HDTV over air signals

[billmelprod]

Unfortunately I lost Comcast when Time Warner took over. I have now waited over 3 months to get additional hi def box for my Cheapo 37" LCD upstairs set. I have hooked it up to a good exterior HD antenna and recieve 3 of the majors stations here in LA and a few odd balls. They all have their transmitters on the same mountain (Mt Wilson), but I am still not getting ABC or a few local station that I know broadcast in HD. Should I configure my square shaped antenna disk more skyward or is the signal still line of sight?
I can't wait for Verizon fiber optic, Time Warner is the absolute worst service!

[akirby]

First, there's no such thing as a HD antenna. Second, it's still line of sight (more or less - there are always reflected signals that may come in at odd angles). You might need a good pre-amp depending on the signal strength of the other channels. Also make sure you have the right type of antenna for the channels you're trying to receive (UHF vs. VHF). What model antenna do you have?

[larrykenney]

The location of the antenna can make a big difference. Just moving it a few feet one way or the other, or raising or lowering a few feet can make the difference between getting a good signal or a poor one.

Multipath, which is reflections off of buildings, hills, water towers, or lots of other things, can cause multiple signals from a station to reach your antenna. With analog TV these signals appear as ghosts, but with digital it just adds lots more ones and zeros to the mix and your receive can't figure out the good from the bad so you get a degraded signal. If it gets bad enough, you get nothing.

Since the reflections vary by frequency, signals from the same location all reflect differently, so that's why you're getting some channels, but not all of them. Moving your antenna can possibly solve that problem.

Good luck!

Larry
SF

[eliwhitney]

Perhaps "akirby" hit a home run whenever he asked if your antenna was "VHF" or "UHF"---(square) sounds like it might be "UHF" but ABC -HD is 5.1, which is only
"VHF"...try a ChannelMaster#3016, which is for BOTH.

If some of the transmitting towers are quite different in compass headings compared to Mt. Wilson, a rotator might be needed, too.

Verizon is extremely "pricey", even w/ incentives....you might find that HDTV via OTA would be worth a new antenna system.
eliwhitney - Sat - 17 Mar

[bergoffen]

I had a similar issue with Portland Maine OTA stations and solved it by first going to www.antennaweb.org, which gives you advice on your own location and stations, and then the people at Solid Signal (www.solidsignal.com) walked me thru with my own stations, which they were able to identify, along with my specific address and location, and distances from the towers.

I also have a rotor, a preamp, and ended up with a Terrestrial Digital Model XG 91 UHF antenna which now works great, and I have found ways to get all stations with one direction (your situation may be different).

The tech at Solid Signal was super, and I am sure that other providers can do the same for you.

[akirby]

Perhaps "akirby" hit a home run whenever he asked if your antenna was "VHF" or "UHF"---(square) sounds like it might be "UHF" but ABC -HD is 5.1, which is only
"VHF"...try a ChannelMaster#3016, which is for BOTH.

If some of the transmitting towers are quite different in compass headings compared to Mt. Wilson, a rotator might be needed, too.

Verizon is extremely "pricey", even w/ incentives....you might find that HDTV via OTA would be worth a new antenna system.
eliwhitney - Sat - 17 Mar

Actually, the Channel Master 4228 UHF antenna also picks up VHF at least down to channel 10 (verified by multiple atlanta owners).

Just because the digital channel is 5.1 that doesn't mean the physical channel is 5. Our local 2.1 (WSB) is actually uhf channel 39. You can't tell without a station map.

[kq6qv]

www.hdtvprimer.com/ISSUES/erecting_antenna.html is a thorough discussion of all aspects of TV antennas, including antenna selection, placement, and amplifier selection. You can use this website as a checklist to see if you have done something wrong. -Ken

[bitman]

I have a Sony KDL-40S2010 40" Bravia S-Series LCD HDTV and want to receive my local OTA DT. Hooked up a Terk HD-TVS Slim Profile Outdoor HDtv antenna (should have come too this forum first).

I receive all of my local DT (signal strenght in the 80-90% range) but only at 480i.

Is the reason I do not get HD because:

1. My local stations do not broadcast HD?

2. There is a problem with reception despite the signal strength (antenna in attic)?

3. The antenna connected with a crappy RG-59 cable?

Thanks for the help.

[eliwhitney]

HI --

You didn't say how long you have been hooked up. But (just to make sure), although OTA broadcasts ARE digital now in most large cities, they are ONLY HD during those programs which are so noted, usually at the beginning.... " being brought to you in HD..." plus ABC is only 720 anyway.

Also, digital reception is the opposite of the old analog in that is is either "perfect" or not-at-all ! No "snowy" or ghosts or partial reception. You may be OK.

It sounds like you may just have to see what is indicated on the "program header" during an evening show for NBC or CBS.
eliwhitney

[bitman]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Yeah, just hooked up this weekend. Plus, I am in a small community (50k) in the very northern pacific coast of CA (Eureka). I have looked for scheduling that would tell me what programs might be HD here but haven't found any. I did surf through network sports this weekend (NASCAR and golf) and all were received at 480i.

So good DT reception at 480i would indicate I would receive HD if it were available?

Thanks!