DirectTV Locals subscription + OTA Antenna Possible?

[fidmas]

Hi Guys,

I have an H20 receiver connected to a Toshiba HDTV and an OTA antenna and rotor. I also subscribe to DirecTV Locals, which gets me some local Greensboro NC channels, both SD and HD. I actually live closer to Charlotte and can get a more and better set of DTV channels from the OTA antenna connected directly to the Toshiba TV.

My problem is the Tuner in the Toshiba TV kinda sux, frequently just "forgetting" virtual DTV channels, and needs to be constantly reprogrammed.

I’d like to connect the antenna to the "OTA Antenna In" on the H20, but I’m a little afraid of losing some of what I’m currently paying for. The current DirecTV guide is kinda strange to start with. For example, I see things like:

2 WFMY that’s really 2-1 Physical Channel 51 in Greensboro.
2 GB2 that’s the analog channel 2

The TV currently sees 2, 2-1 and 2-2 for that station.

Could this all be received by the H20? If so, how would this all look/work?

Thanks for any clues......

 

[William1]

You will get the channels from satellite and those from the OTA. You will get (for example) 2, 2, 2-1, 2-2

The first two will be an OTA and a Sat one. Where I live, the first is an HD feed (Sat), the second, SD (OTA). The dash channels are OTA

 

[fidmas]

Same here. First 2 is Satellite HD. Second 2 is Satellite SD. Those will still come from the dish if I understand correctly?

Thanks.

 

[Jimbo]

Same here. First 2 is Satellite HD. Second 2 is Satellite SD. Those will still come from the dish if I understand correctly?

Thanks.

Yes,
It is perfectly fine to get both OTA and D* provided locals and they will all show on the H/HR series guides.

Jimbo

 

[fidmas]

Yes,
It is perfectly fine to get both OTA and D* provided locals and they will all show on the H/HR series guides.

Jimbo

Cool. I'll give it a shot. Have any idea what I should expect to see on the guide in this case? Currently I have 2 HD and 2 SD from DirecTV. After connecting the antenna:
2 HD from D*
2 SD from D*
2 SD from Antenna
2-1 from Antenna
2-2 from AnTenna
??

Or will one of the (2 SD)'s go away? Sorry if this sounds dense.... I don't want to end up on the phone explaining this to DirecTV Support (ha-ha) trying to get SD locals back.

 

[goober22]

I'll use my NBC as an example:

You will see...

NBC SD from D*
NBC HD from D*
NBC HD from Ant 22-1
NBC -2 from Ant 22-2
NBC -3 from Ant 22-3

The D* OTA tuner will only do ATSC (digital) feeds and not the current SD analog, so you will not see the SD feed from the OTA setup if it goes thru the D* unit.

Note: you can split the OTA line and run one to the D* and one to your TV. It should not degrade the signal noticeably.

 

[fidmas]

I'll use my NBC as an example:

You will see...

NBC SD from D*
NBC HD from D*
NBC HD from Ant 22-1
NBC -2 from Ant 22-2
NBC -3 from Ant 22-3

The D* OTA tuner will only do ATSC (digital) feeds and not the current SD analog, so you will not see the SD feed from the OTA setup if it goes thru the D* unit.

Note: you can split the OTA line and run one to the D* and one to your TV. It should not degrade the signal noticeably.

Thanks guys,

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't making myself *more* trouble.

The ant is already amplified and split to the TVs, so that’s not a problem. In fact, none of this would be even needed if the Toshiba TV ATSC tuner section wasn’t so unpredictable.

 

[dishrich]

I'll use my NBC as an example:

You will see...

NBC SD from D*
NBC HD from D*

Actually, the local NBC HD from D* is listed first, THEN the SD version from D* is next (then the OTA's)...

 

[fidmas]

Actually, the local NBC HD from D* is listed first, THEN the SD version from D* is next (then the OTA's)...

Yeah. That's what I currently see too. Example:
2 WFMY = Local HD CBS channel from D*
2 GB2 = Local SD CBS (Same station) channel from D*

I'll let you all know how this goes after I get the time to play with it later tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks again.

 

[Bob Nielsen]

You can hide the SD version in the guide if you wish (at least with the HR2x models).

If your H20 is a -600, it has a great OTA tuner.

 

[fidmas]

You can hide the SD version in the guide if you wish (at least with the HR2x models).

If your H20 is a -600, it has a great OTA tuner.

The "-600" on the back/bottom someplace or findable from the menu?

 

[Ronnie-]

You can find it on the front. Under the flip down cover on the bottom right I think

 

[Jimbo]

You can find it on the front. Under the flip down cover on the bottom right I think

You can also find it in the menu as well.
Menu > Set Up > System Set Up > Info and Test > Select

Should show Manufacture : 100, 700, 600 or something like that and the Model will be the H20, HR20, H21 HR 21 , HR22 , you get the idea.

This screen will tell you a variety of things about the rec.
Access Card #, Rec #, Software, Internal Temp.

Jimbo

 

[fidmas]

You can also find it in the menu as well.
Menu > Set Up > System Set Up > Info and Test > Select

Should show Manufacture : 100, 700, 600 or something like that and the Model will be the H20, HR20, H21 HR 21 , HR22 , you get the idea.

This screen will tell you a variety of things about the rec.
Access Card #, Rec #, Software, Internal Temp.

Jimbo

I see it.
Manufacture : 100
Model: H20

That mean the OTA tuner sux compaired to the 600?

 

[fidmas]

Worked like a charm so far. Thanks guys. One other quick question, if anyone has any idea. I have several other stations that require turning the antenna. I didn't see any way to manually add channels, or assign physical digital channels, I assume turning the antenna and scanning again, would wipe out the channels it already found, from the original direction.

It would be nice if I'm wrong, but if the above is correct, I can always just use the TV's tunner for those special cases.

 

[Bob Nielsen]

I see it.
Manufacture : 100
Model: H20

That mean the OTA tuner sux compaired to the 600?

No, just that the -600 has the best tuner of all the Directv receivers. It also has other features, like a case which gets hot enough to fry an egg.

-100 it manufactured by Thomson/RCA/Audiovox
-600 is manufactured by LG

 

[fidmas]

No, just that the -600 has the best tuner of all the Directv receivers. It also has other features, like a case which gets hot enough to fry an egg.

-100 it manufactured by Thomson/RCA/Audiovox
-600 is manufactured by LG

I see. I have several Zenith (LG now I guess) DTT901 converter boxes. REALLY nice tuner. From reviews, they can't be expected to last very long. :-(

 

[fidmas]

Actually, the local NBC HD from D* is listed first, THEN the SD version from D* is next (then the OTA's)...

Not that it really matters, but I’ve noticed that Program Information for channels received by the DirecTV tuner, from the antenna, simply says "Regular Schedule". When the TV’s tuner tunes the same channels, I see Title and Description. Anyone else notice this?

 

[fidmas]

Not that it really matters, but I’ve noticed that Program Information for channels received by the DirecTV tuner, from the antenna, simply says "Regular Schedule". When the TV’s tuner tunes the same channels, I see Title and Description. Anyone else notice this?

I see now that the D* Tuner gets its program information from the satellite only based on Zip Code. Not from the OTA signal, as the TV tuner does.

Thank you for all your help,
fidmas