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Last reply · posted in Over the Air Television By RabbitEars.Info
I've been seeing a lot of SD tvs on the market at Wal-Mart, etc. for about 200.00. I also see downcoverters that convert hd to analogue for about 200.00. I also see dvd recorders around the same price that have digital tv tuners in them. Do you need a downconverter in addition to a new digital tv with a tuner in it or will the sd tv work fine... and will the sd tv pick up hd if, eventually in a few years all channels start coming in as hd?

Basically, what I'm asking is will the 200.00 price ranged tvs work ok for local ota channel reception... if not, why... if maybe due to hd eventually being everything across the board, would it make more sense to get a converter to get the hd instead of paying thousands for a real hd tv?
40 Replies · 7438 views
zaxxon
HD is the best thing that ever happened to TV the difference is like day an night.

I bought my wife a flat screen Magnavox 15" for the kitchen counter, around two hundred bucks and hooked it up to the antenna in the attic for regular TV. When I installed my CM4428 I ran another line and bought her a Hisense converter box. Now she won't watch anything but HD.

In my rec room I have a 57" Sony with HD and a 32" Sony HD in the bedroom.

My rec room gets kinda crowded during foot ball season.

Buy a HD TV in time for the Super Bowl, but no Janet will not be back.
navychop
I'd like to see a link on that. Just because there is a lot of analog cable left, does not mean it's NTSC analog. Note that the frequencies are different, and spaced differently. Read this. Also, consider IRC, HRC etc.
harshness
Just because there is a lot of analog cable left, does not mean it's NTSC analog.
On Planet Earth, NTSC is what is used for analog.
Note that the frequencies are different, and spaced differently.
All of the VHF band channels use the same frequencies and the same broadcast technology (NTSC). Changing or adding frequencies doesn't change the underlying encoding technology.

If you don't believe it, change a CATV connected TV from CABLE to AIR some time and see if you don't see quite a few channels.
navychop
On Planet Earth, NTSC is what is used for analog.All of the VHF band channels use the same frequencies and the same broadcast technology (NTSC). Changing or adding frequencies doesn't change the underlying encoding technology.

OK, if you want to get snide, in this little argument over the meaning of words, NTSC is NOT what is used for analog on earth. There's also PAL, SECAM, etc.

NTSC was defined for OTA use. Cable came much later. Yes, the frequency offsets are the same. The signal structure itself is basically carried over. But there are differences on cable, often beyond the simple reassignment of actual frequencies. Some degrading or changes in the signal is often done. For example, Media General once owned the cable system in Fairfax VA. They remodulated the signals of even the non-premium channels so that you could NOT plug the cable directly into your TV set and get a viewable picture. They wanted you to rent a box from them for every TV you owned. You could get an aftermarket box that would "correct" the signal for most, but not all channels. Cox Cable bought the franchise and this nonsense went away. But the cableco I had in NC did similar games, to a lesser extent. There are enough cablecos in the country doing similar alterations that you can buy aftermarket boxes to correct the "non standard" signals put out. BTW, MG system was so poor they used two cables, which they called "twin thorax." Poor bandwidth.

NTSC as defined does not allow for such variations. But then again, NTSC was designed for OTA. So any system that is based on NTSC, but allows for changes in frequency assignments, signal modulation variations, oddball encoding, etc, should not be called NTSC, IMO. You seem to feel otherwise. We are arguing over how we want to define certain words. It's not worth the time or effort. Especially since we won't be seeing much of it after- when is it that the requirement drops? 2012?
Jim5506
My Hitachi 57" RPCRT HDTV has a cable tuner. I use it to watch OTA stations because while the channel names are different and there are channels inserted between VHF and UHF and below channel7 and between channels 4 and 5, the modulation system is still NTSC, frequency is irrelevant, NTSC is the way the information is modulated into the 6MHz bandwidth allocated for each channel.

