[franco]

I know it's over the air but what happens when D* enables it on HR20? Do I still need an outdoor antenna connected to it or does th new dish serve as the antenna? Sorry for the ignorent questions but I don't know.
Frank

 

[jedster]

I know it's over the air but what happens when D* enables it on HR20? Do I still need an outdoor antenna connected to it or does th new dish serve as the antenna? Sorry for the ignorent questions but I don't know.
Frank

yes you need an antenna. depending how close you are, you might be able to use an indoor antenna like the zenith silver sensor; more likely, you'll need an outdoor antenna or an attic antenna. i had my outdoor antenna installed by D* but i bought it myself (for about $50 at fry's).

 

[dtvmiami]

i had my outdoor antenna installed by D* but i bought it myself

How much did they charge u? And was it and on the records install or did he do it of the books? I am going to have the hr10 and would like to know to know about install process. Also do u have a link to the antenna that worked for u?

 

[Capmeister]

The antenna you need will depend on your area. www.antennaweb.org might help you figure out which you need.

 

[Rugged]

okay, I'm brand new to the HR20 (and HD) and I have a similar newbie question.


why is HD OTA important -- I currently receive HD locals on the Sat. Will HD via OTA provide a better signal? I understand the importance if HD locals via Sat aren't available in your area but not if you already have the HD locals through Sat.

thanks in advance.

 

[Capmeister]

HD OTA will carry the digital subchannels that the SAT HD will not. For instance, my local channel 12 has the following:

12-1 Digital and HD ABC-TV network
12-2 Digital SD local news 24 hours a day
12-3 Digital SD local weather 27 hours a day

As well, there's no signal compression so the picture is a bit better.

 

[hasan]

okay, I'm brand new to HD tivo and I have a similar newbie question.

why is HD OTA important -- I currently receive HD locals on the Sat. Will HD via OTA provide a better signal? I understand the importance if HD locals via Sat aren't available in your area but not if you already have the HD locals through Sat.

thanks in advance.

Assuming you get the OTA channels well enough, (either they are there or they are not)), you will probably find the picture quality OTA to be superior to HD Locals. Lots of people don't have HD Locals yet, either. So, two reasons: PQ and availability.

Eventually HD Locals via the satellite may get closer and closer to OTA, but the vast majority of people, most of the time report PQ is better OTA. (And, of course, there is the sub-channel thing mentioned in a prior post)

 

[PoitNarf]

Plus usually when you have a rain fade outage, you can still get a signal from the OTA.

 

[Rugged]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your prompt responses!

 

[joejhawk]

What is a reasonable distance (assuming no obstructions) from the broadcaster to receive a quality, consistent signal for HD? For people who have been using OTA HD, how far away are you from the source?

Also where is a good source for antennas?

 

[kvitense]

I just moved my Wineguard Square Shooter off of the roof and into my attic and I am probably 25-35 miles from most of my local transmission antennas. So far it's working great. I just mounted the base (used an old DTV dish mast) to a rafter with two lag bolts and "slapped" the antenna up.

Kurt

 

[PoitNarf]

What is a reasonable distance (assuming no obstructions) from the broadcaster to receive a quality, consistent signal for HD? For people who have been using OTA HD, how far away are you from the source?

Also where is a good source for antennas?

I am about 25 miles away from the broadcast point in my area (Empire State Building). I have a wineguard squareshooter 2000 which is a directional antenna and is pointed directly at the ESB. All channels broadcast from there I get signal strengths in the 90s. I don't know any specific places that are good for antennas, but like Capmeister said, www.antennaweb.org is an excellent source to figure out what type of antenna will work best for your location. Figure out which kind of antenna meets your requirements before you go shopping around.

 

[Capmeister]

Plus usually when you have a rain fade outage, you can still get a signal from the OTA.

I bring my OTA in via a deep fringe antenna. When there's a storm between me and the OTA towers, I lose signal sometimes, so I can get rain-fade even with OTA.

 

[PoitNarf]

I bring my OTA in via a deep fringe antenna. When there's a storm between me and the OTA towers, I lose signal sometimes, so I can get rain-fade even with OTA.

That's why I said usually

 

[Capmeister]

What is a reasonable distance (assuming no obstructions) from the broadcaster to receive a quality, consistent signal for HD? For people who have been using OTA HD, how far away are you from the source?

I'm between 30 and 50 miles from the towers I use most frequently. I get strong OTA signals unless there is a storm between us.

 

[reh523]

okay, I'm brand new to the HR20 (and HD) and I have a similar newbie question.

why is HD OTA important -- I currently receive HD locals on the Sat. Will HD via OTA provide a better signal? I understand the importance if HD locals via Sat aren't available in your area but not if you already have the HD locals through Sat.

thanks in advance.

one more tuner. more tuners is good

 

[kvitense]

All channels broadcast from there I get signal strengths in the 90s.

My Wineguard is the non-powered one. How can you tell the signal strength you are getting from your 2000? Is that a feature exclusive to that model? Or are you using some kind of meter you plug into the antenna. I just swing left to right to find the extremes of where it will pick up the signal, then go to the center of that range. Elevation is just a "guess" for me. Seems to work out pretty well though.

Kurt

 

[PoitNarf]

My Wineguard is the non-powered one. How can you tell the signal strength you are getting from your 2000? Is that a feature exclusive to that model? Or are you using some kind of meter you plug into the antenna. I just swing left to right to find the extremes of where it will pick up the signal, then go to the center of that range. Elevation is just a "guess" for me. Seems to work out pretty well though.

Both my TV and my H20 have a signal meter in their menus to measure the strength of each digital OTA channel. Once the HR20 has OTA enabled, I'm pretty sure that too will have an OTA signal strength meter.

 

[voyagerbob]

okay, I'm brand new to the HR20 (and HD) and I have a similar newbie question.

why is HD OTA important -- I currently receive HD locals on the Sat. Will HD via OTA provide a better signal? I understand the importance if HD locals via Sat aren't available in your area but not if you already have the HD locals through Sat.

thanks in advance.

Not only the subchannels but also don't forget HD local channels that aren't on the Sat such as PBS, CW, My Network, I/PAX, independants, etc...

Voyagerbob

 

[kvitense]

Both my TV and my H20 have a signal meter in their menus to measure the strength of each digital OTA channel. Once the HR20 has OTA enabled, I'm pretty sure that too will have an OTA signal strength meter.

NICE!