Droping Cox Cable after 17 Years and Ready for Direct TV. But need help cause im lost

[konfusion]

Ok so I’ve been with Cox cable for the past 16-17 years now. But recently in November I bought myself a nice TV setup and I’m not happy with Cox anymore. In my area at this time they barley have any HD channels and I’m paying around 140$ a month and I’m only getting 1 premium channel. So now I have decided that I need direct TV so I can really enjoy HD with my new TV setup.

Now here is where I’m getting lost. So many people talk about things that I have no idea what it is. So I would like some people to tell me what I would need equipment wise with my current set up and location to get the best HD experience I possibly can.

I live in Tustin, Orange County, CA

Here is what I’m working with

Television: Pioneer Elite Kuro 8th Generation PRO-110FD Plasma Full 1080p
Receiver: Pioneer Elite VSX-94TXH
Surround Sound: 5.1 (Possible 7.1 soon) Rocket Speakers by AV123
Blu-ray Player: Playstation 3 (60GB)
HD-DVD Player: Toshiba HD-XA2 1080p
Harmony 880 Remote

Now here is what I need. I need 2 rooms to have direct TV. In 1 of them I need to have direct TV with HD and DVR. In the other room I just need standard direct TV with DVR. I want to have the best quality I can and receive as many HD channels as possible including the local ones. So what will I need?

DIRECTV Five LNB Ka/Ku Dish Antenna for MPEG-4 Compression HD Programming
?
DIRECTV HR20 or HR21???
AM21 - ATSC Tuner??
Do I need an OTA Antenna for my area? If so which one? (I really don’t know what that is exactly) it would have to be an indoor one if they make that. I think I get all local HD channels in my area though.
Do I need a Multiswitch? If so which one?
Anything else I would need?

I just want to have the best possible experience with HD and I’m ready to order Direct TV. But I wanted to find out what to get and where to get it first.

I also would like to know the best place to get the best price to get DirecTV Premier Package with DirecTV HD with DVR in 1 room and Direct TV SD with DVR in another room.

The sooner I can gather all the information I need the sooner I can make the purchase and start really enjoying my TV and all the HD channels that I’m lacking with Cox cable.

[Michael D'Angelo]

First off welcome to DBSTalk

Punch your zip code into the link below and it will let you know if you can receive HD locals from DirecTV.

http://directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/localChannels.jsp?assetId=900018

If you do receive HD locals from DirecTV than it does not matter if you get an HR20 or HR21. If you do need to use an OTA than you want an HR20 if possible unless you want to wait until the AM21 is release for the HR21.

For the 2nd room you will need an R15 which is the SD DVR.

You will need a 5 LNB dish to receive the new HD channels and that dish has 4 outputs so you will not need a SWM. You will have two lines going to each DVR.

[Michael D'Angelo]

BTW how do you like the VSX94TXH? I am about to upgrade my receiver to it.

[RAD]

First the easy questions, don't worry about the multiswitch, DirecTV will install whatever is necessary to support the receivers you're installing. I checked for Zip Code 92780 for local channels on the DirecTV site and it ways for HD you'll get channels 2,4,5,7,9,11 and 13 in HD via satellite, any other channels you'll need to use an over the air antenna.

For over the air, D* isn't promising that you'll get a HR20, which you need for ATSC tuners, currently you'll most likely get a HR21 which doesn't have ATSC tuners. However the AM21 is rumored to be coming out the end of February/early March for $59 to add ATSC support to the HR21. As for what antenna you need check www.antennaweb.org to see what channels you can get and what they recommend, which will probably say you need an outside antenna. Does your TV have an ATSC tuner in it, if yes have you tried to hook up an antenna to it now to see if you can receive anything? Any chance you can put an antenna in an attic (if you have one) which would be better then trying to use an inside antenna?

For the 2nd room you might want to think about about getting a 2nd HD DVR even if you don't have a HDTV there now. I say that since the HR2X receivers are getting new features like Media Share and DirecTV on Demand (DoD) and the rumorer Multi Room Viewing (MVR), nothings been said about adding any of those to the SD DVR's. Either way you need to have 2 coax runs for the DVR's and if you can use an over the air antenna from the attic or roof it also needs a coax.

If you have broadband internet you might want to connect your HD DVR to the network so you can make use of DoD and Media Share (allows you to listen to MP3's, view JPEG and some video formats from a network attached PC).