Unlike ATSC and QAM, there is no other system used in the United States for analog TV transmission of TV whether cable or OTA, well unless you consider IP, which must be converted to NTSC for all analog TV's to see it...
harshness
NTSC as defined does not allow for such variations. But then again, NTSC was designed for OTA. So any system that is based on NTSC, but allows for changes in frequency assignments, signal modulation variations, oddball encoding, etc, should not be called NTSC, IMO.
I'm not talking about scrambled channels. I'm talking about basic cable; the kind that doesn't require an STB. It is plain vanilla NTSC -- no ups, no extras.

I'm not sure what you're trying to argue, but it is clear to me that TiVo is trying to pull a fast one by offering a device that has an NTSC tuner but no ATSC tuner.
navychop
I agree that Tivo is pulling a fast one. But the channels I refer to are not scrambled. Just modified. They made of point of differentiating between these and the scrambled, premium channels.
boomer_106
Buy a HD TV in time for the Super Bowl, but no Janet will not be back.

Nope, you'll have to settle for a nice clear view of Tom Petty and the heartbreakers:p
M
To see HD, you will need an HD set. Period. What will happen if you have an SD set with a digital tuner is that HD will be received and downconverted to SD. So you will see something on your digital tuner TV, but it will be SD not HD.
Cool. Glad to hear that. I figured it'd be like it is with my Pansat 3500 and fta satellite where it will get a frequency from HD channels but won't actually pick anything up since it's and SD box...

Here's a reply the NTIA guy sent me after I emailed them... Sounds like you should just stay out of the looking mode til 2008. What really bugs me about the coupon thing is that they coupons are good for only 90 days... so if you get one in January, it has to be used by March... What happens when lots of folks sit and wait and then finally all order at once in September so that they can try to find these things on Black Friday 2008 combined with the coupons???... also will the money still be there to offer coupons that late in the year? Oh well, guess it doesn't apply to me really since we'll likely just buy a new tv... Will the converters work to send signals from Antenna in to an ati-all-in-wonder... my guess is yes since it's downconverting to normal analog... Anyways, here's the reply I got:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: COUPONINFO COUPONINFO <COUPONINFO@ntia.doc.gov>
Date: Nov 30, 2007 4:52 PM
Subject: Thank you for your email. You will see that by law we cannot accept

Thank you for your email. You will see that by law we cannot accept
requests for the $40 coupons until January 1, 2008. Please visit our
Web site
for answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at
NTIA: Digital TV Transition and Public Safety.

The $40 coupons will only be able to be used for a National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) certified
converter box.

Please mark your calendar and check our Web site or call 888-DTV-2009
in January 2008 or
online at NTIA: Digital TV Transition and Public Safety, by fax at 1-877-388-4632, or by mail at
Post Office Box 2000,
Portland, Oregon 97208. Please contact us if you have additional
questions.

Sincerely,

Television Converter Coupon Program Team
National Telecommunications & Information Administration
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
6 Replies · 93 views
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dishstaller
Sorry for posting the wrong link. Just corrected it.
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dfergie
I loved it when Rodney was on the Tonight Show...
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Foxbat
Sorry for posting the wrong link. Just corrected it.
Thanks, I wasn't sure if you had the wrong Subject or the wrong YouTube link.
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osu1991
Was a Don Rickles fan. I've dvr'd most of his appearances on Carson from the antenna tv replays.

dishstaller
More Dangerfield rapid fire on Carson.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scEQFHQHHhU
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
It states the average amount they are under water is OVER $7,000. :eek

Personally, I tend to be the type that drives a vehicle for a lot of years....do my own oil changes and other fluid changes. Just replaced the spark plugs and a couple coils. Youtube is great for things like this.

