HR20 Arrived - What can I get with old dish?

sipester said:

So I finally got the HR20, but now they said an installer isn't available until January 25th. I currently have the eliptical triple LNB dish with an Aspen 4*8 switch. Can I connect it myself and get everything but the MPEG4 locals?

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You can get the MPEG 2 HD channels but not MPEG4.

Justinto said:

You can get the MPEG 2 HD channels but not MPEG4.

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That's excellent news and very different from what a CSR told me (no surprise there!). Now if I can get the OTA tuners working, then I really shouldn't be missing any programming.

sipester said:

That's excellent news and very different from what a CSR told me (no surprise there!). Now if I can get the OTA tuners working, then I really shouldn't be missing any programming.

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Correct.......

bobojay said:

Correct.......

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...until D* converts all the HD feeds to MPEG4.

Yeah i got my box yesterday, and waited for installer to call for appointment, but it turns out they did not set up an appointment when we put the order in. Still straightening that out, but in the meantime I have hooked it up in place of hdmi-broken H10, and initial impressions are pretty good.

sipester said:

That's excellent news and very different from what a CSR told me (no surprise there!). Now if I can get the OTA tuners working, then I really shouldn't be missing any programming.

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Correct, w/ the exception of HD games on your regional sports network, if it is one that D* is making available to your area on the locals spotbeam.

marksman said:

Yeah i got my box yesterday, and waited for installer to call for appointment, but it turns out they did not set up an appointment when we put the order in. Still straightening that out, but in the meantime I have hooked it up in place of hdmi-broken H10, and initial impressions are pretty good.

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Were you able to get the OTA update even with the old dish?

sipester said:

Were you able to get the OTA update even with the old dish?

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Your HR20 should be able to download the latest software update even with the older satellite dish.

This is excellent info everyone. The CSR basically said the HR20 was a doorstop until the new dish is installed.

I imagine others will be interested in this info if the installers are truly backed up for a month like they are here in the Twin Cities.

What kind of HD programming can I view while waiting for the installation of my 5 LNB Dish?

Question - Has anyone that has a 3-lnb dish & HR20 had any issues when calling to fire up the receiver? I mean in terms of them wanting to pull your distant networks (DNS)?

lolaker99 said:

What kind of HD programming can I view while waiting for the installation of my 5 LNB Dish?

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I haven't tried it yet, but per the above you should be able to get everything but MPEG4 locals or MPEG4 regional sports stations. You should still get the following with a triple LNB (I think you are out of luck with just a double LNB):

HD Package
HD Showtime & HBO
Sunday Ticket in HD
HD PPV
OTA HD

hiltsy855 said:

Question - Has anyone that has a 3-lnb dish & HR20 had any issues when calling to fire up the receiver? I mean in terms of them wanting to pull your distant networks (DNS)?

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Yes. I only have the 3 LNB and called to activate the HR20. The D* CSR asked if I had the new 5 LNB dish to which I responded no. They went a head and activated the account and informed me that I may have some problems.

Right now, no problems.

kaminsco said:

Yes. I only have the 3 LNB and called to activate the HR20. The D* CSR asked if I had the new 5 LNB dish to which I responded no. They went a head and activated the account and informed me that I may have some problems.

Right now, no problems.

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I am also using a Phase III dish with my HR20 and HR10. There are no problems, this is a configuration supported by the receiver (during setup of the receiver, just specify that you have a 3-LNB dish).

All HD programming will be available except your locals in HD (from the satellites). If you can set up an antenna to receive locals OTA, you're really not missing anything at all.

I do plan to put up a slimline at some point when I get a chance, but don't have any need until there is MPEG4 programming other than locals available.

bwaldron said:

... If you can set up an antenna to receive locals OTA, you're really not missing anything at all....

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Well that's the problem - I really can't do the antenna. I have DNS now for CBS & FOX. I'm wondering if they'll want to yank my DNS when I activate the HR20. I'd just like them to activate the HR20 (and leave DNS alone) until I can get an installer out to do the 5 LNB dish.

hiltsy855 said:

Well that's the problem - I really can't do the antenna. I have DNS now for CBS & FOX. I'm wondering if they'll want to yank my DNS when I activate the HR20. I'd just like them to activate the HR20 (and leave DNS alone) until I can get an installer out to do the 5 LNB dish.

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If your HD locals are available in MPEG4, they will get around to yanking your DNS. May be soon, may be awhile...but I don't think they will automatically pull them when you activate the new DVR. I'd stick to a "don't ask, don't tell" policy w/ D* on this.

bwaldron said:

If your HD locals are available in MPEG4, they will get around to yanking your DNS. May be soon, may be awhile...but I don't think they will automatically pull them when you activate the new DVR. I'd stick to a "don't ask, don't tell" policy w/ D* on this.

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Thanks. That seems like sound advice.

can you use current diplexer for OTA or does it need a seperate line?

dlt21 said:

can you use current diplexer for OTA or does it need a seperate line?

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If you're running the HR20 with the older phase III dish, your wiring can stay the same; diplexing is fine. However, you'll want to plan for running a dedicated line for OTA when you upgrade to the Ku/Ka dish.