H20 vs H21 and more

[netman8762]

I just got Direct TV installed and have a couple issues. First no "OTA" input for my antennae. Does anyone know if the H20 has the capability to display all the new HD channels? It does have an Antennae in, correct?

Now I have noticed that very few of the new HD channels are coming through. I get the SD broadcast but not the HD. Anyone else have this problem?

So I guess I am asking if the H20 will perform as well as the H21 and can it do all the new channels....

Thanks!

 

[rad]

Both the H20 and HR20 boxes have built in ATSC tuner(s) in them, the H21 and HR21 do not. All fours boxes can receive all current MPEG2 and MPEG4 channels (aka all existing and new HD channels). Besides the receiver you need the Ka/Ku band dish (AT-9 (sidecar) or AU-9 (slimline) and a WB68 or WB616 multiswitch if more the four connections are needed from the dish. You also need to make sure that BBC (B band converters) are connected to the DBS in port(s) on the receiver and diplexors are not being used anywhere in the signal path.

 

[netman8762]

differences

What are the main differences between the h20 and the h21 series? I am seeing the h20's for sale on ebay for 30 or so. Is the h21 that is sent a rental and if so would one save money by purchasing and h20 unit to use instead of the h21?

 

[rad]

What are the main differences between the h20 and the h21 series? I am seeing the h20's for sale on ebay for 30 or so. Is the h21 that is sent a rental and if so would one save money by purchasing and h20 unit to use instead of the h21?

Besides no ATSC tuner in the H21 the biggest reasons that I know of are they run cooler, has a coax in addition to Toslink optical audio outputs and an ethernet connection (not used at this time).

For either the H20 from E-Bay or a new H21 from D* they're still going to charge you $4.99 for either the mirroring charge on the H20 or lease charge on the H21. You should probably try to get the receiver serial number and check with D* to make sure they there's no outstanding balance on it which would prevent you from activating it.