1 Replies · 34 views
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Juan
I guess America can't afford 10 year autoloans
Neutron
Supporting Founder
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Patrick Stewart died yesterday, October 28th at the age of 86. We lost yet another great actor. :(

8 Replies · 73 views
Bobby
Rest in peace. Long live Jean Luc Picard…
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long_time_Dish
Rest in peace. Wow, so many good roles, but Jean Luc Picard will always be my favorite...
M
R.I.P.
mc6809e
Rest In Peace
Former member 209992
Last reply · posted in SatelliteGuys Support Center
For some reason, the satelliteguys.us site is loading a lot slower than usual on both Chrome on my Asus laptop and Safari on my iPhone.
I'm also seeing longer appearances of the blue bar at the top and the "3 blue bars" loading symbol.
Is anyone else also having the same problem? Thanks in advance.
554 Replies · 19757 views
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Scott Greczkowski
Just a heads up... I just patched our PHP to close the major PHP exploit announced this morning.

Now on PHP 8.4.27 (cli) (built: Oct 20 2026 00:00:00)
Don in CT
Just a heads up... I just patched our PHP to close the major PHP exploit announced this morning.

Now on PHP 8.4.27 (cli) (built: Oct 20 2026 00:00:00)
When I heard about this exploit I was wondering how quick you would be on it. :D
Scott Greczkowski
When I heard about this exploit I was wondering how quick you would be on it. :D
12 minutes after the patch was release I had it patched. :)
Foxbat
IMG_1560.webp
A.I. - Be careful what you wish for…
T
6:43p Central was dumped off the site, then when I got back on could not reply to post. Down for several minutes.
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Scott Greczkowski
6:43p Central was dumped off the site, then when I got back on could not reply to post. Down for several minutes.
Yeah... that was me...

I did another security update and it required me to reboot the server.

I also did a patch for something else and accidently put two ;'s in the config file so when the server rebooted it wouldn't restart a service because of the extra ; in the config file.

And of course as I did it my step dad called me slowing me down in figuring it out.

That was a Scott mistake. Sorry about that.
navychop
OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!

Aww- nevermind.

;)
TheForce
Supporting Founder Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Phone & Tablet Zone
Apple Fall Hardware Event takes place today, September 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET. It marks the debut of new CEO John Ternus and the expected reveal of Apple's first foldable phone.
138 Replies · 1838 views
harshness
Gone are the days when Apple "perfects" what debuted years earlier on an Android phone.
comfortably_numb
Gone are the days when Apple "perfects" what debuted years earlier on an Android phone.

Or better yet, innovate something "completely revolutionary!"
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S
Or better yet, innovate something "completely revolutionary!"
when was the last time they innovated something:rolleyes:
Foxbat
when was the last time they innovated something:rolleyes:
I'd probably say when they came up with their M-series of processors with integrated memory. That allowed Apple to get away from the inefficient Intel CPUs that were limiting their notebook computers.
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BlackHitachi
Supporting Founder
Last reply · posted in Movie Talk
Since the Reds have there thread we should too!

Last watched Nine inch Nails
Next 3:10 to Yuma
5392 Replies · 511094 views
Y
1791758462355.webp


Simple, charming. Entire premise is quite silly but Cary Grant carries it across the line in good fashion.
T
Last: The Social Reckoning. Spoiler alert, they make Zuck look like a...
Foxbat
Since it was already "paid" for, I spent the two hours of my time watching the John Cena action movie on Apple TV, "Matchbox The Movie" even though the reviews were brutal. It was better than I expected, so I didn't feel like I had wasted an afternoon watching it. But it felt like another "Reacher"/"Neghley"/"Mission: Impossible"/"Fast & Furious" crash and blow stuff up with lots of automatic gunfire mixed in movie featuring covert CIA operatives.

I don't think we'll get a follow-up movie from this. I expect Mattel will have other toy lines to exploit.
Gary Toma
Staff member Pub Member / Supporter Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in DIRECTV Technical Resources Forum
The TPN Map Excel Presents all DIRECTV Channels:
​
National (50-States or wide/NAT+PR beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)
​
Additional tabs provide:​
OTA the (Over-The-Air) Database
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders
​
Domestic Satellites
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D16
@103W.... D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8​

Understanding the TPN Map

Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions
2170 Replies · 945782 views
D
DirecTV Satellite Transponder Updates for Oct 28 2026

Comparison of Transponder Data for Oct 28 2026 vs Oct 21 2026:


No changes in system tables for any transponder tuning parameters.

