[mythtv-users] DirecTV HTTP Server

[jmk]

On Nov 23, 2010, at 11:08 AM, Greg Oliver wrote:
>> I'm currently using a D11 (via PVR-250), H21-100 (HD-PVR) and OTA
>> (HDHomerun) with Myth. The output from the D11 and H21-100 are decent,
>> but there's really little discernible difference. The H21 output simply
>> doesn't compare to the OTA content, which is excellent. Is DirecTV HD
>> really that bad and not much, if any, better than their SD? It seems
>> silly to be paying for HD content, when it's the same quality as what I
>> get from the SD D11. I'm curious if others are seeing different results
>> for DirecTV SD vs DirecTV HD vs OTA HD.
> 
> Yeah, dtv has very few high bitrate HD channels.  A couple ESPns, CNN, and a couple discovery channels is it.  All others are crap low bitrate upscales..  You're right though - only ESPN and discoveries can even come close to atsc..

Unfortunately, even the ESPNs/CNNs/etc. all appear nearly identical to me from the D11 and H21. My test tonight was the NFL on NBC, which DirecTV's online guide showed should be in HD, (as one would expect). My OTA picture of the game was stunning, but both the D11 (via s-vid -> PVR-250) and H21 (via component -> HD-PVR) were nearly identical SD-quality.

I noticed that my OSD had an icon for "SD" for the program. What does the Myth use to determine if an SD or an HD icon should be shown?

Are there any other tests one can do with the H21 to see if it's output what it should be? I emailed DirecTV and they responded that I should make sure the B-Band Converter is in place; it is, but if it was dead, would I only get SD signals?

Thanks for any insight...

Joe