OTA HD from antenna and DVR

I have the 942 receiver and may upgrade to the 622 soon for added HD channels.

I just talked to the local installer for Dish and it is my understanding that if you get your local HD channels from a seperate UHF antenna, and hook up to the back of the receiver, it will see the channels, but not be able to record them on the DVR. He stated I would not be able to record my local channels in HD until they become available through Dish...sometime down the road as I'm in something like the 138th viewing market.

Can anyone confirm this? I'll get the antenna and do this, but most of my television viewing is done from programs I've recorded on the DVR and then view at MY convenience and skipping the breaks. I suppose I will just have to change my viewing habits somewhat.

If you're talking about using the 622 to record OTA HD channels, rest assured the 622 DOES record using the ATSC tuner built into it. :D

You hook up the antenna to the 622, then go through a process to "find" all of the local digital channels, and you can add them to the program guide. From the program guide, you can record them.

And I've got the program on my 622 to prove it...

If you're talking about using the 622 to record OTA HD channels, rest assured the 622 DOES record using the ATSC tuner built into it. :D

You hook up the antenna to the 622, then go through a process to "find" all of the local digital channels, and you can add them to the program guide. From the program guide, you can record them.

And I've got the program on my 622 to prove it...

Just to Clarify, I am considering switching to DISH for HD reasons. I'm currenting on D* and use UTV. I want a HD reciever but do not want to go back on features of UTV (which i think is awesome for SD DVR).

I want a DVR with built in PIP in HD and i want to not have to pay for local HD since i get a great OTA HD signal. Are the HD OTA channels incorporated into the 622 and the guide for DVR?

thanks

Yes, you can have ota and record, but without paying for the locals you will not have guide info. The pip will work, but only with one of the ota channels at any time.

I talked with Dish technician tonite, after my earlier conversation with the local installer. I can, like Viggen 61 said, be able to record locals on the DVR with the locals coming from the UHF antenna.

So, I looked at antennaweb.org. The towers for my locals are spaced between 308 and 8 degrees off magnetic north. Any suggestions on a good UHF antenna that by centering between this 60 degree range will pull in all my locals in good quality?

The 942 will also receive and record OTA locals. As far as a single setting, simply buy an antenna rotar. This, with a digital, remote controlled rotator will cost around $100. You can rotate the antenna to the channel, then put in the station code so it will always return to the same position for each channel.

I have the 622, and use the heck out of my OTA HD channels. I can record, and I have the Guide on my TV, but i think that is because i also pay for the locals. This allows me to record two Local channels at once (sundays are for NASCAR, and Redskins), and my wife can watch Whatever she watches at the same time. It does not happen often but sometimes it does come in handy to have both OTA and sat. locals.

"It does not happen often but sometimes it does come in handy to have both OTA and sat. locals."

When I talked to the technician at Dish he said if I didn't subscribe to the sat. locals I wouldn't be able to record my OTA locals. Can anyone confirm this?

"It does not happen often but sometimes it does come in handy to have both OTA and sat. locals."

When I talked to the technician at Dish he said if I didn't subscribe to the sat. locals I wouldn't be able to record my OTA locals. Can anyone confirm this?

We record OTA signals through the Dish receiver all the time...how much more confirmation do you want?
You scan them in just like a TV tuner, and then watch and record them at will.
Maybe the tech needs to read the owner's manual.

When I talked to the technician at Dish he said if I didn't subscribe to the sat. locals I wouldn't be able to record my OTA locals. Can anyone confirm this?

He is wrong on this, what he probably meant is without subscription, you do not have guide info so to record you have to set up manual timers. This can be done, but it is a longer process.

I would get a Channel Master 4228 with a rotor. I have one mounted in the attic and it picks up great but directional....need a rotor for that much antenna variation.

Most OTA "digital" broadcast signals embed the programming information into the signal. It is picked up on the antenna and My 622 displays the OTA info on the channel guide. I get programming info on both on the Sat locals and OTA locals. No problem to record either based on the programming info.

