[HammerHead001]

I just added an AM21 to my HR22. It works great, easy set up and no need to switch back and forth for the antenna anymore. Plus the additional functionality to DVR off air programming.

In my market, Kansas City, like so many markets, there are quite a few more off-air channels than DTV offers thru their stream.

When I added the AM21 and plugged in my powered off-air antenna, the setup asked me for my zip code. Then it appeared to access the data stream for the off-air channels offered in my market. It populated all channels except one - AntennaTV (offered thru my local Fox affiliate). I scanned again to try to obtain this missing channel, and entered the zip code of the Fox station about 12 miles from my house. Keep in mind that this channel comes in clear when I plug my antenna directly into my TV. The rescan and reset still didnt populate the channel to the guide. So, I called Directv. The CSR was very helpful and said that he would escalate the issue to one of his engineers. I am not holding out much hope for resolution via that avenue.

It appears as if Directv doesn't have a slot in the channel guide for this station to populate. The CSR didn't have a list of all of the off-air channels offered in any market - so the above mentioned theory could not be confirmed with regards to there not being a "slot" for this channel in the guide.

In the meantime, all other channels in my market have populated as well as 2 weeks worth of guide info.

Has anyone had a similar issue in their market where there was an off-air channel within range that didn't show up in the guide? Does anyone have a list that Directv uses for off-air?

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[dettxw]

Your DVR does use Tribune guide data for populating the Guide and tuning OTA channels so if they don't have complete data you're SOL with an HR22.
You've covered one of the bases, made an attempt to get the Antenna TV subchannel added.
The other thing that you can do is to obtain an HR34, which in conjunction with an AM21 will actually scan for channels, allowing you to tune all channels with sufficient signal strength (like your Antenna TV). Now you may not get any useful data in your Guide, but you can watch the channel, just may need to go to the channel's website for a schedule and may need to manually set up a recording.

 

[Floyd]

I don't think your problem is related to signal strength. DirecTV gets it's local channel program information/listings from a service called zap2it(Tribune Media Services). Then they send this info up to the DTV satellite for everyone's receiver to download, based on your receiver zip code entered during the receiver setup for local channels. There is a way to enter a second zipcode for those people who have ajoining TV markets.

DirecTV does not allocate enough bandwith on their system to carry every locally broadcast station, and only carries the larger or most popular channels. I don't know how they decide which ones to carry, but there is market research available to show which channels are most watched. I suppose that if they got enough inquiries about a certain channel they would look into the possibility of adding that channel.

With your receiver/tuner you can only tune in the channels that DirecTV provides programming info for. I read that the HR34 will actually tune all the channels, but haven't comfirmed this, and don't know how those extra channels would display in the guide channel list.

You can check here to see which channels are available in your zipcode: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/localChannels.jsp?assetId=900018&_requestid=3064556

 

[HammerHead001]

Thanks for the reply. Is there a way to alert Tribune Media that this channel is missing from their list? I cant be the only one in my market with this issue?

If I am successful in getting them to update (i know a long shot) does DTV need to update their side as well or is it a passthru?

Thanks!

 

[Floyd]

Since Dtv is probably the one paying for this data, they would have to initiate any changes or additions to the service.

 

[Mariah2014]

The H20, which wasn't a dvr used to pull in more stations as well from ota. However, they had regular schedule listed for each it didn't have tv schedule info for.

I don't think your problem is related to signal strength. DirecTV gets it's local channel program information/listings from a service called zap2it(Tribune Media Services). Then they send this info up to the DTV satellite for everyone's receiver to download, based on your receiver zip code entered during the receiver setup for local channels. There is a way to enter a second zipcode for those people who have ajoining TV markets.

DirecTV does not allocate enough bandwith on their system to carry every locally broadcast station, and only carries the larger or most popular channels. I don't know how they decide which ones to carry, but there is market research available to show which channels are most watched. I suppose that if they got enough inquiries about a certain channel they would look into the possibility of adding that channel.

