DirecTV AM21 finally available

by Ben Drawbaugh, posted Apr 30th 2008 at 2:37PM

A keen observer over at DBSTalk noticed that the ATSC tuner add on for the HR21 is finally available on DirecTV.com for purchase. This $50 accessory will enable HR21 owners to tune into and record OTA HD channels and is a must have for anyone who wants access to every local HD channel in their area. Although DirecTV caries HD locals in most markets, it doesn't carry all the HD channels in those same markets. As expected, it'll let you record two shows at once, but unfortunately it doesn't work with the H21 HD receiver (non-DVR).

Filed under: Set-top boxes, Satellite

Tags: AM21, breaking news, breakingnews, DBSTalk, DirecTV, H21, HR21

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Bryan T @ Apr 30th 2008 3:20PM

Well, DirecTV doesn't carry my locals in HD (Saginaw/flint)...

Anyone who has bought a TV in the last 3 years, their TV should have an ATSC tuner built in to them, which would make this accessory pretty useless...wouldn't it?

Neutral

Chad @ Apr 30th 2008 4:12PM

Someone please correct me, as I'm not quite sure...
I have a 50" Kuro and it does allow you to hook up your antenna and satellite/cable box, but they would be on separate inputs. If you are watching DirecTV and you want to watch something local, you have to switch over to the other input. Which also means you can't record anything shown on your local channels with the tuner box, nor will those locals show up in your DirecTV guide.

Neutral

socalreinvestor @ Apr 30th 2008 4:21PM

This allows your DVR to pick up local OTA HDTV channels that D* might not otherwise carry. A good example is in my area there is no PBS in HD on D*. I could buy this tuner if I had the HR21 and the DVR would be able to RECORD. Also not everyone has a HDTV that was bought in the last 3 years. My Panny Plasma was purchased in 2002.

Neutral

JT @ Apr 30th 2008 4:32PM

Did you read this little line?

"This $50 accessory will enable HR21 owners to tune into and record OTA HD channels"

Where I live, you can only get Fox in HD OTA, and i hate flipping between DirecTV and OTA, and now that i can finally record Fox in HD, I never have to watch another SD channel again.

Neutral

russ @ Apr 30th 2008 4:36PM

You can watch OTA broadcasts since your TV has the tuner. With the adapter the HR21 will be able to record the OTA broadcasts

Neutral

toyguymarc @ Apr 30th 2008 3:29PM

I guess I dont understand what this does

Neutral

vypergts @ Apr 30th 2008 4:05PM

It hooks up by USB to the HR21 which is DTV's HD DVR. So while many TV's have the ability to tune local HD channels, the receiver box off the shelf, does not. With this, it can for local channels that DTV doesn't carry in HD.

Neutral

anon @ Apr 30th 2008 3:54PM

Bryan and marc, TV's do have ATSC tuners in them now, but for the most part, they don't have DVR's in them. The latest DVR from DirecTV has no ATSC tuners built into it. This adds 2 tuners, and it integrates the OTA signals into the guide so you can see what's coming up and record shows from the antenna. So you don't need this to pick up local HD channels, but it allows you to record them on your DirecTV DVR.

Neutral

Marcos @ Apr 30th 2008 4:06PM

The difference between this accessory and the ATSC tuner in your tv is that you can record the OTA broadcast with the DVR. If you just have the antenna plugged into the tv, you couldn't record to the DVR.

Neutral

Jeff ATC @ May 1st 2008 10:54AM

Would someone please tell me what the purpose of this device is? For almost a year now, I've had my OTA antenna plugged into my D* HD DVR. The local HD channels show up in my guide and I can record them to the DVR.

So tell me, what does this accessory do?

Neutral

Chad @ May 1st 2008 5:39PM

@Jeff ATC
Read the article. HR20 models of the D* box have the ATSC tuner built in, which is probably what you have. HR21 models (HR21 is newer than HR20) don't have the ATSC tuner, so you cannot record locals via OTA antenna. The AM21 adds that feature.

Neutral

Kelly @ May 5th 2008 10:02PM

Will this be eligible for the $40 governement coupon since all it is just a tuner?

Neutral

Neo27 @ May 10th 2008 7:37AM

Unfortunately no. This is deemed as an "accessory" since it cannot be used alone to receive ATSC, it must be connected to the HR21. (until some brilliant mind writes a driver for the PC that is...)

I received mine on the 7th and it's great! I have no locals through dish in my area and the HD feeds from FOX through New York are choppy often. It's nice to be able to finally be able to record OTA broadcasts. I've been with Directv since winter and was sent an HR21 so I hooked the antenna up to the TV at least, but now I can record!!

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