dish811 for off ait hdtv only?

[ilovehomes]

Can I use my jvc/dish 811 as an off air hdtv receiver without subscribing to satellite service? I tried to hook it up and it keeps looking for a satellite signal and won't let me into other menus. It says they are unavailable. what I wanted to do is scan for local digital channels. Does anyone know if this is possible without satellite subscription?

Thank you, Fred

 

[mdonnelly]

I think you need at least one signal from a Dish satellite to get past the "acquiring satellites" screen, every time you reset the box. I don't think it matters if you're a Dish sub or not, just so long as there's a signal from the dish there.

And

 

[Mr Tony]

you dont need to be a dish sub but the receiver does need to see a satellite signal like 119

 

[smikolaj]

I don't have a sub, I have it hooked up to the dish 500 that was on my house and the OTA tuner works, get NASA too - last time I checked. I am unimpressed with the OTA tuner though, my samsung and sony do a much better job pulling in and keeping stations.