21 New HD Channels on DirecTV - If You're Having Problems Check Here

[TvPat]

Here are the new HD channels on DirecTV that came on at 6 AM this morning.

202 CNN
212 NFL Network
220 Big Ten Network
247 TBS
265 A&E
267 Smithsonian
269 The History Channel
278 Discovery Channel
280 The Learning Channel
282 Animal Planet
284 The Science Channel
362 The Weather Channel
518 Starz Kids
519 Starz Comedy
520 Starz
521 Starz West
522 Starz Edge
538 Showtime Too
540 Showtime West
544 The Movie Channel
604 Vs-The Golf Channel

There is also an HD Channel Guide on 77, 510, and 541. Old HD channels are also on new channel numbers, such as ESPN-HD on 206 and ESPN2-HD on 209.

More coming in October
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P4360044

Edit: 284 is The Science Channel, not the Sci-Fi Channel.

[snodgrass23]

Looks good so far, I'll have to check them out tonight. I'm curious what there pricing model is going to be. It can't really stay the way it is.

[Dbailey]

i am reading that the picture quality is really good, i am at work, can some one who is "working at home", let us know?

[Robbiee19]

PQ is great!

[rlw]

I'm getting alot of "Searching for Signal" messages on many of the channels. Do I need to do a reset of my HR20?

RLW

[jpdublin]

Getting the same "Searching for Signal"

[TvPat]

Check channel 498 to see if you get anything. If you don't, you probably don't have your inline B-Band converters installed.

[jpdublin]

Spoke with Directv and they need to install a new multi-switch where it enters the house. The new HD channels run on a higher frequency and they said that many still have the initial muti-switches in their homes.

[rlw]

I'm getting alot of "Searching for Signal" messages on many of the channels. Do I need to do a reset of my HR20? RLW
OK, I'm getting channel 498 and all the HD channels now (no more "Searching for signal"), but ran into something odd. For example, I had CNN (202) in my favorites list. When I type 202 on my remote, it takes me to CNNHD. When I "up-channel" or "down-channel" into 202, it takes me to regular (non-HD) CNN.

Hitting "Info" when I'm on the HD CNN says it's CNNHD, channel 202. When I'm in the non-HD CNN, "Info" tells me CNN, channel 202.

I'm guessing I need to re-create my favorites to fix this. Anyone else run into this?

RLW

[Robbiee19]

OK, I'm getting channel 498 and all the HD channels now (no more "Searching for signal"), but ran into something odd. For example, I had CNN (202) in my favorites list. When I type 202 on my remote, it takes me to CNNHD. When I "up-channel" or "down-channel" into 202, it takes me to regular (non-HD) CNN.

Hitting "Info" when I'm on the HD CNN says it's CNNHD, channel 202. When I'm in the non-HD CNN, "Info" tells me CNN, channel 202.

I'm guessing I need to re-create my favorites to fix this. Anyone else run into this?

RLWYes you need to reset your favorites, plus the HD channels maps to the same SD channel number. So you will have two 202s for CNN One for the SD and one for the HD. It will show up in the guide that way too.

[rlw]

After a couple of weeks of having spotty "Searching for signal" messages on about half of the new HD channels, I called DirecTV last night to see if I could get things working.

The first person I spoke to wanted to add $5.95 a month to my bill or charge a $70 service call to fix the problem. I said that sounded odd, as my install was less than 6 months old. She sent me to retention, where I spoke to a fellow who walked me through a number of troubleshooting steps.

He finally had me hit the red reset button under the door flap on my HR20. That got TBSHD back (I wanted to see the Indians-Yanks game in HD), but I'm still getting "Searching for signal" on a handful of the new HD channels.

I've got a < 5 month old install, 5LNB dish, Xinwell multi-switch, and B-channel (boosters/filters?) on both sat inputs on the HR20.

Before I called, I did a signal strength test on all sats/transponders, and had quite a few with 0 signal strength. I won't list them all here unless someone is interested...

Anyone else missing some of these channels?

RLW

[Robbiee19]

Sound like not everything is set up correctly with the cables running from the dish to the receiver. Also make sure you have the correct Xinwell multi-switch. There is only one switch that works.

[rlw]

Sound like not everything is set up correctly with the cables running from the dish to the receiver. Also make sure you have the correct Xinwell multi-switch. There is only one switch that works.
Robbie,

I gave the "retention" tech the model # of the Xinwell -- he said that was the right one. I have a pretty long coax run -- around 150'. That could be the problem, or maybe my dish needs to be tweaked. I was getting 0% signal strength on all the transponders on sat 103(b). 101 and 99 were looking pretty good, though. Since those sats are only 4 degrees apart, they all hit the leftmost LNB cover (looking from behind the dish). Seems that if 101 and 99 were good, 103 should be too.

I'm just guessing here, though.

RLW

[Robbiee19]

rlw,

It has to be a Zinwell WB68 for the HR20 and 5lnd. Is that the one they told you. Retention right now has been giving out bad infor on this lately.

[rlw]

rlw,It has to be a Zinwell WB68....
Yep, that's what it is - Zinwell WB68.

RLW

[Robbiee19]

Then the dish is not pointed right or the B-Band converters are not good. Also check all connetions your self to see if they are tight.