Hope that helps a bit.

[MikeR7]

You do not need OTA. The local channels you will get:

Available Channels
Network Affiliate Local Channel # 3-Digit Channel #
(older receivers) HD Channel Alternate HD Channel
CBS KCBS 2 938 2 81
NBC KNBC 4 939 4 83
CW KTLA 5 944 5
ABC KABC 7 941 7 87
IND KCAL 9 945 9
FOX KTTV 11 943 11 89
MNT KCOP 13 946 13
IND KSCI 18 947
IND KBBC 20 952
IND KWHY 22 948
PBS KVCR 24 949
PBS KCET 28 950
ION ION 30 305
UNI KMEX 34 953
IND KXLA 44 954
TFT KFTR 46 955
PBS KOCE 50 956
TMO KVEA 52 957
AZA KAZA 54 961
IND KDOC 56 962
IND KJLA 57 963
PBS KLCS 58 964
IND KRCA 62 965
IND KBEH 63 966
IND KHIZ 64 951
IND KVMD 31

Standard Local Channels: You can receive these local channels using any DIRECTV® System. So sign up now for a package that includes local channels!

[konfusion]

ok good so i dont need an OTA. Those local channels are all i really need.

ok so should get the following?

5 LNB dish
I dont need OTA.
Which would be better Get the HR20 or get the HR21 and then in feb/march get the am21? I need abc/cbs/cw/nbc/fox to watch all the shows i wont admit too lol.

then i need an R15 for the other room. I would get the hd one but the persons whos room it is doesnt care for a new tv and likes her regular old tube tv just fine. Plus wouldnt it be cheaper to just get 1 HD DVR cbox? Also lets say i do get 2 HD DVR box. will that box work on a regular tv untill its upgraded??

Also where can i get the best deals on these boxes with warrenty/service of course and the best price on Premier service.

About the 94thx i love it. They have the first pioneer store right next to me and i had to go there to get it. Nobody but them had it in stores. i was going to get it at best buy but it wasnt in stock yet. same with the tv. But ya i need more hd channels. Im so freakin bored of scanning through maybe 15 channels of hd and seing the same dang movies over and over on HDtheater or whatever its called and watching nothing but star wars on HBO since its the only premium channel i have now since i canceled the others since i was paying close to 170-180 for having all channels. I also will need on demand. if direct tv has it.


Thank you so much for helping me out as well.

[Michael D'Angelo]

Since you don't need OTA it does not matter. The boxes are the same except one is black (HR21) and one is silver (HR20). Also the HR21 has a 2nd ethernet port that can be used as a two port network switch.

You can use and HR20/HR21 on an SD TV. Just set it to 4:3 and 480i only. The SD channels will be normal and the HD channels will be 480i and letter box but look very good.

You best bet to try to get a deal would be to call DirecTV. But I believe a lot of the deals are gone since all the new HD channels launched.

[eandras]

Since you don't need OTA it does not matter. The boxes are the same except one is black (HR21) and one is silver (HR20). Also the HR21 has a 2nd ethernet port that can be used as a two port network switch.

You can use and HR20/HR21 on an SD TV. Just set it to 4:3 and 480i only. The SD channels will be normal and the HD channels will be 480i and letter box but look very good.

You best bet to try to get a deal would be to call DirecTV. But I believe a lot of the deals are gone since all the new HD channels launched.

I am in complete agreement with the post above and would lso suggest that you get the HR20/21 DVR. It will save you in the future.

[CG Tustin]

ok good so i dont need an OTA. Those local channels are all i really need.

ok so should get the following?

5 LNB dish
I dont need OTA.
Which would be better Get the HR20 or get the HR21 and then in feb/march get the am21? I need abc/cbs/cw/nbc/fox to watch all the shows i wont admit too lol.

then i need an R15 for the other room. I would get the hd one but the persons whos room it is doesnt care for a new tv and likes her regular old tube tv just fine. Plus wouldnt it be cheaper to just get 1 HD DVR cbox? Also lets say i do get 2 HD DVR box. will that box work on a regular tv untill its upgraded??

Also where can i get the best deals on these boxes with warrenty/service of course and the best price on Premier service.

