OTA antenna purchase help needed

[dvd_maniac]

I recently tried to use my Cable company's 8300HD STB via firewire to recieve local HD channels but they have the 5C encryption. I then looked into DirecTV but they have no firewire support at the moment, at least not without very exspensive modifications.
Now I am down to just purchasing an antenna and the HDHR.
The installers that I have talked to said something about a device that turns the antenna to the optimal spot when changing the channel. This is great as it will give me the best reception. However, with the HDHR comes 2 HD tuners which is the least amount of HD tuners I want. Now if the schedule was to record 2 HD channels at the same time would I be "SOL"?

Any reccomendations that might help me would be greatly appreciated...

[paulbeers]

Http://www.antennaweb.org

Plug in your address and it will tell you what to look for and it is dead on. None of us can give a recommendation, because we all live different distances from towers and in different directions. What works for me (a very basic antenna because all my towers are exactly 8 degrees northeast and 6 miles from me with nothing in between) probably will not work for you.

[teknubic]

Most areas have all the HD antennas in one part of the region, not spread all over. Use antennaweb to find out where to point. Any regular antenna will work, however, the channel master 4228 has been used in sub-optimal locations with great results.

Originally Posted by dvd_maniac

Now if the schedule was to record 2 HD channels at the same time would I be "SOL"?

You would if "SOL" means "golden". Maybe you mean that if, say ABC was at 0 degrees and NBC was at 180 degrees and you needed to record both, then yeah, maybe you'd have a problem but that far of a deviation seems unlikely.

bah... late as usual.

[lovingHDTV]

I can second the 4228. I use it and find it to be a great antenna. It is however only UHF and that needs to be taken into consideration for your particular area if you need to tune in VHF stations.

[stanger89]

If you're in an unfortunate situation where, your stations are spread all over and they're at such a distance that you can't get them with a single antenna/orientation, then your only real option is to look at combining multiple antennas, which can be done, but isn't the easiest or cheapest thing.

[ToxMox]

Do you have the HDHR yet? It's possible that you may be able to receive those channels via in the clear QAM from your cable company without the box. Do you have a QAM capable TV then you can test to see if you get those channels.

[dvd_maniac]

Thanx for all the feedback.

I tried Http://www.antennaweb.org and it stated that I can't get ANY digital channels. So it was of no help.
The installers that I talked to stated that with the right antenna and Amplifier and\or booster that I WILL be able to get a good signal. He said he's done other people in my area that got decent signals as long as I am on a high enough area. I live on the top of the hill west of Boston with a very clear East and South sight line.

then your only real option is to look at combining multiple antennas, which can be done, but isn't the easiest or cheapest thing.

This is something I will ask my installer about.

Next question is if I am only using OTA is the HDHR the best tuner to use? I would prefer an external dual tuner but is that HDHR better than other tuners for OTA or is it specifically designed more for QAM?

[steingra]

Originally Posted by lovingHDTV

I can second the 4228. I use it and find it to be a great antenna. It is however only UHF and that needs to be taken into consideration for your particular area if you need to tune in VHF stations.

Dumb question....Are OTA HD channels broadcast in UHF or VHF?

I will have to look at antennaweb.org again, and see if it says. I cant remember for sure if OTA HD is UHF or not??? I do know that I can get at least one local HD channel (we live in a smaller midwest area).

Thanks

[lovingHDTV]

Originally Posted by steingra

Dumb question....Are OTA HD channels broadcast in UHF or VHF?

I will have to look at antennaweb.org again, and see if it says. I cant remember for sure if OTA HD is UHF or not??? I do know that I can get at least one local HD channel (we live in a smaller midwest area).

Thanks

It depends per the broadcaster. www.antennaweb.org will provide a list of you local broadcasters and specify if they are VHF or UHF.

[steingra]

Here is the list. The only one I care about is CBS.

* yellow - uhf KWQC-DT 6.1 NBC DAVENPORT IA 147° 14.4 56
* yellow - uhf KLJB-DT 18.1 FOX DAVENPORT IA 147° 14.4 49
* yellow - uhf KQIN-DT 34 PBS DAVENPORT IA TBD 101° 4.5 34
* yellow - uhf WHBF-DT 4.1 CBS Bettendorf IA 35° 5.0 58
* yellow - uhf WQAD-DT 8.1 ABC MOLINE IL 147° 14.4 38
* yellow - uhf WQPT-DT 24.1 PBS MOLINE IL 145° 13.5 23
* red - uhf KIIN-DT 45.1 PBS IOWA CITY IA 292° 44.9 45

But here is a link to antenna http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/antenna.aspx?color=Y

but what speific brand/type of antenna does that translate to? I would prefer to use an indoor antenna if they work OK. I have an attic I could put it in on second floor.

