I think if you remove your local D* provided channel numbers from your FAV list, it may work. You'll still need to use the DASH to get to channel 2-1. If you only press "2", it won't take you to the OTA channel, since it needs to use the ATSC tuner.
DirecTV locals VS OTA locals...
Is there a way to disable my DirecTV locals and just use the OTA locals. In other words, when I press 2 on the remote for example. I want it to be 2-1 (OTA local) and not just 2 (DTV local). I don't want it to affect the other receivers, just mine...Thanks!
Greg
Greg
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Greg,
Bottom left button on the DirecTV remote is the dash for just these situations. If you're using a universal remote, I can't help you. I avoid the things.
Bottom left button on the DirecTV remote is the dash for just these situations. If you're using a universal remote, I can't help you. I avoid the things.
I prefer the sat provided locals because recordings use so much less disk space. I have looked very closely at both OTA and the sat locals I cannot see any real difference in quality. Some people report that their OTA picture quality is better though.
hmm, ota locals are hd, D* locals are sd.. yup, ota looks a LOT betterdavring said:I prefer the sat provided locals because recordings use so much less disk space. I have looked very closely at both OTA and the sat locals I cannot see any real difference in quality. Some people report that their OTA picture quality is better though.
Sorry about that, I had forgotten that SD still existsDavid MacLeod said:hmm, ota locals are hd, D* locals are sd.. yup, ota looks a LOT better
My HD locals went live about the same week as I got my first HR, but at that time the OTA tuners were not active on the HR20-700's. Sorry for the confusion.
lol, all is forgiven
fwiw, expected (estimated is probably better word) swap to HD locals for Bangor,ME DMA is supposed to be Dec 2008.
believe it when I see it.
fwiw, expected (estimated is probably better word) swap to HD locals for Bangor,ME DMA is supposed to be Dec 2008.
believe it when I see it.
In comparing HD locals I can see the difference.davring said:I have looked very closely at both OTA and the sat locals I cannot see any real difference in quality.
DirecTV's HD signal is compressed, the OTA signal is not. Its most notable in the overall color palette and saturation, but its also slightly sharper and less pixalized. Its easier to see if the watch the OTA signal for awhile (an hour or so) then flip back to the sat channel, then you'll notice the colors looked washed out and the image is softer.
I never believed that "HD-lite" stuff until I starting watching football in HD and comparing both signals, then I saw what everyone was complaining about - OTA is better to my eyes without a doubt.
At one time, many months ago, I could see an occasional difference in the two, but not any more. And, OTA broadcasts are compressed, MPEG2. All HD is compressed, even the highly touted BluRay.JMII said:In comparing HD locals I can see the difference.
DirecTV's HD signal is compressed, the OTA signal is not. Its most notable in the overall color palette and saturation, but its also slightly sharper and less pixalized. Its easier to see if the watch the OTA signal for awhile (an hour or so) then flip back to the sat channel, then you'll notice the colors looked washed out and the image is softer.
I never believed that "HD-lite" stuff until I starting watching football in HD and comparing both signals, then I saw what everyone was complaining about - OTA is better to my eyes without a doubt.
Sorry I should have said the OTA is not compressed AS MUCH.davring said:And, OTA broadcasts are compressed, MPEG2. All HD is compressed, even the highly touted BluRay.
I think it's that the bit-rate is lower... in any event I still see the difference, even my wife can see the lower quality of the sat channel and she is nowhere near as picky as me. Might depend on the TV and or broadcaster, its most noticeable on my local CBS (WFOR) while watching NFL football.
Thanks guys I just wanted to make sure. I didn't want to have to push the dash all the time. The reason I wanted OTA locals is because on my HR20, I only have 1 sat line in and with the OTA, I can record 2 shows (1 OTA and 1 DTV). I still need to run a second line but, I am trying to wait until next year...
I just added an external HDD, OTA only uses about 1.5% per hour. HD lils on D* just dont look as good as OTA on my 50".davring said:I prefer the sat provided locals because recordings use so much less disk space. I have looked very closely at both OTA and the sat locals I cannot see any real difference in quality. Some people report that their OTA picture quality is better though.
If you enter just "2, you'll still get the D* channel, even if you take it out of our favorites list. I have a similar issue with 21, our local CW affiliate. D* doesn't carry it in HD, so I use OTA, which is a21-1. I removed D*'s channel 21 from favorites, so it's no longer in the guide, but if I forget and enter "21" on the kepad, I get D*'s SD channel. I have to remember to enter 21-1 to get the OTA HD channel.n3ntj said:I think if you remove your local D* provided channel numbers from your FAV list, it may work. You'll still need to use the DASH to get to channel 2-1. If you only press "2", it won't take you to the OTA channel, since it needs to use the ATSC tuner.
