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View Full Version : TiVo and DishNetwork Vip 211: tuning local HD channels

MMG
11-16-2008, 06:54 PM
I'm in the Detroit area and to tune OTA channels on my DISH Vip 211, I have to press 5 numbers. For example, channel 2 is 00200. Channel 7, sub channel 2 is 00702. Can TiVo/Vip 211 tune these in with 9.3.1 software?
JimSpence
11-16-2008, 09:10 PM
Does entering 200 on the Vip211 work? My guess is that the Vip will time out and go to the 3 digit channel. If not, then can you press 'enter' to force it? If so, then I believe the TiVo has the ability to select 'enter' after the number sequence.
MMG
11-17-2008, 07:47 AM
If I enter 200 on the VIP211, it goes to satellite channel 200 which is CNN. If I enter 201, it goes to channel 201 which is Headline News. To get channel 2-1, I need to enter 00201 to get OTA channel 2 HD on the VIP211.

I want to be able to tune in the ATSC OTA digital channels on the VIP211 instead of using an OTA digital set-top box. (I never got the software update for the OTA set top boxes. Will this software update let me tune in the local OTA ATSC channels on the VIP211???)
classicsat
11-17-2008, 09:01 AM
Simply the satellite lineup has to have the locals in 5 digit format, and the TiVo needs to be able to be capable of 5 digit channels.

The software update for digital OTA box support was only for separate boxes, and ones that use the xx-x channel format (which excludes the Echostar boxes, which use the 4 or 5 digit all numeric system)
MMG
11-17-2008, 10:01 AM
Is the TiVo able to send the 5 digit channel to the VIP211?
magnumis
11-20-2008, 11:26 PM
Soon you can add a hard drive and record directly to your 211 http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=144987
MMG
11-22-2008, 09:24 PM
Just added a hard drive to the VIP211. Works like a charm. Good back up to the TiVo...
magnumis
11-25-2008, 12:50 AM
Just added a hard drive to the VIP211. Works like a charm. Good back up to the TiVo...

:D
MMG
11-26-2008, 08:23 AM
Using the VIP211 "DVR" I like that I can record off the ATSC tuner and watch a show on the satellite tuner at the same time. I'm using it to record HD shows and the TiVo for everything else. I must say that the interface on the 211 is very poorly thought out. The TiVo's interface is very intuitive. The 211's is very counter-intuitive.
kb7oeb
11-28-2008, 12:15 AM
002 should take you to 002-00 , if you disable map down then 002 will take you to 002-01. You can still access the satellite delivered local channels in the 8xxx range.

To turn off map down hit menu, system setup, local channels, channel display, local sat channels, disable.

I think you will run into issues trying to use the 211 dvr feature along with a tivo, since you have an antenna you might consider getting an OTA converter box for your tivo.
MMG
11-28-2008, 07:35 AM
002 should take you to 002-00 , if you disable map down then 002 will take you to 002-01. You can still access the satellite delivered local channels in the 8xxx range.

To turn off map down hit menu, system setup, local channels, channel display, local sat channels, disable.

I think you will run into issues trying to use the 211 dvr feature along with a tivo, since you have an antenna you might consider getting an OTA converter box for your tivo.

That's exactly what I did. I got the OTA converter box for the TiVo and re-ran guided setup. If I had not done this and disabled the mapdowns, I wouldn't get guide data to the digital subchannels. I have also had to turn off TiVo suggestions so the TiVo doesn't inadvertently change the channel on the 211's tuner while it's recording. I never watched the suggestions anyway so no big loss.