Dish Vip211k - Record 2 programs at the same time?

[Scarab0088]

Originally Posted by Technorick

Wow Thanks. Helpful info...
...Last Question: Assuming I am in an are where I do get locals via the sat and they appear in the guide. Once I scan for locals from the dongle do those replace (in the guide) the locals listed from 129 and 61 sats or do they appear in addition? Just want to know before i buy the dongle for $50.

All the channels coming into the 211 are displayed on the guide (OTA and SAT) - as of the last channel search.

This is the case, even if the OTA channel become weak due to moving the camper around.

[bruceisla]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

All the channels coming into the 211 are displayed on the guide (OTA and SAT) - as of the last channel search.

This is the case, even if the OTA channel become weak due to moving the camper around.

How about this:

Will the 211K and 211Z (with dongle) work standalone, without the Sat dish connected, to watch/record an OTA channel? I realize the channel info will not be available.

[Scarab0088]

Originally Posted by bruceisla

Hmm ... I may have to rethink whether I want to add a dongle to my 211Z. That's cheaper than purchasing an OTA Recorder (since I already have a USB hard drive on my 211Z).

So ... with a dongle tuner and a splitter (rooftop antenna split to 2 outputs - TV internal tuner and dongle tuner) I could do 3 things ... watch any OTA channel, record a different OTA channel, and record a SAT channel. Assuming a newer TV with HDMI and coax inputs.

One more question:

Will the 211K and 211Z (with dongle) work standalone, without the Sat dish connected, to watch/record an OTA channel? I realize the channel info will not be available.

Thanks for the info !!

Originally Posted by bruceisla

How about this:

Will the 211K and 211Z (with dongle) work standalone, without the Sat dish connected, to watch/record an OTA channel? I realize the channel info will not be available.

Hmmmm....I had to test this, because for us the 211 and dish antenna are always connected and running at the same time...
(equipment is ViP211k with external hard drive)

I did 2 tests:

1. If the 211 is left powered-on but the dish antenna connection is removed - the Guide, the OTA tuner, and DVR programs will continue to work. The SAT tuner/channels are just blacked-out (no signal).

2. If the 211 is powered-off and the dish antenna removed - upon power-up of the receiver (no connection to the dish antenna), the receiver will stop at set-up and cannot continue start-up. If you cancel the start-up, the DVR list/programs can be accessed and played. But, the Guide, OTA tuner and SAT are off-line.

So, if I understand the question... Yes, you could use the 211 as a standalone, if you could keep it powered-on (inverter power while driving?). That way the receiver (without a dish antenna) just thinks there is a storm or something blocking the raw SAT and it keeps running the rest of its functions.

Hope that helps

[bruceisla]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

Hmmmm....I had to test this, because for us the 211 and dish antenna are always connected and running at the same time...
(equipment is ViP211k with external hard drive)

I did 2 tests:

1. If the 211 is left powered-on but the dish antenna connection is removed - the Guide, the OTA tuner, and DVR programs will continue to work. The SAT tuner/channels are just blacked-out (no signal).

2. If the 211 is powered-off and the dish antenna removed - upon power-up of the receiver (no connection to the dish antenna), the receiver will stop at set-up and cannot continue start-up. If you cancel the start-up, the DVR list/programs can be accessed and played. But, the Guide, OTA tuner and SAT are off-line.

So, if I understand the question... Yes, you could use the 211 as a standalone, if you could keep it powered-on (inverter power while driving?). That way the receiver (without a dish antenna) just thinks there is a storm or something blocking the raw SAT and it keeps running the rest of its functions.

Hope that helps

Yes it does and thanks for taking the time to try it !!!

The reason I asked is there are times when I don't deploy the X2 and was wondering if the OTA tuner would still work. My tuner is ordered but won't arrive before next week. I'll fool around with it and note the "oddities".

I'll try it with the dish connected but not pointed to see if the receiver is just looking for a connection to the dish or whether it must have initial reception.

[smiller]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

2. If the 211 is powered-off and the dish antenna removed - upon power-up of the receiver (no connection to the dish antenna), the receiver will stop at set-up and cannot continue start-up. If you cancel the start-up, the DVR list/programs can be accessed and played. But, the Guide, OTA tuner and SAT are off-line.

There is a way to skip the satellite acquisition screen on power up, and if you do this you should be able to access OTA without a satellite antenna connection even from a cold start. I'm not sure I remember the command and don't have the system in front of me so I can't try it myself, but I think if you press the '*' key during the initial 'Looking for signal, should take no more than 5 minutes' screen you should drop directly to the system menu and the satellite signal search will be skipped, and you will have access to all the other system functions.

