AM21 support has ended.

[goaliebob99]

I just got off the phone with a CSR as I have been continuing to have issues with my HR54 not recognizing my AM21, even with everything set up correctly. It was noted that the CSR's have been told that support for the AM21 module has ended and info for support was removed from the CSR's systems and is very limited.

I guess we all knew this was coming as the database support ended a few years back, and they stopped selling them last September. I wonder how long it will take to see the software part of it completely removed. I for the life of me cant get any of my AM21's to be recognized. (I have two of them) I asked to order a replacement AM21 and they can't even do that.

I am not sure if you remove the channels or the AM21 from your guide, if you would be able to get it back. I really wish they would come up with a solution as I really would like to get the subchannels on my DirecTV Genie.

 

[Mr Tony]

bummer...that stinks

 

[goaliebob99]

I know. I dont get why support has ended and no solution has been announced going forward. What's weird is the AM21 works great on my HR24 It sees it and finds channels all day long. The moment I move it to the HR54 nothing. I can even disconnect the HR54 and it still shows the antenna screen even though the AM21 was disconnected.

If I do that on the HR24 the antenna menu disappears. All of this may be for not anyhow if they are completely removing support for the AM21.

 

[larry55]

That suck.

 

[larry55]

If I could get cable I leave directv .

 

[Jimbo]

Well, originally they didn't offer any support for them.
They were not even available for a time .... I think they dropped the ball when they decided people didn't need the OTA channels because in most cases, D* gives you your locals.
They probably didn't think of the Sub Channels.
They removed the OTA tuners after the HR20's.

 

[TheTechGuru]

Are there any markets that DirecTV does not carry locals for? If yes, very dumb move for DirecTV. Most people want their locals integrated into their guide and not have to switch to TV tuning, not to mention if they have a DVR they would not be able to record network programming. Nuts!

Doubt they could provide NY/LA feeds instead cuz I'm sure those customers can receive a grade B signal from those locals DirecTV does not carry.

Those customer's only option is to "move".

 

[CSM]

Could this mean they are getting more bandwidth to handle the local sub-channels in every market? Or is their not enough bandwidth to handle all the local sub-channel markets?

 

[CSM]

Are there any markets that DirecTV does not carry locals for? If yes, very dumb move for DirecTV. Most people want their locals integrated into their guide and not have to switch to TV tuning, not to mention if they have a DVR they would not be able to record network programming. Nuts!

Doubt they could provide NY/LA feeds instead cuz I'm sure those customers can receive a grade B signal from those locals DirecTV does not carry.

Those customer's only option is to "move".

When I was visiting my Brother and Sister-In-Law in LA over Christmas I think they all the local sub-channels. I noticed they had ME-TV.

 

[Jimbo]

Could this mean they are getting more bandwidth to handle the local sub-channels in every market? Or is their not enough bandwidth to handle all the local sub-channel markets?

I don't see them ever attempting to have all the sub channels for each market, that would be an enormous deal to have every sub channel.

I don't know if it would be even possible to have every sub channel showing available as a National network, like if they put all the sub channels in say the 80s and 90s channel numbers and made them national so everyone got them.

For example, LA gets about 28 OTA channels that you would expect to be picked up provided they are all in the D* database ... remember the AM21 doesn't scan, it only picks up whats assigned in D*s database.

Places like NY and Chicago also have huge OTA channels available to them ... while many other cities may have very few sub channels.

 

[TheTechGuru]

Could this mean they are getting more bandwidth to handle the local sub-channels in every market? Or is their not enough bandwidth to handle all the local sub-channel markets?

Considering most OTA sub channels are in SD they should have plenty of SD bandwidth for them when the day comes that they cut the SD duplicate feeds of channels that have HD feeds.

 

[raoul5788]

Considering most OTA sub channels are in SD they should have plenty of SD bandwidth for them when the day comes that they cut the SD duplicate feeds of channels that have HD feeds.

