[bmanner]

Does anyone know if the OTA capability on a 6000 receiver will work with out having Dish service?

 

[tnsprin]

Works fine without service. Obviously will not have guide data.

 

[DP1]

Does still require a satellite signal though too right? Not a subscription to any programming.. just a signal.

At least thats how it always used to be if you wanted to use it for OTA only.

 

[Stewart Vernon]

The 6000u definately works for OTA when deactivated, and never had OTA EPG info anyway so no problems there.

I'm not sure you even have to connect it to satellite to use the OTA, though it may cause difficulty when accessing the EPG for instance, but if you manually change the channels by typing them in you may be ok. I have not tried using it without at least being connected to the satellite, so that's why I can't say 100%.

 

[tnsprin]

Does still require a satellite signal though too right? Not a subscription to any programming.. just a signal.

At least thats how it always used to be if you wanted to use it for OTA only.

No it doesnt' require any satellite connection, may be unique in this.

 

[bmanner]

No it doesnt' require any satellite connection, may be unique in this.

Thanks for all of the responses. I am looking for other alternatives for HD service since I lost my CBS Distant feed. However I still want to use my 6000 receiver for OTA.

 

[Stewart Vernon]

Thanks for all of the responses. I am looking for other alternatives for HD service since I lost my CBS Distant feed. However I still want to use my 6000 receiver for OTA.

I thought perhaps you were considering acquiring a 6000 receiver... If you already have one, you can verify this functionality yourself to be sure. Just disconnect the satellite input from the back of the receiver and verify that you can still watch OTA.

 

[bmanner]

I thought perhaps you were considering acquiring a 6000 receiver... If you already have one, you can verify this functionality yourself to be sure. Just disconnect the satellite input from the back of the receiver and verify that you can still watch OTA.

Good idea! So I disconnected the sat connection and all I get is the "Acquiring Signal" screen. I waited..and...waited. Unless there is a way to halt out of this mode, no OTA capability.

 

[DP1]

Good idea! So I disconnected the sat connection and all I get is the "Acquiring Signal" screen. I waited..and...waited. Unless there is a way to halt out of this mode, no OTA capability.

Well like I say.. thats how it used to be. I had one of the first 6000's to roll off the line in June '00 and this question was asked a lot before they finally came out with the 811, 921 etc.

But I hadnt been paying attention with the goings on with the 6000 for years now so I wasnt sure if that'd changed somehow.

You could cancel your subscription but the unit still had to be hooked to a properly aimed dish.

 

[Stewart Vernon]

Good idea! So I disconnected the sat connection and all I get is the "Acquiring Signal" screen. I waited..and...waited. Unless there is a way to halt out of this mode, no OTA capability.

You should be able to press the menu button on the remote, and then select the option for the episode guide from there.. and then select one of your OTA channels. Once on an OTA channel you should be able to change as normal (by typing channel numbers on the remote) or using up/down as long as you don't try to tune to a satellite channel.

It is admittedly inconvenient to have this as a workaround... but it should get you past the "acquiring signal" stuff.

 

[catball]

You should be able to press the menu button on the remote, and then select the option for the episode guide from there.. and then select one of your OTA channels. Once on an OTA channel you should be able to change as normal (by typing channel numbers on the remote) or using up/down as long as you don't try to tune to a satellite channel.

It is admittedly inconvenient to have this as a workaround... but it should get you past the "acquiring signal" stuff.

Yes, it does get you past the "aquiring signal", but the 6000 will not let you view OTA without the sat signal. I verified this by unpluging the sat dish coax from the rear panel. The picture disappears immediately.

 

[Stewart Vernon]

Yes, it does get you past the "aquiring signal", but the 6000 will not let you view OTA without the sat signal. I verified this by unpluging the sat dish coax from the rear panel. The picture disappears immediately.

Were you tuned to an OTA channel at the time you disconnected the satellite input?

I am surprised because while I was getting my system upgraded last month for my new ViP622, I had left the 6000 turned on and tuned to an OTA channel... and it remained tuned to that OTA channel the entire time I had no dish on the roof while things were being swapped out.

 

[catball]

Were you tuned to an OTA channel at the time you disconnected the satellite input?

I am surprised because while I was getting my system upgraded last month for my new ViP622, I had left the 6000 turned on and tuned to an OTA channel... and it remained tuned to that OTA channel the entire time I had no dish on the roof while things were being swapped out.

Yes, I was watching an OTA channel when the satellite imput was disconnected.

 

[keng52]

I think you still have to have a signal from the sat. No service, just a signal from a sat. a locked in signal. Have to actually have it on an active sat, not just pointed up in the sky. I'm pretty sure thats how it goes.