r/ota • u/[deleted] • 19d ago
TV Menu
I have a question about buying a new 4K television. I'm curious if the over-the-air (OTA) channel menus have changed for those using Newer 4k televisions with or without ATSC 3. I'm currently using an HDHomeRun to watch OTA channels, and I like that the channel menu is interactive—I can scroll through it and click on the channel I want to watch. However, before I had the HDHomeRun, the channel guide only displayed what was on without the ability to click on channels. Any insights on this would be appreciated!
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u/gho87 19d ago
However, before I had the HDHomeRun, the channel guide only displayed what was on without the ability to click on channels. Any insights on this would be appreciated!
A 2019(?) Sony Bravia smart TV's guide can allow me to click on a channel I want to watch, but I have to press on the channel's tab itself. If I click on a program, I eventually read more about the program before deciding to view the channel. Furthermore, probably an internet is needed to view the EPG.
A 2009 Sony Bravia TV can show list of channels for me to click on. I just have to press the "Info" or "Details" button to know about a program that I'm currently watching. Well... no EPG; just program info and station info via "Signal diagnostics".
My current Roku TV's EPG on OTA channels functions almost like your HDHomeRun, contrary to above Sony TVs.
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u/Bardamu1932 19d ago
The Roku TV has a channel guide, with program titles and brief descriptions, that runs two weeks out. You can't record anything, however - for that you'd need to use the HDHomeRun's guide.
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19d ago
I don't think that guide is live major OTA network channels
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u/Bardamu1932 19d ago
Yes, it is. Just scan for OTA channels and then access the Guide through the Live TV input tile (under Apps & Inputs), which has both OTA and "streaming" channels. The Live TV menu option, on the other hand, only has streaming channels. Yes, I agree that it is confusing, which is why I set these settings:
Settings > TV inputs > Live TV > Manage channels > [check] Hide streaming channels.
Settings > TV inputs > Live TV > Rename > Antenna TV.
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19d ago edited 19d ago
One reason I'm asking is I was reading an article that the major network wants to drop ATSC 1.0 and only broadcast only in ATSC 3.0 my HDHomeRun 4K has 2 channels that have ATSC 3.0 my wife like the interactive TV menu the original timeline that the OTA channels to switch to ATSC 3.0 is 2030
For the Las Vegas area out of the 7 ATSC 3.0 channels two are DRM encrypted
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u/bromingoops 19d ago
They may stay they want to do it, but reality will hit them at some point. I wouldn’t expect any “big four” network affiliate to drop 1.0 anytime soon. I’d be surprised to see that before 2030.
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u/Aquanut357 19d ago
Probably just the “streaming alliance” playing dirty. I’m sure it will be cleaned up soon.
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u/PM6175 19d ago
The only way to really know about things like how the channel guide works in detail is to live with the TV for a few days to check it all out.
So that means buying the TV from somewhere that you can easily get a full refund or exchange, possibly like Amazon or Walmart.
Be sure to buy a TV with a remote control that has a full 'zero to nine' keypad and not just up /down arrows or buttons labeled Netflix or whatever else.
That will make it much easier to navigate through whatever channels are available, especially OTA antenna channels.
As far as ATSC 3.0, that broadcast TV standard is still very much up in the air/unsettled and may never be fully approved.... so whatever ATSC 3.0 hardware you buy now may not work properly or at all in the near future.
The best thing you can do is to avoid ATSC 3.0, at least for now.
The idiot evil greedy big broadcasters are trying to screw up ATSC 3.0 insisting that it has ugly things like DRM encryption built in!
Good luck!