HDTV basics--questions

[Bill V]

I know there are some of you out there that have familiarity with over-the-air HDTV, and I was hoping you might be able to answer some basic questions for someone who is thinking that a switch might happen in the not too distant future.



1) I know you need a special type of antenna to receive HDTV signals. Are these antennas also able to receive standard, non-HD signals? Or do they require different antennas?



2) How is the HD signal transmitted from the antenna to the television? Will the coax cable running through the walls of my house handle it, or is something different needed? If so, what?



3) Are there DVRs out there that are compatible with over-the-air HD, that don't require a subscription? Or are they all subscription-based?



4) If you're wanting to save something longer than DVR, to a tape/DVD/etc., are there options available?



Thank you!



--Bill

 

[Dre L]

1. yes, a built in hdtv tuner for over the air, or a hdtv ready cable / sat box.

2. digital tv in general requires coax / splitters capable of handling a certain frequency. You'll see the specs for digital cable coax, I believe it is the same for HDTV. RG-6 I believe, but don't hold me to that.

3. got me, I would just get it from my cable / satellite provider and not worry about it.

4. DVD recorder, but I think that all the Blu-Ray / HD-DVD products coming out are what address HDTV quality. I don't know if there will be a consumer ready recorder of that type right away.

 

[Mark Grumpy]

For #2 - I have an indoor antenna - very small. Look at bestbuy.com for a wide selection. Anyways, I have DirecTV as well and the Sat Box has two inputs, one for the Sat and one for antenna. Or, you can connect it straight to the TV or thru the walls.



grump

 

[Bill V]

Thanks guys!



FYI Nobleman, there is no cable/satellite provider involved--this is over-the-air digital and HD service. So I therefore won't be subscribing to their DVR service, and if there's an option that isn't subscriber-based, I prefer to not go with an independent service like Tivo. You would think that there would be some DVR available that works basically like a programmable VCR--you do the programming, no subscription required. I'll keep looking. Thanks!



Grumpy, I have a coax connection in my attic, specifically for antenna connection--hence my hopes that it's digital compatible. I know I can get better reception with a full antenna up there than with a small one on the set--and I don't have to have it visible in the room. So if that can work, that's what I want to go with. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Jacob Dryer]

Bill you need a Media Center PC It does all the stuff tivo does with no cost (other than expensive up front)

 

[Bill Ellis]

For the coax, RG-6 rated for 2300 mhz is what you want. Typical cable TV often used RG-59 which will work, but not as well, especially in long length runs. This info in the user's manual from Dish Network.

 

[Bill V]

I'll have to check what our current in-wall cabling is. The house is fairly new (15 months old), so I suspect there's a good chance the high-def compatible stuff was used. Fingers are crossed...



Am I correct in guessing that "RG-6", "RG-59", or whatever else is likely printed on the outer sheathing of the coax? If not, how do I detect the difference?

 

[Bill Ellis]

The cable should be marked on the jacket. Although, sometimes cable companies buy in such large amounts that their cable may not be marked.

 

[Gary DiPietroSr]

With some HD signals that are over the air, you will need a UHF antenna. I've put up a few for customers. The bigger the antenna the more gain it will have. The biggest problem is that some stations come from different directions, so you will need a rotor to turn it to the right direction. You can get a combo antenna for UHF/VHF if there are HD signals in VHF near you.

If you have existing coax pre-wired in the walls and the outlets are home runs then most likely it will be ok. If it's very old and it's RG59 and not RG6 then you might want to run new wire.

Some HD receivers have an input for over the air signals.

Run the output of the DVR into a DVD burner or VCR and just copy and save.

Hope this helps, I used to repair TVs and I currently install plasma, LCD, home A/V systems, IT and custom wiring for anything my customers would like.



Gary D. in CT

 

[Nelson Atwell]

If you install an outdoor antenna, make sure you run a grounding wire from the antenna mast. At work we pound a 1-inch diameter copper rod into the ground about a foot deep , and then run a heavy copper wire (6 or 8 gauge, I think) between the grounding rod and mast. Grounding in this way will reduce the chance of the lightning entering your house if the antenna is struck.

 

[walter clark]

Channel master 8 bay uhf antenna CM4228



HDTV primmer for all your questions http://www.hdtvprimer.com/





For stations and related info for your area http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

 

[Bill V]

Our house has R-6 cable--so that's taken care of. Although I might need to replace the splitter that it all connects to, with something a little more robust. (The one on there currently was cheap, even when it was first purchased in the early '80s.)



Nelson, if the antenna goes in the attic, I shouldn't need to worry about that, right?



Walter, thanks. Yes, I was looking at a ChannelMaster--although I was leaning toward the 4 bay CM4221. All the towers for all the channels I want to get are clustered, about 11 miles from my house. (And because they're clustered, I wouldn't think I'd need a rotor.) Shouldn't really need an antenna with more range than the 4221. Although--is the 4221 (or the 4228) UHF only? Or does it also get VHF?