Will Superbowl be encrypted or clear via OTA broadcast?

[steingra]

Hello

I am doing research for setting up my home for OTA HDTV/ATSC broadcasts. Since CBS is the only local HDTV signal that I can get (according to some websites like antennaweb.org), it works out nicely that the superbowl will be on CBS.

However, what I am not sure about, is whether or not it will be broadcast in the clear OTA? I am a newbie at this kind of stuff...but it seems like if it were encrypted I wouldnt be able to view it on my Infocus Screenplay projector since it doesnt have HDCP built into it.

Was just wondering about this.... I have <2 weeks to get it all working so I can see superbowl in HD. Trying to decide which route to go.

Thanks!

[teknubic]

All OTA broadcasts are unencrypted.

[stanger89]

It's illegal to encrypt OTA broadcasts.

[steingra]

Thanks for the info. I am just starting to learn about this HD OTA *stuff*.

So now, I just need to figure out best/easiest/cheapest way to pull in my local CBS HD channel and get it fed into my projector.

When I watch DISH network HDTV channels on my Infocus Screenplay projector, they look way better than the other normal DISH channels (not that those look bad). Even though I know the projector isnt truely capable of displaying HD quality, being upconverted it still looks crisp and colorful as compared to the other channels.

So I want to see the superbowl in that kind of quality on the projector. Guess I might be climbing up on the roof to mount an antenna. But then again, I believe my local cable company offers CBS on channel 703. So I could just rent one of their HD receivers, and output into my projector. Then I dont need to mess with an antenna or trying to setup a PC card to capture and display the signal....hmmmm the more I think about it, it seems that using a cable STB might be the best option for me to watch superbowl on the bigscreen in HD.

I dont plan on trying to record any HD channels...just want to watch Superbowl and maybe some other local CBS HD shows.

[malore]

Originally Posted by steingra

Guess I might be climbing up on the roof to mount an antenna.

Depending on your location you maybe able to get by with a small indoor antenna. I get good reception with small one that came with my ATI HDTV Wonder. I also hooked up an old rabbit ear antenna once and got similar reception strength.

As was already mention OTA HDTV isn't encrypted, but Hollywood would like to add a broadcast flag, and force electronics makers to honor it, that would specify if a show can be recorded and if so, how long it can be saved.

[steingra]

Originally Posted by malore

Depending on your location you maybe able to get by with a small indoor antenna. I get good reception with small one that came with my ATI HDTV Wonder. I also hooked up an old rabbit ear antenna once and got similar reception strength.

I just found out my DISH 811 HD Receiver has an ATSC tuner built into it. Yeah!!!! now I just need to get an antenna and try it out. I read in the manual for the 811 how to *add* the local digital stations. But all my AV stuff is in basement. And the signal is coming from the other side of the house where the AV gear is located. I assume antenna would need to be on top floor of house?

BTW, What kind of cable do you need to use for the HDTV antenna? Anything special. I think I have an old RG58 100foot cable laying around with connectors on both ends. I never used it. Had planned on hooking up an plain old TV antenna a long time ago and never did.

[lovingHDTV]

I'm pretty sure that RG-58 has a 52 ohm impedance and you want something with 75 ohms for the antenna. So it would not work very well, you would loose a lot of signal.

You want something like RG6.

[steingra]

Originally Posted by malore

Depending on your location you maybe able to get by with a small indoor antenna. I get good reception with small one that came with my ATI HDTV Wonder. I also hooked up an old rabbit ear antenna once and got similar reception strength.

As was already mention OTA HDTV isn't encrypted, but Hollywood would like to add a broadcast flag, and force electronics makers to honor it, that would specify if a show can be recorded and if so, how long it can be saved.

Do you think the fact that we have a 2 story house that has aluminum siding is going to block some/all of the signal from entering the house. A few people seem to be saying that it might be bad that we have aluminum siding on the house when trying to use an internal antenna.

And since its REALLy cold here in the quad cities at this time of year, I dont like the thought of climbing up on the roof to install a large outdoor antenna. So I was really hoping I could use an internal one. But even those, they make many different kinds :-O