Equipment Question HR20

[rbmjr]

Hi all,

I have two HD DVR's (HR20). I live in a market where Dish and Cable both carry HD locals but DTV does not. I have tried every antenna imaginable apart from installing a lightning rod on the roof to pick up locals in HD...I can get only one consistently (CBS from 27 miles away).

Short question: My local cable company will provide HD locals & PBS for $20 a month. If I subscribe, is there a way to run their cable through my HR20's so I can record those local HD broadcasts on my DVR's? The cable company says I do not need a converter box for their HD locals as long as my HDTV has a digital tuner (both do).


Cheers,

 

[rad]

Hi all,

I have two HD DVR's (HR20). I live in a market where Dish and Cable both carry HD locals but DTV does not. I have tried every antenna imaginable apart from installing a lightning rod on the roof to pick up locals in HD...I can get only one consistently (CBS from 27 miles away).

Short question: My local cable company will provide HD locals & PBS for $20 a month. If I subscribe, is there a way to run their cable through my HR20's so I can record those local HD broadcasts on my DVR's? The cable company says I do not need a converter box for their HD locals as long as my HDTV has a digital tuner (both do).


Cheers,

No, the DirecTV receivers will only tune OTA ATSC channels, not any cable channels since they use a different standard. Have you checked AntennaWeb or TV Fool to see what types of antennas they recommend for your location and what direction they need to be pointed towards?

 

[wildbill129]

You might be able to "move" your service address to a nearby location and receive their spotbeams. Where do you live?

As far as the antenna goes, don't forget things like pre-amps, the make a huge difference. Your networks may be a combination of VHF and UHF, are you using an antenna that can do both?

 

[rbmjr]

Thanks guys.

I'm in the Tupelo, MS market (actually Starkville), about 80 miles from either the Memphis or Jackson locals market, which both have the HD locals. I asked a rep about our area and he had no clue. Guess I'll just continue boycotting NBC, ABC, and Fox since they stupidly think I can get their signals.

I checked Antenna Web for my address. It indicated I could get these locals OTA with a flat multidirectional antenna and preamp. Bought one for each TV and the best I can get is 55% signal with CBS HD IF there is no rain within 600 miles! LOL on the 600 miles part.

 

[charper1]

You can move to either and be in beam. HOWEVER, based on this current info shown, at under 30m, with the correctly selected and aimed UHF/VHF combo OTA antenna, you should have no problems getting your OTA signals. Not sure what a "flat" multi-directional means, but you need something like this - mounted above the roof line.

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.as...Antenna-(5884)&c=TV Antennas&sku=716079000734

OR

http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.as...M-HD-(CCS1233)&c=TV Antennas&sku=716079000659

 

[rad]

Just for grins, have you tried to see if you can get the NYC HD channels, check at DIRECTV: Local/Network Channel Availability to see if you would qualify.