Question about DVR and Local Cable Channels

MrTwix · 12-05-2007, 01:30 PM

I read somewhere on this forum where someone suggested that if you wanted to receive your locals in HD, since they aren't currently being offered in HD in your area by DirecTV, that you could go with the local cable company for the locals only.

I thought this a good idea and called my cable company to get them to install the basic (locals) package. They assured me these locals would be HD and not the SD I currently receive locals through DirecTV.

Question is: Can I plug my cable signal (Mediacom) to my DVR and record from the cable signal to my DVR? Right now I can record all SD or HD channels that I receive from DirecTV to my H20-700S (including the SD-offered locals).. When I have the cable guy come to hook up the cable version of HD locals, will I be able to record to my DirecTV DVR and then playback the cable locals at a later time?

I hope this all makes sense.. Any help would be appreciated. If I can't do this (record on my DVR from cable signal), then I might call the cable company and cancel the installation. Much of the time I am
not available to watch the live broadcast so I have to tape it. I don't want to mess with hooking up a VCR as this defeats the whole purpose of getting HD cable for the locals...

Thanks in advance!

MrTwix

deadhead68 · 12-05-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrTwix

I read somewhere on this forum where someone suggested that if you wanted to receive your locals in HD, since they aren't currently being offered in HD in your area by DirecTV, that you could go with the local cable company for the locals only.

I thought this a good idea and called my cable company to get them to install the basic (locals) package. They assured me these locals would be HD and not the SD I currently receive locals through DirecTV.

Question is: Can I plug my cable signal (Mediacom) to my DVR and record from the cable signal to my DVR? Right now I can record all SD or HD channels that I receive from DirecTV to my H20-700S (including the SD-offered locals).. When I have the cable guy come to hook up the cable version of HD locals, will I be able to record to my DirecTV DVR and then playback the cable locals at a later time?

I hope this all makes sense.. Any help would be appreciated. If I can't do this (record on my DVR from cable signal), then I might call the cable company and cancel the installation. Much of the time I am
not available to watch the live broadcast so I have to tape it. I don't want to mess with hooking up a VCR as this defeats the whole purpose of getting HD cable for the locals...

Thanks in advance!

MrTwix

You won't be able to record the cable signal with the Directv DVR. You'll have to use a VCR. Have you looked into getting your locals in HD via OTA? If you have the HR20-XXX receiver, you can record them OTA.

DeadHead68

MrTwix · 12-05-2007, 02:25 PM

I live about 85 miles from the nearest transmission tower over very hilly terrain. I am confident, since I already have a large antenna going from the ground to about 10' above my roof line that I cannot get clear signals for any local channel much less HD-quality signal.

I did try to obtain a waiver from the locals and was denied.

tumblingdice03 · 12-05-2007, 03:13 PM

Wouldn't hurt to put in for the waivers again...or a few more times for that matter. I am in a similar situation ( distance from the towers) and can't get any signal. At first I only got One channel to grant a waiver, but about a year later 2 more granted them and now I have all except ABC who still don't want to grant a waiver. Funny thing is I can't get them anyway so a waiver in my case wouldn't kill them. But at least I can get all the others.

12-05-2007, 01:30 PM	#1
MrTwix How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 28	Question about DVR and Local Cable Channels I read somewhere on this forum where someone suggested that if you wanted to receive your locals in HD, since they aren't currently being offered in HD in your area by DirecTV, that you could go with the local cable company for the locals only. I thought this a good idea and called my cable company to get them to install the basic (locals) package. They assured me these locals would be HD and not the SD I currently receive locals through DirecTV. Question is: Can I plug my cable signal (Mediacom) to my DVR and record from the cable signal to my DVR? Right now I can record all SD or HD channels that I receive from DirecTV to my H20-700S (including the SD-offered locals).. When I have the cable guy come to hook up the cable version of HD locals, will I be able to record to my DirecTV DVR and then playback the cable locals at a later time? I hope this all makes sense.. Any help would be appreciated. If I can't do this (record on my DVR from cable signal), then I might call the cable company and cancel the installation. Much of the time I am not available to watch the live broadcast so I have to tape it. I don't want to mess with hooking up a VCR as this defeats the whole purpose of getting HD cable for the locals... Thanks in advance! MrTwix

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12-05-2007, 02:25 PM	#3
MrTwix How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 28	I live about 85 miles from the nearest transmission tower over very hilly terrain. I am confident, since I already have a large antenna going from the ground to about 10' above my roof line that I cannot get clear signals for any local channel much less HD-quality signal. I did try to obtain a waiver from the locals and was denied.

12-05-2007, 03:13 PM	#4
tumblingdice03 NY Yankees:26 & counting Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 338	Wouldn't hurt to put in for the waivers again...or a few more times for that matter. I am in a similar situation ( distance from the towers) and can't get any signal. At first I only got One channel to grant a waiver, but about a year later 2 more granted them and now I have all except ABC who still don't want to grant a waiver. Funny thing is I can't get them anyway so a waiver in my case wouldn't kill them. But at least I can get all the others.