How can I combine OTA/Cable input w/satellite input on a single SV8000?

[OstrichSak]

Originally Posted by robstudio

I've used the ATSC input for OTA HD antenna input. It DOES work for antenna but with a quirk... Can't test cable as I sub with Starchoice. I have no idea why, but the OTA scan seems to work better with the factory file. The trick is to scan for ota (I believe it's labelled DTV in the menu..) with the factory file loaded. Save the channel list. Re-load current file yo stb, then combine your channel lists with an editor on a computer. Reload channel list to stb and you should be able to tune in your ota channels with the latest file. I do hope this is helpful and good luck!

Yeah, that does help. Thanks for the info. I did try to scan with the factory file a while back and no results so I'm assuming this is possible with OTA but not cable. That would be my preliminary conclusion at least.

[robstudio]

ahh... be aware the tuner in SV is digital only... if you're trying to scan analog cable, you'll get channels with a TV tuner w/ analog & digital tuner. If you're trying to get digital cable, depending what system you're on, most will be encrypted, so no dice there either. Also, from what I've read, compared to other DTV tuners, the sv must see a hot signal or it won't pick up OTA channels when scanning. I get one DTV channel in my area.. dead zone ontario..

[zamar25]

SV Specification says its ATSC (Over-the-air digital) only tuner, and not analog QAM cable tuner, so you can't scan and watch neither analog no digital cable channels with it. It has however 2 ports, with 2-nd port being hidden inside the case, and possibly useful for ATSC signal pass-through to your 2-d HDTV with internal ATSC tuner. You just need to drill an extra hole in SV8000 back panel to let coax through to the 2-nd port. Thta way you don't have to degrade ATSC signal by using splitters.

[SimpleOne]

Zamar is on the money. SV has ATSC tuner. It needs QAM to tune cable (as most modern tv's have). If you use HTPC to stream movies (as I do), you can install PCI tuner and record cable shows. Just curious, what cable programs currently not on IKS?

[zamar25]

To clarify further, analog OTA (over-the-air) and analog cable use NTSC format, and require analog TV tuner to watch. Digital OTA is transmitted in ATSC format with 8vsb modulation, and digital cable also often in ATSC format with QAM modulation. Some digital cable channels are transmitted in clear, but most are encrypted, requiring a cable box to watch. You can't combine into a single coax both OTA and Cable signals, since they will interfere, but can use an A/B switch to connect both lines to a single Sat Receiver's tuner port. However, you can watch all these signals only if your sat receiver has a combo NTSC/ATSC/QAM Tuner in addition to DVB-S or S2 tuner to watch Sat TV.

Sonicview 8000 HD is said to have an ATSC tuner only, but no NTSC or QAM, hence you can't watch Cable TV analog or clear QAM signals. Clear QAM cable channels usually duplicate OTA ATSC SD and HD channels, available in your area. However, SV 8000HD ATSC tuner also has a hidden 2-nd port, and it needs to be clarified, if this port can be used as Cable IN (i.e. this is in fact a combo tuner), or as ATSC Pass-through OUT to your 2-nd HDTV, once you drill an extra hole in the STB's back panel for a coax Male-to-Female connector.

[OstrichSak]

Thanks for all the information folks. This is exactly what I was looking for.

So, to summarize I can't use a cable line for the SV8000. Even though it's digital it's QAM and not ATSC. I can however use a line from an antenna to input into the ATSC port on back of the receiver so long as it's digital, correct? Where I am I can get about a dozen or so HD channels OTA including locals which is the key here. I'm wanting to scan them into my channel list and use the guide and DVR functions as i would a Dish channel for instance.

So, if I'm reading this all properly this should be doable, right?

[OstrichSak]

Bumping this for those who replied most recently that seem to have some first hand insight. Wondering if I can simply by an antenna, plug it into the ATSC port on the receiver and scan in whatever OTA channels we get here.

[y0da]

OstrichSak....

yes, you can do exactly what you are trying to do.

