If the subscriber has the proper equipment -- a Ka/Ku dish, a high-def receiver (H20, HR20) and a B-Band converter module attached to the receiver -- the screen on channel 499 will say the system is "searching for satellite."
That means the subscriber is set up to receive DIRECTV's new high-def channels when the satcaster switches to the MPEG4 transmission system in September.
The new transmission system will be delivered via the satcaster's new satellite, which was launched Friday night.
If a subscriber's channel 499 does not say "searching for satellite," the screen will alert him/her to call DIRECTV to arrange for a system upgrade. It is unclear if DIRECTV will charge for the upgrade; the satcaster has said in the past that it would offer the upgrade for free if the subscriber agreed to a one or two year programming commitment.
DIRECTV will add dozens of new high-def channels this fall with the scheduled goal of offering 100 channels by year's end.
The satcaster says the new channels -- and some of the existing ones -- will be transmitted using the new MPEG4 system which will require the Ka/Ku dish, B-Band module and high-def receiver.
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