AM-21 question

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cb_punk81

SatelliteGuys Guru
Original poster
Jan 28, 2011
138
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Kansas
Is there any way to manually add OTA channels to your channel list on an HR-24. A local affiliate just recently started broadcasting in hd, but my am-21/HR-24 is not picking it up, and I can't find a way to add it. Any help is much appreciated, thanks in advance.
 
The AM21 doesn't scan for channels. Only the ones listed in the database are available. Unfortunately, few if any new channels are being added.
 
That sucks, and D* doesn't offer hd locals in my market, and at this point they have no plans to.
 
The only receiver that can apparently scan on a AM21 is the HR34

dont feel bad. I'm missing 2 subchannels on the database here in Minneapolis. One being MeTV
 
It wouldn't be so bad if direct tv acted like they gave a $***, I'm missing my fox affiliate in HD. The tuner in my tv sucks too, so I guess I'm up a creek, might switch to dish...
 
dont feel bad. I'm missing 2 subchannels on the database here in Minneapolis. One being MeTV

Yup, missing OUR local MeTV sub, as well as TCN (Country Network) - luckily I still get MeTV directly from Chicago in their locals pkg. ;) :D

It wouldn't be so bad if direct tv acted like they gave a $***, I'm missing my fox affiliate in HD. The tuner in my tv sucks too, so I guess I'm up a creek, might switch to dish...

Yep, fed up with this crap, as well as the pitiful HD basics lineup, AND the BS HD GUI that has made my HD DVR's all but unusable - ready to switch to either DISH or Comcrap for TV...something I NEVER thought I'd ever consider!
 
It wouldn't be so bad if direct tv acted like they gave a $***, I'm missing my fox affiliate in HD. The tuner in my tv sucks too, so I guess I'm up a creek, might switch to dish...

Yup, changing providers will definitely fix your tv that sucks (your words) .
 
If you are not currently using your AM21's secondary zip code entry for receiving stations from a second city/market/DMA, you can use a second zip code (from somewhere else in the country) having a station whose real and virtual channel numbers match those of the station you are trying to receive. It "tricks" the AM21 into receiving the station of interest, although the programming data will be for the other station in the other city, so any recordings would have to be done manually. Also, you would preferably "hide" the other stations from that second zip code from appearing in your on-screen station listing, so as to not clutter up your guide with a bunch of non-receivable stations from another city.

For example, those of us in metro Detroit can enter in a Traverse City, Michigan area zip code which also has a Real 9.1/Virtual 9.1 and a Real 32.1/Virtual 32.1 to "trick" our AM21s into receivng the new neighboring Canadian HD stations via antenna that cannot otherwise be received (without updating to the HR34's scanning capability, which apparently also would not provide guide data for the stations added from the scanning, according to recent reports). If you can let us know the station you are trying to receive, perhaps we can suggest a second zip code for you to use this trick.

Otherwise, you can always ask DirecTV to add the station to your area's station listing, although many have reported that DirecTV is not very good at adding to its local channel listings for AM21s.
 
Yup, changing providers will definitely fix your tv that sucks (your words) .

You should read my words again "the tuner in my tv sucks" as in the ATSC tuner that is built into every TV. The AM21 is a better ATSC tuner than the one in my tv is all I was saying. And actually switching would fix the problem, cause dish does carry my locals in HD.
 
You should read my words again "the tuner in my tv sucks" as in the ATSC tuner that is built into every TV. The AM21 is a better ATSC tuner than the one in my tv is all I was saying. And actually switching would fix the problem, cause dish does carry my locals in HD.

thats the way it is in most cases. my am21 picks up channels that my sammys tuner won't. now if dish has your locals and directv doesn't then yes your best option is to switch to dish. i hope it works out for you :)
 
Yep, fed up with this crap, as well as the pitiful HD basics lineup, AND the BS HD GUI that has made my HD DVR's all but unusable - ready to switch to either DISH or Comcrap for TV...something I NEVER thought I'd ever consider!

When you make statements like this, you lose a lot of credibility in my eyes. Are there channels that Directv doesn't carry yet, of course there are. That's the case with ALL providers. To claim their hd offerings are pitiful is, well, pitiful!
 
gcd0865 said:
If you are not currently using your AM21's secondary zip code entry for receiving stations from a second city/market/DMA, you can use a second zip code (from somewhere else in the country) having a station whose real and virtual channel numbers match those of the station you are trying to receive. It "tricks" the AM21 into receiving the station of interest, although the programming data will be for the other station in the other city, so any recordings would have to be done manually. Also, you would preferably "hide" the other stations from that second zip code from appearing in your on-screen station listing, so as to not clutter up your guide with a bunch of non-receivable stations from another city.

