Question about OTA HDTV signals

[Staples]

I got a HDTV a few days ago. The TV has an integrated digital signal tuner so I can receive OTA HDTV signals. I bought a Zenith Silver Sensor antenna because they are considered to be the best indoor HDTV antennas. I can get the big threes' digital channels at usually 50%-70% when I point the antenna in the right direction for that channel. Many of the big primetime shows are in 1080i or in ABC's case, 720p which all look great (except when the camera pans or too much stuff is moving on the screen the compression gets nasty). Anyway, my question is, am I losing any picture data when receiving the signal at 60%? You really only see data block misses when the signal is at 40% or lower but above that, it seems to look just the same whether the signal strength is 50% or 75%.

On a side note, does Fox only have a standard 480i digital channel everywhere because that is all I can get. Damn you cheapskates.


Picture of the TV showing something on ABC Monday

 

[TechnoKid]

As far as I know, it is digital, so the ones and zeroes are still getting transmitted to you at say 60% signal strength.

 

[tigerbait]

On a side note, does Fox only have a standard 480i digital channel everywhere because that is all I can get.

Fox has an EDTV broadcast, 480p widescreen.

go to Antenna Web and see if there is a digital FOX broadcast in your area

 

[BAMAVOO]

Originally posted by: Staples
I got a HDTV a few days ago. The TV has an integrated digital signal tuner so I can receive OTA HDTV signals. I bought a Zenith Silver Sensor antenna because they are considered to be the best indoor HDTV antennas. I can get the big threes' digital channels at usually 50%-70% when I point the antenna in the right direction for that channel. Many of the big primetime shows are in 1080i or in ABC's case, 720p which all look great (except when the camera pans or too much stuff is moving on the screen the compression gets nasty). Anyway, my question is, am I losing any picture data when receiving the signal at 60%? You really only see data block misses when the signal is at 40% or lower but above that, it seems to look just the same whether the signal strength is 50% or 75%.

On a side note, does Fox only have a standard 480i digital channel everywhere because that is all I can get. Damn you cheapskates.


Picture of the TV showing something on ABC Monday

You have joined me on my Silver Sensor loving path


My Silver Sensor thread

 

[Staples]

Originally posted by: tigerbait

On a side note, does Fox only have a standard 480i digital channel everywhere because that is all I can get.

Fox has an EDTV broadcast, 480p widescreen.

go to Antenna Web and see if there is a digital FOX broadcast in your area

Thanks guys.

My zip is 78201 and the channel that antenna web lists is fox digital. All I have ever seen is 480i in digital format which does not even look any better (actually worse) then my TWC analog feed.

 

[UNCjigga]

Is there an 'everything' DTV/HDTV tuner that can receive off-the-air digital/HD, digital cable and HD over cable? So far the only thing I've found with this description is very expensive cuz it has DirecTV or a DVR also, which I don't need at the moment. As long as it has DVI-HDCP and FireWire hookups I'm set.

 

[Staples]

Originally posted by: Jigga
Is there an 'everything' DTV/HDTV tuner that can receive off-the-air digital/HD, digital cable and HD over cable? So far the only thing I've found with this description is very expensive cuz it has DirecTV or a DVR also, which I don't need at the moment. As long as it has DVI-HDCP and FireWire hookups I'm set.

Well I think cable digital is encrypted so you will need on of their boxes to get it. My TV has an integrated digital tuner in it so it can at least decode OTA digital signals (HDTV or not).

 

[bcterps]

Originally posted by: Staples

Originally posted by: Jigga Is there an 'everything' DTV/HDTV tuner that can receive off-the-air digital/HD, digital cable and HD over cable? So far the only thing I've found with this description is very expensive cuz it has DirecTV or a DVR also, which I don't need at the moment. As long as it has DVI-HDCP and FireWire hookups I'm set.

Well I think cable digital is encrypted so you will need on of their boxes to get it. My TV has an integrated digital tuner in it so it can at least decode OTA digital signals (HDTV or not).

Many cable companies send unencrypted HDTV signals, but for the digital cable channels, you'll still need their box. LG has a STB that can accept QAM signals, which some cable companies use to transmit HDTV programming, as well as OTA. But right now there is no all in one device that can accept, OTA/QAM/Digital Cable. It's the digital cable that's the problem, but I think there are some devices coming out in the near future that may be able to accept digital cable signals, I think I read something about it over at the AVS forums.