new DirecTV in Milwaukee

[Arzy]

I am new to Whitefish Bay and want to get DirecTV.  How can I get my locals in HD?

I have a H21 receiver, do I need a 5 LNB dish or a 3 LNB dish to get my locals thru the dish?

Can I get them OTA with the H21 or do I need another receiver?

[Tom Snyder]

The moral of the story is to ALWAYS come here and do your research before you pull the trigger on anything.

The HR21 doesn't have an antenna input, so you won't be able to get any HD locals other than the ones DirecTV carries... which, at the moment are just 4,6 and 12. With the successful launch of their new satellite, and a deal with National Public Television,  Milwaukee will have all of them (with the possible exception of holdout CBS58) sometime (hopefully early) this year.  

In the meantime, if your TV has an antenna input with an HD tuner, you'll be able watch your locals in HD, and in Whitefish Bay, even the smallest  and most unobtrusive indoor antenna will give you a great signal. Only downside is that you'll have to switch your TV input back and forth between the HR21 and your TV tuner, and you won't be able to pause or record.

In hindsight, it may have been better to check the local Best Buys to see if they had any HR20's in stock and go that route. You may also try calling D* and ask if you can get an HR20 instead. There are also lots available on eBay.

Either way, you'll eventually want a 5 lnb dish for the most HD, so you'll want to just do that now.

Good luck... and welcome to our site

[Arzy]

so if I just get the 5LNB dish, Ill automatically get whichever HD locals DTV carries right?  Even on my HR21?

[Bluto]

Correct.  You will get 4, 6 and 12.

[Milwaukee12]

And if you wait long enoung, Directv will be comming out with a USB tuner for OTA on the HR21.

[Tom Snyder]

USB tuner for OTA on the HR21

Really? How will that work?

[Arzy]

do I need to call DirecTV to activate my HD locals if I just throw up the 5LNB dish?  or will I get them automatically?

[Bebop]

do I need to call DirecTV to activate my HD locals if I just throw up the 5LNB dish?  or will I get them automatically?

If you are a new subscriber, locals are included in the package.

Do you plan to install the dish yourself?

[Arzy]

If you are a new subscriber, locals are included in the package.

Do you plan to install the dish yourself?

Yea I think so, ill give it a shot

[Tom Snyder]

The five LNB is a tricky bugger. Give it it a shot but don't feel like a loser if you can't line it up.

[Bebop]

Yea I think so, ill give it a shot

Good luck.

http://www.solidsignal.com/satellite/at9_install_videos.asp

By the way, installation and most of the equipment would be free if you order from DirecTV.

[Talos4]

Really? How will that work?

Tom, This all started with Scott at Sat Guy's.

See the Link,  

http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv-forum/114107-hr21-get-ota-tuner.html

[Scott Sippel]

here's the product brochure from DirecTV on the AM21 ATSC Tuner add-on
http://hr20.dbstalk.com/images/ces2008/am21_front.jpg

there are several threads over at dbstalk about the latest CES announcments
heres the one on the AM21
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=115134