[lovingHDTV]

It is recommending a small UHF antenna. Remember the old rabbit ear antennas with the hoop antenna in the middle? It is the hoop antenna your looking for.

You should be good with any small indoor antenna. They sell them at Radio Shack, I even saw them at Home Depot the other day. It is worth a shot to give one of these a try and if it does not work then return it and get something else.

You want multidirectional because NBC, FOX, PBS and ABC are all around 147 degrees, where CBS is at 35 degrees. A multidirectional will pull in all these without need to move the antenna.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by steingra

Here is the list. The only one I care about is CBS.

* yellow - uhf KWQC-DT 6.1 NBC DAVENPORT IA 147° 14.4 56
* yellow - uhf KLJB-DT 18.1 FOX DAVENPORT IA 147° 14.4 49
* yellow - uhf KQIN-DT 34 PBS DAVENPORT IA TBD 101° 4.5 34
* yellow - uhf WHBF-DT 4.1 CBS Bettendorf IA 35° 5.0 58
* yellow - uhf WQAD-DT 8.1 ABC MOLINE IL 147° 14.4 38
* yellow - uhf WQPT-DT 24.1 PBS MOLINE IL 145° 13.5 23
* red - uhf KIIN-DT 45.1 PBS IOWA CITY IA 292° 44.9 45

But here is a link to antenna http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/antenna.aspx?color=Y

but what speific brand/type of antenna does that translate to? I would prefer to use an indoor antenna if they work OK. I have an attic I could put it in on second floor.

One thing to consider, I know in the Cedar Rapids market, all stations are UHF for HD, but they're planning on going back to their VHF slots after the analog cutoff.

Of course, antennas aren't too expesnsive so I'd be inclined to just get a good UHF and worry about VHF later.

[rtwhbw]

I am curious as to what I would need to get local channels OTA HD.


* green - uhf WRAZ-DT 50.1 FOX RALEIGH NC 340° 44.8 49
* red - uhf WRDC-DT 28.1 MNT DURHAM NC 340° 44.8 27
* red - uhf WUNM-DT 19.1 PBS JACKSONVILLE NC 99° 45.4 18
* red - uhf WCTI-DT 12.1 ABC NEW BERN NC 99° 45.4 48
* red - vhf WNCT-DT 9.1 CBS GREENVILLE NC 75° 45.7 10
* red - uhf WITN-DT 7.1 NBC WASHINGTON NC 75° 45.7 32
* red - uhf WRAL-DT 5.1 CBS RALEIGH NC 340° 44.8 53
* red - uhf WTVD-DT 11.1 ABC DURHAM NC 339° 44.6 52
* red - uhf WLFL-DT 22.1 CW RALEIGH NC 340° 44.8 57
* red - uhf WNCN-DT 17.1 NBC GOLDSBORO NC 340° 44.8 55
* blue - uhf WUVC-DT 40.1 UNI FAYETTEVILLE NC 309° 54.8 38
* violet - uhf WUNK-DT 25.1 PBS GREENVILLE NC 53° 43.2 23
* violet - uhf WEPX-DT 38 MNT GREENVILLE NC TBD 72° 44.9 38

I have directv and would like to experience HD with the new Samsung LCD I purchased a couple weeks ago. If I add a new cpu, and add a OTA HD card with a Wintv 150 card for SD, will I be able to control and record via Sage.

SOrry, but I just upgrade from Sage v2 and am quite a bit behind on what's going on with Sage HD/SD now.

Thanks Rusty

[Goodspike]

Rather than rely on antennaweb.org, which does not take topography into account, I'd to to the local reception area of AVSForum.com and find the OTA thread for your area (don't create a new thread). Here in Seattle there's someone who will give you information for your specific area, taking hills into account.

Also, don't assume that one antenna won't work even with different directions. For me the Fox channel is 90 degrees off from ABC, NBC and CBS, but I can pull it in better than the others, even the the antenna is pointed at the others.

Finally, the HDHR could be perfect for you if you do need two antennas, because I've pretty sure you could hook them up to the HDHR and setup the tuners to only pull in the stations they each receive. Note I've not actually tried this with my HDHR, because I use cable for it (cable offers UPN and I didn't want to split my antenna 3x). But I have been told you can have one tuner setup for cable and one for OTA, so I don't see why you couldn't setup one for one antenna and one for another antenna.