Switching things around

[mjac]

Hello,

Haven't been posting here since I quit fooling around with C band.

Today I am seeking help some help (read, will this work) with some changes to a dish system I currently have on a small, one TV cabin deep in the mountain woods of east TN. The system is very simple, a hopper with sling and two antennas. Why two antennas, I don't know, there is only one feed to one tv. I also have an OTA that works very, very well in spite of the tree cover. OTOH a passing rain cloud, heavy cloud cover, snow or very windy conditions will knock out the dish signal.

Since the current dish receiver does not have not have a OTA tuner, my plan is to buy a 211k and buy a hard drive. I will give the hopper back to dish, drop the local service/dvr fees then activate the 211k and hard drive. I will be saving some money but I also realize there is will be a one time fee for activating the hard drive. I hope to move the recorded content from the hopper to new hard drive but it's not a deal breaker if I can't.

We also have a 211z and tailgater antenna in our travel trailer. Since where we often camp is surrounded by very heavy tree cover, the tailgater antenna is useless. So is the TT tv's ota tuner but I digress. The tailgater antenna will be sold.

The plan is/was, when we are using the TT we would take the 211k/HD combo with us and watch previously recorded content. However SHMBO has pointed out if the 211k/hd combo has been moved from the cabin to the TT no new shows are being recorded as if it where at home while we are using the TT.

Enter the 211z. Could I buy a second hard drive, move any recorded content from the 211k's hd to the second hd, and play it on the 211z? If this would work the 211k/hd would stay at home.

Could I record to two hd's at the same time? Take one to the TT as needed?

If, in the rare instance OTA was available in the TT, I would not be able to record it because the 211z does not have a tuner. I have looked but one seems to have/make a single tuner that works with a 211z.

Sorry to be so long winded. Thanks.

 

[HipKat]

First, I assume you have 2 dishes to hit all the needed sats for your area, and they're tied together, one feeding the other, and then the line running to the receiver. If you buy an EHD, you can backup your recordings on he Hopper and I'm 99% sure it will work on the 211, but what you want to do is get a 211K, not Z. IMO, the 211Z is useless. The 211K has a built in tuner

If you have a 2nd EHD, it's still only 1 $40.00 activation fee to use as many EHD's as you'd like. Dish sells the 211 for $50.00, BTW, but not sure if you can still buy one from Dish. You may need to go to an online retailer

 

[Cypresstree]

No go on the hopper to 211 recordings.


Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys mobile app

 

[HipKat]

No go on the hopper to 211 recordings.


Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys mobile app

Ahhh, that's a bummer

 

[mjac]

First, I assume you have 2 dishes to hit all the needed sats for your area, and they're tied together, one feeding the other, and then the line running to the receiver. If you buy an EHD, you can backup your recordings on he Hopper and I'm 99% sure it will work on the 211, but what you want to do is get a 211K, not Z. IMO, the 211Z is useless. The 211K has a built in tuner

I have planned to buy and use a 211k, because of its onboard ota tuner, all along. Since I already own a 211z, the z will be used as a playback machine only.

If you have a 2nd EHD, it's still only 1 $40.00 activation fee to use as many EHD's as you'd like. Dish sells the 211 for $50.00, BTW, but not sure if you can still buy one from Dish. You may need to go to an online retailer

Good to know re: multi EHD's. As of 4 days ago, D reps were quoting same price on refurbs.

Thanks

 

[mjac]

Ahhh, that's a bummer

It sure is.......

 

[mjac]

Thanks guys for the replies.

While I may still use a 211K eventually, there may be a slight change to my plan. Overnight I found and bought a single tuner that is reported to work with my 211z.
This begs the question; which will work better. A 211K with its onboard tuner or a 211Z with a external single tuner?

Thanks

 

[navychop]

I suspect, but do not know, that the K OTA tuner will be better.

A Wally would be a better long term solution. But at $50, I can’t fault the ViP211K.

