High definition antenna - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

dog1 · 11-04-2003, 02:38 PM

Just got a high def capable tv. Do indoor antennas work good ?

Sunrise · 11-06-2003, 08:27 PM

Obviously an outdoor one on the roof would be MUCH better, but you can always try.

Devilchild · 11-07-2003, 05:15 AM

depends on where you live, if you live near big cranes and tall buildings then you will likely get a crappy reception and should stick with cable, if you live out in the country then go for it.

Mikado · 11-07-2003, 10:55 PM

Not sure if you're aware of this or not, but to pick up a high definition broadcast, you need a high definition reciever. It looks like the cable box you get when you get cable tv. Without it, you're only going to pick up the standard broadcast. If you want to get the full extent of your HDTV, you need to order a digital cable package that includes HD channels from your cable tv provider. I use Time Warner here in Houston, and it's only $5 a month extra to 'rent' the cable HD reciever, plus the basic fee for digital cable. However, there are only 7-10 HD channels available at this time, depending on your provider.

dog1 · 11-08-2003, 05:10 AM

Thanks for the info guys. I live in an apartment in Atlanta. I'm on the ground floor facing north. The only cable available here is Bell South. This tv supposedly has a built in HD reciever. It's a RCA Scenium.

SuperMidget · 11-08-2003, 05:42 PM

Short answer, no it will not work. no channel offers off-air high def programming.

Long answer:
In order for HD to work, it must be a digital signal. Chances are the off-air channels in atlanta are still analog. However, you might luck out and they have gone digital. To get the digital feed, you must find out the spectrum and purchase the appropriate antenna. I can't remember off the top of my head, but I think you will want multidirectional, low power, with gain control in the uhf spectrum.

But just because you get the digital feeds, while better quality, you will not get HD channels off air. To the best of my knowledge only ten channels offer high def programming. (HGTV, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, Food Network, these are all I can remember off the top of my head.)

Those channels will only come in from a bird. (A satellite, Satcom Galaxy 5 if I remember correctly.)
It is not possible to get the feed from the bird uness you are a cable tv provider.

So your best option is to get digital cable from Bell South. You will need an HD reciever, but your digital box will have one, and you need to make sure to get good quality component cables to go from the cable box to the TV. What the company means by HDTV is that it can interpret HD analog signals. What the cable box does is change the signal from Binary to either HD analog or standard analog.

yodapaul · 11-09-2003, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SuperMidget
Short answer, no it will not work. no channel offers off-air high def programming.

Long answer:
In order for HD to work, it must be a digital signal. Chances are the off-air channels in atlanta are still analog. However, you might luck out and they have gone digital. To get the digital feed, you must find out the spectrum and purchase the appropriate antenna. I can't remember off the top of my head, but I think you will want multidirectional, low power, with gain control in the uhf spectrum.

But just because you get the digital feeds, while better quality, you will not get HD channels off air. To the best of my knowledge only ten channels offer high def programming. (HGTV, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, Food Network, these are all I can remember off the top of my head.)

Those channels will only come in from a bird. (A satellite, Satcom Galaxy 5 if I remember correctly.)
It is not possible to get the feed from the bird uness you are a cable tv provider.

So your best option is to get digital cable from Bell South. You will need an HD reciever, but your digital box will have one, and you need to make sure to get good quality component cables to go from the cable box to the TV. What the company means by HDTV is that it can interpret HD analog signals. What the cable box does is change the signal from Binary to either HD analog or standard analog.

I'm just intested to know where you got or info from?
I ask because it is not really true for every situation. I work as a installer and programmer that works on custom built home theater systems costing upwards of a $100,000 a system. We have been working with HDTV for about 3.5 years now. My company had the first retail version of a ATSC tuner in North America. My boss has a tiny antenna sitting on his desk that picks up all the local off air HDTV channels, and it is not even a foot long.
My point is just because there a digital signal doesn't mean that you need to get a fancy antenna. You can get one from radio shack for less than $60.00. I know I have bought and installed them myself. As long as the box says that the antenna will support ATSC or Digital it will(or at least should) work. This also depends on you location and type of dwelling.