Dish 622 does not use the embedded programming info. Dish uses a seperate resource for programming info, you must subscribe to locals to get it.
Without a subscription to locals you must do all manual timers for OTA.

Garys is correct, as was also pointed out by others. My earlier question above was not phrased correctly. Upon reflection this is what the technician said.

Because of my 60 degrees of separation between towers, at my location, in NoCal and the over 70 miles to one, it was recommended to me by a friend of a friend at work, who specializes in these things to purchase the following omnidirectional:

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?main_cat=03&PROD=AD-DB8

He used this antenna with his DTV setup and this was his comment: It worked in my living room sitting on the floor as well as it does on my roof. I get a signal in the high 80’s to high 90’s depending on the weather and the thing is “aiming” right at a tree!

That was good enough for me. I bought the antenna and it arrived today. I’m waiting for the mount and mast to arrive before I install it on the roof. I put it together earlier tonight, leaned it up against a chair about two feet from a sliding glass door, and pointed it probably at about 355 magnetic north. I scanned for digital locals in setup and it found 7. One is an Accu-weather channel that really gives detail info for my area. On the stations at magnetic north 8 degrees my signal is 95 - 100 and 68 with the two at 308. Once I get it mounted it should be great for all towers. And no need for a bulky rotor.

Right away I noticed the digital version of normal SD programs were much better than the feed from the Satellite locals. At the present I can only record one OTA local at the same time. I’m looking forward to when the locals are in digital (including when they broadcast in HD) so I can record two locals at the same time. When I went for a coupler at Radio Shack a salesmen there told me he had heard my digital locals for Dish were expected to be here between March and May. I’ll believe it when I see it.

I also ordered the 622 receiver, especially after reading a review which I posted a link to in the following forum here. My post is about 7 posts down:

http://www.highdefforum.com/showthread.php?t=31329

Tomorrow between noon and five the installers will be here with the 622. They will have to install a new dish 3” bigger (radius or diameter I’m not sure), and maybe a second dish, but the technician I talked to, before making the order, didn’t think they would need to. I’ll be paying $5/more/month with several more HD channels as I chose the Gold package.

In preparation I went up in my attic Tuesday night and ran one RG6 coax for my UHF in the wall, and a pull wire if needed for a second dish. I dislike having those coax cables run on the exterior and down walls and such!

As noted above, go ahead and pay the $5 bucks for locals.

1. It will provide you with programming info and the 622 is slick enough to integrate that programming info with your scanned-in OTA channels. Only PBS is lacking the programming info in this regard.

2. You will have the ability to record +2 local networks at once (one OTA and 1-2 sat).

I get great OTA reception (except ABC) and have long used a separate OTA box to supplement cable service. I've been real happy with the OTA features of the 622 since moving from cable to Dish a few months ago.

It appears I keep making posts that are not entirely clear in some small aspects.

The extra $5/mo will be what I'm paying for the addtl HD programming as I've always been paying for the Sat locals.

I can only record, until sat locals are provided in digital and HD, one OTA digital/HD at the same time. Sure I can record let's say NBC, ABC, and CBS all at the same time now...although I can't imagine ever wanting to do such a thing with that combo. But, two of those will be in SD format.

Dish must have the 622 software set to not display the local channel programming in the guide on purpose in order to sell more local channel subscriptions. I base this on the fact that I have both the 622 and a VIP211 using OTA HD. The VIP211 displays the local channel programming information in the guide and the 622 just shows Digital Service.

My guess is that Dish could enable this feature on the VIP622 with a simple software update, but will probably not do so. All of us 622 owners could start complaining but Dish tends to ignore customer complaints. For example look at all the complaints about the VIP211 HDMI problem and Dish's continuing promise of a software fix. Promises Promises.

:confused: :confused:

I now have the antenna up on a mast and the signal strenghts for my locals are between 88-100.

I have discovered something when trying to record an OTA signal with the DVR, when the OTA channels on the guide only show Digital Service (local PBS and some other station). If I'm tuned to one of those stations and hit the record button it says there's a conflict (there are none) and wants me to skip timers. I think this is because the guide shows these OTA digital service channels with no start or stopping point, and I do have some timers set for OTA HD channels that show in the guide later in the week. The only way I could get it to work was to setup a manual timer. Then when I went back later to view the program, for a title it showed 'Recovered' and the length was incorrect. It showed 1 hour and it was actually closer to 2 (which was the actual time recorded).