For example, those of us in metro Detroit can enter in a Traverse City, Michigan area zip code which also has a Real 9.1/Virtual 9.1 and a Real 32.1/Virtual 32.1 to "trick" our AM21s into receivng the new neighboring Canadian HD stations via antenna that cannot otherwise be received (without updating to the HR34's scanning capability, which apparently also would not provide guide data for the stations added from the scanning, according to recent reports). If you can let us know the station you are trying to receive, perhaps we can suggest a second zip code for you to use this trick.

Otherwise, you can always ask DirecTV to add the station to your area's station listing, although many have reported that DirecTV is not very good at adding to its local channel listings for AM21s.

I tried a couple of times to do this, I couldn't find 1 that would work. Good idea though, thanks.
 
Yep, fed up with this crap, as well as the pitiful HD basics lineup, AND the BS HD GUI that has made my HD DVR's all but unusable - ready to switch to either DISH or Comcrap for TV...something I NEVER thought I'd ever consider!

then change.
but as for "pitiful" I know me personally would rather have my RSN in HD (guaranteed) and ESPNU in HD then to have The Cooking Channel, Style, The Kartrashian channel (E!), the Wifebeater Network (Lifetime Movie), and the "If I throw around enough money I can even own a sinking network" (OWN) :)
 
When you make statements like this, you lose a lot of credibility in my eyes.

Oh dre-er...another X-mas card I won't be getting this year... :p

Are there channels that Directv doesn't carry yet, of course there are. That's the case with ALL providers.

So what are you going to tell me next, that remote control TV's are all the rage now... :confused:

To claim their hd offerings are pitiful is, well, pitiful!

If you are going to quote me, at least do it correctly...I said HD basics, as you can plainly see.
Of course, D* SHINES in HD premiums, AND on having every RSN in HD 24/7.
Well don't fall down in a dead faint - but NOT everyone even remotely cares about either of these (overpriced) things.
Obviously if you are NOT a premium sub, then having EVERY HD premium available still means a big, fat ZERO for HD channels for us.

OK, since obviously in YOUR eyes I should DARE to blasphemy the great D*, let's break it down:

ALL of the following 13 basic channels are available in HD on 3 out of the 4 providers available to me:
(I assume I don't have to mention the missing provider...)
Cooking
DIY
E!
G4
HLN
H2
HUB
Investigation Discovery
LMN
Nat Geo Wild
Style
TruTV
TCM

The following 3 channels are in HD on 2 out of those other 3 said providers:
BBC-A
OWN
WEIU-51 (a local PBS station)

So, now lets go back to the supposed "HD leader" & what it's offers over the competition in HD basics...
ABC Family
Disney & XD
ESPN-U & News

I'm bring these up first, since everyone is well aware they are missing from DISH.
But guess what...all are ALSO available on the other 2 providers in my area. So it's NOT like D* scores a big-ass coup by having these 5 HD channels.

As for the other HD basics the leader has over other providers:

Fuel - well you got me on this one, since NONE of the other 3 providers offer it. Since none of them seem fit to carry it yet, there's probably a reason why all 3 choose NOT to. ;)

Shorts HD & Smithsonian - although these ARE in an extra-cost (basic) tier, I'll even say both are currently on 1 other provider currently. And, Smithsonian appears to be coming to E*...so there's another one in E*'s favor.

OoooK, so unless I missed something, sure doesn't look like D* exactly has a phenomenal HD basics lineup over anyone else.
And, I did NOT even bother getting into all of the HD basics the OTHER providers have over D*, but I think I've more than proved my point.
Sorry, STILL stand by my "pitiful HD basics" statement...

then change.

Would LOVE to, but since you have DVR(s) as well, you KNOW it's not always a quick decision, when you have multiple hard drives full of unwatched shows.
I would even just suspend D* for the max 6 months, but it (eventually) disables DVR playback. May just have to bite the bullet though, & have "dual service" for a few months....
 
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Anywho...back to the topic at hand (ya know...the AM21)

so since the HR34 can scan I assume any station that isnt in the database just shows "regular programming" or something general for the guide?
 
Anywho...back to the topic at hand (ya know...the AM21)

so since the HR34 can scan I assume any station that isnt in the database just shows "regular programming" or something general for the guide?

that's how i remember it with dish.
 
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