DISH OTA antenna

[PortlandChris]

Guys, tired of losing locals, and not getting credit for the loss in the bill, I contacted DISH about this and they offered to install an OTA antenna, free of charge. With no extension of contract. I am way out of contract and I do not want to get back into one.

So how does the wiring work? Do they need to run a separate line from the antenna to the master Hopper unit? Or do they patch it into the existing coax line running the DISH satellite?

Then what happens if someday I want to leave DISH? Is this antenna owned by me or DISH and do I have to return it?

Or can I still patch it into my TV? Or use it through - say AirTV player and get Sling or one of the other streaming services?

No one knows if I can get good reception or not. DISH thinks I can, but we have lots of hills, etc, around me. Most of the towers are about 8 miles away from me. Not sure I want to spend all this time and drill new holes in the roof if its not going to work. I know of no local neighbors with an antenna, there probably is one, but I have not found one.

This all comes up on the expiration of my Comcast internet term in October, so in order to keep a decent rate I may need to go back Comcast (whom I have not been with in more than 15 years).

 

[cpdretired]

A separate coax is run from to the antenna to the location of the Hopper. An OTA module is then connected to the coax & then plugged into the rear of the Hopper.
The Hopper is rebooted and channels are scanned. You will have guide data for the network channels. Some of the sub-channels may not have the guide information.

Amazon product ASIN B01MZG9SON

 

[HipKat]

...and you own the antenna, which will work with your TV, possibly better than through the Hopper, but by going through the Hopper, you'll have the Dual Tuner adapter, see your channels in the Hopper Program guide and be able to record them, plus you can drop your locals through Dish and save 12 bucks a month.

BTW, don't blame Dish for disputed - call the providers and let them know your feelings.

 

[LQQK]

A separate coax is run from to the antenna to the location of the Hopper. An OTA module is then connected to the coax & then plugged into the rear of the Hopper.
The Hopper is rebooted and channels are scanned. You will have guide data for the network channels. Some of the sub-channels may not have the guide information.

Amazon product ASIN B01MZG9SON

If I go OTA will I still be able to use the H3 to Record/DVR the OTA Channels?

The easy access to locals via H3 & J4K + the Guide are one of the reasons I haven't considered going OTA.

I also get Pissed every time a storm or whatever knocks out the Locals. Does it become complicated going OTA especially for the rest of the {Cough-Cough} Family (They ask the same simple/stupid/never seem to get it questions over & over about DishTV this or that!!!)

 

[Bobby]

If I go OTA will I still be able to use the H3 to Record/DVR the OTA Channels?

The easy access to locals via H3 & J4K + the Guide are one of the reasons I haven't considered going OTA.

I also get Pissed every time a storm or whatever knocks out the Locals. Does it become complicated going OTA especially for the rest of the {Cough-Cough} Family (They ask the same simple/stupid/never seem to get it questions over & over about DishTV this or that!!!)

Yes, you will be able to record/DVR the OTA channels. They will appear in your guide along with the satellite OTA channels but will carry a -01 channel number. Keep in mind that you will only be able to view/record two OTA channels at a time because that is the capability of the 2 tuner OTA adapter.

 

[DISH Support]

Guys, tired of losing locals, and not getting credit for the loss in the bill, I contacted DISH about this and they offered to install an OTA antenna, free of charge. With no extension of contract. I am way out of contract and I do not want to get back into one.

So how does the wiring work? Do they need to run a separate line from the antenna to the master Hopper unit? Or do they patch it into the existing coax line running the DISH satellite?

Then what happens if someday I want to leave DISH? Is this antenna owned by me or DISH and do I have to return it?

Or can I still patch it into my TV? Or use it through - say AirTV player and get Sling or one of the other streaming services?

No one knows if I can get good reception or not. DISH thinks I can, but we have lots of hills, etc, around me. Most of the towers are about 8 miles away from me. Not sure I want to spend all this time and drill new holes in the roof if its not going to work. I know of no local neighbors with an antenna, there probably is one, but I have not found one.

This all comes up on the expiration of my Comcast internet term in October, so in order to keep a decent rate I may need to go back Comcast (whom I have not been with in more than 15 years).

Our techs will definitely try to get you all the locals. Adding this does not extend a contract. If you are going to receive an indoor antenna, then the antenna would be placed on a window inside, for example, then a coax connection will run into the OTA adapter, then the adapter to the back of your receiver. External holes would not be drilled.

If you are going to receive an outdoor antenna, then you will have a coax cable coming from the outdoor OTA outside that may require a new hole to be drilled, then to the adapter inside, to the receiver. In the future, you may connect the OTA directly to your TV, as well as we would not require it back.

-Christina W.

 

[LQQK]

Yes, you will be able to record/DVR the OTA channels. They will appear in your guide along with the satellite OTA channels but will carry a -01 channel number. Keep in mind that you will only be able to view/record two OTA channels at a time because that is the capability of the 2 tuner OTA adapter.

So, I'll still be able to record 2 OTA at the same time + multi-record at the same time non-OTA channels?

HipKat, I see you posted while I was slow to post, you had already inadvertently answered one of my Qs, LOL, Thank-U...Had to take the Dog out!

