Considering DTV (New and have questions!)

Hello!

My wife and I are considering the switch to DTV but to be honest don't know much about it at all. We are tightening up our budget and think this is a good way to do it for a while.

Basic Info -



Here is our TV.

Here are some specs. It's a new TV so I'm assuming we just need to get the antenna. Do we need anything esle?

TV System
•Channel Coverage : VHF: 2-13ch UHF: 14-69ch CATV (analog): 1-135ch CATV (digital) : 1-135ch
•Color System : NTSC
•Number of Tuners (Digital) : 1(Hybrid)
•TV System (Analog) : M
•TV System (Digital) : ATSC
•Tuner (Cable) : Clear QAM
•Tuner (Terrestrial) : ATSC™ / NTSC

We are moving to Philadelphia from Kansas City. So we'll be in a big market.

What do we need to buy to get DTV? Any brand specific antenna recommended? Here is one I was looking at.

Any other options or things I need to know??

The only thing I'm going to miss is ESPN and Big Ten Network. I guess I'll have to hit the local bar for my games if they aren't on ABC/NBC/CBS/FOX.

Thanks all!
Doug

Do you know your new address? Will you be living in an apartment, or a house? If you know your new address we would like to ask you to post the URL for your TV Fool report. The flat panel you're looking at is probably not the antenna you want.

Actually Philly's ABC affiliate is on channel 6, so I definitely doubt that is going to be the antenna you want.

Hey thanks for the reply. We don't have our exact address yet, but here is the tvfool report of one place we're looking at renting. It will be a row home. TV Fool

Again, we may not live at that exact address but within a 6-10 block radius.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by dwinnike

Hey thanks for the reply. We don't have our exact address yet, but here is the tvfool report of one place we're looking at renting. It will be a row home. TV Fool

Address is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Again, we may not live at that exact address but within a 6-10 block radius.

Thanks!

Please consider not posting your address in this public forum, thanks!

Originally Posted by n2rj

Please consider not posting your address in this public forum, thanks!

Duh! I have removed it.

With strength numbers that high, you could power your refrigerator with the RF in the air.

Okay, so it's not quite that bad, but I'd say to start with a paperclip for an antenna and work your way up from there. You're going to get overloaded really fast.

And that "antenna" you linked to would probably perform worse than the paperclip. Don't get that under any circumstance.

- Trip

Originally Posted by Trip

With strength numbers that high, you could power your refrigerator with the RF in the air.

Okay, so it's not quite that bad, but I'd say to start with a paperclip for an antenna and work your way up from there. You're going to get overloaded really fast.

- Trip

So are you saying I might be able to get away without and antenna since the signal is strong in that area? It makes sense, but have never had OTA so not familiar with the technology.

Man alive, less than a mile from the transmitters. Are there going to be tall buildings between you and the transmitters? This may be very easy or very difficult depending on buildings in your area. I'd start out getting an inexpensive antenna like a RCA ANT111, then go from there. RCA ANT111

Originally Posted by dkreichen1968

Man alive, less than a mile from the transmitters. Are there going to be tall buildings between you and the transmitters? This may be very easy or very difficult depending on buildings in your area. I'd start out getting an inexpensive antenna like a RCA ANT111, then go from there. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/RCA+-+In...8280834&st=rca

Cool! Thanks!

Originally Posted by dwinnike

So are you saying I might be able to get away without and antenna since the signal is strong in that area? It makes sense, but have never had OTA so not familiar with the technology.

There are some people in high-signal areas such as that who do get away with an unbent paperclip as an antenna. I'm 4 miles from my local stations and managed to watch House with a thumbtack one evening when I went somewhere with my computer, USB tuner, and antenna, and forgot my coax cable. I suspect in your case that since ABC is on low-VHF, you won't be able to get away with it, but it's worth an initial shot at least.

Any antenna you get should NOT be amplified. You could very well be overloaded with just a straight antenna, adding an amplifier will only make it much, much worse.

- Trip

Originally Posted by dwinnike

So are you saying I might be able to get away without and antenna since the signal is strong in that area? It makes sense, but have never had OTA so not familiar with the technology.

See paper clip antenna link: DIY TV Antennas - Paper Clip

Originally Posted by Trip

There are some people in high-signal areas such as that who do get away with an unbent paperclip as an antenna. I'm 4 miles from my local stations and managed to watch House with a thumbtack one evening when I went somewhere with my computer, USB tuner, and antenna, and forgot my coax cable. I suspect in your case that since ABC is on low-VHF, you won't be able to get away with it, but it's worth an initial shot at least.

