OTA HDTV - Ground Zero!

Bleddyn Williams · 01-23-2007, 12:34 PM

I've had my HD-capable set for about 4 years. It was calibrated by our own Gregg Loewen for DVD, which is all I've used it for, along with Dish TV.

Back then, Gregg said I was fortunate to be able to get OTA HD if I was so inclined. I didn't go anywhere with it back then.

I've been enjoying my DVDs for the last few years, but with HD-DVD & Blu-Ray just down the road, I'm checking my options for HD TV pictures. I have no clear view as to how to do this, hence this thread...

Using the Antenna Web website, it appears that all the OTA local HD channels are about 15-16 miles from my house (Billerica MA) and within 4 degrees of each other in orientation.

To make this work, I would need to presumably purchase some kind of HD tuner, and have an antenna fitted to my house. So this is a one-off deal for spending money, although it won't give me the option to have any special channels like HBO, for example.

Then there's paying for HD via Dish, which might be more flexible in getting extra channels, but you end up paying monthly fees, and prehaps also a fee for an HD box. Also, it seems that these channels may not be up to the OTA transmissions.

DirecTV is not suggesting itself to me right now, as if I'm going the Satellite route, I may as well use the provider I already have. I need to find out more.

Then there's cable - Comcast. How does that compare with the other delivery systems, I wonder.

So that's where I am now. I'm very interested in what I can achieve via aerial, rather than fattening the pockets of some of these companies. Those of you with OTA HD, did you find it challenging to set up? Would you have a professional set up your aerial? And what kind of aerial would you recommend?

Or - if I'm missing the merits of using a different delivery system, please enlighten me. The folks of the HTF have been fabulous over the years, and hopefully some of you can put me straight on all this. My head is beginning to spin!

ChrisClearman · 01-23-2007, 01:38 PM

Since your TV presumably does not have an OTA tuner you will need to find one incorporated into a content provider.

Dish vs DTV: Dish currently has more HD channels, though DTV has launched two new SATS and is claiming 100+ HD channels over the next couple years. Both will carry local HD programming for your area. Be of mind that although this is HD content the actual quality of all the HD channels can vary due to the way in which compress the video stream (MPEG2 or MPEG4 and bitrate variatio). None of the stations will be quite as good as the direct OTA method. However, SOME of the Dish/DTV HD boxes will also allow you hook up an ariel ant to pipe in the direct OTA HD signals from your area instead of relying on the compressed signals over the satellite. Some of the boxes do NOT have this capability anymore.

In general, the cable company USUALLY does not compress the HD channels as much (or uses a higher bit rate encoder) but this varies market to market.

For your set-up I would go with Dish HD. They should "lease" you an HD box for $99 or so (they will also install a new ant) if you have been a customer for awhile. Ask to see if their boxes allow OTA ant, if so I would do it. You can just get a little one that sits next to the TV, or pay to have one installed on your dish.

Jeff Gatie · 01-23-2007, 02:17 PM

All I know about in the Boston area (I'm in Weymouth) is Comcast. HD is $2 extra a month for the box. You get the following HD channels included:

PBS
CBS
ABC
NBC
UPN (or whatever channel 38 is now)
WB
FOX
Discovery
Nat. Geographic
MTV
NESN*
TNT
USA
ESPN-1
ESPN-2
INHD
Weather Channel (a waste)

*As far as I know, the only way to get NESN-HD is via cable.

If you subscribe to the folowing pay channel(s), you get the HD version for no charge:
HBO
Cinemax
Starz
Showtime

And you get a limited number of free and/or pay per view On-Demand HD movies.

Robert_J · 01-23-2007, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisClearman

However, SOME of the Dish/DTV HD boxes will also allow you hook up an ariel ant to pipe in the direct OTA HD signals from your area instead of relying on the compressed signals over the satellite. Some of the boxes do NOT have this capability anymore.

