I'm trying to decide what to do. I currently watch hd with an OTA unit, and cable. I can get either-

a) A dual tuner dish unit plus a dual tuner DVR unit, so in other words 4 rooms of TV.
b) A dual tuner dish unit (with or without DVR) and a single tuner HD unit, good for three rooms, but an additional $9.95 a month for only 4 HD channels.
c) Pay even bigger bucks ($399) for a directv receiver plus their free 3 room setup.

I would like to go b, but I am shorting myself one room of TV, plus paying the $9.95 a month for 4 channels. I would like to do it because I am sure in the future there will be more channels.

I guess my best bet would be to go with option A, and keep my OTA setup going for HD.

Any opinions?

This is a personal decision...You asked for opinions?...Mine is this...You only live once, you never know when your ticket will be punched...so I say...live each day as if it were your last and do some research and then get what you really, really want! and enjoy!

I personally think DirecTV + OTA is the best combination right now, especially once the HD DirecTivo is really available. It is not the cheapest, however, and some of the SD channels are severely compressed.

Cable doesn't have all the channels yet in most areas and the equipment seems to be severely lacking compared to the satellite receivers and PVRs. However it is probably the least expensive and easiest to setup, and they will be adding channels.

Dish is very similar to DirecTV and largely becomes a personal preference with the equipment and programming packages.

One issue to consider is the need for multiple satellite reception from different parts of the sky. DirecTV has standardized now on a triple LNB oval dish that, once aligned, receives all three sat locations and all HD channels. You need a clear view of all three directions and there have been reports here of troublesome trees etc in one of the path directions. Check out your specific south sky. Until recently Dish required two dishes to pick up their HD channels. However I read they to are introducing a "Superdish" and are rearranging which sat the HD channels originate from. I can't give you current DISH info.

I hope someone else with current DISH info on what is now needed to receive all their HD channels can add to my post here .

My point is to check it out before making your choice.

All of the HD, with the exception of CBS-HD, is on 110 on DishNetwork. CBS-HD is on 61.5 for NY and 148 for LA.

Dan

Maybe I am not understanding part of your question but with a multi switch you should be able to get all the rooms that you require

I currently have 7 satellite lines with 3 HD receivers

1 Word "VOOM"

Steve H - Dan meant that he couldn't get additional rooms without buying additional receivers - there aren't enough included in the package he's considering. He could get all the rooms he wants if he buys additional receivers.