Changes to the use of defined transponders:

1 Transponder cleared of all Streams::
Net 15 TID 12 Beam NAT is a National Transponder on D12@103ca, TPN 13

2 Previously unused Transponders with current APG records::
Net 0 TID 28 Beam NAT + PR is a National Transponder on D16@101, TPN 29
Net 10 TID 126 Beam NAT is a National Transponder on D11@99cb, TPN 3

Stream (PID) counts:

LIVE Streams​
National​
Spot Beams​
Count​
Change​
Count​
Change​
4K​
4​
​
​
​
HD​
264​
​
1449​
​
SD mpeg4​
144​
-1​
194​
​
SD mpeg2​
434​
1​
​
​
RB​
​
​
​
​
Audio​
89​
​
​
​
Push​
26​
​
​
​
Slate​
19​
​
1​
​
​
TEST Streams​
National​
Spot Beams​
Count​
Change​
Count​
Change​
4K​
​
​
​
​
HD​
​
​
1​
​
SD mpeg4​
​
​
​
​
SD mpeg2​
​
​
​
​
RB​
​
​
​
​
Engr Work​
38​
​
​
​
​


The PID count Excel workbook provides much more count detail.

Newly updated tables of Streams on each transponder are available in the DataDigesters TPN Grids

More details of changes in individual channels will follow in the Weekly Analysis
and Gary Toma's Domestic TPN Map Excel files
A few remaps
Weekly Analysis soon
Enjoy
DataDigesters
D
Weekly Analysis for 10/28/2026:
K
ElectionHQ mixes testing with BBC News, CNBC, CNN, FBN, FNC, MSNOW, NewsMax and NewsNation

Some more reshuffles

Updating the TMSIDs for KSBI and KQCW to use the cable feeds with Thunder games instead of the OTA feeds

An additional commercial PPV channel is now on 9530
coolman302003
Monday 11/2 is a full slate for NBA League Pass as all 30 teams are playing and 14 out of 15 total games are on NBALP. Only one national TV game on Peacock/NBCSN (Thunder @ Cavs).

DirecTV is even having to use several MLB EI channels (from 745-748) and a NHL CI (770) channel to fit all of them in the guide close together. 5 games at 7:30 ET, 3 games at 8 ET, 2 games at 8:30 ET, 1 game at 9 ET, 3 games at 10 ET. Luckily NHL CI is light on Monday (3 games on CI).

DirecTV is providing both broadcast feeds for all League Pass games except Hornets, Magic, Bucks & Raptors that night. These are all teams that have local broadcasts via a OTA channel which is on spotbeams and have streaming deals (DTC) that are not exclusive DAZN teams which DirecTV just signed a deal with (à la Spurs, Grizzlies, Cavs, Pacers & T'Wolves). Its also very common that we don't get Raptors broadcast very often from TSN or Sportsnet Ontario on League Pass.

11/2/26 (MON) EASTERN7:00 PM7:30 PM8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM10:00 PM
Peacock/NBCSNThunder @ Cavaliers
NBA League PassNonePistons (745) @ HornetsKings (755) @ Mavericks (756)Celtics (760) @ Rockets (761)Trail Blazers (764) @ Nuggets (765)Suns (769) @ Warriors (770)
Hawks (746) @ Pacers (747)Pelicans (757) @ Grizzlies (758)Jazz (762) @ Spurs (763)Raptors @ Clippers (766)
Nets (748) @ Knicks (751)Bucks @ T'Wolves (759)Heat (767) @ Lakers (768)
Wizards (752) @ Magic
Bulls (753) @ 76ers (754)
*No Hornets, Magic local broadcasts*No Bucks local broadcast*No Raptors local broadcast
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K
Only the Knicks, Nets, Wizards, Bulls, Celtics, Rockets, Lakers, Warriors, Avalanche, Sharks and Bruins feeds will be using remaps of 24/7 RSNs that night. The rest will be relying on the part time feeds, including the Nuggets, Blackhawks and Kings who will be on their alt/overflow channels, and MSG Western NY will be live on channel 635-1 to carry Buffalo area ads during the Knicks game.