Any antenna you get should NOT be amplified. You could very well be overloaded with just a straight antenna, adding an amplifier will only make it much, much worse.

- Trip

Pardon my ignorance, but what could result from being overloaded? I'm assuming by your concern it could actually damage the TV?

It won't damage your TV (though I strongly advise against using a GPS in the area as the high RF CAN fry those), but it can make your TV effectively deaf to signals. There's just so much signal that it'll be impossible for the tuner to separate the signals and decode them, so you'll receive none of them at all. If push comes to shove and we can't resolve any reception issues you have through alternate antennas, you may need an attenuator to knock the signals down to a reasonable level.

- Trip

Originally Posted by dwinnike

So are you saying I might be able to get away without and antenna since the signal is strong in that area? It makes sense, but have never had OTA so not familiar with the technology.

Your definitely not the only person not familar with the technology. The biggest obstacle to wide spread use of OTA TV is ignorance of how to receive it. Plus the fact that there is a lot of bad info and inferior products out there. You are in the right place to educate yourself. Please keep us informed.

Okay, looking at that TVfool, I would suggest NO amplifier! really, you're close to the towers and the signal is strong. Your only problems will be multipath (if there's large buildings nearby) and ABC is channel 6, low VHF. But, your signal is so strong it won't take much to get it in. As a rule, indoor antennas really stink. I had one of my co-workers buy one of my antennas this week and put it in his window, and now he gets all stations. Before, with an indoor flat panel like yours, he could sometimes get 2-3 channels and he had to remain motionless in his chair!

The flat panel your looking at is probably not the antenna you want.

is exactly right. To paraphrase Star Wars,

"These are not the antennas you are looking for"

If it weren't for that channel 6, this would be easy: find a 2 bay antenna and hook it up to RG6 and put it far away from your TV, preferably in a window, or on a balcony / patio facing NW.

Originally Posted by MrPogi

If it weren't for that channel 6, this would be easy: find a 2 bay antenna and hook it up to RG6 and put it far away from your TV, preferably in a window, or on a balcony / patio facing NW.

Two bay would probably overload. Maybe a job for a clothes hanger folded dipole. DIY TV Antennas - Folded Dipole

dwinnike,

The advise recommended above is terrific and honestly, I've never seen a TVFOOL report quite like yours. It's like all of Starfleet Command's ships have their Phaser's trained on you!

I live within a mile of four high-power transmitters, but I am over the side of the hill from them. I started by trying a paper clip (no luck) then I advanced to a UHF loop from an old TV from the past and I had some success. It could be a good second try if the paper clip isn't successful for you. Good luck!

Here's an image: Picture 2 of 2 from Home-brew Antennas: Project Zero

Jim

Rabbit ears and loop and 10-20 feet of coax ought to do it. just move it around till you find a good spot.

With the bulk of your stations in one direction, Here are some suggestions if you can have an outdoor antenna where you'll live:

Antennacraft: 5884 & AC9 for VHF/UHF combo antennas. For separate VHF & UHF, CS600 for VHF & for UHF: U-4000.

Winegard antennas: VHF/UHF combo antennas: HD7010, 7210P, & HD7000R. In place of the Antennacraft U4000, I would recommend the HD-1080 for UHF only, but not VHF, since this doesn't work for channel 6 (may work for channel 12 though, but didn't for my local channel 12 with the one I have, but I had excellent luck with UHF in the Chicago market at around 30 miles from Chicago).

Another recommendation, if going with separate VHF & UHF antennas is another UHF only antenna, the Eagle Aspen antenna.

These are recommendations. If you only want to have 1 antenna, then get a combo antenna. If you're willing to get a separate VHF antenna & a separate UHF antenna, the Antennacraft CS600 for VHF & Eagle Aspen, Winegard HD1080, or Antennacraft U4000 for UHF. If you do go with separate VHF & UHF antennas, then I would recommend this, just because it protect the connections from the elements, the Antennas Direct EU385CF VHF/UHF combiner in a weather proof housing.

Originally Posted by Trip

There are some people in high-signal areas such as that who do get away with an unbent paperclip as an antenna. I'm 4 miles from my local stations and managed to watch House with a thumbtack one evening when I went somewhere with my computer, USB tuner, and antenna, and forgot my coax cable. I
- Trip

i am in such an area and a paperclip serves my needs well.