Satellite and Local Channels

[lucidspoon]

I've had my Series 2 TiVo for about a year. Until recently I just used it with basic cable, and it worked great. I just moved and now I have Dish Network and an antenna for local channels, but I have to wait till my DSL modem comes in to be able to get the new schedule.

My question is, since I'm not subscribing to local channels through Dish, is there anyway to be able to record through an antenna as well? Right now, the antenna is hooked up to the TiVo, and it works, but if I leave the satellite on, the antenna signal either doesn't come through at all, or is very fuzzy.

Is there any way to have the TiVo turn the satellite on and off depending on what channel it needs to record on? If not, what would be the easiest/cheapest way around this? Subscribe to local channels through satellite? Upgrade to a dual tuner TiVo?

Thanks

[classicsat]

With a regular Series 2, yes, until they turn off analog, by connecting the antenna directly the RF input on the DVR, and the A/V from the satellite to the A/V in on the DVR. You then redo GS for antenna and satellite.

[Rev'in-Kevin]

Classic Sat,

I also have the same problem as lucidspoon. I have a Series2 TiVo and Dish Network Receiver. The problem is that the Dish Network receiver only has coax connections (Antenna IN, SatIN and TV out). Therefore, I'm limited to only a coax input to the TiVo. Unfortunately, I can't follow your advise for connecting the local channel coax into the TiVo as it is already in use for the Sat input. That being said.... am I screwed into having to purchase local programming on Dish Network?

Thanks for your insight. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

[ZikZak]

Unfortunately, I can't follow your advise for connecting the local channel coax into the TiVo as it is already in use for the Sat input.

A coax splitter for the antenna cable costs about $1.50 at Radio Shack.

[classicsat]

What Dish box is it?

If analog antenna signals are on the same coax, you can use a diplexer to split that to satellite and antenna signals, and feed the respective signals to the TiVo and Dish receiver, with A/V from the Dish receiver (the reciever has to have those outputs) tot he TiVo A/V in.

And the TiVo needs to be a classic Single tuner Series 2, which can tune antenna, as the Series 2 DT cannot tune antenna, only cable from its internal tuners.

[stevel]

In order for the TiVo to properly switch between satellite and antenna, the satellite receiver MUST be connected using the A/V inputs (S-Video or composite video and left/right audio jacks). If your DISH receiver has such outputs, connect those to the TiVo A/V inputs, connect the antenna to the RF in on the TiVo, and rerun Guided Setup saying that you have satellite AND antenna.

If your DISH receiver has an RF output ONLY (that would be most unusual), then you'd have to use some sort of tuner or demodulator to convert the RF signal to A/V. If you have a VCR, you could use it for that purpose - tuning the VCR to channel 3 and using its outputs. In years past, such tuners used to be quite commonly sold as separate boxes, but not nowadays.