About the 94thx i love it. They have the first pioneer store right next to me and i had to go there to get it. Nobody but them had it in stores. i was going to get it at best buy but it wasnt in stock yet. same with the tv. But ya i need more hd channels. Im so freakin bored of scanning through maybe 15 channels of hd and seing the same dang movies over and over on HDtheater or whatever its called and watching nothing but star wars on HBO since its the only premium channel i have now since i canceled the others since i was paying close to 170-180 for having all channels. I also will need on demand. if direct tv has it.


Thank you so much for helping me out as well.

Hey,A fellow Tustin resident!

OTA is handy is you want the digital sub channels of the broadcasters (Direc t TV seems to only show the main channels (ex 2-1, 4-1 etc)

You will be very happy with Direct TV, I have since 2000. Had ATT cable, what a waste!!!

Welcome!

[Milominderbinder2]

Antennaweb is typically the least accurate site for determining what stations you will be able to receive. For instance, even if you live in downtown Chicago, Antennaweb says that there is only 1 OTA HD station. (And that one station is the one you will not be able to actually get!)

Antennaweb is funded by hundreds of companies including Comcast, Cox, and Time Warner Cable, as well as DIRECTV and Dish.

HDTV Magazine (http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast.php) is simple to understand and will tell you the truth. For instance there are really 28 digital channels in Chicago and you could get 27 of them. The official FCC (http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio/tvq.html) site is harder to use and can only display results if you know the actual licensing address.

Check out the HD DVR FAQ (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=817199#post817199):

Why would I want to connect a TV antenna to my HD Receiver? How do I do it?
→ Get Great Local HD Channels (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=1042341#post1042341)

Want even more channels? Go on to Part 2: Even More HD Local Channels (http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=870155&postcount=5).

- Craig

[konfusion]

question?

Can i get the OTA later on or do i need to get them all installed at the sametime? cause id rather just go without it for now to see how things look but if it sucks ill get the OTA equipment as well. is that stuff easy to install?

[tsbrady1]

you can hook up an OTA antenna anytime, assuming the box will accept an antenna input like the HR20, and to answer your other question you will have to get the 5 LNB dish if you want to get all the HD channels.

[konfusion]

Ok so i just ordered directv. Should have everything friday.


Do i need to get the HR21 add on if my tv has
Fully Integrated ATSC and Dual NTSC Tuners

cause my pioneer elite kuro Has that

not sure what that is exactly but i was thinking if i wanted OTA i would just get the HR21 then get the add on coming out in a few months. Then i found out my tv has Fully Integrated ATSC and Dual NTSC Tuners. Does that make a difference?

[JLucPicard]

konfusion,

If your TV has an ATSC tuner, you could connect your antenna directly to your TV and get HD locals that way. You would not be able to record them that way, obviously, but you'd have an easy local solution (assuming you get good signal) until the AM21 is released.

[FloorHead]

Ok so i just ordered directv. Should have everything friday.


Do i need to get the HR21 add on if my tv has
Fully Integrated ATSC and Dual NTSC Tuners

cause my pioneer elite kuro Has that

not sure what that is exactly but i was thinking if i wanted OTA i would just get the HR21 then get the add on coming out in a few months. Then i found out my tv has Fully Integrated ATSC and Dual NTSC Tuners. Does that make a difference?

If you want to control your OTA channels from the Directv box, get the addon. otherwise Your TV supports HD OTA so you could hook it up to your tv, But then you cant record.

[konfusion]

cool. cant wait to start enjoying this stuff on friday.

also where can i get a good price on a bigger hard drive to add to the dvr? i know hd takes up a lot of space and i dont want my showsand movies to start disapearing if i dont watch them in time

[FloorHead]

cool. cant wait to start enjoying this stuff on friday.

also where can i get a good price on a bigger hard drive to add to the dvr? i know hd takes up a lot of space and i dont want my showsand movies to start disapearing if i dont watch them in time

Found a Cavalry 1TB Hard Drive eSATA. 100-150ish hours of HD. $229
http://www.buy.com/prod/cavalry-1tb-hard-drive-dual-interface-usb-2-0-esata-external-hard-drive/q/loc/101/206805237.html?adid=17873&dcaid=17873

[MIMOTech]

If your Pioneer Plasma has an OTA tuner built in, you can intergrate it into your receiver for the audio. You should do this anyway just for the flexibility and choice.