Hey, JMII - I keep an antenna on my roof here in Boca almost exclusively to pick up Dolphins on channel 4 (DirecTV calls my market West Palm Beach). You most certainly can tell a difference in football, between OTA and DirecTV, bit on less action oriented broadcasts, not so much, I think.
JMII said:Sorry I should have said the OTA is not compressed AS MUCH.
I think it's that the bit-rate is lower... in any event I still see the difference, even my wife can see the lower quality of the sat channel and she is nowhere near as picky as me. Might depend on the TV and or broadcaster, its most noticeable on my local CBS (WFOR) while watching NFL football.
Its pretty easy for me to tell the differenc even on the CSI/Prison Break type stuff. Softer and not as sharp.
Can you imagine how Nationals would look if they had the bitrate of OTA?
Can you imagine how Nationals would look if they had the bitrate of OTA?
The DirecTV vs OTA HD locals is not just a compression or bit-rate issue. DirecTV takes the OTA local which is in MPEG-2 and re-encodes it to MPEG-4. That means the DirecTV HD local can never be better than OTA (ignoring signal strength issues). Since both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 are "lossy" encoding schemes, there are bound to be some losses in the conversion. In practice, with correct setup of the encoders the DirecTV HD local can be indistinguishable from the the OTA signal particularly on a smaller screen. Here in DFW on my 50in HDTV it is usually impossible to tell whether you are watching the DirecTV or OTA local, certainly with ABC and CBS. I can usually tell with NBC, and sometimes with Fox.
The NBC signal has the most problems anyway, even OTA. They transmit a second subchannel in SD and you can see the bandwidth issues sometimes on their HD feed.
Cities where DirecTV HD locals are relatively new seem to show the biggest differences between DirecTV and OTA. I guess it is lack of experience in setting up everything.
The NBC signal has the most problems anyway, even OTA. They transmit a second subchannel in SD and you can see the bandwidth issues sometimes on their HD feed.
Cities where DirecTV HD locals are relatively new seem to show the biggest differences between DirecTV and OTA. I guess it is lack of experience in setting up everything.
Our local PQ in DFW has gotten much better, IMO, over the last 2 years. NBC was wayyyy worse in 2006...the compression was horrible. I can't tell any difference.texasbrit said:The DirecTV vs OTA HD locals is not just a compression or bit-rate issue. DirecTV takes the OTA local which is in MPEG-2 and re-encodes it to MPEG-4. That means the DirecTV HD local can never be better than OTA (ignoring signal strength issues). Since both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 are "lossy" encoding schemes, there are bound to be some losses in the conversion. In practice, with correct setup of the encoders the DirecTV HD local can be indistinguishable from the the OTA signal particularly on a smaller screen. Here in DFW on my 50in HDTV it is usually impossible to tell whether you are watching the DirecTV or OTA local, certainly with ABC and CBS. I can usually tell with NBC, and sometimes with Fox.
The NBC signal has the most problems anyway, even OTA. They transmit a second subchannel in SD and you can see the bandwidth issues sometimes on their HD feed.
Cities where DirecTV HD locals are relatively new seem to show the biggest differences between DirecTV and OTA. I guess it is lack of experience in setting up everything.
You may be able to install a SWM to get both tuners working. You will more than likely have to buy and install it yourself (it's not hard to install), and you may have problems if you have older receivers. What receivers are you using on your system, and how many?bur1196 said:Thanks guys I just wanted to make sure. I didn't want to have to push the dash all the time. The reason I wanted OTA locals is because on my HR20, I only have 1 sat line in and with the OTA, I can record 2 shows (1 OTA and 1 TV). I still need to run a second line but, I am trying to wait until next year...
No antenna at the new house yet. So can (and yes I know that I am going straight to hell for asking) a cable signal (Insight in my case) be used in place of an antenna (OTA) signal and show up on guide? I ask as my local channels are b*tts and will not let Directv rebroadcast local HD channels in HD or give the go ahead to watch the same coast big 5 in HD directly from directv programming. If yes to cable signal and the guide, will only HD channels show up? Thanks
The cable channels will not appear in the guide nor would be able to view them, as the tuners will only decode ATSC, not QAM. You would need to connect the cable signal to the tuner in your TV or use a cable box to view them.rick52768 said:No antenna at the new house yet. So can (and yes I know that I am going straight to hell for asking) a cable signal (Insight in my case) be used in place of an antenna (OTA) signal and show up on guide? I ask as my local channels are b*tts and will not let Directv rebroadcast local HD channels in HD or give the go ahead to watch the same coast big 5 in HD directly from directv programming. If yes to cable signal and the guide, will only HD channels show up? Thanks
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