When will HD Channels be available on Ku band Satellite 101W?

Unfortunately, directv satellite 101.0W is not the type of satellite BUILD per say to function as an HD satellite like 99 and 103. It was made to hold over 800 SD channels and will never be used for HD because of its shape, capacity, and function. Anyway, the H25 is SWM only and will not work with an 18 inch satellite dish. You would need to use an HR24. Also, DIRECTV SD is going away and you will need to switch to a portable SL3 SWM satellite dish. 

This is an article from Solid Signal that states why:

It’s possible that some SD content could stay around, and it’s also possible that some of that capacity could be used for HD content. Although there are over 800 standard definition channels on the 101 satellites, it’s likely that fewer than 50 HD channels could fit there due to the way the satellites themselves are constructed. HD channels use more bandwidth and the satellite’s design doesn’t accommodate that very well.

My H25 is working fine with an 18" dish so is my HR24, and yes I have SWM.  I understand the capacity of the satellite would be reduced because HD uses more BW but don't understand how is Dish transmitting on Ku Band and DTV can't or won't?    HD would just use more transponders to send more data for each channel in HD...hard for me to believe the reduction in capacity would be 800 to 50 but that could be a SWAG.    Would love to see a design document for these satellites to understand those differences.   Solid Signal has some great articles but most dated/old so at times I question the relevance for today.   Thanks for the input!

Dish Network has different dishes and LNBs. Their satellite in the sky is also more fit and designed for HD. Meanwhile, DIRECTV's Satellite 101 has always only been able to handle SD due to the design and capacity. 

and DIRECTV and Dish are both KU-Band. If DIRECTV's signal was C-Band, the dishes would be a lot bigger and less convincing to those who currently have it. I am confused to your reference that DIRECTV doesn't have Ku band. 

DIRECTV's HD and SD signals are ku band. (Satellites 99, 101, 103, 110, 119) 110 and 119 are technicially defunct.

I thought DTV HD was only on Ka band ie 99 & 103, while 101 is Ku band and is used for SD, local channels and directory info.  

No. Satellites 99 and 103 are the Hi-Def satellites and KA-BAND. Satellite 101 is standard-def and is also KU-BAND. Hope this clears things up. There is no particular reason why DIRECTV chose Ka and not Ku as the HD frequency. To finish, there is no plan to turn 101 into an HD satellite, mainly because of its design and capacity.

DirecTV has been shutting down their MPEG-2/SD-only feeds. Started April 2019 and would have already completed except some early internal challenges and then of course Covid.

The H25 is the only regular receiver (non-Genie) that is SWM-only.

At the moment the only MPEG-4 option for boats is the Intellian s6HD

Only working in USA would be expected. DirecTV is licensed for United States only. If USA only was mentioned because of DirecTV Latin America, that is another company and the equipment is not interchangeable.

Juniper,

     THX 4 input.....I know LATM SatTV market is different company but what I liked about the antenna I bought (KVH TV5) is the LNB's are already installed to receive SatTV South of the Bahamas into the Carribean & S/C America.   The Intellian s6HD and I think the KVH HD7 are both 24" dish that get HD/Ka band along w/Ku and would not work outside of the USA AFAIK.  The KVH coverage map only shows N. American coverage for their HD7 and I did not look a the Intellian coverage map.

        Being new to SatTV it's also a more expensive to go with the 24" solution over the 18" AND I had installation challenges on my boat with the 24" being too tall, so I went with the 18" not knowing/realizing how bad SD looks after years of HD cable.

   What is the significance of "The H25 is the only regular receiver (non-Genie) that is SWM-only."?    I have a SWM & would have preferred wireless Genie clients but was led to believe Genie only works with the HD/24" dish and was given/leased/provided the HR24  & H25 clients.    It all works (well except for the whole house DVR, but I'll start another thread for that story) just thought the evolution of things would lead DTV to have HD on Ku band but I guess not....

no KU band is expected for HD sats. For those who still have SD boxes, this is definitely something to worry about. I personally still have two HR24-100s, an HR22-100, HR20-700, HR24-500, two D12-500s, and one D11-500

You are correct the Genies removed the 18" dish from the setup menu so it has to have the HD channels or it will send the 771 error code since the SD only dish can't get them.

@shannon02 therefore the OP should just select "Show all channels" if they wanted SD as well as HD.

H24 and H25 are receivers, not Clients. They have their own tuner.

Mini Genie Clients, or RVU TV Clients, are extensions of the Genie. So they each steal a tuner from the main Genie and cannot work without it.

Mini Genie Clients are the only ones with a wireless model (C41W and C61W). But the main Genie will be wired itself.

HR24 and H24 are the last MPEG-4 boxes can use both SWM and the older multiswitch. So just clarified the H25 was SWM only so you didn't end up with the wrong install on your boat or home.

DirecTV service is intended to only reach the United States since it is only licensed in-country.

Since the 18" dish was for the old MPEG-2/SD-only feeds, it had to be removed as is outdated equipment that is discontinued. Already for some and soon all with have them as paperweights.

@detuch254 

Definitely due for the MPEG swap with the D12s and even the D11. If all in the home (same cabling/dish) than a Genie and 2 Clients (basic MPEG swap) would be more overall capability. But if separate setup (guest house, detached garage, RV, etc.) then see if you can get a HD non-DVR or 2 to be a more direct swap.