HDTV broadcast question!

[BlazingSaddles]

my apartment complex has a deal with direcTV in which all the tenants can only receive TV programming from direcTV; can't use comcast, adelphia, etc. However, the complex also doesn't have wiring or something for HD broadcasts yet, so I can't get HD from directv...

i was wondering if there were any other options for me to get it? Besides voom, if possible. i've heard of OTA antennas? I used www.antennaweb.org and saw I was 25 miles from a few stations or something?

thanks!

 

[KLin]

you would need an OTA receiver (Samsung TS-165 is an OTA receiver). Any old antenna can receive the transmission, you just need the HD OTA receiver to decode the HD broadcast.

 

[BlazingSaddles]

are those two separate devices, even if i have an HD-ready plasma?

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: BlazingSaddles
are those two separate devices, even if i have an HD-ready plasma?

hd ready plasma only means it can display hd material, does not mean you have an HD tuner built in. So yes, an HD tuner is seperate from the tv. A tv without any kind of tuner is called a monitor.

 

[BlazingSaddles]

can someone link a recommended OTA receiver and OTA antenna? i'm slow, sorry

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: BlazingSaddles
can someone link a recommended OTA receiver and OTA antenna? i'm slow, sorry

I've had a few OTA HD receivers. Of the ones I've had, from best to worst:

Lg LST-3510A
Samsung SIR-T165
Samsung SIR-T151
Samsung SIR-T351

For the antennna, that's a more difficult question.

On AntennaWeb, for the digital channels that are 25 miles away, how many different directions are they, and how many degrees apart?

 

[BlazingSaddles]

a bunch from with compass orientation from 49-52 degrees.

 

[BlazingSaddles]

up

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: BlazingSaddles
a bunch from with compass orientation from 49-52 degrees.

That's not very wide at all. Perfect, you're very lucky.

I'd start with a Zenith/Gemini Silver Sensor from Best Buy (since you can return it within 30 days with no restocking fee).

Be sure to point it carefully.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: BlazingSaddles
a bunch from with compass orientation from 49-52 degrees.

That's not very wide at all. Perfect, you're very lucky.

I'd start with a Zenith/Gemini Silver Sensor from Best Buy (since you can return it within 30 days with no restocking fee).

Be sure to point it carefully.

The Silver Sensor is the one I was going to recommend. I haven't used one myself, but I have heard nothing but excellent things about it. This little $30 antenna will oft-times outdo an antenna 3x it's price.

 

[SpunkyJones]

Originally posted by: blurredvision

Originally posted by: Apex

Originally posted by: BlazingSaddles
a bunch from with compass orientation from 49-52 degrees.

That's not very wide at all. Perfect, you're very lucky.

I'd start with a Zenith/Gemini Silver Sensor from Best Buy (since you can return it within 30 days with no restocking fee).

Be sure to point it carefully.

The Silver Sensor is the one I was going to recommend. I haven't used one myself, but I have heard nothing but excellent things about it. This little $30 antenna will oft-times outdo an antenna 3x it's price.

I've always heard good things also about the silver sensor, but keep the receipt, 25 miles is pushing the limts for it.

 

[Apex]

It also depends on your set top box. I've heard that LG's new 4200A model is even more sensitive than the 3510A. My 3510A could pick up stations from 36-37 miles away with the silver sensor.