How will the S3 integrate OTA & Cable?

[jacksonian]

I know this is a goofy question, sorry. Right now, I get almost everything from my cable feed, but there's one HD channel (ABC--Sinclair) that I get from OTA. Currently I have to switch inputs and use my TV's tuner for that OTA channel.

I'm guessing that I'll plug my cable feed into one input and my OTA into the other input. But how do you guys think the S3 will integrate the two as far as the interface and changing channels?

[jfh3]

I'm guessing that I'll plug my cable feed into one input and my OTA into the other input?


You are correct.

As for the interface, if it's like the existing DirecTivo, it will be seemless in the guide.

[bkdtv]

It seamlessly integrates OTA and cable feeds into a single guide. You get programming information on both. Off-air channels work just like cable channels and vice-versa.

Your guide might look like this:

4 WRC
4-1 WRC-HD (this is OTA)
5 WTTG
5-1 WTTG-HD (this is OTA)
7 WUSA
7-1 WUSA-HD (this is OTA)

Remove the channels from the guide that you don't want to see.

[jacksonian]

Awesome! Thanks guys. I've never had DirecTivo, so I wasn't sure.

[Bierboy]

It seamlessly integrates OTA and cable feeds into a single guide. You get programming information on both. Off-air channels work just like cable channels and vice-versa.

Your guide might look like this:

4 WRC
4-1 WRC-HD (this is OTA)
5 WTTG
5-1 WTTG-HD (this is OTA)
7 WUSA
7-1 WUSA-HD (this is OTA)

Remove the channels from the guide that you don't want to see.
That's exactly how the Sony DHG units work. It's very seamless....and, actually, there's no need to keep the analog channels (as long as they broadcast the same programming as their digital counterparts), so, when I had the Sony, I just removed the analogs. Then I could surf from an HD OTA channel to an analog cable channel, etc. I'm sure that's how the S3 will also function.

[George Cifranci]

I am going to have to do that here in Columbus Ohio (use cable and OTA). Time Warner Columbus doesn't carry the local ABC and FOX channels because they refuse to pay the extra fee that Sinclair Broadcasting in Columbus (who owns the local ABC and Fox affiates) wants for their HD channels. So the only way I get ABC HD and Fox HD is via an antenna (which fortunately works fine).

[tunnelengineer]

Let me ask this another way....

Will the S3 be able to use 2 cablecards AND an OTA signal all at once?

I am also in Columbus, OH and would need to use the OTA input to get the Fox and ABC HD feeds. I would like to record from any of the 3 inputs I would feed the new tivo. Can it handle it?

[jfh3]

Let me ask this another way....

Will the S3 be able to use 2 cablecards AND an OTA signal all at once?

I am also in Columbus, OH and would need to use the OTA input to get the Fox and ABC HD feeds. I would like to record from any of the 3 inputs I would feed the new tivo. Can it handle it?

Yes.

Remember though it can use any of those inputs, but will only be able to record 2 programs at a time.

[tunnelengineer]

Will I have to get creative with season passes in order for the tivo to know to record the version from the OTA signal over either one of the 2 digital cablecard feeds?

[SCSIRAID]

Will I have to get creative with season passes in order for the tivo to know to record the version from the OTA signal over either one of the 2 digital cablecard feeds?

Shouldnt be that difficult... Consider how Series 2 works with say an analog Fox channel and its Digital brother. If you search for 'House' you find it on the analog channel and the digital channel with one listing for each. Just select the one you want to record and set the season pass.

[Shawn95GT]

Just take the analog or cable channels out of channels that you receive. We'll have to do that anyways since the S3 will do NTSC + ATSC.

I'm doing that right now with one of my S2 Tivos that is doing NTSC + ATSC. I remove the NTSC channels that I do get guide for (via Dish Network Lineup) and Fox etc records from ATSC.

[Bierboy]

Just take the analog or cable channels out of channels that you receive. We'll have to do that anyways since the S3 will do NTSC + ATSC.

I'm doing that right now with one of my S2 Tivos that is doing NTSC + ATSC. I remove the NTSC channels that I do get guide for (via Dish Network Lineup) and Fox etc records from ATSC.
Exactly...this is what I did when I had the Sony DHG unit; it seamlessly integrated cable and OTA HD. If the HD channel had the same lineup/programming as the analog cable, I just deleted the analog cable channel -- no reason to record something in SD when you can get HD!