I have a diplexer that combines my home-made OTA coathanger antenna along with a signal from my satellite dish. The single cable runs through my house to behind my tv. There, i use another diplexer to separate the single wire into two wires (one for sat, one for OTA Locals).

I connect the cables to the SV box, scan my sats like regular, and then do a DTV Scan.

I get a fantastic picture on several channels, and i have no performance issues using the latest iHub file on my SV8000HD.


Hope this helps!

[ralphlad1]

I ran a cable from my outdoor antenna to the ATSC RF IN and picked up all my locals ( BUFFALO) and HD channels from ONTARIO CBC ,CFTO,CHCH, etc and view them on SV with full guide works great

[OstrichSak]

Thanks guys, exactly the info I was looking for. Off to buy an outside antenna and route some lines into the house to feed my three 8000's.

[y0da]

I bought one, tried it, and was HORRIBLY disappointed.

Then, I made one using a few old wire coat hangers, a chunk of 2x4, and some drywall screws. It works FAR better.

I suggest googling for coat-hanger HDTV antenna and spending 10 minutes making one

[y0da]

and yes, ralph is right.... the guide fills-in with the program information and everything -- it's fantastic!

[OstrichSak]

Originally Posted by y0da

I bought one, tried it, and was HORRIBLY disappointed.

Then, I made one using a few old wire coat hangers, a chunk of 2x4, and some drywall screws. It works FAR better.

I suggest googling for coat-hanger HDTV antenna and spending 10 minutes
making one

Thanks for the tip. I love saving money, am pretty handy and happen to have some time on my hands so this sounds right up my alley.

[OstrichSak]

Worked perfect! I just need to figure out how to get the channels to sort properly. In the guide it looks like they're out of order in that instead of 04-1, 07-1, 20-1 and so on it's mixed around. I also would prefer 04-1 to read as 4-1 but not really the end of the world. Just makes trying to go to that channel a little more difficult. I ended up taking your advice and here's the antenna I whipped up for the cost of a transformer, some screws and washers (I had TONS of screws and washers but not enough that all matched up to do this) which was about $7 or so total plus I had gift cards to Radio Shack and Home Depot so basically free! Here's what I came up with and now that I've verified it works on one receiver I plan to create a reflective back panel to mount it to and then put it on a base. I will put it in the attic and back feed to the other three receivers using diplexers. Should be perfect.

Thanks again to those that helped!

[y0da]

that's almost exactly what mine looks like

The channel numbers have been F'ed up on any digital tuner box i've used

[OstrichSak]

Originally Posted by y0da

that's almost exactly what mine looks like

The channel numbers have been F'ed up on any digital tuner box i've used

Well, after a reboot it looks like the channels are at least in order now. If I want to go directly to a channel, say 4-1, how do I enter that on the remote? When I enter 04 it takes me to the 400's and I have to scroll to the bottom of the list to find 04-01 it. There must be an easy way to enter a dash or something that I'm just not aware of.

Also, looks like I'm only getting a few hours of programming guide. Is this pretty common? We watch a couple shows on Thursday nights and I would like to set them to record w/o having the way until the afternoon of.

[y0da]

i donno how to enter channels directly.

I only get a few hours of guide information as well.

You can setup recurring event timers without any guide information -- just specify the channel, start time, and end time....it will be recorded.

[OstrichSak]

Originally Posted by y0da

i donno how to enter channels directly.

That would be useful.

Originally Posted by y0da

I only get a few hours of guide information as well.

Kind of what I figured. I'm sure it's set by the broadcaster and some don't even have any so I guess a few hours is better than nothing.

Originally Posted by y0da

You can setup recurring event timers without any guide information -- just specify the channel, start time, and end time....it will be recorded.

That's what I do mostly for the reoccurring shows anyway but I don't like how I don't get the show title when i do it this way. I wonder on the OTA channels if it will populate the show title once the guide loads after it changes the channel to load it or if it just uses the channel number like it does on the Dish stuff.