Hi all,

Quick question. I just bought a Yamaha receiver with all the Dolby bells and whistles. It has Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, 6.1, etc. I plan on getting DirecTV and want to make sure I get one that will provide the highest quality with my receiver. I see that RCA has both Dolby Digital units and standard units.

Do I need a Dolby Digital system to receive Dolby Digital broadcasts from DirecTV? I thought DirecTV was digital. Sort of confused.

Thanks a bunch.

Yes, you will need to purchase a Dolby Digital DSS receiver. The DSS receiver will have Optical and/or Coaxial output. Directv has only very limited Dolby Digital channels right now. Including 3 or 4 PPV's, stars, and HBO on a partime basis. And The digital bradcast from Directv is different from Dolby Digital. Dolby Digital is a sound format.

I've had an RCA Dolby Digital Sat receiver for two and a half years. There has been no increase in the amount of Dolby Digital progamming. What's up with that? Over 2 years and all Direct TV has done is do away with the DD preview channel 800. Way to go..

I purchased the first Dolby Digital DSS receiver before there were any channels in DD. Well, maybe one PPV on a very partime basis. Showtime is supposed to start soon, as is all HBO channels. Probably by the end of 2001. They still are waiting for that bigger audience.

Just a plug for DishNetwork. They have one Starz channel and two Showtime channels transmitting DD signals (as well as PPV). Stan

to answer ti first question, you need a sat receiver that has a dolby digital out (opitcal or coax) Not all receivers carry the feature, Only the higher end ones. I have not watched a movie in 10 months that was in 5.1.

DirecTv currently has Dolby Digital movies on Starz East (not West, even if it says so on screen it's only two channel) and certain PPV movies. I'd like to see HBO jump in soon since they're supposed to be the leaders in field. Regardless, I generally watch a movie in DD at least every other week from one of the two sources.

Supposedly HDTV channels are coming for both networks that will also be full time DD. Later this year.

Technically, DD can also be 2 channel recordings, or even mono, it's not all 5.1. I don't know about Starz East at all, but it could just be old movies that don't have a 5.1 soundtrack. Your receiver should be able to do something with these in Pro Logic mode.