[snodgrass23]

I also have a few of the new channels that are still showing up "searching for signal". I haven't gotten around to checking into it any further, but everything else works fine. Off the top of my head, two channels I'm getting it from are History and SciFi.

[Scott]

Have the new Zinwells been released by D* yet? IIRC, the WB68 has been causing some problems with long cable runs. D* is supposed to be replacing these with new multiswitches; however, I haven't heard if they've been released into production yet. I'll do a search on DBS to see if I can find the thread.

[Scott]

I also have a few of the new channels that are still showing up "searching for signal". I haven't gotten around to checking into it any further, but everything else works fine. Off the top of my head, two channels I'm getting it from are History and SciFi.

What's the model of multiswitch you have?

[rlw]

Update:

I spoke to a DirecTV installer/reseller at his booth at the Fairfield Co. fair last night. He suggested that the problem could be a diplexer that carries my OTA signals over the same coax as one of the satellite feeds on the back of my HR20.

I did a little digging around on the DirecTV forum and found a post (http://forums.directv.com/pe/action/forums/displaysinglethread?rootPostID=10298866&returnExpertiseCode=) that suggests he's right.
Unfortunately you cannot use a diplexer to combine off-air antenna signals with your satellite cables. The new HiDef satellites utilize a much wider frequency bandwidth on the satellite cables which overlap with the off-air antenna frequencies. You'll need to run a dedicated coax for your off-air antenna.
If I get a chance this evening, I'll take the diplexer/splitter off each end of the cable run and see if that fixes the problem. If it does, I'll need to run another chunk of coax for my OTA signal.

I'll report the results back here...

RLW

[Robbiee19]

rlw,
I think you hit on the problem. I remember reading about that problem with the diplexer. I don't have that problem because I use a indoor antenna hooked straight to the HR20. I bet that's your problem. Good luck.

[snodgrass23]

What's the model of multiswitch you have?

I just checked and I do have a Zinwell WB68.

I also just checked to see exactly what channels I was missing, and they're all working now. Nothing changed.

[rlw]

That was it!

I bypassed the diplexers on one run of the sat signal to my HR20. All of the new HD channels came in immediately. The fix is to run a separate coax line for OTA signal to the HR20.

Hope this helps someone else, and thanks for all the suggestions and interest.

RLW

[Scott]

STICKY MONSTER :twisted:

[Dbailey]

Sorry i should have said something, that was one thing i had to do when i got upgraded. They ran new wires and i used the old ones to connect an outside and inside antenna. Glad you are working.

[snodgrass23]

Well, it seems now they're not working. I think they're only working on one tuner. I'll swap cables to see if it's an issue with the cable itself. I'll also check the living room TV tonight since it's cable runs are much shorter and see if both tuners pick up all the channels.

[snodgrass23]

Well, switching cables on the DVR didn't work as it looks like neither tuner is pulling them in now. Also, couldn't check in the living room as it's a TIVO so it's not picking up the new channels anyway (didn't feel like bring the HR20 down there and hooking it up).

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=103228

I found quite a bit of information though on the situation. Some people are saying their HR20's have a bad tuner and after getting a new one it works. Other's are finding it's a power issue. The receiver powers the switc through the cabling, so long runs could lead to drops in power (the same could happen with poor connections, etc.). My guess is the people who are getting new receivers are having problems with the receivers dropping voltage to the switch/lnb's just enough to affect the new channels (just a guess, could be wrong).

Many people are hooking up "signal lockers" and having good luck. Some are even saying the dish changes channels quicker with it if they are using long runs. Basically the signal locker goes inline before your multiswitch and has it's own power supply to supply the voltage needed for the operation of the switch/lnb's. I think I may pick one up for testing to see if it helps me pick up the new channels and see if it really does speed up channel changes. If nothing else it will allow the receiver to not have to supply as much power to the switch/lnb's.
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=HRPID1422&xzoom=Large#xview

[TvPat]

This is from dbstalk.com today. Note FSN Ohio on 637-1 and FSN Cincinnati on 638-1. 638-1 has been in my guide for a few days, but it shows "Searching for Signal". The next HD broadcast for FSN Ohio is the Blue Jackets game on Sunday. There are also nationally broadcast college football games from FSN this Saturday.


DirecTV launched 23 more HD Channels today:

Full Time National Channels:

299: Nickelodeon (NIK1HD) (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=101368)
325: Spike HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=101369)
327: Country Music Television (CMTHD) (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=101366)
331: MTV HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=101367)
335: VH1 HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=101371)Games Only Regional Sports Networks:

620-1: Comcast Sports Net New England HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102662)
630-1: FSN South HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102682)
631-1: SportsSouth HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102678)
632-1: Sun Sports HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102679)
634-1: FSN Florida HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102659)
637-1: FSN Ohio HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102666)
638-1: FSN Cincinnati HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102656)
641-1: FSN North HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102664)
644-1: Altitude HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102652)
645-1: FSN Rocky Mountain HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102670)
649-1: FSN Arizona HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102654)
651-1: FSN Northwest HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102665)
654-1: FSN Bay Area HD (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=102655)...plus five more HD pay-per-view channels! (all showing different content, not 30 minute shifts)

175 PPVHD
176 PPVHD
177 PPVHD
178 PPVHD
179 PPVHD