I am not trying to flame you but I am just interested.

By the way I looked up the specs for the tv and some models Include a ATSC tuner. So dog1 you MIGHT not need an external decoder. It depends on your model number, in any case as an A/V Professional I recomend that you READ the manual. The manual will say if you need the decoder box or not.

Also there are digital broadcasting stations in over 200 markets in the US. Check the websites of the stations near you to be shure if the are broadcasting in ATSC or Not.

SuperMidget · 11-09-2003, 03:23 PM

I work for a cable provider, and to to the best of my knowledge i am not aware of any off-air channels that are High Def. If it is available in some area, then I guess my post is irrelevant.

I apologize for my ignorance and thank you for correcting me.

yodapaul · 11-09-2003, 05:28 PM

No worries, I just wanted to make sure that the correct information was getting out.
By the way, Most PBS stations have a channel that shows a High Def programming loop.

In the end, It's All Good.

11-04-2003, 02:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
dog1 Upright	High definition antenna Just got a high def capable tv. Do indoor antennas work good ?

11-08-2003, 05:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
SuperMidget Banned Location: Farm country, South Dakota	Short answer, no it will not work. no channel offers off-air high def programming. Long answer: In order for HD to work, it must be a digital signal. Chances are the off-air channels in atlanta are still analog. However, you might luck out and they have gone digital. To get the digital feed, you must find out the spectrum and purchase the appropriate antenna. I can't remember off the top of my head, but I think you will want multidirectional, low power, with gain control in the uhf spectrum. But just because you get the digital feeds, while better quality, you will not get HD channels off air. To the best of my knowledge only ten channels offer high def programming. (HGTV, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, Food Network, these are all I can remember off the top of my head.) Those channels will only come in from a bird. (A satellite, Satcom Galaxy 5 if I remember correctly.) It is not possible to get the feed from the bird uness you are a cable tv provider. So your best option is to get digital cable from Bell South. You will need an HD reciever, but your digital box will have one, and you need to make sure to get good quality component cables to go from the cable box to the TV. What the company means by HDTV is that it can interpret HD analog signals. What the cable box does is change the signal from Binary to either HD analog or standard analog. Last edited by SuperMidget; 11-08-2003 at 05:51 PM..

11-09-2003, 05:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
yodapaul Insane Location: MN	No worries, I just wanted to make sure that the correct information was getting out. By the way, Most PBS stations have a channel that shows a High Def programming loop. In the end, It's All Good. __________________ I'm Just here to help. Now, Where is your problem?

11-06-2003, 08:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sunrise Crazy Location: Melbourne, Australia	Obviously an outdoor one on the roof would be MUCH better, but you can always try.

11-07-2003, 05:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
Devilchild Crazy	depends on where you live, if you live near big cranes and tall buildings then you will likely get a crappy reception and should stick with cable, if you live out in the country then go for it.

11-07-2003, 10:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mikado Crazy Location: Houston, Texas	Not sure if you're aware of this or not, but to pick up a high definition broadcast, you need a high definition reciever. It looks like the cable box you get when you get cable tv. Without it, you're only going to pick up the standard broadcast. If you want to get the full extent of your HDTV, you need to order a digital cable package that includes HD channels from your cable tv provider. I use Time Warner here in Houston, and it's only $5 a month extra to 'rent' the cable HD reciever, plus the basic fee for digital cable. However, there are only 7-10 HD channels available at this time, depending on your provider.

11-08-2003, 05:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
dog1 Upright	Thanks for the info guys. I live in an apartment in Atlanta. I'm on the ground floor facing north. The only cable available here is Bell South. This tv supposedly has a built in HD reciever. It's a RCA Scenium.

11-09-2003, 03:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
SuperMidget Banned Location: Farm country, South Dakota	I work for a cable provider, and to to the best of my knowledge i am not aware of any off-air channels that are High Def. If it is available in some area, then I guess my post is irrelevant. I apologize for my ignorance and thank you for correcting me.