Better to go satellite before or after migration to MP4?

[absinthecarolinas]

I'm enjoying my digital cable, but I'm thinking I would be better off with dish. However, I've got a good deal on cable (half price for the first 6 months) for right now, so I can bide my time a while and wait.

Considering that both Dish and DirectTV are apparently migrating to MP4 for video compression sometime next year, and as consequently all set-top hardware currently in place will need to be upgraded, I'm wondering if it would be best to get a dish now vs. later.

In other words:

A) Do you think it will less expensive/less trouble (with changing hardware, etc.) to wait and "go dish" after the migration? OR ....

B) Do you think, after incurring what is sure to be a big expense by migrating to MP4 and upgrading everyone's hardware (which I'm told both networks are going to do), and with the additional channel offerings resulting from greater compression, that satellite might actually become more expensive after MP4 is used? And therefore, should I maybe get dish sooner rather than later and get "grandfathered" in at a lower rate?

I'm leaning towards just waiting, obviously. Anyway know a definite timetable on this change? I've heard it's going to be in 2006 for sure, but I'd like to read something more definitive.

-abs

[edDV]

They will be rolling out by local market.

You will find lots of info and opinion here

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=25

[Conquest10]

But, if you buy all the hardware now, won't you be SOL when they switch? You would have to buy it all over again. Won't you?

[Krispy Kritter]

With DirectTV, you own the equipment, so I don't know how the upgrade will work, most likely it won't be free.

With Dish Network, you are using their hardware, so I would expect they will replace old hardware as needed.

[edDV]

Best not to be on the bleeding edge on this one, especially if buying equipment.

[pstedman]

DirecTV is indeed upgrading to Mpeg4 by market area. Originally they had told subscribers that existing HD subscribers would be upgraded for free to the new Mpeg4 receivers

I've read from subs in the first few markets that DTV is charging $99 to upgrade the dish and receiver (a new 5 LNB dish is needed to see the new satellites).

This forum has some great info regarding all HD providors, sat & cable:

http://highdefforum.com/

[Bob Harris]

I think the roll out will continue into 2007 and what they are converting over first and formost is local HDTV channels that's why they are doing mp4. You can buy a cheap used DTV receiver for probably $50 or less. Radio Shack has some good offers for leasing Dish. I doubt that they will eliminate the main channels from mp2 for some time. In fact I think DTV and Dish both offer a mp2/mp4 receiver now.

If you feel adventurous, you could look into a Free To Air satellite receiver like the Pansat 3500. Here's a forum for more info.

http://forums.al7bar.tk/index.php