With your receiver/tuner you can only tune in the channels that DirecTV provides programming info for. I read that the HR34 will actually tune all the channels, but haven't comfirmed this, and don't know how those extra channels would display in the guide channel list.

You can check here to see which channels are available in your zipcode: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/localChannels.jsp?assetId=900018&_requestid=3064556

 

[HammerHead001]

What really grinds my gears here is that the only channel I wanted was the one that I dont get because of the short coming from DTV not updating or refusing to update the feed from Tribune.

They should put this scenario as a disclaimer in their marketing materials for the AM21.

 

[dettxw]

Thanks for the reply. Is there a way to alert Tribune Media that this channel is missing from their list? I cant be the only one in my market with this issue?

If I am successful in getting them to update (i know a long shot) does DTV need to update their side as well or is it a passthru?

Thanks!

As far as I know you have to go through DirecTV but I don't have a feel as to how successful people have been in the past at getting this kind of thing resolved. Without knowing for sure I guess I'm pessimistic about getting action from a large company. We'll know more when you report back!

One more thing, some people report that they get different channels on multiple setup attempts, that a missing channel might show up after a few tries. I'm missing one on the HR24-500 right now but multiple setup attempts haven't helped so far. I haven't gotten too worked up about it as the missing OTA channel is available on the HR34 (which scanned it) and also as a LiL (Local into Local, or a local channel from the satellite).

 

[billsharpe]

Thanks for the reply. Is there a way to alert Tribune Media that this channel is missing from their list? I cant be the only one in my market with this issue?

If I am successful in getting them to update (i know a long shot) does DTV need to update their side as well or is it a passthru?

Thanks!

Don't hold your breath waiting for DirecTV to add Antenna TV in your market. It's been missing from the LA market for about two years now, although I don't know about what may have happened at DirecTV since last October when I switched to FiOS, which carries that channel locally.

 

[mdavej]

While the list comes from Tribune (Zap2It), DirecTV doesn't necessarily add every sub-channel to their guide, even though Tribune lists it. For example, I use windows media center powered by Zap2It and get absolutely every sub-channel in my market with my OTA and cable tuners. With DirecTV, I was missing several on both my HR20's (with built-in OTA) and my AM21's. I don't know why DirecTV is so averse to carrying complete guide data or even just scanning all available sub-channels like every other tv tuner on the planet does, but they are.

Dish receivers like the 722k and it's tuner module do scan for all sub-channels. It may not have guide data for all of them, but at least you can watch them and set manual timers if necessary. That would be a good solution for DirecTV as well. If they don't want to carry the guide data on a few channels, I can live with that. Just let me tune every channel I can receive.

Many have reported that the HR34 does scan. If so, there's one solution for you.

 

[fluffybear]

The other thing that you can do is to obtain an HR34, which in conjunction with an AM21 will actually scan for channels, allowing you to tune all channels with sufficient signal strength (like your Antenna TV). Now you may not get any useful data in your Guide, but you can watch the channel, just may need to go to the channel's website for a schedule and may need to manually set up a recording.

you ever try and do a manual record on a channel which has "regular programming' as it's program description (exactly what you get with channels not appearing in the guide)? I have yet to get one to record...

 

[mdavej]

you ever try and do a manual record on a channel which has "regular programming' as it's program description (exactly what you get with channels not appearing in the guide)? I have yet to get one to record...

I wouldn't expect pressing Rec in the Guide to work, but can't you set a manual timer?

 

[davring]

Try adding a secondary DMA(market)from your next closest town, possibly that station may be listed there, especially if the station is midway between the two markets.

 

[Floyd]

I don't know why DirecTV is so averse to carrying complete guide data or even just scanning all available sub-channels like every other tv tuner on the planet does, but they are.

I can think of several reasons why they don't encourage off-air viewing:

1. Some of the channels in fringe areas are poorly received. This may result in complaints to CSR's, and make DTV look worse than cable for those channels.

2. DTV may have to pay extra to have the additional channel listings sent from Tribune Media Services.

3. Some metro areas have dozens of off-air channels, making the dozen from DTV look like slim pickins. Why would someone want to settle for a dozen DTV local channels and PAY $6/mo for them when then could get 40-50 channels off air for free?

