Hopper 3 and the OTA dongle

[Francorosso]

So, I'm not happy with the resolution I get watching sports on my Dish. I love most everything else but it seems the compression they use results in much worse picture quality than I had with FIOS. I have a OTA digital dongle and I was going to hook it up but this requires pulling a new cable and buying an OTA antenna. I want to ask before I get started, does this USB dongle pass through the full HD signal that I will get OTA? I have all the major networks in HD where I live in the suburbs of DC so the signal is not an issue, I'm just concerned cause I've never heard of a USB port being used to pass through several full HD signals at the same time. Thanks for any info, I tried Dish chat which is worse than useless, they waste my time.

Frank

 

[DWS44]

Yes...the OTA adapter passes whatever resolution the local stations are providing. Since it only has one tuner, it is really only passing one signal at a time. Be thankful you already have the Dish USB adapter, as they have become scarce now that they are out of production!

Since you mention the Hopper 3, be advised that there is currently a bug with OTA recordings on the H3, where most recordings are filled with audio skips and video pixeling. Generally, watching OTA Live is not a problem...just the recordings. Dish is aware of the issue and supposedly a fix is coming via s/w update "soon".

OH...and Welcome to SatGuys!

 

[mikieii]

So, I'm not happy with the resolution I get watching sports on my Dish. I love most everything else but it seems the compression they use results in much worse picture quality than I had with FIOS. I have a OTA digital dongle and I was going to hook it up but this requires pulling a new cable and buying an OTA antenna. I want to ask before I get started, does this USB dongle pass through the full HD signal that I will get OTA? I have all the major networks in HD where I live in the suburbs of DC so the signal is not an issue, I'm just concerned cause I've never heard of a USB port being used to pass through several full HD signals at the same time. Thanks for any info, I tried Dish chat which is worse than useless, they waste my time.

Frank

My experience, before my OTA Dongle "Died" or programming was altered by Dish to disable (Again ABSOLUTELY NO help from Dish) the Over The Air Signal was MUCH better than through Hopper 3. Clarity, resolution, color all markedly improved. Dish has the best "Box" with the Hopper 3 but speaking with someone who actually knows anything about engineering is impossible.

 

[mikieii]

Yes...the OTA adapter passes whatever resolution the local stations are providing. Since it only has one tuner, it is really only passing one signal at a time. Be thankful you already have the Dish USB adapter, as they have become scarce now that they are out of production!

Since you mention the Hopper 3, be advised that there is currently a bug with OTA recordings on the H3, where most recordings are filled with audio skips and video pixeling. Generally, watching OTA Live is not a problem...just the recordings. Dish is aware of the issue and supposedly a fix is coming via s/w update "soon".

OH...and Welcome to SatGuys!

Any "News" / "Hope" for an OTA Adaptor at all??
Thank you
Mikieii

 

[DWS44]

There have been rumblings of a new OTA adapter in the works, possibly with more than one tuner, but who knows when (if?) that will be ready and/or released. All pretty much conjecture at this point.

 

[Jacob Kluch]

It seems to me that DISH will put the kabosh on any OTA USB adapter future production, with the offering of the small packages, pick your own. They now have a full incentive to keep you from watching OTA local channels through the Hopper...

Do any of the other satellite folks offer OTA DVR? Or is there a non-DISH DVR that would record OTA local stations?

 

[navychop]

Plenty non-Dish OTA DVRs. TiVo and Channel Master come to mind.

I think DirecTV is moving away from OTA support.

 

[lgb0250]

Plenty non-Dish OTA DVRs. TiVo and Channel Master come to mind.

I think DirecTV is moving away from OTA support.

Yes, Directv has quit selling their OTA AM21 unit. Luckily I still had an OTA dongle from the last time I was with Dish

 

[bnewt]

There have been rumblings of a new OTA adapter in the works, possibly with more than one tuner, but who knows when (if?) that will be ready and/or released. All pretty much conjecture at this point.

Sure would be nice if this did happen. I would like to have a couple of these for my HWS units.

