Will D* inactivate OTA upon cancellation/termination?

[chupacabra]

Hello,
I've always wondered what D* will do about OTA functionality on a D* HDTV STB that you purchased in the following situations:

1. You complete your 1 year commitment and decide not to renew. Does your STB stop receiving OTA the following day?

2. You are not satisfied with D* service, cancel within 30 days, your are not charged early termination - does OTA stop working?

3. You buy the stb, but decide not to activate the service within 30 days, your credit card gets $150.00 (or more) charge - can you still use the stb for OTA?

I'm particularly interested in case #2, if you cancel, and OTA DOES work, do they make you return the box because your SUPPOSED to use it in conjunction with D* plan?

The reason I ask is that I want the SONY HD300 STB. I really only want it because it's the only Sony with DVI at BB, I am willing to try D* service for 1 year, but hate the thought that the OTA will only work with D* service activated - don't want that hanging over my head after shelling out $700.00 in BB gift cards.

Thanks,
El Chupacabra.

[LonghornXP]

I Just found out this info for you since I was sure it was the same as my Zenith SAT520 box. If you look at the PDF manule for your box at http://www.directv.com/learn/pdf/System_Manuals/Sony/Sony_SAT-HD300.pdf and browse to page 48 on section 6-4 it states the following below.

If you don’t subscribe to DIRECTV® programming, however, the function of the DIRECTV HD
Receiver will be limited to receiving signals only from ANT and/or CABLE. You can still enjoy
HD services provided by over-the-air digital broadcast along with the conventional analog
broadcast. Without the DIRECTV service, however, no electronic program guide is available.

So yes is the answer but you won't have a guide so you will have to tune to 8-1, 10-1 and just know ahead of time what channels and show you want to watch. Everything will work the same beyond that.

[teampozer]

I'm guessing the same with the Samsung. After all, unless you're taking part in the lease plan, you did buy the box and aside from the DirecTV programming, you should be able to use the other functions. As far as the guide goes, when I select "no dish" my guide does still work. But I believe as long as you have your geographical area programmed, your locals will still show in the guide. This might not be the case with the Zenith or Sony.

[chupacabra]

That's interesting about the guide not working with the Sony. I thought that the OTA guide was part of DTV in general, something sent by the stations?

How come an OTA only box has some sort of guide on it? Where does that come from?

I can understand the D* supplied guide not available w/o subscription, but what about some type of generic dtv guide?

Thanks.