Dish must have the 622 software set to not display the local channel programming in the guide on purpose in order to sell more local channel subscriptions. I base this on the fact that I have both the 622 and a VIP211 using OTA HD. The VIP211 displays the local channel programming information in the guide and the 622 just shows Digital Service.

My guess is that Dish could enable this feature on the VIP622 with a simple software update, but will probably not do so. All of us 622 owners could start complaining but Dish tends to ignore customer complaints. For example look at all the complaints about the VIP211 HDMI problem and Dish's continuing promise of a software fix. Promises Promises.

:confused: :confused:

You do know that TV2 does not have access to the OTA tuner. So you need locals anyway.

You do know that TV2 does not have access to the OTA tuner. So you need locals anyway.


I only use the VIP 622 as a primary receiver. I have a VIP 211 as my second receiver. No TV2 being used on VIP 622. Both receivers are using an OTA antenna. The point of my post was that the VIP 622 does not display the programs in the guide, only digital service. The VIP 211 does display the OTA programs that are available in the guide.

If the VIP 211 can do it the VIP 622 should be able to do it also. Dish must be disabling the feature in the VIP 622 as I said to sell more local subscriptions.

To bobinchico:

I have found that I can only record a non OTA program and a regular Dish program by tuning to the OTA digital channel and hitting the Swap button and setting the regular satellite program to record. I then hit the Swap button back to the OTA digital station and hit record. Both programs then record. You can set the timer to record an OTA program or just hit the record button and it will record till you hit the Stop button.

As to the Recovered and the length was incorrect issue. This is a software glitch in the VIP622. At some point the VIP622 does some house keeping and any OTA digital program will show as Corruption Recovered with a one hour time length. This is not correct as the entire recording will be there. I have recorded three hour of programming and the next day the recording showed as Corruption Recovered with a one hour length, but all three hours of the recording was there.

I believe Dish has some software issues to resolve with the VIP622.

just got a sony 46" LCD 1080p and hooked up Dish...UNREAL pq...i am amazed! anyway, i've got locals on dish, have to have local hd...saw unidirectional antenna posting, how tough to install? thanks

...The point of my post was that the VIP 622 does not display the programs in the guide, only digital service...

The guide does show on my VIP 622 for 7 of the 9 OTA channels I receive. I can click on any of the 7, with guide info, and they will record just as if they were being provided by the satellite. I will try your suggestion about when I want to record on either of the two that shows only Digital Service on the guide.

...saw unidirectional antenna posting, how tough to install? thanks

You may not need a unidirectional. I will assume you have checked www.antennaweb.org and inputed your address to see if you might need a unidirectional.

The following is from a Super Moderator here in another thread:

"Go to www.hdtvpub.com and enter your zip. On the next page scroll down a bit to the OTA section. There will be a link to reports from people in your area and which antenna they used."

As to the actual installation of any antenna it depends on how mechanically inclined and comfortable you are on a roof, and knowing which direction to point the antenna by compass readings. Or you can just twirl it around while someone below gives you readings. It took me all of 30 minutes to install the antenna and mast supports.

The guide does show on my VIP 622 for 7 of the 9 OTA channels I receive. I can click on any of the 7, with guide info, and they will record just as if they were being provided by the satellite. I will try your suggestion about when I want to record on either of the two that shows only Digital Service on the guide.

Interesting information!

You are the first person that I have seen that posted that their 622 displays the program that is showing information in the guide. I will have to explore the situation further and see if there is some setting in the 622 setup menu concerning this.

Since my VIP211 is displaying the info, I wonder why the 622 is not.

:confused: :confused:

Here's a photo for the question about mounting the antenna.

I only use the VIP 622 as a primary receiver. I have a VIP 211 as my second receiver. No TV2 being used on VIP 622. Both receivers are using an OTA antenna. The point of my post was that the VIP 622 does not display the programs in the guide, only digital service. The VIP 211 does display the OTA programs that are available in the guide.

