OTA integration with VIP612?

[am_dew]

Where we live (Sacramento, CA) DISH does offer some local HD channels but not all of them - the local FOX and PBS stations are the ones we would watch that are missing from DISH's offerings in our area. We can pick both of these up using an indoor antenna. I know the VIP612 box has a digital tuner in it and so I will connect an antenna to the OTA input. We currently get the DISH local package. My questions are this:

1. Does the VIP612 have to be switched to a different input in order to see the OTA HD channels?
2. Can these OTA HD signals be DVR'd?

Basically speaking, I would like to know how it all works when you supplement DISH's offerings with local OTA programming.

Thanks!

 

[flyingsquirrel]

The answers are easy: OTA is incredibly well integrated.

1: No, They are just like other channels. It works the way you would expect it to.
2: Yes, although OTA HD recordings are in MPEG2 and take up more Gigabytes per hour than Off of the Dish, which is in MPEG4.

Overall, OTA integration is best feature of ViP DVRs.

 

[am_dew]

Good to hear, thanks.

With regards to the OTA signals being available just like other channels, what happens if DISH offers the same channel in HD as what comes in OTA? Or are they both available but on different channel numbers?

 

[garys]

Good to hear, thanks.

With regards to the OTA signals being available just like other channels, what happens if DISH offers the same channel in HD as what comes in OTA? Or are they both available but on different channel numbers?

All Dish locals when mapped down have -00 as their channel numbers, OTA has different one but none ending in -00. They intergrate into the system just fine and work with the search and theme functions as long as you have guide info for them. The OTA is also on it's own tuner so you can record three programs at the same time (one from OTA and the other two from the sats).

 

[scottcorinna]

One thing you'll find is that the OTA will give you a better picture, less compression, than the Dish feed.

In addition your PBS station is broadcasting 3 OTA channels. KVIE Public Television - Channel 6, Cable 7, KVIE-DT - Where You Get Your PBS

Scott

 

[am_dew]

One thing you'll find is that the OTA will give you a better picture, less compression, than the Dish feed.

In addition your PBS station is broadcasting 3 OTA channels. KVIE Public Television - Channel 6, Cable 7, KVIE-DT - Where You Get Your PBS

Scott

Thanks Scott. Yea, using the antenna we hooked up to "preview" the HD local lineup, we've seen the 3 PBS stations as well as other additional stations on the other locals as well and some stations we never knew existed until now. It's interesting to see that the local major network channels broadcast a second channel, which in all 3 cases is local weather 24x7.

 

[scottcorinna]

It is odd that local stations aren't promoting the second, third or even fourth digital channels more.

I work at an NBC affiliate in Portland, Oregon and we also use our secondary digital channel for weather. We do promo the heck out of it though.

Scott

 

[am_dew]

We got our HD upgrade/install yesterday. All seems OK except I can't pick up any of the local HD channels using the same indoor antenna I used to pick up the locals while directly attached to the TV. Is there possibly some option that is not set right or something like that? Or is the DISH tuner not sensitive enough to pick them up and I need a better antenna?

 

[garys]

Sometimes the scan passes over the channels, you may need to enter them manually.

 

[am_dew]

OK, thanks...will give that a try tonite.

 

[8bitbytes]

OK, thanks...will give that a try tonite.

Did you go into the HDTV setup and set the Analog Type to OFF-AIR and then go to the Local Channel Setup and run the scan for local channels?

 

[am_dew]

Ok, this is embarassing but I will say it anyway. My antenna was not even connected to the 612 box! I asked the installer to be sure he hooked it up and he said he did, so I just assumed all was OK. Once I found the time to do some troubleshooting I immediately noticed this. After hooking up the antenna and doing a scan, local HD channels are now there. Now I just need a better antenna to pull in a couple stations that are a little weak.

 

[8bitbytes]

Ok, this is embarassing but I will say it anyway. My antenna was not even connected to the 612 box! I asked the installer to be sure he hooked it up and he said he did, so I just assumed all was OK. Once I found the time to do some troubleshooting I immediately noticed this. After hooking up the antenna and doing a scan, local HD channels are now there. Now I just need a better antenna to pull in a couple stations that are a little weak.

Good Job!

At least you did a diagnostic run at your problem. Physical connections cause a lot of problems for many electronic items, computers especially.

Your willingness to admit this is actually helpful because someone else will have the same problem, see your response, and realize that they haven't checked all their connections yet.

What are you using for an OTA antenna?

 

[am_dew]

For now, we're using a Philips SCA050 which someone was getting rid of at work because one of the poles does not stand up on it's own. We have a Terk HD-TVA on the way.

 

[8bitbytes]

For now, we're using a Philips SCA050 which someone was getting rid of at work because one of the poles does not stand up on it's own. We have a Terk HD-TVA on the way.

I use the Terk TVA. It works fine and we are 30 miles from the towers.

 

[am_dew]

I use the Terk TVA. It works fine and we are 30 miles from the towers.

And we're about 15 miles away from the towers so I am expecting pretty good results. The problem I have is that the towers are in the same direction from the TV as our viewing area and with the current antenna, if someone walks in front of the antenna, the signal is lost momentarily. I am going to try and find a way to mount the TERK up near the ceiling...as long as my better half does not object to the asthetics of that anyway.

 

[Pinchhitter]

I am in the southwest part of Sacramento and get solid signals on all the channels (80% and above) except for Ch. 58 ( about 73%) and I have a small RCA amplified antenna hidden in the base of a ficus tree in the corner.

 

[8bitbytes]

And we're about 15 miles away from the towers so I am expecting pretty good results. The problem I have is that the towers are in the same direction from the TV as our viewing area and with the current antenna, if someone walks in front of the antenna, the signal is lost momentarily. I am going to try and find a way to mount the TERK up near the ceiling...as long as my better half does not object to the asthetics of that anyway.

I put a wall plate with a jack on the wall, ran the line down into the crawl space and over to the garage, and up into the garage attic to the Terk. it's about 100 feet of cable to the receiver.

 

[am_dew]

I am in the southwest part of Sacramento and get solid signals on all the channels (80% and above) except for Ch. 58 ( about 73%) and I have a small RCA amplified antenna hidden in the base of a ficus tree in the corner.

You may live fairly close to where I am (Greenhaven and Pocket). Last night I was unable to get a strong enough signal to pull in Ch. 13...may have been due to the wind?

 

[Pinchhitter]

You may live fairly close to where I am (Greenhaven and Pocket). Last night I was unable to get a strong enough signal to pull in Ch. 13...may have been due to the wind?

I am in the same location. It wasn't due to wind, 58 just comes in a little weaker than the rest. I can get it stronger by moving the antenna around but then I lose signal on the other stations. As long as I can get it at about 72% then I am fine. I do have problems with my 811 in the other room, constantly have to move the antenna for signal, might have to do with a picky tuner in it.