Series 3 for just OTA

smak · 09-11-2006, 02:43 AM

Anybody planning on starting out using the series 3 with just OTA HD broadcasts, no cable.

I decided i'll probably buy one even though I don't have cable.

I can replace 2 machines with it, and probably come relatively close to getting the $1000 back from the sales of those machines.

Any others plan to not use it with cable?

-smak-

MickeS · 09-11-2006, 02:50 AM

I will not buy it anytime soon, but I am planning on using it only with OTA HD and basic analog cable.

Hopefully it has a good OTA tuner!

Bierboy · 09-11-2006, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeS

I will not buy it anytime soon, but I am planning on using it only with OTA HD and basic analog cable.

Hopefully it has a good OTA tuner!

My plan, too. Anything else will be a bonus (like unecrypted QAM).

n0pa · 09-11-2006, 09:13 AM

I put an antenna up in the attic the other week, after seeing the results I plan to use the Tivo just with the antenna. I will be canceling cable. We already get basic cable, which is pretty limited. The way I see it, we get about 25 channels OTA Digital, and we get about 15 with basic. So we get more channels, a better picture (including HDTV), for free, or pay $20 a month for cable. I think I will go with just OTA. The only question I have, is there the ability to Zoom as I have a 4x3 TV and I hate when stuff is sent in widescreen and formatted for a 4x3.

Craig S · 09-11-2006, 09:38 AM

I'll be using the Series 3 as strictly an OTA/ATSC device. It'll replace an older TiVo and a Samsung ATSC tuner. I get good HD reception with just an indoor Zenith antenna. This is one good thing about living in a flat area.

I haven't ever had cable in this house and I've been here for almost 20 years. I've no desire to flush 50-60 dollars or more a month down the Time-Warner toilet.

terryfoster · 09-11-2006, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig S

I've no desire to flush 50-60 dollars or more a month down the Time-Warner toilet.

I would love to be able to just run OTA, but I can't get ESPN HD any other reliable way except through cable/satellite. So ESPN is what keeps me hooked and I get plenty of other benefit from the other offerings to keep me happy enough.

vman41 · 09-11-2006, 10:10 AM

I'm planning an initial configuration where I use an antenna to get local channels in HD OTA
keeping my analog cable service for cable channels I currently watch, basically replacing the Series 2 Tivo and Radio shack ATSC tuner with one box. Going to digital service with cable card may be in the future.

n0pa · 09-11-2006, 10:18 AM

Don't mean to go off topic, but were you able to get your Series 2 tivo to control the ATSC tuner?

miller890 · 09-11-2006, 10:30 AM

I like the idea of OTA HD broadcasts and analog cable. For OTA HD, do you need a specific antenna type based on your location, direction, or distance from source? Are some HD antennas better than others?

n0pa · 09-11-2006, 10:44 AM

Any antenna will work, including rabbit ears, however some will work better then others. The first step is to see how are you are from the towers, go to antennaweb (dot) org and enter your zip.

Based on how far you are is a major factor in what type of antenna you need. Other factors include, trees, location of other buildings around you, and the ability to have a clear view in the correct direction.

I would say that if you are between 0 and 20 miles you can stay with a small indoor antenna (about $25), however you your are over 20 miles then you need a medium/large directional antenna with a pre-amp (about $150).

Shawn95GT · 09-11-2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n0pa

Don't mean to go off topic, but were you able to get your Series 2 tivo to control the ATSC tuner?

Yes, several of us have done it.

I also plan on running S3(s) OTA only at my place. Most of what I record is from off-air ATSC paired up with a S2 now.

bluedakar · 09-11-2006, 11:19 AM

OTA HD and the basic cable that comes with our internet connection for us. We get excellent OTA HD reception and lots of channels.

bdraw · 09-11-2006, 11:20 AM

I plan to start with ATSC because I don't have cable.
I am going to order cable the day I receive my Series3, so I will use OTA till they can get the CableCARDs installed.

Dajad · 09-11-2006, 11:25 AM

I will be using it for both OTA HD and analogue cable. Canada does not obligate cable companies to support the cablecard. I can't stand my Rogers HD PVR from Scientific Atlanta. It won't record everything I want in HD but it should capture about 75% of my HD shows. I'll still need to use the SFA PVR for the other stuff.

...Dale

vman41 · 09-11-2006, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n0pa

Don't mean to go off topic, but were you able to get your Series 2 tivo to control the ATSC tuner?

No.

Bierboy · 09-11-2006, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n0pa

...I would say that if you are between 0 and 20 miles you can stay with a small indoor antenna (about $25), however you your are over 20 miles then you need a medium/large directional antenna with a pre-amp (about $150).

That really depends. I am less than 20 miles (about 14) from five full power DTs, and the Silver Sensor (and other indoor antennas) only worked marginally, even in the garage rafters of my house. I have level terrain and not many trees. Personally, I think the Silver Sensor is VERY overrated. I put up a 20-foot mast, slapped on a CM 4221 antenna with rotor and never looked back. My initial setup with the S3 will also be OTA HD and analog cable.

phox_mulder · 09-11-2006, 01:15 PM

I'll be using my S3 for OTA HD only.

Don't have cable, don't ever plan on having cable.

I will still have DirecTV, but I have my R10 for SD content I can only get from DirecTV,
and the HR10-250 for HD content from DirecTV occasionaly (HBO HD, SHO HD, and TNT Stretchovision HD)
The S2 standalone will be hand-me-downed, or just record SD backups of the most important HD programs.

The HR10-250 will mainly be used for OTA HD, 2 shows at a time,
throw in the S3 and have it record 2 OTA HD shows at the same time, and life will be very good.

