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local TV what antenna? J. Davidson 10-07-2007
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Posted by on October 8, 2007, 12:20 pm
> Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
>
>
> > > Try cheapest solution first- rabbit ears. Radio Shack, or even local
> > > thrift store. If all the stations you want are within 20 miles or so, they
> > > may work well enough.
>
> > > aem sends...
>
> > This site just confirmed why I have cable. Nearest stations to me are 28
> > miles, most are 40, but the ones in my state that I prefer to watch are all
> > over 50 miles.
>
> That's a problem in the hilly northeast, not so much in the flatter
> parts of the country.


As part of the overall consideration, I'd factor in that NTSC
broadcasting over the air is scheduled to be turned off in less than
18 months. So, at that point, you'd need an antenna appropriate to
received digital, as well as a TV with an ATSC tuner or an external
ATSC tuner/converter to use with older TVs.

Antennaweb.org has lots of good info.


AppliancePartsPros.com, Inc.
Posted by DonC on October 8, 2007, 12:59 pm

>> Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
>>
>>
>> > > Try cheapest solution first- rabbit ears. Radio Shack, or even local
>> > > thrift store. If all the stations you want are within 20 miles or so,
>> > > they
>> > > may work well enough.
>>
>> > > aem sends...
>>
>> > This site just confirmed why I have cable. Nearest stations to me are
>> > 28
>> > miles, most are 40, but the ones in my state that I prefer to watch
>> > are all
>> > over 50 miles.
>>
>> That's a problem in the hilly northeast, not so much in the flatter
>> parts of the country.
>
>
> As part of the overall consideration, I'd factor in that NTSC
> broadcasting over the air is scheduled to be turned off in less than
> 18 months. So, at that point, you'd need an antenna appropriate to
> received digital, as well as a TV with an ATSC tuner or an external
> ATSC tuner/converter to use with older TVs.
>
> Antennaweb.org has lots of good info.
>

Your points regarding the February 17, 2009 turn off date for analog
broadcasts are timely.

This FCC site has a wealth of information about the transition:
http://www.dtv.gov/index.html

That said I must say that at least in my case, a modest standard UHF antenna
does a great job. I'm 44 miles from most of my OTA (over-the-air)
stations. I have a modest (6' to 8') VHF/UHF directional antenna without a
rotor mounted 4 feet above my flat roof about 12 feet above ground level.
Digital signals are all crystal clear; the worse signal registers 78% signal
strength, most approach 100%. On the other hand the analog signals are
generally poor to mediocre. Admittedly that rating is relative to the
digital reception : ) Another thing your cable and satellite providers
don't want you to know is that the OTA signals will generally provide the
best reception. It's either straight from the source to your antenna or you
don't get it at all. That is, it's either received or not --- discounting
very infrequent pixelation. I receive over 20 HDTV channels via Dish
network and previously got them via Cox cable so this is not hearsay.
Side-by-side, my OTA reception is noticeable better --- even at 44 miles!

Bottom line: don't be sold on "Special HDTV" antennas being pushed by too
many vendors. And yes, rabbit ears may well be more than adequate.

Just my 25 cents : )



Posted by Pete C. on October 8, 2007, 1:25 pm
trader4@optonline.net wrote:
>
> > Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> >
> >
> > > > Try cheapest solution first- rabbit ears. Radio Shack, or even local
> > > > thrift store. If all the stations you want are within 20 miles or so,
they
> > > > may work well enough.
> >
> > > > aem sends...
> >
> > > This site just confirmed why I have cable. Nearest stations to me are 28
> > > miles, most are 40, but the ones in my state that I prefer to watch are
all
> > > over 50 miles.
> >
> > That's a problem in the hilly northeast, not so much in the flatter
> > parts of the country.
>
> As part of the overall consideration, I'd factor in that NTSC
> broadcasting over the air is scheduled to be turned off in less than
> 18 months. So, at that point, you'd need an antenna appropriate to
> received digital, as well as a TV with an ATSC tuner or an external
> ATSC tuner/converter to use with older TVs.

