Workng on a job that has a General Instruments DSR922 4DTV box. He wants to keep it rater than getting a mini dish system. I know VERY little about c-band. He mentioned an external decoder that will allow the 4DTV box to get HDTV. I googled, and found a HDD200 decoder box. My question is, what HD programming is available on Cband? Can the externaldecoders also recieve OTA signals?

Also, Ive heard others say that Cband is actually better PQ (less compressed) than mini dish, even though everyone I have seen SUCKS. Is it suppsoed to be petter PQ?

For anyone whos setup the HD C-band, is it decent, or would you recommend a mini-dish instead?

Thanks

We used to install a lot of the C band systems. We did a few of the HD installs. You need what iwas then called a "sidecar" for the 4dtv receiver. Not sure of the programming that is available now. Back then it was only HBO and Showtime.

You can not use the sidecars for OTA signals.

It is funny how much some of these people love their old big dishes. I have heard it said that the reception is better on the old dishes and it is a fact that there is less signal compression than with Dish and Direct. But, you have to make sure that you have a good strong signal or the signal will not lock in.

Good luck,

Dave T

I'll take a anolaog Cband pic over DTV anyday. Call NPS at 800-627-2271 for available HD channels. The HD box does accept ota channels as well.

idodishez,

You need a HDD-200. The last time I checked the following were available

Showtime HDTV West G0-120
HBO HDTV East G9-118
HBO HDTV West G9-120
Discovery HD Theater C4-600
Starz HDTV East G9-122
Starz HDTV West G9-124
Wealth TV HD G9-601
Nebraska Ed TV HDTV T5-603

Have done several side by side comparisons between C-Band HDTV & DSS HDTV.
C-Band has a noticeable edge.

As far as I know the HDD-200 can't do OTA.