Ditchin' the Satellite, getting my HD for free

[garylspolar]

Satellite and cable are quite expensive, considering I do not have much time to watch television anymore. I am going to buy an HD Tivo soon, to replace my standard definition Tivo, and just enjoy the stuff already out there for free, now that all the local channels in my area broadcast in HD. My "Science Channel" will be replaced by the stuff on PBS, lots of good kids stuff there too. I'll hit blockbuster if I want an occasional movie. I should save close to $1,000 per year, as my cable bill was over $80 per month, plus fees.

Anybody here getting your HD for free? I'm wondering which antennae is best, currently looking at this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6882172011

[R4R&R]

I was using some UHF antennas to get my free HD stuff. Unfortunately the major networks in my area have their transmission towers in different directions, and HD over UHF is not too forgiving with weak signals. I could pickup NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS, but not all with the same antenna alignment. HD (really digital broadcasting) weak signal equals dropped signal - real annoying. I finally got tired of it and signed up with Verizon FIOS and have been really happy. Apparently having a good antenna company installing the antenna helps alot since they have the equipment to accuratly align it, but it's not cheap.

Depending on how far you live form the transmitters, you may be able to get away with a decent pair of rabbit ears, I would try those first.

Do you already have a HD tuner?

[GTR350cc]

This was posted by some smart guy over at Adventure Rider....

Quote: "Three part consideration and you may choose to wait.

1. Equipment - already covered well and everybody's opinions are solid.
Panasonic 42" Plasma is a CNET Best BUY.
DLP has a shakey record on expensive lamp replacements so far.
LCD pictures are not vibrant like Plasma (or CRT for that matter).

Your room dimensions and viewing habits matter. Crutchfield says viewing distance (in inches) divided by 3 is optimum screen size. Human factor studies suggest divide by 5 to 7 to avoid being overwhlemed by larger pictures.

Sports in HD are fuggin' fantastic. Most older movies on DVD are letterboxed and do not take advantage of the screen available - horizontal or vertical bars present and the pictures actually appear smaller on all that screen.

2. Programming. Not deployed well yet in most markets (for OTA) or most cable networks (except sports). Growth by 2009 mandated switchover does not guarantee your broadcaster's quality. Converting analog to digital is fraught with variety and peril. Apparently, there are different approaches and some are incompatible with good screen rendering once they reach your set. Basically, what you receive is a converted MPEG2 data packet - an older video codec that has been much improved on in computing, but seems to be the place where HDTV under the EU and US mandates fixed.

3. Reception. Don't know cable - someone above discussed that. I wouldn't expect the best from an industry that has rarely delivered the mediocre.

OTA is either VHF or UHF (http://www.antennaweb.org covers this). Any antenna tuned for VHF or UHF can receive signals. BUT 20Db gain is a critical threshold for rendering digital packets (it is an all or nothing reception for HD) as opposed to analog signals which can be variously received, boosted, and mitigated at the receiver. 85% of the geography of the country is small market TV. Not happy land for local stations (and their FCC protections) being quick or good on broadcasting HD in usable strength for many households. And even in cities (top 300 markets) and suburbs the reflections and obstructions can be much more onerous for a digital signal. See Antennas Direct (http://www.antennasdirect.com) for good info and choices of both multi-directional and unidirectional antennas.

Satellite. As stated in a recent thread it is good for delivery but poor for programming so far....might be the better choice going forward if the programmers step up and actually deliver.

Prognostications:

MPEG2 will be (eventually) replaced with a better codec, rendering (pun intended) our expensive HD upgrades nearly obselete AND without the ability to upgrade the video card in the set (as it were).

Programming will improve only at the rate that advertising revenues permit. Small markets will remain backwater areas; large markets will get some good stuff OTA; cable companies will moan and do sweetheart deals with local PSC's to gouge customers and deliver minimum necessary service. Satellite may be the better longer term option.

Reception will remain problematic. Each household will have slightly different needs and capability to receive signals. For most the choice between OTA, cable, or satellite is no choice, but a continuation of historic delivery systems.

Sun spots, shifting magnetic fields, global warming, terrorism, neighborhood homeowners' associations and teen sex will all somehow destroy the promise of HDTV and show once again that Congress' mandate was an ill advised tuning of an open market economy.

Best of luck!"

The cliff notes for antennas are these:

1. VHF or UHF unidirectional are best. Use antenna web to determine if you can get away with this.

2. If your stations are spread 20 degrees and/or if they are more than 10-15 miles away you'll need more antenna. See Antenna Direct for help.

3. Bigger is better. Higher is better. Unobstructed is better. Pointed straight at the transmission tower is better.

4. RG6 cable runs under 100 feet long without splices or splitters. If you need to splice or split, use a mast mounted amplifier tuned for your band (VHF or UHF) and split nearer the source of the signal (close to the antenna BALUN).

5. Your TV needs an ASTV tuner for OTA HD reception.

I found that for $40-60 Antenna Direct had good choices. Wineguard is good but charges a premium for sales placements. That model you listed is not the best in my research.

Hope it all works for you.

[garylspolar]

HD tuner is built into Tivo Series3 unit, I will use that. My TV is HD ready, no tuner.

I hope I can make this work! I'm less than 25 miles from the transmitters, and they are all within 10 degrees of one another, from an antenna that I would put here.

[garylspolar]

http://www.antennasdirect.com offers a wealth of information, and even has information specific to Cleveland. Very helpful, thank you.

[big papa]

I set up my parents w/ the Phillips stick type antenna from Circuit City, and it works flawlessly. HD for free! They are 20 miles from the antennas.
We didn't even mount it, it is just leaninig against the wall behind their flat screen. I have HD cable, I would miss HD discovery and some of the other cable specific HD stuff ESPN, music, etc.

[Beemeridian]

updated

[rdsmith3]

I like gadgets and electronics as much as any other guy here, but I am not thrilled that the government is thrusting this upon us.

Did anyone else notice that the government will be subsidizing converter boxes for low income people? So they are disrupting free market mechanisms, then they are trying to fix the issue of people not being able to afford the new technology.

[Maybe my rant should be in the Playhouse]

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/dtv/FA ... 212006.htm

http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html#coupon

Digital-to-analog converter boxes will make DTV signals viewable on analog TV sets. These converter boxes will be available in retail stores during the transition. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce is developing rules that will allow households to obtain coupons that can be applied toward the purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes.

But back on topic -- Beemeridian, help me pick a TV for my bedroom. I will use it with the cable company's digital box. I was thinking of this one:
Samsung LN-S3251D

http://reviews.cnet.com/Samsung_LN_S325 ... l?tag=qlph

[Beemeridian]

updated