OTA High Def Questions.

[MX2]

Do I need to buy a special antenna?

What signal capabilities can coax actually carry?

 

[xtknight]

Any UHF antenna will be able to receive all your local OTA HD channels (VHF can receive a few too if they're lower channels). Some of these "HD antennas" include amplifiers but those can do more harm than good since noise can also be amplified. It's not much of a help. I have a very cheap "Walmart" antenna and I can get very good signal strength. HDTV is just a compressed MPEG-2 stream within a regular TV channel bandwidth which is why regular antennas can still work. The HDTV tuner extracts this stream out of the normal frequency.

Signal capabilites? Like frequency range? Maybe this will help: http://www.epanorama.net/documents/wiring/coaxcable.html

 

[MX2]

Thanks xtknight, that helps explain some things

Signal capabilities I meant like 480, 720, 1080, etc.

 

[xtknight]

Right now everything from 480p to 1080i can be transmitted thru either antenna or coax AFAIK. I have heard that cable tends to be inferior in quality but am unsure of the reason. The cable company is cutting corners somewhere. There isn't enough bandwidth to do 1080p with current standards (ATSC for the US).

Edit: err, everything from 480i thru 1080i can be transmitted with current methods I mean: 480i/p, 720p, 1080i.

 

[JBT]

I bought a $30 antenna from my local K-mart. It sucked hard at reception ~30% signal stregth I messed around with all the adjustments forever. I brought it back and got a $7.99 rabit ear antenna plugged it in and I get about 85-95 signal strength now with nothing but sticking the ears out. Try a cheap one first and if it doesn't work just return it.


I also agree with xtknight picture quality looks better with OTA. Its nothing drastic but it does look better compared to cable.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: JBT
I also agree with xtknight picture quality looks better with OTA. Its nothing drastic but it does look better compared to cable.

I agree except for the pay channels like HDNet and INHD, they look fantastic.

 

[PianoMan]

Coax will be fine w/OTA - you'll need to determine how far you are from the transmitter (digital). If you're close, "rabbit ears" will do just fine. Farther out, you might need to start looking at roof mounts or directionals.

On a good HDTV set, HD is outstanding. Watching NFL on HD is a paradigm shifting event. Unfortunately, all the broadcasters haven't fully embraced HD, so there's hardly anything else on (w/a few notable exceptions). I cancelled my cable HD because of this...

If you're close to a transmit point - definitely try it. HD for free - and uncompressed - cable providers typically have to bit mash due to bandwidth limitations.

PM

 

[Wreckage]

I'm using one of those big ole roof antennas that came with my house. Probably been there over 20 years. Even though I am at least 30 miles from any TV station, I am getting perfect reception.

 

[MrPickins]

I'm 15 miles from the broadcast towers, and I get >90% signal with a Zenith Silver Senesor antenna and a Fusion Hdtv5 card.
The antenna was on top of my entertainment center, but I moved it to the attic, and now, even with 20 feet of coax, I still have little/no signal loss.

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: JBT
I also agree with xtknight picture quality looks better with OTA. Its nothing drastic but it does look better compared to cable.

I agree except for the pay channels like HDNet and INHD, they look fantastic.

Thats true both those channels have excellent picture quality. My cable company (COX) here in Tucson is lame they don't have NBC, ABC, or Fox in HD.... I just use the OTA tuner for them so its not to big of an issue but still pretty annoying.

 

[MX2]

Is it normal for the sides to crop (automatically) during commercial when watching OTA HD?

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: MX2times
Is it normal for the sides to crop (automatically) during commercial when watching OTA HD?

Yes, the commercials are not in HD widescreen.

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: Wreckage

Originally posted by: MX2times
Is it normal for the sides to crop (automatically) during commercial when watching OTA HD?

Yes, the commercials are not in HD widescreen.

agreed. I did see my first OTA HD commercial about 2 days ago though.

 

[MX2]

Since I am on OTA, I assume the TV itself is swiching to whatever resolution is being broadcast? There isnt anywhere on the TV itself within the menu system that tells me or indicates 720p / 1080i etc.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: MX2times
Since I am on OTA, I assume the TV itself is swiching to whatever resolution is being broadcast? There isnt anywhere on the TV itself within the menu system that tells me or indicates 720p / 1080i etc.

Either that or it's scaling everything to its native resolution (if it has one).