OTA HD Demystified

[bjdraw]

Everyone knows that it's possible to watch TV with an antenna, but most people today don't understand why anyone would want to. We have all read the horror stories about how difficult it can be to receive a good OTA (Over the Air) signal, especially with DTV. There are a few benefits to OTA today that we didn't have before the US started the DTV transition. Some of the best picture quality possible can be obtained with an antenna, at least until High Definition DVDs are released. It's FREE, it's recordable on some computers like Windows Media Center Edition and it works sometimes when cable and Satellite doesn't.

[url=http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/articles/2006/03/ota_hd_demystif.php]Read the Full Article[/url]

[jerfilm]

Good,complete article. Let me share my experience with you. I live in So. Minnesota surrounded by DTV stations -something like 22 in all - in literally all directions. Twin Cities (N) are 70 miles away, Rochester (E) is 50, Austin (SSE) is about 50 and Mankato (W) is 25. I hired a reliable TV shop in Mankato to install my antenna. Two story house which is on a high spot in the area, then a tripod to get it up a bit toward the top of the trees (we live in a woods - not the best news) and finally an all channel UHF antenna. With a Rotor, of course. This setup cost me about 700 bucks installed. Was it worth it? We think so - as you pointed out, the reception is often better than DirecTV. And we have no locals in HD in the Twin Cities market yet anyway on DirecTV.

Yes, the TIVO won't turn the antenna for you. For us,that's not a big deal - we mostly watch the Twin Cities stations since all the nets are represented. The others are sort of "fall back" positions when reception gets iffy. Which, from 75 miles does happen from time to time. However, I suspect that not all of these stations are broadcasting at their full power of 1,000,000 watts all of the time yet. The Mankato station (CBS) from 25 miles comes in fine from the side without even turning the antenna.

If you're young enough to do the labor yourself, you could probably cut that cost by 50%. At 70, I ain't quite up to it......

Hope someone finds this useful.

[jackharrison]

Interesting, informative article. I believe though, that it portrays the best of situations as far too few people have such a simple, one time is perfect, installation. Even with all of the help mentioned, websites, forums, etc.. it still took me 3 different antennas and 2 longer mounting poles until I wound up with all of the channels I wanted, and they still drop out when the wind blows hard. If I had read this and then went out and tried my own install I would have been really upset at both my results and the expectations set by the article.

[jerfilm]

Good points, Jack. I would never have tried such a complicated installation as I had with signals comin' at me from 4 directions.

Another point for folks, if possible, be sure to buy your antenna at a store that would let you return it if you don't get it right the first time. There are so many variables - you never know 'til you've tried - especially if you are more out on the fringes like I am.....

[jackharrison]

The other thing that comes to mind is that the "less than satisfied" experience reported when satellite guys do the OTA antenna install seems to be nearly universal. From what I have gathered (and experienced), they mostly bring a minimal antenna, slap it onto the satellite mount and thats it. They then tell the customer that "with OTA, you either get it or you don't", and if you don't at that point, you are terribly disappointed until you find a HD forum online and learn otherwise.

I have set up OTA service for many of my neighbors for free after the DirecTV guy leaves them hoping for more. Bet I could make an OTA only setup business profitable for a few years!

[larrykenney]

I think Ben did a fine job on the article, telling about using antennaweb.org, TitanTV, etc. and explaning his use of the Join-tenna. But as others have said, it's not always that easy.

Here in San Francisco we have two main antenna locations, Sutro Tower and Mount San Bruno, and then there are four other locations where transmitters are located, all in different directions. From my home, Sutro is 3/4 of mile due west, Mt. San Bruno is ESE about four miles, four stations are SE about 30 miles, another station is ENE at about 30 miles and one to the NNE about 30 miles.

I found that a rotor is the only solution in this situation. You'd need five antennas somehow all tied together to get all of the stations if you didn't use a rotor, and I don't think they have the right combination of Join-tenna boxes for that.

I just have to make sure that the antenna is pointed in the right direction before the start of any recordings or viewing. The Channel Master rotor has a memory, so setting it is no problem. You just have to remember to do it!

The only problem I face is when I'm not going to be here and I want to record programs from stations in different directions. In that case I set it up for recording OTA for my first priority, and I use the SD Dish satellite local channel feed for the other. We don't have HD locals yet from Dish, but they're due sometime this year. That will be a big help!

Larry
San Francisco

[bryan27]

Excellent article. I hope more are able to read it. With DTV in full swing I have found very little use for cable or satellite. In fact I no longer have DBS and would never dream of getting cable.

I live 46 miles from Pittsburgh, PA and receive a total of 14 channels on 11 stations (a couple stations even haven't made it on the air yet either). Of those, I receive ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, WB, 2 Weather Channels, a religious channel, and a home shopping channel. The same kind of line-up on cable costs $20/mo. I get it all for FREE and with a perfect picture 24/7!!!!! (no ugly cable or DBS downgrade of the signal). Another bonus for those able to receive network stations from 2 or more markets is there is a good chance that a different sports team may be playing on each network affiliate.

I have set up OTA service for many of my neighbors for free after the DirecTV guy leaves them hoping for more. Bet I could make an OTA only setup business profitable for a few years!

I've done one better. All my neighbors are tied into my antenna. I constructed a MATV system and have run about 500' of cable. I can expand to a full 1000'. Everyone is very happy with it and it didn't cost all that much to build. It is connected to 10 homes.

[chrisrem]

I though this was a pretty good overall article. I found your use of Channel Master's Join-Tenna system to be pretty informative. I hope your article encourages more people to try using an antenna rather than just give up so easily. I would suggest that people put there full address in when using www.antennaweb.org. I am an antenna professional, and I have been working with antennas for over 20 years now. I have been installing, repairing, and servicing antennas for 17 years now. In one of the local forums [email protected] I have been giving advice for several years. I hope to also be of service to this group.

Chris

[Richard]

Hi Chris,

If you are a pro with a spectrum analyzer please provide your listing at the following thread...

Local Antenna Installer Listings by State and City
viewforum.php?f=92

[brucefmiller]

As an HDTV viewer in Annapolis MD, I have OTA access to the Baltimore and Washington DC markets. Using a rotor and a BT 20 dB booster, the digital signal is reasonably stable even with aircraft flying into BWI along the reception path. We receive far more digital channels than the cable offers, with NO monthly charge. As far as I'm concerned, OTA is the way to go for the foreseeable future.

Thanks for the good article!