Let me take the time to explicate what happened to us when we tried to hook up a HDTV antenna so you won’t have to waste your time doing the same situation. First of all our entire family had always wanted a HDTV.
This was a task within it’s self. There must be 100 variant brands and types to determine from! So we did finally attain one that we all agreed upon. After we had set up the TV we learned that we also had to acquire a HDTV antenna to be able to watch our local channels broadcasted in HD.
Our original antenna we tried was purchased at the same place as our TV. After we built it unitedly in the garage we carried it inside and up the stairs to the 2nd level window. We lifted it out the pane and put the 17 yr old on the roof with the antenna.
We utilised walkie talkies to convey between the roof and the family room with the tv. His job was to turn the antenna in littlest increments till the signal came in. The problem was we could only get 2 channels at a time coming in unclouded but never could we get all the channels coming in at one time.
So we brought the antenna in, carried it to the garage, dissembled it and took it back to buy a bigger one and go through the complete work again. Once more on top of the roof with the 17 yr old. Twisting and turning and all the while in a rainfall storm.
It wasn’t that bad but still raining all the same. This went on for about a total of 4 nights in the period of Dec during the cold and precipitation. We could never get this HDTV antenna to convert so we finally gave up.
We brought the big monster antenna in again dissembled it and put it back in the car to return. I was gladsome it didn’t work because it looked horrendous up there on the roof. It stuck out like a tender thumb.
Then we did some research on the net and found an antenna that claimed to do everything we required and the best part was it was cheaper and way way smaller. Actually in wasn’t no bigger than the size of a cooky sheet. So we purchased the HDTV antenna and brought it home.
No assemblage required and we put the 17yr old back on the roof with the walkie talkies again and this time we had a signal before we even tried to alter the antenna.
It was implausible.. we found all the channels reaching in crystal clear without even trying to set the antenna in the perfect “sweet” spot that we were use to setting with the previous additional two. Just by putting it on the roof and pointing it in the general direction where the stations were located was all that was necessary!
Apparently this HDTV antenna was a much higher caliber antenna. If I would have known this 5 days before, I could have saved all those evenings, the poor kid on the roof and the aggrevation it took for our household to eventually bask HDTV!
By: Jim Williams
Posts Tagged ‘Hdtv Antenna’
Our HDTV Antenna Was Worth All The Troubles To Install
December 29th, 2009February 17, 2009 Will Be A Big Day In TV History!
December 16th, 2009HDTV is shouting at our entree and you’ll have to let it in! Will you be in the unknown Feb 17, 2009? A few dates to be aware of! March 1, 2007: Any component that has an analog TV tuner must also include a digital tuner.
February 17, 2009: A governance mandate requires that all full-power TV stations stop broadcasting analog signals and change to 100% digital broadcasting by THIS DATE! This transformation will primarily change nearly 15-20 million TV viewers who rely on localized over-the-air broadcasts received via antenna.
Consumers who subscribe to cable or Dish TV shouldn’t experience any interruption in those services. If needed, your Cable or Dish provider will distribute a digital set-top box that will work with your TV.
For continued reception after the 2009 cutoff, all of you out there with your old-fashioned TVs (analog-only tuners) will need to be linked to a digital-to-analog converter box, or replaced by a new HDTV with a built-in digital tuner.
As of now these device boxes will sell for between $50 and $70. These will be available to the public really soon! If you opt out for the “stand alone” convertor box don’t be fooled that you will have a high definition signal, you will be receiving a digital signal alright but like the boxes title, it’s converting it back to analog!
Also if you currently subscribe to DIRECTV or DISH, your HD satellite receiver will most likely include an over-the-air HD receiver to get your localised HDTV stations.
Let me add something to this though… most all your Cable and Satellite companies will charge you surplus (usually around $10/month more) to get your localised High def signals via there receiver! If you decide this route and your ok with $10 fee your ripe to go!
Your remaining option… Acquire your own over-the-air (OTA) HDTV antenna and keep the $120/year! The antenna is cheap and actually you will get a sharper image than via your cable or Dish provider’s box! How?… When you get your Hi def signal via your own hd antenna your are getting a (pure) 100% digital uncompressed signal!
Getting your signal through a Dish/Cable provider causes the HD communication to get compressed (squeezed smaller) in order for your provider to transfer along with all the other channels their providing you!
Hdtv is fast forthcoming but it’s ok. Having the noesis of the options you have to decide upon will make it elementary to open the door!
By: Jim Williams
