I'm taking a long shot here, but oh well. I'm considering buying a LCD HDTV. Well, in order to hook it up with component cables or better, I'll need a new satellite receiver. The only ones Dish Network has that have component outputs are the HD models. Fine. However, I have no desire to buy their HD programming, as I would watch none of it. Don't care to enable the DVR.

So my question is: Has anyone upgraded to an HDTV receiver? Did they make you order an HD package? And does it cost anything extra to replace a older receiver with this one? I just want it for the outputs because I keep reading that composite cables are not the way to go with an HDTV, and that's my only output option. Unless there's something I don't know about.

I know this isn't a direct answer to your question, but why are you buying an HDTV if you're not purchasing any programming options? I'm guessing you do probably live in an area where you can pick up the broadcast nets over-the-air, but there's no much more to be seen on HDTV than those few channels.

I don't have HDTV...yet....at the house, but someone I know has it, and I've been known to come over their house, turn on Discovery HD Theater, and just sit there watching the beauty for upwards of a couple hours.

And HDNet shows Hogan's Heroes (and many other shows)...

They shouldn't force the HD package on you though they may try the hard sell. In addition, if you don't take an HD package, you'll be charged a $6 month fee (the fee is waived with pretty much any HD package)

I know this isn't a direct answer to your question, but why are you buying an HDTV if you're not purchasing any programming options? I'm guessing you do probably live in an area where you can pick up the broadcast nets over-the-air, but there's no much more to be seen on HDTV than those few channels.

I don't have HDTV...yet....at the house, but someone I know has it, and I've been known to come over their house, turn on Discovery HD Theater, and just sit there watching the beauty for upwards of a couple hours.

And HDNet shows Hogan's Heroes (and many other shows)...

They shouldn't force the HD package on you though they may try the hard sell. In addition, if you don't take an HD package, you'll be charged a $6 month fee (the fee is waived with pretty much any HD package)

Space. Dumb, but that's the main reason. And yeah, I think I could pull in some OTA HD (at least I get good reception with non=HD rabbit ears in the living room). I got this bed that takes up a lot of room, so I would like to hang a TV on the wall, save some space. And might as well jump on the 2009 deadline.

I don't pay the Dish bill, so I don't want to tack on extra fees, cuz it's expensive as it is. Not that $6 would kill me.

If you can't find out any answers, I suggest visiting this site. They have helped me a few times.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/forumdisplay.php?f=10

component cables wont make the satellite signal look much better than S video unless you are watching HD content.

ok, here's the deal. I have dish network (cable could be free and i'd still pay for dish before i'd hook that crap back up to my tv's but that's another story) Anyway, i have a 42 inch hdtv plasma, i do not have the hd service. my brother does, and it looks awesome. But, for what I watch, I couldnt justify the expense, not till they get more channels. Anyway, back to the question you asked. I have the 625 dual tuner dvr for standard definition. I have it hooked up to the plasma using the coax output. (the reason i hooked it up using the coax cable is because it's a dual tuner, and we used a modulator to avoid having to run a new cable to the 2nd tv, coax would be my LAST choice to hook up with, but i had no choice for this application.) The signal is fine, however, I have my DVD changer and my DVD Recorder hooked up to the plasma using componant cables. There IS a difference in the picture. I ran a set of rca outputs from my sat tuner to the dvd recorder. So, if i watch the sat tuner thru the dvd recorder, there is a significant picture improvement. my understanding is that the dvd recorder upconverts the signal giving a crisper, clearer picture utilizing the componant outputs. Now, is it HDTV quality? no, but it is much better than straight rca's or coax. If you have a DVD recorder with componant outputs, try to hook it up like I did. Then switch the tv from sat to the dvd recorder and you will see what I mean with the same signal/picture to do the comparison.

I should clarify, by componant outputs, you are talking 5 jacks right? I used to confuse them with rca outputs since the plugs were the same. componant has 3 video cables and 2 audio. Componant is better than RCA or Coax. as for componant cables not being the way to hook it up, it depends on what you are looking for. If you do not have HDTV programming then I dont think buying an HDMI cable will make a difference. I could be wrong, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I drive people nuts when I tell them i have a 42 inch plasma and watch Mr. Ed or Hazel on it. The best thing about this new tv is that I was finally able to see how the got Mr. Ed's mouth to move! Could never have seen it with a coax connection on a regular tv. :)

ok, here's the deal. I have dish network (cable could be free and i'd still pay for dish before i'd hook that crap back up to my tv's but that's another story) Anyway, i have a 42 inch hdtv plasma, i do not have the hd service. my brother does, and it looks awesome. But, for what I watch, I couldnt justify the expense, not till they get more channels. Anyway, back to the question you asked. I have the 625 dual tuner dvr for standard definition. I have it hooked up to the plasma using the coax output. (the reason i hooked it up using the coax cable is because it's a dual tuner, and we used a modulator to avoid having to run a new cable to the 2nd tv, coax would be my LAST choice to hook up with, but i had no choice for this application.) The signal is fine, however, I have my DVD changer and my DVD Recorder hooked up to the plasma using componant cables. There IS a difference in the picture. I ran a set of rca outputs from my sat tuner to the dvd recorder. So, if i watch the sat tuner thru the dvd recorder, there is a significant picture improvement. my understanding is that the dvd recorder upconverts the signal giving a crisper, clearer picture utilizing the componant outputs. Now, is it HDTV quality? no, but it is much better than straight rca's or coax. If you have a DVD recorder with componant outputs, try to hook it up like I did. Then switch the tv from sat to the dvd recorder and you will see what I mean with the same signal/picture to do the comparison.

I should clarify, by componant outputs, you are talking 5 jacks right? I used to confuse them with rca outputs since the plugs were the same. componant has 3 video cables and 2 audio. Componant is better than RCA or Coax. as for componant cables not being the way to hook it up, it depends on what you are looking for. If you do not have HDTV programming then I dont think buying an HDMI cable will make a difference. I could be wrong, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I drive people nuts when I tell them i have a 42 inch plasma and watch Mr. Ed or Hazel on it. The best thing about this new tv is that I was finally able to see how the got Mr. Ed's mouth to move! Could never have seen it with a coax connection on a regular tv. :)
I do have a dvd recorder with component cables, so I should try that first. If I don't like it, I can always change it later. And yeah, I mean the 3 video/2 audio ones. I could keep my VCR hooked up to the satellite thru the coax cable so I could still use it.

If you can't find out any answers, I suggest visiting this site. They have helped me a few times.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/forumdisplay.php?f=10
Thanks, I'll check that site out.

I'm taking a long shot here, but oh well. I'm considering buying a LCD HDTV. Well, in order to hook it up with component cables or better, I'll need a new satellite receiver. The only ones Dish Network has that have component outputs are the HD models. Fine. However, I have no desire to buy their HD programming, as I would watch none of it. Don't care to enable the DVR.

So my question is: Has anyone upgraded to an HDTV receiver? Did they make you order an HD package? And does it cost anything extra to replace a older receiver with this one? I just want it for the outputs because I keep reading that composite cables are not the way to go with an HDTV, and that's my only output option. Unless there's something I don't know about.


Since you are not a fan of the NFL the Dish Network will be just fine

Since you are not a fan of the NFL the Dish Network will be just fine
Yeah, Sunday Ticket isn't high on my list.