[dmneeb]

Need some help cutting through the confusion.

Had my new HR20-700 installed last night with the 5 LNB AT9 big dog of a dish. Thought I was going to just move my old Toshiba HD OTA box upstairs and have HD on that TV. Moved the box and it won't find the 5LNB dish.

After searching this forum I think I understand that the problem is my "old" box doesn't see/transcribe the new MPEG4 local HD channels.

So, my quest is to now obtain a box that will let me get the HD channels in the upstairs location without having to get the HD-DVR (which I simply don't need).

I have access to an old RCA 210 but I don't think that will work either.

The question. What non-DVR HD boxes work with the new dish to deliver HD locals without an OTA antenna?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Doug

 

[hombresoto]

The installer most likely ran a third line from the Ka/Ku (at-9) dish and coupled this new line directly to the line the HD was originally installed on. Look for a barrel (coax splicer) by your multiswitch, connected to another line bypassing the multiswitch. This is the line directly run from the dish spliced into the line going to where the INSTALLER initially put the HD service into. If there are only 3 lines coming to the dish and you have 4+ receivers, you can only have HD to one room, as you can have standard definition TV via a multiswitch with the other 2 lines to any number of rooms using a multiswitch. To ADD hd service to a second room, with 4 or more boxes, you will need 4 lines from the new ka/ku dish at least a 6x8 WB68 multiswitch for more rooms, and/or/if you have one or more DVR's.
Sorry, this wasn't very easy to read, after I read it.
On an HD upgrade for just one room a shortcut/cheaper way for the installer is to just run a third line from the dish, identify the line from the multiswitch going to the room where the HD box is going to be installed, disconnect the line from the multiswitch and couple it directly to the third, independent line from the dish. This saves cable costs by running a single rather than dual, and saves the time of installing/replacing a multiswitch.
This is what D* forces installers to do with the rates they pay and the price of cable.
MSB

 

[litzdog911]

...
I have access to an old RCA 210 but I don't think that will work either.

The question. What non-DVR HD boxes work with the new dish to deliver HD locals without an OTA antenna?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Doug

Right, your RCA will not receive DirecTV's new MPEG4 HDTV local channels. You need to get a DirecTV H20 HD Receiver.

 

[hombresoto]

Wow, I read the initial post so quickly I missed the real question. My mind tends to trail away into wiring. He's correct, the only non dvr receiver which can decode mpeg4 (hd locals) is the H20.

 

[dmneeb]

I am pretty sure there are 4 lines running directly from the dish to a multi-switch and then into the house. The old Toshiba HD box picks up in the Guide the listing of the HD local channels but will not display them.

 

[hombresoto]

You need an H-20 to receive your HD locals, the toshiba cannot decode mpeg 4

 

[rjt4re]

I am pretty sure there are 4 lines running directly from the dish to a multi-switch and then into the house. The old Toshiba HD box picks up in the Guide the listing of the HD local channels but will not display them.

If you really want HD in the second room you should log onto D*s site and see if they are offering the free H20. Since you just got an HR20 I assume you are already in for the 2 year commitment Just go to "Upgrade My System" under "My Account" and they will show what's available for what price.

Good luck!