If the VIP 211 can do it the VIP 622 should be able to do it also. Dish must be disabling the feature in the VIP 622 as I said to sell more local subscriptions.

To bobinchico:

I have found that I can only record a non OTA program and a regular Dish program by tuning to the OTA digital channel and hitting the Swap button and setting the regular satellite program to record. I then hit the Swap button back to the OTA digital station and hit record. Both programs then record. You can set the timer to record an OTA program or just hit the record button and it will record till you hit the Stop button.

As to the Recovered and the length was incorrect issue. This is a software glitch in the VIP622. At some point the VIP622 does some house keeping and any OTA digital program will show as Corruption Recovered with a one hour time length. This is not correct as the entire recording will be there. I have recorded three hour of programming and the next day the recording showed as Corruption Recovered with a one hour length, but all three hours of the recording was there.

I believe Dish has some software issues to resolve with the VIP622.

Neither the VIP211 or the VIP622 will display OTA local information unless you subscribe to SD locals. This is how DISH populates the EPG.

As far as using the vip622 as a just one receiver you are limiting it abilities. The 622 can record 3 different HD broadcast simultaneously.

I had the 211 before and I then upgraded to the 622. The 622 has given me FAR less problems than the 211 did. THe 211 had numersous HDMI problems. The phone line portion never worked.

Interesting information!

You are the first person that I have seen that posted that their 622 displays the program that is showing information in the guide. I will have to explore the situation further and see if there is some setting in the 622 setup menu concerning this.

Since my VIP211 is displaying the info, I wonder why the 622 is not.

:confused: :confused:

My 622 displays programming information for the OTA locals. You must subscribe to SD locals for the EPG to populate OTA local information. If you don't you will get "Digital Service" in the EPG.

Neither the VIP211 or the VIP622 will display OTA local information unless you subscribe to SD locals. This is how DISH populates the EPG.

As far as using the vip622 as a just one receiver you are limiting it abilities. The 622 can record 3 different HD broadcast simultaneously.

I had the 211 before and I then upgraded to the 622. The 622 has given me FAR less problems than the 211 did. THe 211 had numersous HDMI problems. The phone line portion never worked.

My VIP 211 DOES in fact populate the guide with the programming information for my OTA channels. I do not subscribe to Dish locals.

Please give me an idea as to how you record three programs at once on the VIP 622. I have not been able to get more than two programs to record when I am recording an OTA program. One from the OTA tuner and one from the Dish programming.

Thanks for the input.

My 622 displays programming information for the OTA locals. You must subscribe to SD locals for the EPG to populate OTA local information. If you don't you will get "Digital Service" in the EPG.

Thanks

That is what I thought. I was just going to ask bobinchico if he subscribed to Dish locals.

However see my replay to your post about the VIP 211.

Here's a photo for the question about mounting the antenna.
how's this antenna work for you ?? ... been thinking about replacing my old antenna with one of these. How does it handle wind ??

how's this antenna work for you ?? ... been thinking about replacing my old antenna with one of these. How does it handle wind ??

The antenna works great for me. The closest tower from me is about 14.6 miles, then 36.7 miles, and the farthest is 72.1 miles with a 60 degree range between towers. I get 100 power readings with the closest two towers and mid to upper 80's with the farthest tower.

Haven't had any strong winds yet. It's not very high above the roof and it's mostly air, so I can't imagine I'll have any problems. I'll go look at it when there are some strong winds and see what it looks like. If I can see any sway I'll just add a clamp from the mast to the fascia board.

My VIP 211 DOES in fact populate the guide with the programming information for my OTA channels. I do not subscribe to Dish locals.

Please give me an idea as to how you record three programs at once on the VIP 622. I have not been able to get more than two programs to record when I am recording an OTA program. One from the OTA tuner and one from the Dish programming.

Thanks for the input.

You can record a program on:

1. TV1
2. TV2
3. OTA Tuner

If you are recording liek this you wont be able to switch channels.