OTA channels on HD TIVO unit

GCRoberts · 10-27-2005, 10:21 AM

I don't have HD yet, but my wife and I are totally dependant on DVRs after having TIVO for a couple of years. Here in Buffalo, we won't be getting local HD channels via Directv until at least 2007. So OTA is the way to go. I'm thinking of upgrading to the current MPEG-2 HD TIVO unit...then upgrading again in two years to MPEG-4. My question is how the receiver will handle the local channels. To my understanding, non-HD Directv receivers do NOTHING to the OTA input. It's basically nothing more than a pass-through. In other words, it's not going to take the OTA signal and treat it similiar to a signal received from the Dish. So you can't "TIVO" your local channels. To get around that now, I purchase the local channels through my dish. However, if I have a HD receiver, I want to watch HD locals. So my question is this..."Do the HD receivers treat HD OTA channels similiar to a channel received via the satellite?" Can I TIVO a local HD channel as easily as I can a dish channel? I'm really hoping to hear from people that actually do this now with the HD-250 receiver. Thanks all.

gakman · 10-27-2005, 10:43 AM

I live south of Buffalo and use a cheap antenna from Radio Shack to receive the OTA channels.I have a hr10-250 unit with no problems recording the OTA channels. I am thinking of getting a higher end antenna. Sometimes I have to move the rabbit ears for better signal strength i.e. 80-90. Hope this helps.

Pakbackr · 10-27-2005, 12:46 PM

I have the HD-250 receiver, and the answer is yes - you can record the local OTA HD channels and shows with the same ease as those which come from the sat. The Tivo HD actually combines the sat and local channels in the same guide for you. OTAs are easy to pick out of the guide listing because they are always number something like 5-1 or 17-1

10-27-2005, 10:21 AM	#1
GCRoberts High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 38	OTA channels on HD TIVO unit I don't have HD yet, but my wife and I are totally dependant on DVRs after having TIVO for a couple of years. Here in Buffalo, we won't be getting local HD channels via Directv until at least 2007. So OTA is the way to go. I'm thinking of upgrading to the current MPEG-2 HD TIVO unit...then upgrading again in two years to MPEG-4. My question is how the receiver will handle the local channels. To my understanding, non-HD Directv receivers do NOTHING to the OTA input. It's basically nothing more than a pass-through. In other words, it's not going to take the OTA signal and treat it similiar to a signal received from the Dish. So you can't "TIVO" your local channels. To get around that now, I purchase the local channels through my dish. However, if I have a HD receiver, I want to watch HD locals. So my question is this..."Do the HD receivers treat HD OTA channels similiar to a channel received via the satellite?" Can I TIVO a local HD channel as easily as I can a dish channel? I'm really hoping to hear from people that actually do this now with the HD-250 receiver. Thanks all.

10-27-2005, 10:43 AM	#2
gakman High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 32	OTA Channels I live south of Buffalo and use a cheap antenna from Radio Shack to receive the OTA channels.I have a hr10-250 unit with no problems recording the OTA channels. I am thinking of getting a higher end antenna. Sometimes I have to move the rabbit ears for better signal strength i.e. 80-90. Hope this helps.

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10-27-2005, 12:46 PM	#3
Pakbackr High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 215	I have the HD-250 receiver, and the answer is yes - you can record the local OTA HD channels and shows with the same ease as those which come from the sat. The Tivo HD actually combines the sat and local channels in the same guide for you. OTAs are easy to pick out of the guide listing because they are always number something like 5-1 or 17-1