In the long run, we are all dead.


Sent from my iPhone using the SatelliteGuys app!

 

[mjac]

I suspect you are right about the K and I am leaning towards going that direction. I don't have much in the Z and its new to me tuner anyway.

I looked at the Wally but, and certainly a topic for another thread, I ruled it out.

 

[glynnp]

[QUOTE="navychop,


In the long run, we are all dead.


Sent from my iPhone using the SatelliteGuys app![/QUOTE]

One more reason to experience the joy of a Hopper 3

 

[mjac]

Fresh off the phone with Dish fyi.
Regarding differences in OTA reception/record-ability with a 211K with its onboard tuner or a 211Z with a external single tuner. There is no difference.

 

[boba]

Fresh off the phone with Dish fyi.
Regarding differences in OTA reception/record-ability with a 211K with its onboard tuner or a 211Z with a external single tuner. There is no difference.

Don't believe DISH the 211K has a better tuner than the OTA dongle for the 211Z.

 

[mjac]

Don't believe DISH the 211K has a better tuner than the OTA dongle for the 211Z.

Thanks.
I have ordered a 211K to stay in the cabin (read above) and I'll use the 211Z as a playback machine only in the TT.
Maybe I can test both soon. That is if I can use either without being hooked up to dish (read listed on my account) to test OTA reception?

 

[pattykay]

Thanks.
I have ordered a 211K to stay in the cabin (read above) and I'll use the 211Z as a playback machine only in the TT.
Maybe I can test both soon. That is if I can use either without being hooked up to dish (read listed on my account) to test OTA reception?

Unfortunately, you would not be able to tune the OTA stations without the guide data, which is delivered by satellite. (Even then, many stations will still not have guide data anyway, but the receiver does not like it if there is not any guide data at all.) Dish does not want people using these as OTA-only receivers.

 

[mjac]

Unfortunately, you would not be able to tune the OTA stations without the guide data, which is delivered by satellite. (Even then, many stations will still not have guide data anyway, but the receiver does not like it if there is not any guide data at all.) Dish does not want people using these as OTA-only receivers.

So if/when I had the TT and 211z with its OTA dongle somewhere the tailgater antenna could see the southern sky, I could call dish, add the receiver as mobile, get service (guide) and go from there?

 

[pattykay]

So if/when I had the TT and 211z with its OTA dongle somewhere the tailgater antenna could see the southern sky, I could call dish, add the receiver as mobile, get service (guide) and go from there?

Yes, that should work.

 

[mjac]

Yes, that should work.

Thank you.

 

[boba]

So if/when I had the TT and 211z with its OTA dongle somewhere the tailgater antenna could see the southern sky, I could call dish, add the receiver as mobile, get service (guide) and go from there?

Clarification? Are all 3 receivers going to be on the same account?
What exact tuner did you buy for the 211Z, it should also fit your Hopper so just plug it in and see what you get.

 

[mjac]

Clarification? Are all 3 receivers going to be on the same account?

Only one receiver, a 211K that has been ordered, will be on the account full time. My current receiver, a hopper, is going back to Dish when the 211K is in hand. I own a 211z for which I bought a OTA single receiver tuner and this receiver *might* be added to my account when traveling in my TT.

What exact tuner did you buy for the 211Z, it should also fit your Hopper so just plug it in and see what you get.

I do not have the exact number or description of the tuner but it looks like this:
http://www.laaudiofile.com/images/dish_hopper_ota_adapter.jpg

HTH

 

[boba]

Only one receiver, a 211K that has been ordered, will be on the account full time. My current receiver, a hopper, is going back to Dish when the 211K is in hand. I own a 211z for which I bought a OTA single receiver tuner and this receiver *might* be added to my account when traveling in my TT.



I do not have the exact number or description of the tuner but it looks like this:
http://www.laaudiofile.com/images/dish_hopper_ota_adapter.jpg

HTH

That should fit your Hopper plug it in and start using the OTA tuner.