4. It cost more to produce a receiver with off-air tuners, and DTV doesn't get any return for it. They probably don't make much money on the AM-21 either.

5. DTV likes getting the Locals fee from millions of their customers who don't want to have an antenna or can't receive the local channels well from an antenna.

 

[wilbur_the_goose]

Friends... The reason the channel isn't available is because DirecTV ran out of bandwidth for guide data. In other words, they won't allow the station to be seen thru the AM21 because they're out of room.

Your equipment is fine. This is just the way it is with D*.

I'm in the Philly DMA, and I think I'm missing at least 5 OTA channels. Got so bad I just dropped OTA on my HR20 and fed the signal directly to my TV. Two advantages - better tuner on my TV, and I get all the channels.

 

[mdavej]

I can think of several reasons why they don't encourage off-air viewing...

All good reasons. But they've lost at least one sub (me) partially because of poor OTA support.

Friends... The reason the channel isn't available is because DirecTV ran out of bandwidth for guide data.

That is one thing I have a very hard time believing. A single frame of HD content requires far more bandwidth than a few pages of text. I think they simply don't want to do it.

I'm grateful sat providers at least partially support OTA. Hardly any of their competitors do. But I still think they could make everyone happy at very little cost if all their receivers simply scanned for channels like the HR34. If guide data is too expensive or hard to manage, then I can live without it. Just give me the channels. That worked fine with Dish. It's a non-issue with cable since they carry all local sub-channels and guide data anyway.

There are only a couple of reasons I need OTA:

- Before the HR34 (D*) or Hopper (E*), it was the only way to record several networks at once. Those new receivers have solved that problem.

- Most if not all sub-channels aren't available any other way if you don't have cable. I realize they don't have the bandwidth to carry every sub-channel in every market. So I appreciate that the new receivers like the HR34 can scan them all. Hopefully they will keep this feature in future receivers.

 

[RunnerFL]

Friends... The reason the channel isn't available is because DirecTV ran out of bandwidth for guide data. In other words, they won't allow the station to be seen thru the AM21 because they're out of room.

Your equipment is fine. This is just the way it is with D*.

I'm in the Philly DMA, and I think I'm missing at least 5 OTA channels. Got so bad I just dropped OTA on my HR20 and fed the signal directly to my TV. Two advantages - better tuner on my TV, and I get all the channels.

It's not a bandwidth issue. It's the size of the database that the AM21 can handle that is the issue. DirecTV hasn't been adding new channels to the OTA database for at least a year now, probably more.

 

[mdavej]

It's not a bandwidth issue. It's the size of the database that the AM21 can handle that is the issue. DirecTV hasn't been adding new channels to the OTA database for at least a year now, probably more.

If the database really resides in the AM21 and is limited to a dozen channels or so, then DirecTV is really clueless. That makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[HoTat2]

Don't hold your breath waiting for DirecTV to add Antenna TV in your market. It's been missing from the LA market for about two years now, although I don't know about what may have happened at DirecTV since last October when I switched to FiOS, which carries that channel locally.

No actually DIRECTV has been carrying Antenna TV in its OTA database since it went live in the LA market on KTLA 5-2 back in Dec. of 2010.

You may be confusing it with the situation of "This TV" which was bumped to sub-channel 5-3 in the process that DIRECTV still refuses to add to its database and has now been missing for over a year and a half.

I receive it now on my HR34 which scans OTA, but with no guide information of course. Have to consult their online guide and use manual recordings for it, though certainly better than not receiving it at all on the other receiver models.

Although I think the THR-22 HD-TIVO scans off-air and gets it as well.

 

[RunnerFL]

If the database really resides in the AM21 and is limited to a dozen channels or so, then DirecTV is really clueless. That makes no sense whatsoever.

It's not "limited to a dozen or so". It's a huge database containing all of the OTA channels in the US. DirecTV didn't foresee the recent rapid growth in OTA channels nationwide.