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DTV Help (Sorry, long post)

B

bjthadj

Guest
I apologize upfront for the length of this post. A few months ago I bought a Mitsubishi big screen with a built in digital tuner. I just yesterday got around to picking up an off air antenna to get the local digital channels. I have Dish Network for service, but haven't purchased an HD tuner yet. To me the upfront cost isn't worth it for only 2 or 3 HD chanels I would watch. But I would like to see the locals in HD, hence my purchase of the Terk TV 44 antenna at Radio Shack.

This morning I set up the antenna mounted on the dish as it is supposed to be. When I first ran the auto-memorize function on my TV, only two DTV channels were detected. KAET is booming in crystal clear. The picture looks great, without any breakups. Even 8-2 and 8-3 are coming in perfectly. The only other signal I could get is KTVK, and that one is shoddy at best. Frequent break ups, and it seems like they're not even broadcasting in HD. I'm not sure if 3 has any subchannels, but my set couldn't find any. A moment ago I re-ran the memorize function and 45-1 and 45-2 were detected, but there is only a gray screen.

Here are my questions: If I am getting KAET so well, why won't any of the other DTVs come in? Aren't they all on top of South Mountain? I live at Chaparral and Hayden, so there should be a straight shot for the signals. I would love to watch the last few weeks of NFL in HD...what will it take to get 5, 10 and 15?!?<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by bjthadj on 12/18/05 01:10 AM.</FONT></P>
 
> I apologize upfront for the length of this post. A few
> months ago I bought a Mitsubishi big screen with a built in
> digital tuner. I just yesterday got around to picking up an
> of air antenna to get the local digital channels. I have
> Dish Network for service, but haven't purchased an HD tuner
> yet. To me the upfront cost isn't worth it for only 2 or 3
> HD chanels I would watch. But I would like to see the locals
> in HD, hence my purchase of the Terk TV 44 antenna at Radio
> Shack.
>
> This morning I set up the antenna mounted on the dish as it
> is supposed to be. When I first ran the auto-memorize
> function on my TV, only two DTV channels were detected. KAET
> is booming in crystal clear. The picture looks great,
> without any breakups. Even 8-2 and 8-3 are coming in
> perfectly. The only other signal I could get is KTVK, and
> that one is shoddy at best. Frequent break ups, and it seems
> like they're not even broadcasting in HD. I'm not sure if 3
> has any subchannels, but my set couldn't find any. A moment
> ago I re-ran the memorize function and 45-1 and 45-2 were
> detected, but there is only a gray screen.
>
> Here are my questions: If I am getting KAET so well, why
> won't any of the other DTVs come in? Aren't they all on top
> of South Mountain? I live at Chaparral and Hayden, so there
> should be a straight shot for the signals. I would love to
> watch the last few weeks of NFL in HD...what will it take to
> get 5, 10 and 15?!?

Terk antennas are overpriced and underperforming, according to many people who have tried them. I would recommend the Winegard SquareShooter, pointed toward South Mountain, for over-the-air DTV reception. They're impossible to find in retail, but you can order one from an online merchant.
 
> Terk antennas are overpriced and underperforming, according
> to many people who have tried them. I would recommend the
> Winegard SquareShooter, pointed toward South Mountain, for
> over-the-air DTV reception. They're impossible to find in
> retail, but you can order one from an online merchant.

Or, you could even pick up the Zenith Silver Sensor from a store that carries it. I picked it up at Best Buy to test it for my own uses then returned it and bought it cheaper online. I had excellent luck with the Silver Sensor, and I'm in the fringe for my digital TV stations where I am.

- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
Visit my website, www.rabbitears.info! It's eventually going to be your one resource for television info! Digital television, histories, and technical information for the entire USA from one source!</P>
 
I've got an HD (a tube TV, still the best quality of HD) that has a built in HD decoder (why don't all of them have this?) and its hooked up to the old terrestrial antenna that has been up on the roof for eons.

We get every single local HD channel, the extra channel 8 and 12 and all that, with no problem and good signal strength.

KAET's second HD channel is stunning, and great content to boot. Other stations vary on quality, but watching a football game in HD is beautiful.

As for cable, I have Qwest, which I think is superior to Cox (cheaper, better channels, great fast DSL), but they don't have HD yet. I'm eagerly awaiting them to add it, not sure when that will happen.
 
> I've got an HD (a tube TV, still the best quality of HD)
> that has a built in HD decoder (why don't all of them have
> this?) and its hooked up to the old terrestrial antenna that
> has been up on the roof for eons.
>
> We get every single local HD channel, the extra channel 8
> and 12 and all that, with no problem and good signal
> strength.

The problem with using an old traditional roof antenna is that in most new developments, they're not allowed, unless it's tucked away in an attic.

> KAET's second HD channel is stunning, and great content to
> boot. Other stations vary on quality, but watching a
> football game in HD is beautiful.
>
> As for cable, I have Qwest, which I think is superior to Cox
> (cheaper, better channels, great fast DSL), but they don't
> have HD yet. I'm eagerly awaiting them to add it, not sure
> when that will happen.

It sounds like you're one of the very few satisfied Qwest subscribers. I personally cringe when I hear one of their obnoxious advertisements. You may have to wait until they roll out fiber to the curb before Qwest offers HD, and that may be a very long wait. I can't even get DSL through them where I am, and it's not that old of a development.
 
> The problem with using an old traditional roof antenna is
> that in most new developments, they're not allowed, unless
> it's tucked away in an attic.

The FCC has largely preempted the right of HOAs to prohibit roof-top antennas.
 
> The problem with using an old traditional roof antenna is
> that in most new developments, they're not allowed, unless
> it's tucked away in an attic.

Go to the FCC site and look up OTARD.

- Trip<P ID="signature">______________
Visit my website, www.rabbitears.info! It's eventually going to be your one resource for television info! Digital television, histories, and technical information for the entire USA from one source!</P>
 
> > The problem with using an old traditional roof antenna is
> > that in most new developments, they're not allowed, unless
>
> > it's tucked away in an attic.
>
> Go to the FCC site and look up OTARD.
>
> - Trip
>
There are a lot of exceptions though Click here ---> <a target="_blank" href=http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html#QA>Q&A re: OTARD</a><P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>
 
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