That would be a problem if there was anything worth watching on OTA TV.
I have cable, mostly because my work pays for the cable modem and the
package isn't a lot more, and even with cable there are only about three
channels I watch with any regularity.

Posted by DonC on October 8, 2007, 1:39 pm

> trader4@optonline.net wrote:
>>
>> > Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> > > > Try cheapest solution first- rabbit ears. Radio Shack, or even
>> > > > local
>> > > > thrift store. If all the stations you want are within 20 miles or
>> > > > so, they
>> > > > may work well enough.
>> >
>> > > > aem sends...
>> >
>> > > This site just confirmed why I have cable. Nearest stations to me are
>> > > 28
>> > > miles, most are 40, but the ones in my state that I prefer to watch
>> > > are all
>> > > over 50 miles.
>> >
>> > That's a problem in the hilly northeast, not so much in the flatter
>> > parts of the country.
>>
>> As part of the overall consideration, I'd factor in that NTSC
>> broadcasting over the air is scheduled to be turned off in less than
>> 18 months. So, at that point, you'd need an antenna appropriate to
>> received digital, as well as a TV with an ATSC tuner or an external
>> ATSC tuner/converter to use with older TVs.
>
> That would be a problem if there was anything worth watching on OTA TV.
> I have cable, mostly because my work pays for the cable modem and the
> package isn't a lot more, and even with cable there are only about three
> channels I watch with any regularity.

My, my!

Evidently you don't enjoy any sports broadcasts. And any PBS broadcasts
such as the recent excellent Ken Burns series "The War." And you could care
less about what's going on locally via your local news broadcasts. And all
this for free!

I do however agree that most prime network broadcasts are crap and
unfortunately getting worse all the time -- if that's really possible. Also,
I refuse to watch the biased and sensationalized (both sides) prime-time
national news broadcasts. I get better and more timely information via the
internet. Sigh....



Posted by Pete C. on October 8, 2007, 3:17 pm
DonC wrote:
>
> > trader4@optonline.net wrote:
> >>
> >> > Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > > > Try cheapest solution first- rabbit ears. Radio Shack, or even
> >> > > > local
> >> > > > thrift store. If all the stations you want are within 20 miles or
> >> > > > so, they
> >> > > > may work well enough.
> >> >
> >> > > > aem sends...
> >> >
> >> > > This site just confirmed why I have cable. Nearest stations to me are
> >> > > 28
> >> > > miles, most are 40, but the ones in my state that I prefer to watch
> >> > > are all
> >> > > over 50 miles.
> >> >
> >> > That's a problem in the hilly northeast, not so much in the flatter
> >> > parts of the country.
> >>
> >> As part of the overall consideration, I'd factor in that NTSC
> >> broadcasting over the air is scheduled to be turned off in less than
> >> 18 months. So, at that point, you'd need an antenna appropriate to
> >> received digital, as well as a TV with an ATSC tuner or an external
> >> ATSC tuner/converter to use with older TVs.
> >
> > That would be a problem if there was anything worth watching on OTA TV.
> > I have cable, mostly because my work pays for the cable modem and the
> > package isn't a lot more, and even with cable there are only about three
> > channels I watch with any regularity.
>
> My, my!
>
> Evidently you don't enjoy any sports broadcasts.

Nope, never cared about sports.

> And any PBS broadcasts
> such as the recent excellent Ken Burns series "The War."

In recent years the few good PBS programs have been overshadowed by a
good deal of crap, and much of what used to be good on PBS has been
taken over by commercial networks (chiefly Discovery Networks) that do a
better job with them anyway.

> And you could care
> less about what's going on locally via your local news broadcasts.

There is little locally of relevance to me.

> And all
> this for free!

Not free when you consider the cost of an adapter or new TV.

>
> I do however agree that most prime network broadcasts are crap and
> unfortunately getting worse all the time -- if that's really possible. Also,
> I refuse to watch the biased and sensationalized (both sides) prime-time
> national news broadcasts. I get better and more timely information via the
> internet. Sigh....

Yep, broadcast TV as it used to be known is dead and just hasn't been
buried yet. The same is true for newspapers and mainstream magazines.

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