losing DNS, E* will install OTA...what kind?

[terfmop]

Apparently I will be losing my ABC distant & my DMA does not have an ABC affiliate, nor has my DMA been listed with a SV ABC affiliate(that seems messed up somehow). I received a telephone call last night from one of the reps at E*. They mentioned that they would install an OTA antenna for me if the channels went away.

This leaves me with a couple of questions:

What type of OTA will E* install? I live in a place with antenna restrictions (re: roof mounted antennas) and I would want one that is somewhat obscure.

I can pull in an ABC affiliate (~45 miles) sometimes from an indoor antenna, but the station isn't in my DMA and thus I have no program guide data. Would E* be able to provide the program data?

[DoyleS]

sounds like a tough situation. You only get the guide data when you subscribe to locals. If there is no ABC local from the satellite, I am not sure how you would get that guide info. As to OTA antennas, Dish probably has some small antenna that attaches to the dish itself. I can't imagine they are installing any other kind of antenna. If that antenna doesn't have a clear site to your stations then it probably isn't going to do much good. Unless you get lucky with the Dish OTA antenna, you probably will have to work out your OTA antenna situation yourself.
..Doyle

[James Long]

I can pull in an ABC affiliate (~45 miles) sometimes from an indoor antenna, but the station isn't in my DMA and thus I have no program guide data. Would E* be able to provide the program data?If you pay for your own market LILs you should get EPG for anything you pick up OTA, including out of market stations. I'm in the South Bend market and was able to pick up WPTA from Fort Wayne OTA - the EPG didn't show up immediately, but I get the right data.

[Michael P]

If you pay for your own market LILs you should get EPG for anything you pick up OTA, including out of market stations. I'm in the South Bend market and was able to pick up WPTA from Fort Wayne OTA - the EPG didn't show up immediately, but I get the right data.

The HD receivers (both the current ViP and the older MPEG2 models) have OTA with guide data for any channel you can scan in (there are some exceptions). For exmple I live inthe Cleveland DMA and get some of the Youngstown stations OTA. I even got a coupleof the Pittsburgh stations for short periods when the atmospheric skip was up. These stations are scanned in. Even though the Pittsburgh stations are not currently skipping in, I can still see the EPG data :cool:

[tnsprin]

The HD receivers (both the current ViP and the older MPEG2 models) have OTA with guide data for any channel you can scan in (there are some exceptions). For exmple I live inthe Cleveland DMA and get some of the Youngstown stations OTA. I even got a coupleof the Pittsburgh stations for short periods when the atmospheric skip was up. These stations are scanned in. Even though the Pittsburgh stations are not currently skipping in, I can still see the EPG data :cool:
Lots of exceptions.

[CABill]

It seems more likely that you'll be able to tell us more about the OTA antenna if you tell DISH to come out. I'm assuming YOU don't own the roof (it is communal area for multiple units?). If it is your "house", mention it.

I'm not clear if the 45 mile ABC affiliate is an OTA Analog that you sometimes get with the indoor antenna for the TV, or an OTA Digital that you sometimes get with the indoor antenna connected to the 622. If the latter, you should be able to tell already if DISH provides EPG info or just lists Digital Service. If you can get a signal lock so the digital channel appears, you should at least see the station call sign. Usually, you would then be able to get as much EPG info for the channel as someone that was in that DMA. That might still just be Digital Service 24 hours a day. If the 45 mile ABC is analog, you wouldn't get EPG info unless the new antenna enabled you to get the digital version of that station. And then it might still be "Digital Service". It makes a big difference on what the distant ABC channel is - can you post DMA or Call Sign for it?

[James Long]

The ABC to which he refers is WRTV "6" out of ABC, IIRC.

Here is a link to the FCC's idea of the digital coverage area:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT401224.html

As for the analog, here's the other link:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=TV1057607.html

About the same, actually.

[CABill]

A search shows WRTV appears in the guide for someone in Bloomington (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=67116&highlight=WRTV+guide) so it is likely (no guarantee) that terfmop would get Guide info for the 6.1 channel as long as he can lock channel 25 (WRTV-DT). 6.2 seems less likely, but it exists at Zap2It. It isn't necessary to continue to be able to receive the channel OTA. My neighbor DMA's come and go as far as reception, but the EPG info is always available for me. Other DMAs may experience different results.

[terfmop]

all I get is "Digital Service" from WICD channel 15-1 (the Champaign, IL area). The call sign is available but no program guide data. I subscribe to my locals, but that channel isn't one of my 'locals'. WRTV out of Indy is about ~70 miles away......with a big tower, I might get that one...but a tower is not an option

[CABill]

I'd be pretty reluctant to even toss out a guess for WICD. If you seach http://www.dishchannelchart.com, you won't find it.
This seems to say WICD is the call sign for 15 in Champaign and also channel 20 in Springfield. http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=603860&highlight=wicd#post603860
I think Springfield 20 is WICS though (using Tony's channel chart).
That one is just too weird - best to see what someone in that DMA gets in the EPG. Until they have something more than "Digital Service", you won't.