I will have to get external drives for the S3 ASAP, 30 hours just won't cut it.
I already doubled the HR10's HD capacity.

Still not sure if I'll be an early adoptor, or wait a couple months to see what the price does.

phox

Bierboy · 09-11-2006, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phox_mulder

...I will have to get external drives for the S3 ASAP, 30 hours just won't cut it...

phox...don't do that. Go with an internal SATA and external box....much cheaper. Less than a hundred clams to double your capacity.

MickeS · 09-11-2006, 02:12 PM

Speaking of this, what kind of antenna do you think I need? I have clear line-of-sight to the antennas, but they're about 20 miles away. Will an indoor antenna cut it?

Bierboy · 09-11-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeS

Speaking of this, what kind of antenna do you think I need? I have clear line-of-sight to the antennas, but they're about 20 miles away. Will an indoor antenna cut it?

If it's line-of-sight, and they're all at full power (1M watts), a good indoor should cut it at 20 miles. Put it as high indoors as you can -- attic or garage rafters.

aaronwt · 09-11-2006, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bierboy

phox...don't do that. Go with an internal SATA and external box....much cheaper. Less than a hundred clams to double your capacity.

Can you elaborate please?

Bierboy · 09-11-2006, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronwt

Can you elaborate please?

Yes, you can purchase a SATA drive designed to be mounted internally in a computer much cheaper than a stand-alone SATA drive (eSATA) designed to be connected by cable to your computer/TiVo S3. You can then also purchase an external enclosure for the internal drive for about $20 or so and mount that internal SATA drive in that enclosure (which would sit anywhere within cable's length of your computer/TiVo S3). A 250GB internal SATA drive runs about $60-$80 at New Egg.

bkdtv · 09-11-2006, 03:56 PM

Here's a good eSATA case, available in either black or silver:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=370891
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817145167

Mate that with a cool and quiet 500Gb SATA drive like the WD RE2 WD5000YS.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=101258

Best Buy had this drive on sale for $150 until yesterday.

bidger · 09-11-2006, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeS

Speaking of this, what kind of antenna do you think I need? I have clear line-of-sight to the antennas, but they're about 20 miles away. Will an indoor antenna cut it?

Go to antennaweb.org, plug in your address, and you'll find out.

aaronwt · 09-11-2006, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkdtv

Here's a good eSATA case, available in either black or silver:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=370891
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817145167

Mate that with a cool and quiet 500Gb SATA drive like the WD RE2 WD5000YS.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=101258

Best Buy had this drive on sale for $150 until yesterday.

So once you connect an esata drive to the S3 it will always need to be on and connected to the S3 TiVo? It will be married to the internal drive?

Adam1115 · 09-11-2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phox_mulder

I'll be using my S3 for OTA HD only.

Don't have cable, don't ever plan on having cable.

I will still have DirecTV, but I have my R10 for SD content I can only get from DirecTV,
and the HR10-250 for HD content from DirecTV occasionaly (HBO HD, SHO HD, and TNT Stretchovision HD)
The S2 standalone will be hand-me-downed, or just record SD backups of the most important HD programs.

The HR10-250 will mainly be used for OTA HD, 2 shows at a time,
throw in the S3 and have it record 2 OTA HD shows at the same time, and life will be very good.

I will have to get external drives for the S3 ASAP, 30 hours just won't cut it.
I already doubled the HR10's HD capacity.

Still not sure if I'll be an early adoptor, or wait a couple months to see what the price does.

phox

Why would you buy a S3 and keep directv? with 6.3 coming, you can just pay $5 a month and use it for OTA, much cheaper than $13 a month for TiVo..

phox_mulder · 09-11-2006, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bierboy

phox...don't do that. Go with an internal SATA and external box....much cheaper. Less than a hundred clams to double your capacity.

That's what I meant.
Just saying external, as in not inside the S3 case like the HR10-250 added drive is.

Pretty sure a drive couldn't be added inside the S3 anyway, space in the case being pretty tight with all those tuners, and SATA.

phox

phox_mulder · 09-11-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam1115

Why would you buy a S3 and keep directv? with 6.3 coming, you can just pay $5 a month and use it for OTA, much cheaper than $13 a month for TiVo..

I need 2 more HD tuners either way.

DirecTV, I'd need another HR10 and 2 more satellite lines run.
I'd be stuck with DirecTV till I could afford to replace the 4 HD tuners, and 2 SD tuners.
Then there's the looming switch of everything over to MPEG4, rendering all DirecTV TiVo's useless.
(I know, not for a while, but it's still looming)

I'm guessing that HR10's will be nearing the S3 price once they have lightning fast 6.3 on them
and you can't get them from DirecTV anymore.

S3, I already have the antenna line run, and I have the option of dropping DirecTV sometime in the future,
or at least I'd have some leverage in the future,
and I'd still have 2 HD tuners to tide me over till I could afford 2 more S3's.
Then there's the ease of adding capacity.

I still have my standalone lifetimed S2 TiVo, so the S3 will either have lifetime, or be not much more than DirecTV's $5 mirror fee.

phox

Adam1115 · 09-11-2006, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phox_mulder

I need 2 more HD tuners either way.

DirecTV, I'd need another HR10 and 2 more satellite lines run.

If using it for OTA only, you only would need 1 satellite run for two more OTA tuners...

phox_mulder · 09-11-2006, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam1115

If using it for OTA only, you only would need 1 satellite run for two more OTA tuners...

Nope.

HR10-250 needs both satellite inputs for both OTA tuners to be active.

Although, I wonder if it's picky enough to detect if I just split one satellite feed into both inputs,
or if that would screw up guide data.

phox