 

[navychop]

I wonder if this hypothetical dual OTA tuner USB dongle will only work with the H3. For either CPU/RAM, or business, reasons.

 

[ScottChez]

Dish should just use one of the USB based OTA Tuners already on the market today 3rd party and then just add Driver support.
Dish would not have to support the hard ware then, just the software.
The 3rd party company can even test and provide the driver to dish as they would make a ton of money in sales, Dish would just test and support the Hopper part of the software.
-
Example Hauppage ?

 

[Francorosso]

Wow I had no idea there's so much more to the story. Thanks for the replies, and the welcome to the forum. I bought a cheap ten buck antenna just to try out the dongle and it works. Picture much better than the Dish provided channels. Hope it continues to work.
Frank

 

[ChadT41]

It seems to me that DISH will put the kabosh on any OTA USB adapter future production, with the offering of the small packages, pick your own. They now have a full incentive to keep you from watching OTA local channels through the Hopper...

Do any of the other satellite folks offer OTA DVR? Or is there a non-DISH DVR that would record OTA local stations?

I couldn't disagree more. By customers being willing to use OTA on Dish, customers will stick around while Dish fights with the owners on prices and terms during negotiations. It puts the power(customers) in Dish's corner, and takes the negotiating power away from the locals and NAB. This is evident by Dish offering OTA antennas during their spat with Tribune. There is no win for Dish not allowing the OTA capability, even with the Flex package(it's helps even more if customers show they are not willing to pay the high price for the locals, come negotiation time).

 

[ScottChez]

The reason they sold out of OTA tuners is because of the past disputes. Every time there is local channel dispute people rush out to get one, OR is some cases dish gives them out for free so the customer won't leave.
They did not negotiate a good contract with the OTA USB provider and they ran out and now need to find a new vendor.
In Dish speak a new one is coming soon which could mean weeks months or years, Dish Networks track record is some things take a year. This issue has been gong on for about a year so I hope something comes soon but know one can know.
Hang in there is all I can say.

 

[Tampa8]

The reason they sold out of OTA tuners is because of the past disputes. Every time there is local channel dispute people rush out to get one, OR is some cases dish gives them out for free so the customer won't leave.
They did not negotiate a good contract with the OTA USB provider and they ran out and now need to find a new vendor.
In Dish speak a new one is coming soon which could mean weeks months or years, Dish Networks track record is some things take a year. This issue has been gong on for about a year so I hope something comes soon but know one can know.
Hang in there is all I can say.

I have an alternate theory. The problem the Hopper 3 is having with OTA is being fixed with manufacturing newly re-engineered dongles. Perhaps it's not just a software issue.

 

[JSheridan]

I have an alternate theory. The problem the Hopper 3 is having with OTA is being fixed with manufacturing newly re-engineered dongles. Perhaps it's not just a software issue.

I remember seeing that the Dish 'Beta Leader' posted here a while back that the H3 OTA recording problem has been fixed in the latest software that they'll be releasing 'soon''.

 

[BrewMeister]

I've noticed the OTA recording problem, thought it was just me. Glad to learn the "rest of the story"...

 

[ScottChez]

You might be on to something.

New Hardware would require new Software as in new Drivers. Also if it happens to have more than one tuner in the USB that would also require new software.
I am sure the beta testers are not allowed to tell us due to the signed NDA

"I have an alternate theory. The problem the Hopper 3 is having with OTA is being fixed with manufacturing newly re-engineered dongles. Perhaps it's not just a software issue"

 

[Foxbat]

Now that U331 is out and the OTA module is fully useful, a dual-tuner OTA dongle would be great for those few times that I'd need to record something off one of the non-Big4 affiliated channels like H&I or AntennaTV. Of course, the OTA Guide needs to be correct, but that's a different kettle of fish...

 

[MikeD-C05]

Let us have the Titan tv app on the hopper and use it for our ota guide information for all regular ota and sub channels and the guide data would be correct and would be 14 days out. The Titan Tv app is free to download so I don't see any reason why they couldn't add it.