally Posted by Jim5506

There are still many many people who have SD only receivers and many of them cannot read the HD signal.

Sorry; my queston of BobaBird was too abbreviated for latecomers. What I meant to ask was:

Originally Posted by TheKrell

Why bother keeping the SD nationals...

... on Eastern Arc? BobaBird had stated above that Dish was dropping the SD locals from Eastern Arc when channel became available in HD. This makes sense. But the nationals are still duplicated on Eastern Arc. That makes no sense.