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OTA Tuner Module

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S

· Godfather
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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Okay, watched American Idol last night using the satellite HD locals for Rochester-Austin-Albert Lea-Mason City. Picture quality was very poor. Lots of macro blocking, and colors were definitely quashed. It was a bit like watching a station that simulcasts 3 HD feeds...

So... now I really want the OTA tuner module for my Hopper. Anyone have any idea when we might see one of these?
 
R

· Registered
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263 Posts
#4 ·
sregener said:
Okay, watched American Idol last night using the satellite HD locals for Rochester-Austin-Albert Lea-Mason City. Picture quality was very poor. Lots of macro blocking, and colors were definitely quashed. It was a bit like watching a station that simulcasts 3 HD feeds...

So... now I really want the OTA tuner module for my Hopper. Anyone have any idea when we might see one of these?
Click to expand...
We have not received any updates on an ETA for this feature. We will keep you posted as soon as we have any new information.
 
gomezma1

· Godfather
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471 Posts
#5 ·
Too bad you don't have an AM21 tuner like "D". It works great. Channels look just as good as the "D" HD transmission for local channels. I deleted the "D" local transmitted channels from channel listing and added all local HD ones to it so when the weather gets bad we can at least still see local channels.
 
James Long

· Super Moderator
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#6 ·
gomezma1 said:
Too bad you don't have an AM21 tuner like "D". It works great. Channels look just as good as the "D" HD transmission for local channels. I deleted the "D" local transmitted channels from channel listing and added all local HD ones to it so when the weather gets bad we can at least still see local channels.
Click to expand...
DISH has OTA tuners either built in or installable on their other HD receivers ... they just have not added that option to the Hopper/Joeys at this time.

As stated often, the option is coming.
 
P Smith

· Mr. FixAnything
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28,115 Posts
#7 ·
gomezma1 said:
Too bad you don't have an AM21 tuner like "D". It works great. Channels look just as good as the "D" HD transmission for local channels. I deleted the "D" local transmitted channels from channel listing and added all local HD ones to it so when the weather gets bad we can at least still see local channels.
Click to expand...
This time it would be easy for them - they will add drivers, integrate streaming with ATSC system tables (PSIP, TVGOS for EPG) and pass the headache to customer to buy the USB 8VSB tuners in any store.
Adding to that big disadvantage DTV OTA tuners - castrated list of local channels.
 
S

· Godfather
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630 Posts
Discussion Starter · #8 ·
gomezma1 said:
Too bad you don't have an AM21 tuner like "D". It works great.
Click to expand...
I do have one. It just doesn't work with my Hopper. :) It would have been nice if I could have watched all the sub-channels with my AM21, but efforts to get DirecTV to add them to the guide failed.
 
James Long

· Super Moderator
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#9 ·
It should be noted that DISH does not provide EPG for all subchannels and the EPG they provide is not always correct (despite numerous efforts to get the right channel mapped to each subchannel).

But on the plus side one can watch any channel one can receive without regard to markets and zip coded setups. (On receivers where OTA is available, that is.)
 
khearrean

· Godfather
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#10 ·
James Long said:
DISH has OTA tuners either built in or installable on their other HD receivers ... they just have not added that option to the Hopper/Joeys at this time.

As stated often, the option is coming.
Click to expand...
Just curious here, but what makes having a built-in ota tuner any more difficult to have originally designed on the Hopper than say, my 211k or any other HD receiver? Seems like this would have been a no-brainer! I'm just saying....

Ken
 
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Stewart Vernon

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21,658 Posts
#11 ·
khearrean said:
Just curious here, but what makes having a built-in ota tuner any more difficult to have originally designed on the Hopper than say, my 211k or any other HD receiver? Seems like this would have been a no-brainer! I'm just saying....

Ken
Click to expand...
Who knows why companies decide what they do. I don't know why they made the OTA module separate for the 722K and 922 receivers... and not sure why they decided to not use that same module on the Hopper... but instead to wait and test USB OTA adapters later.
 
James Long

· Super Moderator
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#12 ·
OTA would be good for the uncarried subchannels and neighboring market channels but there is likely a tipping point where most subscribers are satisfied with their via satellite locals. Perhaps they don't know what they are missing but not having OTA doesn't seem to be a big deal.
 
J

· Hall Of Fame
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4,787 Posts
#13 ·
Stewart Vernon said:
Who knows why companies decide what they do. I don't know why they made the OTA module separate for the 722K and 922 receivers... and not sure why they decided to not use that same module on the Hopper... but instead to wait and test USB OTA adapters later.
Click to expand...
It's almost like DISH engineers figured they don't need the OTA tuner they have PTAT!.:confused:
 
G

· Godfather
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363 Posts
#14 ·
khearrean said:
Just curious here, but what makes having a built-in ota tuner any more difficult to have originally designed on the Hopper than say, my 211k or any other HD receiver? Seems like this would have been a no-brainer! I'm just saying....

Ken
Click to expand...
It's not more difficult, it's more expensive. I work for Dish as an installer and I hardly ever see anyone using the OTA ability built in to the VIP receivers. I would guess that less than 1% of Dish subscribers actually use it. So why make every single Hopper receiver cost more (even if it's only $0.50 each) to manufacture, when you could just add USB support for an off-the-shelf OTA tuner that someone else manufactures and just have to write drivers for it. Then you can slap a Dish logo on it and make a few cents when you sell them to subscribers that actually want it.

It's a much smarter business model, I have no problem with it.
 
J

· Hall Of Fame
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4,787 Posts
#15 ·
sregener said:
Okay, watched American Idol last night using the satellite HD locals for Rochester-Austin-Albert Lea-Mason City. Picture quality was very poor. Lots of macro blocking, and colors were definitely quashed. It was a bit like watching a station that simulcasts 3 HD feeds...

So... now I really want the OTA tuner module for my Hopper. Anyone have any idea when we might see one of these?
Click to expand...
You can see one here:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-forum/283981-trade-show-floor-thoughts.html
 
coolman302003

· 2014 NBA CHAMPIONS!
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#17 ·
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James Long
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