Anyway to test HR10-250 OTA reception before activating it?

Indiana627 · 07-27-2006, 07:36 AM

I'm very close to buying (or should I say leasing) a new HR10-250 from CC. I get very good OTA reception with my Sony TV and Terk set top antenna, but after reading that a lot of people have bad OTA reception on the Tivo even when they have good reception when their antenna is hooked up directly to their TV, I'm worried. I don't want to degrade my OTA signal - after all the whole reason I'm get the Tivo is to record my OTA HD. Is there a way I can test or use the OTA tuners on the unit before I call into D* to activate it? If I get really bad OTA reception with it, then I won't want it, but the way I understand it, once I activate it with D*, I'm stuck with it.

Billy66 · 07-27-2006, 07:56 AM

Not really. I mean there's the 30 day return thing.

Honestly, I have the HR10-250 and a Sony HD TV (KDFEA10-50) and I saw no reduction in the ability to receive HD OTA. YMMV

Just to be clear, the picture won't degrade like analog OTA. It will either be there and be perfect, or be a jumbly mess of pixelation or blank. If you can watch it at all, it will be perfect. I just wasn't sure how you intended to use the word 'degrade'.

Go Bills!

mdh333 · 07-27-2006, 08:01 AM

I also have no issues with using the Tivo for my OTA reception - but I would guess that if you had issues, then you could...

a) split the antenna signal at your Tivo
b) run one line to the Tivo, one to your TV
c) if you're watching something live that has issues, switch over to a different input stream on the TV and watch that way.

It certainly wouldn't help you with things you recorded - but if you don't have the Tivo, then you can't record anything anyway.

newsposter · 07-27-2006, 08:14 AM

I can't find any offical dtv word on the 30 day thing. I think it was a spring promo.

even if it exists, you are out the 400 fee. I read that in the fine print and have it posted in another thread.

How far are you from the towers. While it's possible it will not be as good a tuner, if you have great signal now, i'm betting you will be ok. I know it's a risk though.