upgrading to HD and spot beam area question


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upgrading to HD and spot beam area question

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dnau12
Novice

Aug 22, 2006, 2:49 PM

Post #1 of 5 (469 views)
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upgrading to HD and spot beam area question	Can't Post

I live in the Portland, OR. local channel area and I know that direct TV is adding Portland HD local channels to their offering soon. When I upgrade to the HD I know I will need a 5 LNB dish and a HD DVR/receiver. My question is once I have all my hardware in place, will I need to sign up for the direct TV HD package for $9 something per month in order to get my local channels? I really am just interested in getting my locals in HD and don't really care that much about the channels offered in the direct TV HD package.
Is adding the HD receiver/DVR to my bill the same as adding any other standard receiver to my bill? ($4.99 per month)
As a side comment, there has been much discussion about spot beam area on this board when talking about local channels. I am somewhat confussed as I have recently traveled all over the U.S. and Canada in an RV and have never failed to receive my local channel signal anywhere I have traveled. At the time I was traveling my home local channel area was Houston, TX.
Any help, feedback, comments would be appreciated.

Thanks
travelinman

TANK1
Enthusiast

Aug 22, 2006, 5:48 PM

Post #2 of 5 (464 views)
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Re: [dnau12] upgrading to HD and spot beam area question [In reply to]	Can't Post

You HD locals are added without needing the HD package.

There is a single $4.99 DVR fee no matter how many DVR's you own.

Your 2nd added receiver there is a $4.99 fee and the $4.99 for every other receiver added.

Did you receive your locals from Portland OR while traveling or the locals from L. A. California ?

Some locals are on a the 72.5 degree sat and are not on a spot beam.

A satellite has transformers and each transformer can use a CONUS or SPOT Beam

CONUS is like a bright flashlight that beam ( light ) covers the whole USA.

SPOT is like a small flashlight with a beam that covers a small area ( local tv market )
and once you are out side of the spot beam you can't receive the signal.

dnau12
Novice

Aug 22, 2006, 10:53 PM

Post #3 of 5 (462 views)
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Re: [TANK1] upgrading to HD and spot beam area question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Tank1, thanks for the reply. When I was receiving my locals all accross the U.S. my home base was Houston, TX. and I was using the older style round 18" disk with a Sony receiver. Now that I live in Portland, OR. and receive Portland's locals I noticed that I am still receiving the locals everywhere that I have traveled in my RV so far. Sounds like the satellite I am pointing to with my current equipment uses a conus methodology instead of spot beam methodolgy. If I understand your response correctly when I switch to a HD 5 LNB disk and start shooting toward a different satellite I could lose my locals when I travel outside of the spot beam area or does it have more to do with which local area that you live in vs. which satellite you point at?

Thanks again,
Travelinman

TANK1
Enthusiast

Aug 23, 2006, 7:58 AM

Post #4 of 5 (459 views)
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Re: [dnau12] upgrading to HD and spot beam area question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Your locals in HD would be on a spot beam and as you move you will lose them.

But your SD ( The regular ones you get today ) will stay the same.

dnau12
Novice

Aug 23, 2006, 1:45 PM

Post #5 of 5 (454 views)
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Re: [TANK1] upgrading to HD and spot beam area question [In reply to]	Can't Post

Tank1,

Thanks.

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