OTA Antenna

[Toyzruskid1976]

Can someone answer my question on the OTA Antenna.

The rep told me to pick one up at radio shack so I didn't have to pay 5 a month for my channels.

Looking on line it looks like I still have to buy a 29.99 piece that fits int he back of the 722k so I can get my locals.

Will I be able to use my DVR for the OTA locals or not?

Sounds like paying 5 dollars a month is worth it as opposed to dealing with the OTA.... or is it?

 

[LER]

If you don't pay the $5ish for locals, you won't get the guide data even for OTA.

 

[Toyzruskid1976]

If you don't pay the $5ish for locals, you won't get the guide data even for OTA.

which renders DVR useless right?

 

[bebop]

Can someone answer my question on the OTA Antenna.

The rep told me to pick one up at radio shack so I didn't have to pay 5 a month for my channels.

Looking on line it looks like I still have to buy a 29.99 piece that fits int he back of the 722k so I can get my locals.

Will I be able to use my DVR for the OTA locals or not?

Sounds like paying 5 dollars a month is worth it as opposed to dealing with the OTA.... or is it?

You can use the DVR on the OTA's, so you get 2 more tuners if you get the $30 module. It's a good idea, just stinks that you have to get it later on after you aleady have the receiver.

You can then record 2 SAT shows & 2 OTA shows at the same time.


The $5/month cost is really mainly used for the guide info for the local channels (OTA or Dish provided). If you don't pay for it, you'll have to look elsewhere for what's on (or upcoming). It's worth it for me, espeically since I record so much of the local channels. With Dish Network, you bascially have the option to NOT pay for the locals, whereas with Directv - you already have to pay for it. If you paid the $5/month and had the OTA setup, you could record 4 local shows at once! (please let us know if you ever do, because that's a lot of local action at once.)


Do you not have an antenna around the house already? Most people do. Or you could make your own for a few bucks.

 

[bluestring]

which renders DVR useless right?

Unless you want to do timed recordings, then yes.

 

[LER]

which renders DVR useless right?

Pretty Much. I would get both. The OTA module, and the Sat locals. as the above comment mentions, you get more flexibility. There are times when I have all 3 (I have a 622, so only one OTA tuner) tuners on my bedroom box are busy.

There are nights I wish I had a 722K, with the 2 OTA tuners.

 

[bebop]

which renders DVR useless right?

See my previous post. Also you can manually setup recording on the OTA tuners, so it's not useless. I used it for 7 months just fine, but started recording more so it was a convienence issue to start paying the $5/month.

Plus it's easier to see what you recorded when everything is already labeled for you. If you are okay spending a bit more time for recording setup and then for finding the recording, it's a good way to save money, but again it's worth the $5/month unless you are on a tight budget.

 

[bebop]

There are times when I have all 3 (I have a 622, so only one OTA tuner) tuners on my bedroom box are busy.

There are nights I wish I had a 722K, with the 2 OTA tuners.

Those would be some wild nights, the bedroom box going at it overtime...

Do you get more than the normal locals: NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, PBS?

 

[LER]

Those would be some wild nights, the bedroom box going at it overtime...

Do you get more than the normal locals: NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, PBS?

Yes, but It's usually NBC/CBS/ABC/Fox that I have scheduling issues with, plus throw in some of the Sat only networks (Disc, TNT, etc).

I have 3 622's spread around the house.

(I get a couple of more distant Locals, plus our CBS has a RTV sub-channel, and PBS has like 3 Sub-Channels).

 

[bebop]

Yes, but It's usually NBC/CBS/ABC/Fox that I have scheduling issues with, plus throw in some of the Sat only networks (Disc, TNT, etc).

I have 3 622's spread around the house.

(I get a couple of more distant Locals, plus our CBS has a RTV sub-channel, and PBS has like 3 Sub-Channels).

Indeed! 4 tuners are better than 3 - though I'd only benefit about once or twice a year (but I don't watch that much compared to most).

 

[shortspark]

I just subscribed to my locals and the only reason is the guide. Now I can see what is on and when whereas before all it said for each OTA station was "digital programming". I never watch Dish locals, however, because they are not in HD. I have the Dish channel just above the same one coming in OTA. I see what is on from the guide and if I want to watch it I simply go down one number and watch it OTA in HD. If I wanted to record something I had to set up the timer with a specific start and stop time, like the old VCRs. A little bothersome but I did not do it that often. Now, however, I record my OTA HD just like a Dish channel. It is worth five bucks a month just to have the guide.

 

[Toyzruskid1976]

oh... so the locals I get with DN aren't HD? but with the OTA I'll get the HD?

 

[LER]

oh... so the locals I get with DN aren't HD? but with the OTA I'll get the HD?

Depends on your DMA whether you'll get HD locals.

For Dayton, OH, you WILL get HD locals:
WKEF TV 22 (ABC) WKEF 5250 3s25 129° C-II Map
HD Locals - Dayton, OH
WHIO TV 7 (CBS) WHIO 5251 3s25 129° C-II
WDTN TV 2 (NBC) WDTN 5252 3s25 129° C-II
WRGT TV 45 (Fox) WRGT 5253 3s25 129° C-II
(courtesy EKB: Dish Network Channel Chart (Unofficial))

 

[Toyzruskid1976]

wow... y'all are a plethora of information. Thanks.

now to do some research to find out what this 722k can actually do. won't get service till Wednesday.

 

[LER]

We do aim to please, and provide what we can

 

[papalittle]

Pain in the butt paying 5.00 a month so I can watch my local news for 3.5 hours a week. I just can not pull in any local channels OTA because they are too far away and I am living in a valley. grrr. People having to pay 30 dollars for a OTA module is a rip off from dish considering they were/are included on previous boxes and are still needed. Another way for dish to grab more money from subscribers.

 

[navychop]

I do not pay $5 to Dish for my locals. I have a nice OTA antenna. I set my timers manually, just like with early VCRs - setting start and end times (& channel). I save money, and I get higher quality. Yes, OTA will likely give you better PQ than satellite. AND - I get more channels than Dish provides. And I can feed that OTA signal to TVs that don't have a Dish box.

Your situation and preferences may be different. But I'm very happy with my choice. It works for me.

 

[Toyzruskid1976]

so I need the OTA Antenna AND the 29.99 module? or just the antenna

For some reason I thought I just needed the antenna and I went to radio shack and picked up a 79.99 antenna for 29.99 because I told them dish was going to sell it to me for that price... later realized there was some module for the 722k that was 29.99

 

[bebop]

You need both the module and an antenna for your 722k receiver. The older receivers just needed the antenna to work. I had to play around with my OTA antenna quite a bit to get it in a good position to receive ALL my local OTA channels, but it works great.

One thing you could do is pay $5 for one month of local info from DishNetwork and see if you like it, if not you can cancel it and only be out $5. I think you'll appreciate it in the end - even if you are mainly using the OTA antenna to watch the channels (the guide info is where the money is most useful).

 

[bgee]

People having to pay 30 dollars for a OTA module is a rip off from dish

It wouldn't be a ripoff if the OTA module worked decently but it doesn't - prone to video dropouts if signal strength is <100 and prone to audio dropouts on all signals. I've replaced my MT2 once with no improvement.