Directv Dropping SD

[jerdew]

I have used Directv in my 5th wheel for several years using an old 18" dish/LNB and a D12 receiver.  I have a cheap signal meter and have always been able to align the dish with signal strengths in the high 80's and 90's.  Recently, however my dish got damaged and  had to re-shape it as best I could.  I still get a signal, but only in the 60's --- which is barely enough for the receiver to be able to communicate with the satellite (101).  I was pretty much settled on just purchasing a new 18" dish on the internet, but then saw that Directv is planning on dropping SD in 2019.  I'm not sure exactly what this means, and how I should proceed.  So, I have a few questions:
1.  Does "dropping SD" only mean for new customers?  Will the older receivers and satellite 101 still be available?
2.  Would I be smarter to get a bigger dish (slimline) or would that make any difference?
3.  Do I need to upgrade my receiver?  It is currently used in the house for the 2nd tv in the bedroom.  I have kept it even
    though it only supports SD  --  which is all I can get from the 18" dish and satellite 101 -- correct? 

 

[SargeW]

Direct TV (AT&T) is not necessarily "dropping" SD, but rather are faced with the situation of the satellite that carries the SD signals is aging out. Putting up another SD satellite would be a waste of money, so the options are to let the SD channels die with the satellite, or move them to a HD capable satellite.  Unfortunately for us (consumers) we don't know what they are going to do, as they have not announced any future plans. 

Many of us (me included) have dome satellites that are not capable of receiving HD signals from Direct. At this point the options are to either switch to Dish Network, or upgrade to a HD capable satellite dish ($$$$).  The decision has not been made yet.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Adding to what SargeW said, the format of the signal is what will be changing, i.e. the 101 & 119 Direct TV satellites will begin broadcasting HD content rather than SD.  The channels carried on that satellite are mainly the major networks and those are already available as both SD and HD, so they will merely replace the SD-format with the equivalent HD format.  The dish need not be any different, but the receiver will have to handle the upgraded format.  Initially, it appears that customers will need to change their SD receiver for an HD type, but their dish will be ok.  However, the selection of channels available may decrease as channels get moved to other satellites that broadcast on a different frequency than the old 101 & 119 satellites.  ATT/Direct TV hasn't provided any roadmap about when & how that will happen, but the process will be staged and is already underway.  If you travel far, you will probably encounter regions where local channel service has already converted to HD, and it seems likely that the national network feeds will also change sometime in 2019.

Read more about it at
http://qctv.com/2017/07/end-sd-directv/
https://blog.solidsignal.com/news/end-coming-directv-announces-end-sd-service/

However, ATT/DirectTV may well incorporate other improvements at the same time they physically replace the 101& 119 satellites.  119 is going away soon, but 101 is probably not too far behind (but not 2019).

 

[chuckbear]

DirecTV IS NOT getting rid of SD broadcasting. They are shutting down MPEG2 SD broadcasting but will retain MPEG4 SD broadcasting. If you have an older receiver that only handles MPEG2, that will be affected. Chuck

 

[jerdew]

Thanks for the help everyone.  It seems like if I purchase a new 18" round dish now, I will be purchasing something else in the next couple of years (assuming I'm still with Directv).  But, with the limited amount we know, is there any advantage to purchasing a larger dish now so that I would only have to possibly get a new LNB and/or receiver later?

 

[NY_Dutch]

The 119 satellite is being retired, and the 101 sat is not capable of HD transmissions and also has a short life span left, so it'll be interesting to see how much money AT&T is willing to spend to support their existing non-HD subscribers.

 

[grashley]

Welcome to the Forum!

If I am reading your post correctly, you have a manual dish you mount on a tripod.  If this is so, go with the latest technology dish.  The manual dishes are cheap, especially compared to their automatic cousins!  This dish will support anything DTV chooses to do in the near future.  You can likely upgrade your receivers for free to either SD or HD receivers.

 

[SANDPSYCHO]

I have read and heard more conflicting information on this subject that I'm not even sure DirecTV knows what is going to happen. LOL I have read that sat 101 is going to be burned up in orbit as it is running out of fuel. That when this happens even the HD dishes will not be able to find the satellites as they all search for the beacon signal that 101 sends out. I even read 101 is staying up and other HD channels are being moved to it.  Even my friend that owns a RV satellite company doesn't know what will happen and how it will effect RV'ers. I went and installed and hooked up the standard def system I already had and will wait and see what happens, when it happens. Nothing might happen or everyones $1800 HD dish might not work, time will tell.

 

[SargeW]

That's my plan as well!  I may as well keep that $1500 in my account as long as I can.....