HR 20 Install and OTA ??s

[iwusig]

Hello all, new poster to DBS but have lurked for a while. I have an install for an HR20 scheduled for 4/6 (Good Friday) and had a few questions.

I have been a D* subscriber for about a year and have been fairly happy. I have a regular DVR on one TV and 2 other receivers in other rooms. On my install I have scheduled the old DVR to be moved to one of the other rooms, and have the HR20 (As well as the 5lnb dish) installed for the Mancave downstairs, so that part seems all straight forward to me.

My questions are concerning getting my locals in HD. I live in an area where they are not offered on D* without an OTA. I have no problems buying an outdoor antenna, but I have no desire to install it (I can work a tv, dvr, receiver flawlessly but after that, I am not a technological mozart, not even an American Idol reject), will D* install one that I have purchased (for a fee no doubt) and incorporate it into the HR20?

And what are some suggestions for semi-decent priced outdoor antennas? I live in a 2 story house, tv in basement about 30 miles (61761 Area code) from transmitters, on a hill no buildings anywhere near. I've been on antennaweb but am having a hard time comprehending.

Thanks in advance for your help, I've learned so much just from lurking.

[houskamp]

Hello all, new poster to DBS but have lurked for a while. I have an install for an HR20 scheduled for 4/6 (Good Friday) and had a few questions.

I have been a D* subscriber for about a year and have been fairly happy. I have a regular DVR on one TV and 2 other receivers in other rooms. On my install I have scheduled the old DVR to be moved to one of the other rooms, and have the HR20 (As well as the 5lnb dish) installed for the Mancave downstairs, so that part seems all straight forward to me.

My questions are concerning getting my locals in HD. I live in an area where they are not offered on D* without an OTA. I have no problems buying an outdoor antenna, but I have no desire to install it (I can work a tv, dvr, receiver flawlessly but after that, I am not a technological mozart, not even an American Idol reject), will D* install one that I have purchased (for a fee no doubt) and incorporate it into the HR20?

And what are some suggestions for semi-decent priced outdoor antennas? I live in a 2 story house, tv in basement about 30 miles (61761 Area code) from transmitters, on a hill no buildings anywhere near. I've been on antennaweb but am having a hard time comprehending.

Thanks in advance for your help, I've learned so much just from lurking.

nice little DB4 should work fine.. or call solidsignal and they will help you..

[l3laze]

well im having that isssue too but only not getting one hd channel that i really want...but i think the 5lnb dish does ota...but you have to tell him to set it up...cause i have a guy comeing out weds to finish cause i didn't think i needed it....but when i search for it without it i see like 50 ch's i would get one being the one i want in hd...so i think he just runs another cable to your reciver...

[veryoldschool]

well im having that isssue too but only not getting one hd channel that i really want...but i think the 5lnb dish does ota...but you have to tell him to set it up...cause i have a guy comeing out weds to finish cause i didn't think i needed it....but when i search for it without it i see like 50 ch's i would get one being the one i want in hd...so i think he just runs another cable to your reciver...
The dish couldn't pick up OTA channels if your life depended on it. period.
You need a TV antenna not a SAT antenna [dish].

[Coffey77]

30 mi isn't that bad at all. Costs will be kept lower with that kind of range. I'm 60+ from Chicago and everything but 2.1 comes in crystal clear. I have a very large rooftop and a booster and also a rotor so I can fine tune and also pick up different markets to the North as well. That's a rather large install though and probably not one that you'd need. I actually had an antenna that fit on the back of the dish and it could pick up a very limited ammount of channels, don't forget that I'm twice as far and only have a single story home... solidsignal does a great job just by giving them your zip code and e-mail (or you can get more personal) and they will give you a list of what you "might" need and I used a bunch of their products to complete my install.

[l3laze]

how come i can pickup the OTA channels with my dish then?

[veryoldschool]

how come i can pickup the OTA channels with my dish then?
because your installer put a TV antenna on it.

[Milominderbinder2]

This is using the tips from the HR20 FAQ (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=76617)...

Antennaweb.org (http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx) says that 61761 can get at most these channels:
WYZZ-DT 43.1 FOX BLOOMINGTON IL 312°
WEEK-DT 25.1 NBC PEORIA IL 286°
WILL-DT 12.1 PBS URBANA IL 155°
WTVP-DT 47.1 PBS PEORIA IL 285°
WAND-DT 17.1 NBC DECATUR IL 170°
WRSP-DT 55.1 FOX SPRINGFIELD IL 208°
WMBD-DT 31.1 CBS PEORIA IL 287°

But they are in six different towns in all different directions from 13 to 57 miles away.

HDTV Magazine (http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/programming/broadcast.php) is easy to understand and shows that between the Champaign and Peoria DMAs you might be able to get 28 HD channels.

But they are in 11 different directions. You need to be able to go wide and deep.

You have at least 10 ways to do this. Cut to the chase and call Solid Signal (http://www.solidsignal.com/) like Houskamp said. Their prices are great and they ship almost instantly. They will also talk you through getting exactly the right equipment if you call them at: 866-374-4625.

The DB8 (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=TD-DB8) might give you good distance and just as importantly a wide range. But you give up 3 UHF channels (WILL).

Please call Solidsignal. I promise you will love it!

- Craig

[iwusig]

thank you everyone for the help, i appreciate it. another follow-up, is it difficult to get the OTA to sync with the HR20 or does the antenna feed directly into the tv and not the receiver?

[hasan]

thank you everyone for the help, i appreciate it. another follow-up, is it difficult to get the OTA to sync with the HR20 or does the antenna feed directly into the tv and not the receiver?

The antenna feed the HR20...the video output from the HR20 feeds the tv (either HDMI or Component)...the OTA channels will be in youf Guide just as if they are satellite channels, only with a grey background, to make it easier to tell them apart.

[iwusig]

fantastic, thanks hasan.