Please list the satellite receivers that DO NOT have this capability. Currently ever satellite HD receiver on the market can receive ATSC signals and integrate them seamlessly into the program guide. All of the DVR satellite models can also record these signals. Depending on the model, you can record one or two ATSC signals at the same time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisClearman

You can just get a little one that sits next to the TV, or pay to have one installed on your dish.

The most popular set top antennas are the Zenith Silver Sensor and the Radio Shack Double Bow Tie. Both are UHF only so be sure that your local digital channels are broadcast in that range. Dish mounted antennas are fine as long as you don't use those "stealth" models. The ones that look like a wing or a bent coat hanger. An antenna's design is impacts its performance. Also, don't diplex the antenna signal with the satellite signal if you can help it. A separate antenna coax works much better and will future proof you in case Dish decides to use the OTA band for satellite channels like DirecTV did with their MPEG4 HD channels.

-Robert

ChrisClearman · 01-23-2007, 03:19 PM

It's my understanding that the H20 model from DTV has an issue with the OTA integration? Or maybe it's the HR20?

I have DTV and diplex the OTA with the sat coax with no issues.

**HTF Ads**

Robert_J · 01-23-2007, 04:38 PM

The HR20 recently had a software upgrade that activated both of its ATSC tuners.

With DirecTV's new AT9 dish, you can't diplex OTA onto any line that will be connected to an HR20 or H20 that will tune to the MPEG4 channels. Those sat signals shifted to a frequency band that is too close to OTA.

Finally, DTV is the abbeviation for digital television. D* is the appropriate abbeviation for DirecTV.

-Robert

Bleddyn Williams · 01-24-2007, 02:58 PM

Thanks to you all for your responses!

I have looked further into providers like Dish & Comcast. While they seem fairly painless, they are not cheap! My current monthly cable bill is $49.

Dish would like $75 a month for the privilege of adding hi-def content and a box. There is $10 off a month for 10 months as an incentive. I thought of dropping the level of regular channels to save another $10, but the wife rebelled at the thought of losing Bravo! Has anyone looked at the channels in Dish's current (cheapest HD) Bronze package?

- Resort & Residence
- Horseracing TV
- The Water Channel(!)

Good god!

Comcast would like $81 a month.

While these offer a fair number of channels, I must admit to being a little shocked at the cost. I know if I got OTA HD, it would only be the three networks and Fox, but that would be a nice way to get my feet wet.

Any suggestions for an HD tuner, and what they might cost? I popped into Radio Shack and was told that they didn't offer tuners in their stores, and to try online. More research for me there, then.

I was also surprised at the idea that a set top aerial might be enough to receive these signals - I just automatically assumed that I would need to put up an outdoor aerial. Can you just buy these things and take them back if they don't work?

Again, thanks for the feedback so far - it really helps!

ChrisClearman · 01-24-2007, 03:28 PM

I don't know anything about a set-top HD decoder. If you find one let me know, I may do that than sign up for another HD box from D*.

You should be able to pick up the locals with a set top aeriel. Lots of people do it.

ChristopherDAC · 01-24-2007, 10:12 PM

You can definitely buy an over-the-air ATSC decoder, with component outputs and so on. Try Circuit City, Best Buy, any big electronics store. They have started to become less common in the past few years, as sales of "HD (Un)Ready" TVs trailed off, and built-in ATSC tuners picked up ; but with the NTSC turnoff date approaching, they're going to make a comeback for connection to older TVs, mostly people's second and third sets that aren't hooked up to cable, satellite, whatever.

As for antennas, we're in a big market with most of the transmitters close together, and we have an old roof-mounted Yagi antenna. We get a quadzillion channels, digital and analog both, most of them totally unwanted. A big antenna like that is probably excessive for your situation (Cedar Hill is about 40 miles from here), but it's not all that hard to put up on a house. In fact, you can put it in the attic if you haven't got a copper roof or something.