[Surveyor98]

I just sent this to Dish. MAYBE they will try to fix it.

QUOTE
I have a VIP622 HD receiver with a UHF antenna attached for OTA digital channels. The receiver has added the digital channels to the guide. My problem is with incessant, constant and extremely anoying OTA digital channel dropouts on only one or two stations in my area(Austin, Texas).

Before you jump to conclusions that it is just a problem with the broadcast station, you should know that when the antenna is connected directly to the HD Television, there are absolutely NO dropouts. I have checked all my connections, used different antennas, aimed the antenna in a different direction to get stronger signal and even tried an amplifier and then an atenuator without success. I also took the indoor antenna and put it on the roof to see if multipath was the problem. If anything, the problem was worse. Tech support even sent me a replacement receiver. The problem STILL persists.

I have come to the conclusion that the 622's digital OTA receiver is inferior to my Sony's receiver. I am very disappointed in the 622's OTA reception of the Local FOX station and want to know why Dish cannot fix this problem. It cannot be that hard to manufacture a HD receiver for the 622 that is of the same quality of the Sony's HD receiver.

 

[Bill R]

I have come to the conclusion that the 622's digital OTA receiver is inferior to my Sony's receiver.

I have exactly the same setup (likely a different Sony than you have) and I disagree with you completely. My 622 pulls in stations (with at least a 60 signal) that the Sony can't even see.

I am almost willing to bet that your problem is multipath and/or a station problem. It could be that you are getting so much multipath that you are seeing breakup. The reason that your Sony doesn't have it is that the tuner is not as sensitive. Yes, the 622 should handle multipath better but, in most cases, the solution is a properly setup outside antenna.

 

[julesism]

It's not Dish, it's not the 622. I have the same issues with Fox 7 (KTBC-DT Austin) on an embedded OTA tuner on my 42" Magnavox and an old Voom box.

A quick search and you'd see that this has been mentioned before:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=69576&highlight=ktbc

email/call the station and complain.

 

[Surveyor98]

It's not Dish, it's not the 622. I have the same issues with Fox 7 (KTBC-DT Austin) on an embedded OTA tuner on my 42" Magnavox and an old Voom box.

A quick search and you'd see that this has been mentioned before:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=69576&highlight=ktbc

email/call the station and complain.

I must have searched with the wrong keywords. Anyway, thanks for the info.

 

[julesism]

No problem man. It is rather frustrating when trying to watch FOX programming. I have 2 indoor terk directional antennas, 1 amped, 1 not. no matter which way i point, KTBC is erratic. During dropouts, signal jumps from 80 to 0 to 40 etc. All other DT's lock ~90% when I point at the towers and are stable.

 

[FLAsathappy]

Another thing that can mess it up is if the signal is too strong. You might try an atenuator. The two so-called "HDTV" antennas I have tried (a Terk and an RCA) were each about $30 and I am actually pretty pleased with them. They both contain a built-in amplifier, but that means you can also turn the gain DOWN if the signal is too strong. Anyway, just a thought.

 

[Ron Barry]

Also.. I would suggest a visit over to the avsforum.com and look in their HD locals section for your area. Lot of info and great source for problems specific to your area...

Also... with OTA.. Just because one OTA tuner works and another one does not, does not necessarily mean it is some software or hardware issue with the receiver. Like someone else mentioned.. It could be that one is more sensitive than the other....

 

[Surveyor98]

Also.. I would suggest a visit over to the avsforum.com and look in their HD locals section for your area. Lot of info and great source for problems specific to your area...

Also... with OTA.. Just because one OTA tuner works and another one does not, does not necessarily mean it is some software or hardware issue with the receiver. Like someone else mentioned.. It could be that one is more sensitive than the other....

Would I have multipath outside the home as well as inside? I tried the antenna on the roof, in the attic and inside. It was pretty much the same in each place. If anything, the reception was better inside than outside!