True, but that day is a very long way off, if it comes at all. There are still a lot of sd boxes out there.

 

[Jimbo]

True, but that day is a very long way off, if it comes at all. There are still a lot of sd boxes out there.

Personally I would have started changing boxes from SD to HD as soon as HD boxes came out and we're stable.
It would have cost D* quite a bit back then but would be ahead of the game now with the available bandwidth ir would have freed up for them.

 

[goaliebob99]

Could this mean they are getting more bandwidth to handle the local sub-channels in every market? Or is their not enough bandwidth to handle all the local sub-channel markets?

No.. Not at this time and I don't think we will see this in the future unless it's delivered via IP.

True, but that day is a very long way off, if it comes at all. There are still a lot of sd boxes out there.

That would be alot of encoders to install as well. They don't carry any extras at the local collection points, other than the channels they carry and a backup. If there is a new channel launch typically they send a field engineer out to the local collection point to do the wiring for it and installation of the encoder that sends the video back to directv. So I don't see them adding subs anytime soon as this would be a significant investment.

I don't get why support for the AM21 is ending unless DirecTV is dropping the idea of allowing people to integrate OTA (stupid as I like the option of having that especially during disputes) or DirecTV is going to announce another solution that hopefully doesn't use a pesky database. Given that I can't even get a replacement via CSR is telling. I just wish DirecTV would come out and say yes it's ended or this is the new solution forward. Makes no sense to keep the status quo.

 

[goaliebob99]

Personally I would have started changing boxes from SD to HD as soon as HD boxes came out and we're stable.
It would have cost D* quite a bit back then but would be ahead of the game now with the available bandwidth ir would have freed up for them.

I think we will see this happen next year when the next generation box comes out.

 

[Mr Tony]

Are there any markets that DirecTV does not carry locals for? If yes, very dumb move for DirecTV.

If I remember right its like 10-12 markets with no locals and one with no HD (Zanesville, OH which is a 1 station market)

Doubt they could provide NY/LA feeds instead cuz I'm sure those customers can receive a grade B signal from those locals DirecTV does not carry.
.

Most of the missing markets are "short" markets so they do qualify for distants (for the missing networks)

 

[HoTat2]

Latest data I have on it ....

Markets not carried by DIRECTV. ...

Alpena, MI
Bowling Green, KY
Casper—Riverton, WY
Cheyenne, WY—Scottsbluff, NE
Glendive, MT
Grand Junction—Montrose, CO
Helena, MT
North Platte, NE
Ottumwa, IA—Kirksville, MO
Presque Isle, ME
San Angelo, TX
Victoria, TX

SD service only ....

Zanesville, OH


Sent from my SGH-M819N using Tapatalk

 

[Mr Tony]

Markets not carried by DIRECTV. ...

Alpena, MI (no nBC)
Bowling Green, KY
Casper—Riverton, WY
Cheyenne, WY—Scottsbluff, NE
Glendive, MT (no ABC or FOX)
Grand Junction—Montrose, CO
Helena, MT
North Platte, NE
Ottumwa, IA—Kirksville, MO (no NBC)
Presque Isle, ME (no NBC or ABC)
San Angelo, TX
Victoria, TX



short markets in BOLD

 

[rdehaven]

No.. Not at this time and I don't think we will see this in the future unless it's delivered via IP.

Delivery of the sub-channel locals via IP is where I see the at&t/Directv combo paying dividends. They could be picked up locally and sent to the DTV box as a stream via at&t DSL (free) or other ISP (you have to deal with the bandwidth costs yourself).

 

[dishrich]

Delivery of the sub-channel locals via IP is where I see the at&t/Directv combo paying dividends. They could be picked up locally and sent to the DTV box as a stream via at&t DSL (free) or other ISP (you have to deal with the bandwidth costs yourself).

AT&T does NOT even offer sub-channels today on U-verse - where they DO already have the bandwidth. What makes you think AT&T is going to mess with this now on D*???