HDTV Forum

I wouldn't call it completely uncompressed. I would definitely say it's less compressed than the signal from the sat.

The 622 receiver has a better tuner than cheaper TV's. However, I do agree that the OTA signal straight into the display on my 1080P Mits looks cleaner than the one from my 622 (also OTA). However, I would be hard pressed to tell the difference w/ my 32" 768P Westy and my 211 (both OTA). Both ways (receiver, direct to TV) look better than "HD-lite," so I'm happy sending OTA into my Dish receivers.

There shouldn't be any difference in compression. The difference would be that it's using a different path from the tuner to the display (internal vs. external input w/cables). The user settings might also be different depending on the TV.

Edit: forgot to mention that the scaler could also be different if you're letting the dish receiver upscale or downscale to the TV's native resolution. If you're sending it to the TV unaltered then they would both be using the TV scaler.

I have the ViP 222, and while it picked up all of the local OTA channels I wanted, it was not as good as the tuner in my HDTV (Samsung DLP 5076S). The TV was able to pick up channels that the ViP 222 couldn't.

My issue, is that while the 222 downconverts and sends the sat signals out its "Home Distribution" spigot for the second (SD) TV, it DOES NOT transmit the received OTA signals out this spigot. This is annoying because a) the local station signals via Dish are very poor visually, and b) I now have to employ splitters, cabling, etc. to get the OTA signals to every TV in the house.

Dish charges for local channels. This would be for your Standard Definition and High Definition channels if availalble. Your VIP unit will add the OTA channels at no additional charge. You do have to add the channels you want when doing the setup. One amazing feature of your VIP unit is that it integrates the local OTA channels with their satellite channels. However, be sure you have the correct Guide setting so that you can tune to the locals.

mihubers wrote:One amazing feature of your VIP unit is that it integrates the local OTA channels with their satellite channels.

That's not so amazing to DirecTV customers - they've been doing that for several years now.

Given the patent office ruling on the Tivo "time warp" patent and the lawsuit against Dish - does this mean the DVRs will have to be disabled until Dish puts out new software or do you think Dish will agree to pay the Tivo license fees?

akirby wrote:That's not so amazing to DirecTV customers - they've been doing that for several years now.

And it's coming to an end. The latest line of DirecTV receivers don't even have OTA tuners anymore.

- Shane

I have two 622 used in different rooms in my house. My OTA is split and amplified at the rooftop, using two different cable runs to the two 622's. One run is 65 feet the other 44 feet. For unknown reasons, my signal strength and stations received is different, and did not change after I switched leads at the splitter. Not really a problem for me because I picked up 17 stations on one lead and 22 on the other lead. Very redundant as all I get really is FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, CW and PBS.

I think your problem is a quirk in cabling.[/quote]

Shane wrote:And it's coming to an end. The latest line of DirecTV receivers don't even have OTA tuners anymore.

OMG! I had no idea but you're absolutely correct - the HR21 HD DVR has no OTA input. I guess they're saving money not putting in the ATSC tuner now that they have so many local markets covered with HD. I end up watching the locals off the satellite anyway so it won't affect me but I can see this being a big issue for some.

I live in the Dayton, OH market ... usually about 50th on the list of markets to get "new" stuff from the DBS companies. I'm not holding my breath on HD locals ... and the locals we get now are a joke. I've seen better quality on YouTube!

My HR20 will be the last DirecTV unit I buy. I'll limp along on this for another year at most then switch to Dish.

- Shane

I bet Dish follows suit as soon as they catch up with their HD locals. I'd keep that HR20 as long as possible if I were you. You never know.