Winegard CarryOut GM1518 - DTV SD

[DD716TED]

Yesterday I asked Winegard what they knew about the future of my Winegard Carry Out GM1518 antenna that is used with my DTV R22 (HD capable) receiver... below is their response ..FOR WHAT IS WORTH ONLY...
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Hello,

At this time we are only aware that at some point in 2019 DirecTV will no longer support SD receivers, not that SD broadcasts are being stopped.



Due to the way DirecTV broadcasts HD signals our SD only systems cannot receive them. If DirecTV changes how they broadcast HD signals when they implement any change then our SD only systems may be able to receive DirecTV HD. At this time DirecTV has not provided us with any detailed information what a discontinuation of SD broadcasts would entail should it take place. Until they provide us with that information we do not know how our systems will be affected.

Thank you,

Winegard Customer Support

[Bill_Satellite]

The difference in DISH and DirecTV and HD is not HD but how the signal is broadcast. DISH uses 3 satellites that broadcast on the KU band so whatever signal they broadcast can be received by a dome style antenna. DirecTV 101 satellite also broadcasts on the KU band so whatever they broadcast from that satellite can be received by a dome (does not matter if it's SD or HD). The other 2 satellites that DirecTV uses broadcast on the KA band which domes cannot receive. DirecTV currently broadcast nearly ALL HD programming from the 2 KA band satellites. That's the only difference between the 2 services but it has a large impact on dome users. When DTV stops SD broadcast they will spread "some" of their HD programming to the 101 and whatever programming that is will still be able to be received by domes just as always.

[Acampingwewillg]

A very long and informative thread exist over on IRV2 which explains a lot regarding the upcoming changes. From all indications, this move to HD on the 101 SAT is something I've wanted for a very long time. I always wondered how Dish was capable of doing HD on all there products but Direct TV wasn't.

I'll still wait till all the chips fall where they may but things are looking up.

[Bill_Satellite]

When,not if, DTV drops SD broadcasts they will be broadcast HD on the 101 satellite and your dome(s) will be able to receive DirecTV HD programming. The unanswered question is what channels will DTV broadcast from the 101 satellite which is the only satellite the domes can receive. We do know that you will not be able to get ANY Network programming (maybe DNS) but we really don't know much else. Additionally, at least one poster has said that the SD drop dead date is March 2020 and not 2019. More news later and it's likely that everyone who thought they knew something will turn out to have been wrong!

[Acampingwewillg]

I've been asking this same question to other manufacturers also with pretty much the same response. The only thing left to do is wait and see how it all falls into place. At that time, I'll decide what changes need to be made...no point in trying to out guess them all! LOL