local antenna with DirecTV TiVo

Moorloch · 03-16-2007, 06:11 PM

I have a DirectTV HR 10-250 that doesn't provide HD signals for two local stations (CBS and PBS). I've bought an amplified Phillips indoor antenna to try to pick up the signals for those two stations.

My question is: What's the best way to add the antenna to the already complex collection ofr cables and equipment? Can/Should the antenna route its signal through TV or just connect directly to the television?

Ideally, I'd like the new antenna to be invisible, in the sense that we'd change channels to CBS and PBS with the TiVo remote without having to change input sources or getting off my lazy ass.

Any suggestions?
Thanks,
ron

hiker · 03-16-2007, 06:22 PM

You did not state why the HR10 does not provide for the local HD stations. I'm assuming you tried connecting the antenna directly to the HR10 and using the built-in OTA HD tuner. That would be the best way to use the antenna.

Moorloch · 03-16-2007, 06:27 PM

Not sure why we don't get two stations. I think the owners of the local CBS outlet (Belo) won't permit DirecTV to send their HD signal unless DirecTV pays them some enormous amount. But PBS is a real mystery because everyone says it's got the best signal of all.

And I didn't know by DirecTV/TiVo receiver has a separate tuner for OTA. I'll have to break open the manual.

Thanks for the help,m
ron

John T Smith · 03-16-2007, 06:43 PM

You might also ask/read in the specialized HR10-250 forum for more ideas

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...splay.php?f=36

JimSpence · 03-16-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moorloch

...
And I didn't know by DirecTV/TiVo receiver has a separate tuner for OTA. I'll have to break open the manual....

The HR-10 has two HD OTA tuners.

There's one ant input on the back which is split internally for the tuners. The OTA channels are integrated into the guide data.

Runch Machine · 03-18-2007, 12:34 AM

You have to tell the Tivo at set up to use the built in digital TV tuner or it won't use it. Default is satellite only. Rerun guided set up to change the setting to TV antenna AND satellite.

Moorloch · 03-18-2007, 04:30 AM

Thanks, everyone. I'm going to try to hook everything together tomorrow. If I don't die in a horrific explosion, I'll let you know how it turns out.

Moorloch

JimSpence · 03-20-2007, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moorloch

Thanks, everyone. I'm going to try to hook everything together tomorrow. If I don't die in a horrific explosion, I'll let you know how it turns out.

Moorloch

And the results are?

phox_mulder · 03-20-2007, 02:31 PM

Anyone in San Antonio hear a big boom yesterday?

phox

sloan · 03-21-2007, 09:46 AM

Antenna pointing is an art, not a science.

Don't forget about "home made" antennas:
http://fullcontactgeek.com/news.php?item.171.3

this guy has "plans" for sale sometimes too:
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZsci...csupplyQQhtZ-1

http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=9613

patmanpga · 03-21-2007, 03:13 PM

I didn't. What side of town was the boom suppose to be on?

jfolliard · 04-05-2007, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiker

You did not state why the HR10 does not provide for the local HD stations. I'm assuming you tried connecting the antenna directly to the HR10 and using the built-in OTA HD tuner. That would be the best way to use the antenna.

newbie here - if I connect an antenna to my hr10-250 - then is there a button on the remote that switches from satellite to OTA?

Then can I get HD OTA? I have a vague memory that the hr10-250 can't receive HD via OTA because of mpeg something?

If not - I wonder what OTA on the HR reaaly adds?

thanks

John T Smith · 04-05-2007, 11:51 AM

DTivo HD - the HR10-250 Forum
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...splay.php?f=36

jfolliard · 04-05-2007, 11:54 AM

thanks - I'll go there - didn't realize there was a more specific forum

classicsat · 04-07-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfolliard

newbie here - if I connect an antenna to my hr10-250 - then is there a button on the remote that switches from satellite to OTA?

TMK, it is transparent. You just enter in the digital OTA or satellite channel number and it changes to that.

Quote:

Then can I get HD OTA? I have a vague memory that the hr10-250 can't receive HD via OTA because of mpeg something?

It can't receive new HD and HD locals from satellite, as the are in MPEG 4. Since OTA locals from antenna are MPEG2, it will receive them.

jfolliard · 04-07-2007, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classicsat

TMK, it is transparent. You just enter in the digital OTA or satellite channel number and it changes to that.

It can't receive new HD and HD locals from satellite, as the are in MPEG 4. Since OTA locals from antenna are MPEG2, it will receive them.

thanks for the info.

Jack

Runch Machine · 04-07-2007, 02:57 PM

Note, that it won't pick up local channels from a TV antenna UNLESS you told it during guided set up that you will be using both a satellite dish AND TV antenna. The default is Satellite dish only.

There is a menu option somewhere to rerun guided set up so you can change this setting.

BigDickMcgee · 04-07-2007, 09:42 PM

Go to Antenna.rymes with borg and follow the directions and it will let you know which direction to point your antenna to receive the best signal.
Please note that you will not be able to receive all stations unless you have a way to move your antenna.

JimSpence · 04-09-2007, 07:43 PM

That's http://antennaweb.org/

cramer · 04-09-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimSpence

That's http://antennaweb.org/

You would send him to the worst site on earth. AW's incomplete at best and out right wrong at worst. I don't know where or when they got their data, but it's horrible.

Try HDTV Magazine's Broadcast Map. I don't know why it's so hard to find -- it used to be linked from the programming page.

JimSpence · 04-10-2007, 08:17 PM

I was just spelling out what the post above mine tried to do.

Interesting site, but how would one find a direction to the towers? Distance?

jfolliard · 04-10-2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Runch Machine

Note, that it won't pick up local channels from a TV antenna UNLESS you told it during guided set up that you will be using both a satellite dish AND TV antenna. The default is Satellite dish only.

There is a menu option somewhere to rerun guided set up so you can change this setting.

yes - I just once again went through the setup process - after going through the satellite and off air setup- I then scan for off air channels. As it's doing this I notice the progress bar increasing but I notice when it "Searching on frequency - " the numbers are even i.e. 2, 3, 4 ,5 etc. not 2, then 2.1, 3, then 3.1 etc.

when finished I then says "No additional digital channels were found" - not sure if that's significant or not.

My "Channel List" does list 2, 2-1, 6, 6-1, 8, 8-1 etc. and the boxes are all checked.

The Guide also lists the dash channels and their programs, BUT when I go to a dash channel, no picture - the message at the bottom of the screen says "Searching for signal on: Antenna in"

no picture, however, on any of the dash channels???!!

any ideas??

Thanks.

Frustrated in PDX

JimSpence · 04-11-2007, 09:06 PM

Those scanned channels are the actual frequency for the digital station. You need to tune to your local channel number. For example, my area has a local analog station on channel 34 which is broadcasting digitally on channel 4. My HR10 scanned in ch 4, but I enter ch 34-1 to get it.

You really should revisit the thread where you asked this earlier.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...d.php?t=347666