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

@Juniper I know I need that real bad. I don't want to go into a two year contract so I will probably buy owned equipment off eBay (I will verify RID, access card with DTV before purchasing). I will probably end up having 5 HR24-500s, an HR24-100, an HR22-100, and an HR20-700 because it has the antenna module. 

Now the real reason why I don't want to get a Genie is because I don't want to deal with a power inserter breaking all the time on the receivers and the fact that wireless clients are not reliable. I will stay old school because I have a good deal on my account (25 year old customer).

@detuch254 

You can't get owned equipment anymore. DirecTV went to a lease only model upon launch of the 1st Genie (HR34). Within the last couple of years they no longer allow reactivation of boxes obtained elsewhere. Boxes on eBay are either leased and user didn't understand (or were stolen) or are MPEG-2 boxes.

Personally I am fine with the later Genies (HR44 and HR54). Certainly avoid the Genie-2 (HS17) as that would be a huge downgrade to your setup, and don't replace an HDDVR with the Genie as they work together. But if you prefer only regular HDDVRs then definitely go with what works best for you.

You are not forced to wireless Clients with the Genie. Those are optional, and would have the cost of $99 for the wireless video bridge (WVB). MPEG swap would be for wired Mini Genie Clients.

Updated equipment wouldn't affect any deals you have. Only thing it would affect is 24 month service agreement (if upgrade instead of MPEG swap), and $3 for Whole Home DVR (since D11 means non-SWM system, unless on a separate setup).

Without the 18" dish in the setup menu the Genies searches for the HD channels which the SD only dish doesn't get so it sends the 771 error code doesn't matter what the guide is set to all channels or HD only.

detuch254.   Not so. First, there is no "101 satellite". It's a satellite slot that can accommodate multiple satellites. Second, the 101 slot already has an "HD satellite", T16 is located there. It carries both Ku and Ka transponders. Directv T9s is also located at 101. T9s is beyond theoretical "end of life" and when it is decommissioned, Directv's last announced plan is that they will completely phase out SD, and a "popular selection of channels" will be transmitted from T16. So with the correct dish AND an "HD" receiver (actually MPEG-4) you will still be able to get some service from 101. If we assume some of those available transponders will transmit the DNS national channels, there won't be room for many channels at 101. 

TexasBrit,

     THX!   AND that is exactly my point T16 is parked in the 101W slot and has the capability to transmit Ku and Ka signal....so what do the tea leaves say for DTV starting HD on Ku band?  I know purely hypothetical but the evolution, logically in my mind is folks want HD over SD so longer term wouldn't some HD channels start appearing on Ku band?   Today over 800 channels supposedly coming from 101W but that can be spread out over the other 2 HD satellites and do we really need another shopping channel, reality TV, etc.   So down sizing T16/101W as someone SWAG'd 800 SD channels to 50 doesn't take into account the other two satellites that are already carrying N# of HD channels...

    My KVH TV5 18" dish can get HD Ku band from DishTV today all I was hoping for was DTV would be offering the same at some point in the future and IF I was patient I would be rewarded....the ultimate question is when?

by the way, shannon is correct. without the option of the 18in round dish in the menu, the receiver will search for the channel set for the slimline dish and will give 771s. 

detuch254 - as juniper says, directv won't activate even "owned" equipment you might get from ebay.

I have a mix of wired and wireless clients, plus HR24s connected to my HR54. The wireless clients work fine. Also I have never had a problem with power inserters, either the stand-alone ones or the one built into my HR54. 

This is a customer to customer forum with little contact with DTV,  AFAIK DTV  has no plans to broadcast HD to the 18" dish as they are replacing the 18" dish with a swap order/upgrade.

To add to this confusion, it's possible Directv could change its mind again. They have been very slow to do anything (apart from getting off of 110 and 119). Each satellite slot has licenses for Ku or/and Ka and in some the ability to use reverse band. Directv could change some of the sat locations (with approval). There's a small group of people on the Edgecutter forum that try to follow all of this. 

Not so fast on this. Directv previously announced they would be transmitting "a popular selection of channels"  in HD Ku on 101 (from T16 I assume) for people with 18in dishes. They just made the first step towards this. See https://www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/directv-sd-hd-changes-coming.393644/#post-4618594  Of course, if your favorite channel isn't in the "popular selection" you will be (Edited per community guidelines). 

This means people with mobile dishes will not lose everything, of course a slimline would be much better because you can get the other satellites. 

TexasBrit,

      THANKS that's the kind of hope and logical outcome I thought might happen over time!  Trying to think of an analogy; dial up modems were replaced by DSL, then cable INET, fiber, and cellular data modems.   The majority of folks want more speed and want HD over SD.   Modem devices are relatively cheap devices that can be superseded and replaced.   Home based fixed 18" dishes are relatively cheap easy to replace yet they technology wise can receive Ku/HD.    Motorized boat 18" dishes not so cheap to replace so my hope was HD would come to Ku band & since my dish can receive it my investment is not lost....granted we are not the largest share of customers and satellites are super expensive to put in orbit but logic says HD is coming to 101W via T16

H25 will not work M5 or M7 as they use multiswitch not SWM. The UHD7 tracks DirecTv satellites 99, 101 & 103 simultaneously for SD and HD. UHD7 also tracks Dish Network satellites 72, 77, 110 & 119. Directv works all northern Bahamas to the Exumas and will not track any further south. Dish works from south Florida all through the Bahamas solid to St. Thomas BVI

H24 will work with both KVH M-series and TV-series systems…As the H24 is compatible with multiswitch & SWM

The H25 is SWM-only. Only one that is not a "Genie" type to be so.

Models H21 thru H24, or HR20 thru HR24 (including special R22 in the right setup) are both SWM and Whole Home DVR (DirecTVs brand name of Multi Room Viewing/MRV) compatible, but can still work on the old and discontinued system.