Again, I'm not sure of the key sequence but try '*' and see if that works.

[bruceisla]

Originally Posted by smiller

There is a way to skip the satellite acquisition screen on power up, and if you do this you should be able to access OTA without a satellite antenna connection even from a cold start. I'm not sure I remember the command and don't have the system in front of me so I can't try it myself, but I think if you press the '*' key during the initial 'Looking for signal, should take no more than 5 minutes' screen you should drop directly to the system menu and the satellite signal search will be skipped, and you will have access to all the other system functions.

Again, I'm not sure of the key sequence but try '*' and see if that works.

Thanks !! ... Oh Boy !!! ... I'm gettin' excited now !!

This is my new favorite thread !!!

Now, if I just had my tuner and something worth watching ...

[smiller]

One more thing to note with respect to using OTA functionality without satellite service: if your Dish account has not been current for some time and the receiver has de-authorized all you will be able to do is view DVR recordings. So if what you're looking for is simply OTA functionality with the dish stowed/disconnected and your account is otherwise current then you should have no problem. But if the receiver has been in storage for several months are you turn it on just to use the OTA, I believe you will be denied any functionality beyond DVR playback until the receiver has been re-authorized.

[bruceisla]

Originally Posted by smiller

One more thing to note with respect to using OTA functionality without satellite service: if your Dish account has not been current for some time and the receiver has de-authorized all you will be able to do is view DVR recordings. So if what you're looking for is simply OTA functionality with the dish stowed/disconnected and your account is otherwise current then you should have no problem. But if the receiver has been in storage for several months are you turn it on just to use the OTA, I believe you will be denied any functionality beyond DVR playback until the receiver has been re-authorized.

Thanks! ... in my case the 211z and X2 are used continuously at the Sticks and taken to the RV when traveling. So, shouldn't be an issue. This should work great since I seldom set up the X2 for less than 2 days at a site.

[Scarab0088]

Originally Posted by smiller

There is a way to skip the satellite acquisition screen on power up, and if you do this you should be able to access OTA without a satellite antenna connection even from a cold start. I'm not sure I remember the command and don't have the system in front of me so I can't try it myself, but I think if you press the '*' key during the initial 'Looking for signal, should take no more than 5 minutes' screen you should drop directly to the system menu and the satellite signal search will be skipped, and you will have access to all the other system functions.

Again, I'm not sure of the key sequence but try '*' and see if that works.

Tested this...pressing the "*" key (also labeled "format") dropped my 211 to the DVR menu.

I tried several other selections from a cold start with no SAT antenna connected, but could not get the OTA tuner to become active.

So, if anyone figures this out - please share.

[smiller]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

Tested this...pressing the "*" key (also labeled "format") dropped my 211 to the DVR menu.

I tried several other selections from a cold start with no SAT antenna connected, but could not get the OTA tuner to become active.

So, if anyone figures this out - please share.

I looked through some notes and have a correction to my instructions above -- I believe that you first have to wait for the sat acquisition screen to time out and display the 'Call Dish Customer Service' popup, and then press "*". Try that and I think it will work.

[Technorick]

So I purchased the dongle for my VIP 211 and installed it. Split the coax coming from the digital antenna booster and sent one line to the dongle. Loaded a ton of local channels perfectly. However, although the channel number and "abc" affiliate is listed on the left of the guide but no schedule info appears on the right. Where it is supposed to list the show title simply says "digital station"

Now I did this because my Winegard in motion mission dome is too small / short to see the locals satellite. Did this to be able to record daily day time and news shows. Without the schedules the only way to record is to set the dvr to the channel and record a 12 block. And doing that will not provide a dvr playback title of the shows just the date. I wonder, does the VIP receiver get the guide schedule (for ota broadcasts stations ) info off the locals sat too? This might explain why I am not getting the schedules in my guide?

[Scarab0088]

Yes, our 211 has obtained the guide info for the OTA channels that it found on the channel search.

I believe the guide info comes from the SAT system...and takes a few hours for the 211 to "pull-it" off the SAT.

Give it a few hours and the guide info should show for the OTA channels.

Best luck

[bruceisla]

I got my dongle last week but the dish is still installed at our Sticks which is 70 miles from a transmitter ... so I don't have an OTA antenna at home. But, next week we are heading for the Keys with a stop in Pompano Beach. I hope to try it out in Pompano since the Keys doesn't have any OTA either. Heavy sigh ...

[smiller]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

I believe the guide info comes from the SAT system...and takes a few hours for the 211 to "pull-it" off the SAT.

Yes, for a new area or new OTA channels the receiver downloads a small program guide immediately to 'get you going' but it is only good for the next few hours. It takes a while for the full (multiple week) program guide info to download.