[MudMover]

So it appears (from everything I've seen so far...and heard) that D* will NOT be broadcasting Huntsville, AL DMA's HD local channels any time soon (like for the Olympics) so I'll be forced to go AM21 route with a Channel Master 4Bay antenna (not really that bad of a deal).....However here's my question: Since I'm pulling those signals from the antenna, I'm considering dropping my locals from Direct, am I required to have locals via Direct so the AM21 will actually pull in the program guide, allow me to DVR those antenna-fed channels, etc? I read I needed HD Access, which I do have...but I wasn't sure about the local channels.

I can pull in same quality non-HD off of antenna if I need to.....it just makes it easier having it all on Direct currently so I don't have to switch back and forth between the antenna feed and the Direct feed at my TV....

 

[curt8403]

So it appears (from everything I've seen so far...and heard) that D* will NOT be broadcasting Huntsville, AL DMA's HD local channels any time soon (like for the Olympics) so I'll be forced to go AM21 route with a Channel Master 4Bay antenna (not really that bad of a deal).....However here's my question: Since I'm pulling those signals from the antenna, I'm considering dropping my locals from Direct, am I required to have locals via Direct so the AM21 will actually pull in the program guide, allow me to DVR those antenna-fed channels, etc? I read I needed HD Access, which I do have...but I wasn't sure about the local channels.

I can pull in same quality non-HD off of antenna if I need to.....it just makes it easier having it all on Direct currently so I don't have to switch back and forth between the antenna feed and the Direct feed at my TV....

I think locals in SD are needed to get the OTA hd locals

 

[Jeremy W]

I think locals in SD are needed to get the OTA hd locals

Nope, only HD Access is required to enable OTA reception.

 

[Tiger62]

Since I'm pulling those signals from the antenna, I'm considering dropping my locals from Direct, am I required to have locals via Direct so the AM21 will actually pull in the program guide, allow me to DVR those antenna-fed channels, etc? I read I needed HD Access, which I do have...but I wasn't sure about the local channels.

I can pull in same quality non-HD off of antenna if I need to.....it just makes it easier having it all on Direct currently so I don't have to switch back and forth between the antenna feed and the Direct feed at my TV....

The main purpose of the AM21 is to allow subs in DMAs without D* locals to receive locals OTA. I have the AM21 because D* offers no locals in my DMA (Auburn, AL)

 

[JLucPicard]

If you've got a grandfathered programming package, you will likely lose that if you drop locals. Just a word of caution if that's the case.

 

[CJTE]

Also, last I checked, and this keeps being brought up.

If you're in an area where SD locals are offered, you cant 'drop them'. There part of your package. The only people who have the option of not paying for SD locals are people who are in an area where DirecTV didnt offer SD locals when they signed up.

The CSRs system simply wont let them remove locals from your package, they dont even see it as an option

 

[MudMover]

Also, last I checked, and this keeps being brought up.

If you're in an area where SD locals are offered, you cant 'drop them'. There part of your package. The only people who have the option of not paying for SD locals are people who are in an area where DirecTV didnt offer SD locals when they signed up.

The CSRs system simply wont let them remove locals from your package, they dont even see it as an option

I don't understand. I had to add them separately, but now they're part of my "package"? How so? They still show up as a separate line item on my bill. How can Direct TV force people to buy their local channels? You got a link on this? This doesn't sound right. I'm not saying you're incorrect...I'm just saying it doesn't make logical (or economical) sense to me.

 

[CJTE]

I don't understand. I had to add them separately, but now they're part of my "package"? How so? They still show up as a separate line item on my bill. How can Direct TV force people to buy their local channels? You got a link on this? This doesn't sound right. I'm not saying you're incorrect...I'm just saying it doesn't make logical (or economical) sense to me.

For the least amount of confusion without expaining every individual package:

It depends on what package you have.
All of DirecTVs newer packages include locals, if they are available in your area. You can not remove them.

DirecTVs older packages didnt include locals, so they had to be added seperately for anywhere between 3 & 6 dollars. If you have an older package and had to add them seperately then you can remove them.

People with packages like Choice, Choice Xtra, Plus DVR, etc, There locals are included in the package, and can not be removed. The only exception is somewhere where DirecTV doesnt offer locals. People who live in an area where DirecTV doesnt offer locals get packages like Choice_No Locals and Choice Xtra_No Locals.

People who get locals from DirecTV on one of the newer packages cant switch to the 'No Locals' package. Its simply not available in DirecTVs system for them.

 

[vikefan]

What is a normal charge for total choice? My bill says. TOTAL CHOICE-no locals - Charge$47.99 . I have locals offered to me but I have always used my antenna. The guide blends in with DTV and OTA with no problems at all. I think you can drop locals if you want to.

 

[RunnerFL]

What is a normal charge for total choice? My bill says. TOTAL CHOICE-no locals - Charge$47.99 . I have locals offered to me but I have always used my antenna. The guide blends in with DTV and OTA with no problems at all. I think you can drop locals if you want to.

At one time, when locals were an extra charge, you could. But now that locals are included in your package, all packages I believe, you can't drop them.

I think locals became included around 3 or 4 years ago.

 

[BattleZone]

What is a normal charge for total choice? My bill says. TOTAL CHOICE-no locals - Charge$47.99.

The "Total Choice" package hasn't been available to new customers for almost 2 years; it's been replaced, and not available for most people. You are grandfathered in with the TC package until you change something on your account, at which point you would be moved to one of the currently-available packages.

 

[arxaw]

At one time, when locals were an extra charge, you could. But now that locals are included in your package, all packages I believe, you can't drop them...

The locals for the DMA I live in are (SD-only and) at 72.5. If one has locals here and later moves to a house without LOS to 72.5, how does D* handle that? There must be a way to not charge for a service you can't get.

 

[texasbrit]

The locals for the DMA I live in are (SD-only and) at 72.5. If one has locals here and later moves to a house without LOS to 72.5, how does D* handle that? There must be a way to not charge for a service you can't get.

I'm not sure, but locals on 72.5 will probably be gone soon, they are all going to move to 99/103.

 

[arxaw]

But ours are still on 72.5 right now. So right now, how would D* handle a move to a no-LOS address be handled? Surely, there's some way to change the customer to a blahblahblah-NO Locals package if they can't get locals at their address. (?)