Do most of you in the know go the OTA Route instead of the DishTV Locals Route?

 

[HipKat]

So, I'll still be able to record 2 OTA at the same time + multi-record at the same time non-OTA channels?

HipKat, I see you posted while I was slow to post, you had already inadvertently answered one of my Qs, LOL, Thank-U...Had to take the Dog out!

Do most of you in the know go the OTA Route instead of the DishTV Locals Route?

I have OTA's in lieu of Dish Locals, but I rarely record OTA's and if any, are on the FOX Network. None on the other 3 Networks that I can think of off hand

 

[PortlandChris]

Thanks guys, much appreciation.

If I do drop locals, I presume I might lose the Fox, ABC, and NBC on demand features that require a subscription?

And ESPN3 often plays ABC sports programming....do I lose the ABC feed inside ESPN3?

And we can get locals and sub channels that are not on DISH? That seems like a plus.

DISH tells me this would be the antenna, an outdoor model. Save $120/year with an Outdoor Over-the-Air Antenna from DISH | MyDISH | DISH Customer Support

Seems like a no lose proposition...meaning I have options when all these disputes happen.....

 

[ferl]

Just FYI, I just contacted Dish and the offer is not available to me. Go figure. Before the hopper I had 722's and could receive all my local stations via an ota antenna just fine. Now they offer me a $30 credit and the dongle costs $60 They wouldn't even just send me the dongle. While some folks get free installation, an antenna and a dongle, I'm offered half the price of one component. Dish makes it really hard to not jump ship.
Do the dongles work? I thought there were all kinds of functionality issues with the dongle.

 

[HipKat]

Just FYI, I just contacted Dish and the offer is not available to me. Go figure. Before the hopper I had 722's and could receive all my local stations via an ota antenna just fine. Now they offer me a $30 credit and the dongle costs $60 They wouldn't even just send me the dongle. While some folks get free installation, an antenna and a dongle, I'm offered half the price of one component. Dish makes it really hard to not jump ship.
Do the dongles work? I thought there were all kinds of functionality issues with the dongle.

No, the new dongles, or OTA Adapters are fine. I have no idea why you can't get one, but I'll tell you, if you only talked to the person that answered the phone, the front line CSR, you want to get to Loyalty. They have all the power.

 

[ferl]

No, the new dongles, or OTA Adapters are fine. I have no idea why you can't get one, but I'll tell you, if you only talked to the person that answered the phone, the front line CSR, you want to get to Loyalty. They have all the power.

I was transferred to loyalty. Front line offered me $5 and loyalty valued my loyalty at $30. I even asked the loyalty rep to just send me the dongle and he apparently was of the opinion that I was only worth $30. It's a shame actually. Prior to losing HBO I had the 250 package, Showtime and HBO. Forcing me to shop elsewhere for HBO made me realize that I was spending way too much on TV. Now I'm down to a 120 and showtime. I explained that to loyalty also, but I'm still only worth $30. HBO was great on dish and not as user friendly on the streaming service.

How does one know if a dongle or OTA adapter is one of the new ones? I'm assuming the OTA adapter and dongle on the same device.

 

[LQQK]

Where are you getting HBO from?

 

[reubenray]

I was transferred to loyalty. Front line offered me $5 and loyalty valued my loyalty at $30. I even asked the loyalty rep to just send me the dongle and he apparently was of the opinion that I was only worth $30. It's a shame actually. Prior to losing HBO I had the 250 package, Showtime and HBO. Forcing me to shop elsewhere for HBO made me realize that I was spending way too much on TV. Now I'm down to a 120 and showtime. I explained that to loyalty also, but I'm still only worth $30. HBO was great on dish and not as user friendly as the streaming service.

How does one know if a dongle or OTA adapter is one of the new ones? I'm assuming the OTA adapter and dongle are the same device.

Order the OTA Dual Tuner Adapter yourself from Products | AirTV. Scroll down to the accessories to find it.

 

[ferl]

HBO NOW via Roku

 

[ferl]

Order the OTA Dual Tuner Adapter yourself from Products | AirTV. Scroll down to the accessories to find it.

Thanks, I was just reading about them a moment ago.

 

[dare2be]

I have OTA's in lieu of Dish Locals, but I rarely record OTA's and if any, are on the FOX Network. None on the other 3 Networks that I can think of off hand

I'm just the opposite. There's nothing on FOX that I watch. Especially now that The Orville is gone.

 

[DJ Lon]

... DISH tells me this would be the antenna, an outdoor model. Save $120/year with an Outdoor Over-the-Air Antenna from DISH | MyDISH | DISH Customer Support ...

Got mine installed today and this is, indeed, the antenna they installed

 

[HipKat]

I'm just the opposite. There's nothing on FOX that I watch. Especially now that The Orville is gone.

I'm a Chef Ramsey fan lol

 

[sam_gordon]

Most of the towers are about 8 miles away from me. Not sure I want to spend all this time and drill new holes in the roof if its not going to work.

8 miles is nothing for RF. Barring hills between your house and the transmitters, you should have no problems picking up OTA. You can always look at tvfool.com to see what you should end up getting.