Dish/DTV HD/DVR + OTA??

larrybob33 · 10-25-2007, 04:25 PM

a question for those of you with dishnetwork or directv.

i realize that HD local channels are not available from either dish or directv and that you need to get them with an OTA antenna. can i record my OTA local HD using their DVR? (ie. HR20 from Directv vs. VIP 622 from Dishnetwork) near as I can tell this is possible with the VIP622 but not the HR20. is this correct?

ISUFan22 · 10-25-2007, 04:28 PM

You can record OTA channels in the same way you record the DirecTV channels (I know nothing about Dish).

You just need to setup the antenna in the DirecTV menu and the HD locals will appear in your programming guide.

When the installer came out to hook up my system, he actually did that himself, even though I told him I could do it later.

brianhos · 10-25-2007, 04:29 PM

Incorrect. It is possible with both. The HR20 has at least 1 if not 2 OTA tuners. I am not 100% sure about the amount, but I am 100% sure it is there. I have multiple HR10-250's so I am not sure about those new fangled fancy HR20's.

I gotta call DTV up someday, I am just too lazy, and 99% of my programming comes OTA.

ISUFan22 · 10-25-2007, 04:39 PM

http://www.solidsignal.com/manuals/HR20UsersGuide.pdf

Page 78 of this PDF shows how to setup the off-air channels. For recording from these, you do the same thing you would with the DirecTV channels.

brianhos · 10-25-2007, 04:44 PM

How many OTA tuners does an HR20 have? Does it have 2? That is very important to me.

keepngoal · 10-25-2007, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by larrybob33

a question for those of you with dishnetwork or directv.

i realize that HD local channels are not available from either dish or directv and that you need to get them with an OTA antenna. can i record my OTA local HD using their DVR? (ie. HR20 from Directv vs. VIP 622 from Dishnetwork) near as I can tell this is possible with the VIP622 but not the HR20. is this correct?

Yes you can. I have the 622 with Dish. I can record a HD-OTA signal and watch a DISH HD program at the same time and visa-versa.

-keep.

ISUFan22 · 10-25-2007, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by brianhos

How many OTA tuners does an HR20 have? Does it have 2? That is very important to me.

I believe just the 1...why do you want 2?

bstegs · 10-25-2007, 05:01 PM

Can you do this with sd channels or hd channels on dish's sd dvr?

keepngoal · 10-25-2007, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by bstegs

Can you do this with sd channels or hd channels on dish's sd dvr?

huh?
But... Do you mean can you record OTA-HD to a standard dvr? No you can not.

-keep.

bstegs · 10-25-2007, 05:03 PM

but can i record sd over the air to it? then I could stop paying them for local channels.

keepngoal · 10-25-2007, 05:05 PM

I think you can, not sure. But if you stop paying them the local fee, your guide won't list programming for the locals.

-keep.

brianhos · 10-25-2007, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

I believe just the 1...why do you want 2?

So you can record 2 HD OTA shows at once. I use that on monday night recording the CBS comedies and Heros.

isuno1fan · 10-25-2007, 05:19 PM

Brian...I had 2 TIVO HR10-250s and recently changed to the 5lnb dish as well as the DirecTV HD DVR. I can assure you that you can record 2 OTA channels or any 2 channels at the same time with the DirecTV units as you could the TIVO units. In fact, I actually like the DirecTV units better with the exception of one feature. Although there are 2 tuners, you cannot switch between the tuners like you could with the TIVO HD DVR. I used to like switching between 2 games and then I could still rewind on the other tuner with the TIVO unit. That way I didn't have to needlessly record one of the programs. I could watch 30min of one and switch to the other tuner rewind and watch 30min of that broadcast. I could go back and forth during 2 games or any two shows and do that with the TIVO box. I can record 2 shows simultaneously with the DirecTV boxes...but I can't switch between tuners while watching live TV....only thing I miss.

Hope that makes sense.

ISUFan22 · 10-25-2007, 05:19 PM

Oh, we do that all the time, record 2 OTA HD shows at once. So yeah, it's got 2 tuners.

brianhos · 10-25-2007, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by isuno1fan

Brian...I had 2 TIVO HR10-250s and recently changed to the 5lnb dish as well as the DirecTV HD DVR. I can assure you that you can record 2 OTA channels or any 2 channels at the same time with the DirecTV units as you could the TIVO units. In fact, I actually like the DirecTV units better with the exception of one feature. Although there are 2 tuners, you cannot switch between the tuners like you could with the TIVO HD DVR. I used to like switching between 2 games and then I could still rewind on the other tuner with the TIVO unit. That way I didn't have to needlessly record one of the programs. I could watch 30min of one and switch to the other tuner rewind and watch 30min of that broadcast. I could go back and forth during 2 games or any two shows and do that with the TIVO box. I can record 2 shows simultaneously with the DirecTV boxes...but I can't switch between tuners while watching live TV....only thing I miss.

Hope that makes sense.

Dual Buffers, I use that all the time, makes total sense.

I guess I need to bite the bullet and just get 4 HR20's.

I really want to see Giada in HD.