DISH OTA locals

[RG24]

I am a new E* subscriber and my install date is set for 12/28. My ZIP code does not allow for locals from E* or D*. I connected my antenna into my new tv and I can see 18 channels with 5 or 6 in HD. The locals are from Bowling Green and Nashville. I had read that the 622/722 do a wonderful job integrating OTA locals in the programming guide, but you had to subscribe to locals to receive the guide info. E* is not letting me subscribe to a local package. So will I not be able to get guide information? Not being able to see guide info and record from ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox will make my DVR almost useless.

Please help. I only have until tomorrow to cancel my install.

 

[Peter Parker]

You can still record you will just have to set manual timers.

 

[EricBskiVT]

Not useless for OTA, just not as easy as you have to manually set up start and end times just as we used to do for VCRs.

 

[RG24]

Thanks for the help and fast responses. The differences of HD between E* and D* is not a great deal to me, but having locals and being able to DVR them like any other channel is a major obstacle to me.

I know that the Bowling Green channels would have no channel info even if I had a locals package, because they are not offered to anyone. The Nashville channels would if I could somehow subscribe to a local package. How would a D* DVR handle the OTA signals since you have to manually input the ZIP for the OTA instead of a automatic scan? Would that be my best option?

 

[garys]

I know that the Bowling Green channels would have no channel info even if I had a locals package, because they are not offered to anyone. The Nashville channels would if I could somehow subscribe to a local package. How would a D* DVR handle the OTA signals since you have to manually input the ZIP for the OTA instead of a automatic scan? Would that be my best option?

Don't know about D* (as this is an E* discussion site), but if you subscribe to a local package (you may be in Nashville), it does not matter where the OTA's come from you should get info for some if not all the OTA's. I do receive info for a local channel I receive via OTA which Dish does not have in it's current lineup.

 

[Peter Parker]

But he cannot sub to locals. of course he could "move" and then the info might show up after a scan.

 

[kb7oeb]

Maybe Dish can authorize your receivers guide manually because you can't get locals? Its not a technical issue, its an artificial requirement built into the software.

I have read that Directv does not require a local subscription for the OTA guide to function.

 

[dishcomm]

But he cannot sub to locals. of course he could "move" and then the info might show up after a scan.

"Moving" can be construed as fraud and if Dish finds out, the sub will lose those locals.
I know lots of people do "move" but it does sort of stick in my craw. I don't like it because it is dishonest. JMO...

 

[Peter Parker]

I too don't approve but I have been outvoted on this topic on more than one occasion.

 

[RG24]

I did some checking on the surrounding ZIP codes in my area. Believe it or not I would only need to "move" 1 mile (no joke) to receive Nashville locals. Since I will be a new customer, how long should I wait to "move" to atleast make it look good?

 

[EricBskiVT]

"Moving" can be construed as fraud and if Dish finds out, the sub will lose those locals.
I know lots of people do "move" but it does sort of stick in my craw. I don't like it because it is dishonest. JMO...

Rules that go against common sense are made to be broken, IMHO.