Cheaper maybe, but after trying to schedule programs without a guide you will discover what is practical.
I've been doing that with my SD DVR for years, no big deal.
DISH has written the software so that it won't work without DISH authorization, as simple as that.
OK, just to be clear, if you just plug it in there's no way to access the menu and the Offair tuner unless it's authorized for satellite service? Please don't take this wrong because it's not directed at anyone specific but I'm not looking for an assumed opinion. I'm asking if anyone has actually tried it and what the results were.
And before anyone gets too excited, I already have Dish, along with C-band, and FTA so I'm not interested in trying to steal satellite service, just looking for an inexpensive way to set up an HD DVR for recording offair antenna feeds.