The NHL Network alternate will be live on channel 215-1 with Red Wings @ Panthers for those blacked out of Golden Knights @ Bruins on the main feed.

The Thunder @ Cavaliers game will be on one of Peacock Game Pass channels that night for commercial customers, they'll also have the back to back U-Conn Women's and Men's Basketball. One of the part time feeds will also be in use for WWE Raw via Joe Hand promotions.
M
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
Over the past few weeks, I have had problems connecting to streaming services (Netflix, HBO et al). When I go to the TV's native Channels, I have no problem. The Dish internet troubleshooter shows I have a good internet connection. I'm wondering whether it's an issue with my internet provider or a problem with the Dish software on the Hopper Plus. Anyone else seeing this?
3 Replies · 150 views
Almighty1
Over the past few weeks, I have had problems connecting to streaming services (Netflix, HBO et al). When I go to the TV's native Channels, I have no problem. The Dish internet troubleshooter shows I have a good internet connection. I'm wondering whether it's an issue with my internet provider or a problem with the Dish software on the Hopper Plus. Anyone else seeing this?
I have a DISH Hopper 3 (Software H713) with Hopper Plus (Software P15403). I have not tried streaming services but I primarily watch TVB Jadeworld international package which is only available by streaming and when I have an issue, I usually have to go to a non-streaming satellite channel first before the streaming channels will work again. What software versions do you have and what is the error message if any are showing on your screen? or is that Dish downloading logo just stuck and never finishes?
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M
I have a DISH Hopper 3 (Software H713) with Hopper Plus (Software P15403). I have not tried streaming services but I primarily watch TVB Jadeworld international package which is only available by streaming and when I have an issue, I usually have to go to a non-streaming satellite channel first before the streaming channels will work again. What software versions do you have and what is the error message if any are showing on your screen? or is that Dish downloading logo just stuck and never finishes?
I'm on H713 on the Hopper and P15403 on the Hopper Plus. It shows internet connection issues and doesn't finish loading the various services. I see the "loading circle going around. Sometimes I get a message saying that the service is having trouble loading my content and to check the internet connection.
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Almighty1
I'm on H713 on the Hopper and P15403 on the Hopper Plus. It shows internet connection issues and doesn't finish loading the various services. I see the "loading circle going around. Sometimes I get a message saying that the service is having trouble loading my content and to check the internet connection.
Did it ever work correctly before? Hard to say what the problem is. Usually for streaming, it will show the Dish logo with lines sweeping down to show downloading, never seen the circle issue. Did you try a manual reboot, red button reset, power cord unplug/replug to see if it makes a difference.
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Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68662 Replies · 2680459 views
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RaiderPower
Take It Easy On Me - Little River Band
long_time_Dish
Take It Easy - The Eagles
sdfntx
Take It as It Comes - Steve Winwood
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long_time_Dish
Take The Money and Run - Steve Miller Band
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EatMyVolts
Run Joe -- Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five
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meStevo
Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
Starting a thread klang !

After an amazing first 2 seasons and an 8 episode 3rd season still coming this year, season 4 has now been greenlit.

Keri Russell Wow GIF by NETFLIX
11 Replies · 993 views
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KAB
KAB
Not in a hurry to watch it this time.
K
Finished season 3 last night. Still one of my favorite shows.

Anyone else wonder if there might be something else going on with Callum? Seems to me he has too much access to Russian intelligence.
meStevo
One episode into season 4 that dropped today...

Jon Stewart Popcorn GIF
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meStevo
Renewed for season 5.
K
Finished 4 last night. Great stuff.

They do like to end each season with a Bang!