Inexpensive way to get OTA HDTV?

sines71 · 11-29-2004, 09:04 PM

Im new to this group. Maybe this has been discussed time and time again. I just didnt see anything in my days of following these Forums.

Ok... I dont mean Cheap as in bad quality. Im interested in getting OTA signals for my newly bought HDTV without a tuner (with in 3 or so months). We live in a pretty rural town, 30-50 miles from Toledo and Detroit, who both provide OTA HD channels. I know it seems pretty far compared to the many people who complain that they cannot receive signals from less then 10 miles away. But in looking at antennas for sale they claim that we can. Especially if I get an amplifier.

I mean cheap as in I have a low budget for this. I jumped in the HDTV not because I wanted to get the latest thing but because our TV died. I didnt want to spend up to $500 to replace it now and have to buy a new HDTV in 2 or so years later. So, we bought it now thinking it should last up to 10 years like our last one.

We dont really watch a ton of TV. Actually we only pay $11 for our basic, basic cable package. I would upgrade if the local Comcast sent HD channels but they dont here. I know I have many options of get satellite, but no packages (considering the complaints of Voom) attract me to spend up to $50 for just a few channels that I most likely will not watch. We also get cable internet which would increase in costs if I dump the $11 package cable TV.

A local PBS channel from Detroit started sending in HD and that is attracting me. Im thinking of getting tuner and antenna, but am worried that I will not get any signals living so far away from the towers. How can I get started with OTA HDTV without paying hundreds of dollars more than we paid for this TV?

I was noticing that there are many used satellite HD tuners for sale cheep on ebay. Can I get one of those for under $50 and have it receive and convert HD signals to my TV when I want to watch a particular show? Or, do I have to pay $200 or more for those new tuners?

Also, what type of antenna should I shoot for at 30-50 miles from any towers?

Sorry to babble....
Jason

jeffkrug · 11-29-2004, 10:27 PM

From what I have read, the newer tuners have value as the DSPs that come with them are more sophisticated and more capable then the older tuners. If you do buy a new tuner, be sure to buy it from a retail store that makes returns easy (there are no guarntees it will work).

As far as your antenna needs, the first thing to do is look at:

http://www.antennaweb.org/

Put in all your info and see what it tells you. If it reports that you will be able to receive the channels that interest you, make certain that you get an antenna rated appropriately (more information on that is available on that site).

From everything else posted on this site, successfully installing an antenna and getting it working is more of an artform than an exact science. I wish I understood it better myself, but after failing with several indoor tv top antennas, my problems went away as soon as I got a decent attic antenna (Channel Master 4228).

**rbinck** · 11-29-2004, 10:50 PM

Just be sure that the satellite receiver has the OTA tuner built in. Some don't. Also be sure the receiver will allow the reception of the OTA stations without the access card being authorized.

Most Voomers that have the service love it, btw.

mripple · 11-30-2004, 07:10 AM

Jason,

If you like PBS-type programming you NEED to find a way to get that PBS HD channel. The stuff is always on, and even though there are a ton of repeats I find myself watching ot over and over just to see the image quality. My favorites are the Rudy Maxa travel shows. Good luck.

Mike

sines71 · 11-30-2004, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

Just be sure that the satellite receiver has the OTA tuner built in. Some don't. Also be sure the receiver will allow the reception of the OTA stations without the access card being authorized.

Most Voomers that have the service love it, btw.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

Just be sure that the satellite receiver has the OTA tuner built in. Some don't. Also be sure the receiver will allow the reception of the OTA stations without the access card being authorized.

Most Voomers that have the service love it, btw.

Does anybody know of a satellite tuner that does decode OTA HD channels and does not need an activated card?

Ive bet some people really like Voom, but Ive just seen too many horror stories about their service and quality of HD programing. I do really want to get the HD PBS channels. I guess that is why I am trying to do this now rather than wait until our local Cablevision gets HD services out here.

Im just worried that with my distance from the attenias (30-50 mile according to Antennaweb.org) I might not get anything. Is anybody sucessful getting OTA channels in HD at that distance?
Jason

**rbinck** · 11-30-2004, 09:30 AM

The Zenith SAT-520 is one.

There are just as many satified posts on this forum as there are unsatified for Voom. Actually some posters have posted multiple compaints and if you count posters, there are more satified than there are unsatified. But Voom, like any satellite service or cable service, does not fit your criteria for HDTV service anyway, so I'm not sure why the comment is not moot in your case. It seems like even with all good reports, you would not have used Voom, Directv or Dish.

hdtv4me2 · 11-30-2004, 11:48 AM

I live about 40 miles from my transmit towers and also use the Channel Master (CM) 4228 antenna with a CM 7775 pre-amp mounted to my chimney. I can get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, WB all in HD just fine. Be aware that the CM 4228 is designed for UHF only. Some of your locals might be VHF as well so you would need a combo, VHF + UHF, antenna. Getting OTA signals can be a little tricky but if you ask here and do some homework it can be done. A good receiver/tuner is going to cost you ~$300. I know my Samsung can receive OTA without an access card for the Directv satellite channels. I hear that the LG receivers are very good for OTA. So expect to pay $500, for new equipment, or so for all that you need to receive HD broadcasts via OTA.

sines71 · 11-30-2004, 12:12 PM

True, I too think it is a moot point. I dont plan on getting any of the services. If I did, I would still put Voom at the top of the list to try because of what they offer. Especially if they come down in initial install price. I just didnt feel empowered to try it now because of the complaints that I did hear when I really was not convinced of trying any service provider. I didnt even want to consider the others because I do not watch ESPN nor would get HBO.
Jason

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

The Zenith SAT-520 is one.

There are just as many satified posts on this forum as there are unsatified for Voom. Actually some posters have posted multiple compaints and if you count posters, there are more satified than there are unsatified. But Voom, like any satellite service or cable service, does not fit your criteria for HDTV service anyway, so I'm not sure why the comment is not moot in your case. It seems like even with all good reports, you would not have used Voom, Directv or Dish.

denyart · 11-30-2004, 05:32 PM

hey if you really want to try something cheap (and can't find an ebay satellite tuner that has OTA built in w/o needing an access card) you could go to your neighborhood walmart and look into the USDigital ATSC OTA tuner. it costs ~200 new and if it won't work you can take it back. you will still need an antenna, but you could get a cheaper indoor one just to see if it ges anything. you may find that it does get some channels, but they drop out. in that case you can be pretty sure that a larger antenna such as the channel masters mentioned earlier should work. and all of this without spending any money on anything you can't take back. then after ~300 total in hardware costs you could be enjoying free OTA HDTV (whatever is receivable in your area anyway).

wilbilt · 12-07-2004, 09:18 PM

Another suggestion relating to "cheap".....

You might try asking local satellite installers (DishNet, DirecTV) if they know of any cheap or free used antennas locally. A few years ago, I worked as a Dish/Direct/Starband installer, and constantly had customers asking me to haul away their no-longer-needed antennas, rotators, masts, etc.

After hauling home several Winegards, Channel Masters, and 10-foot C-band dishes, I started saying "no, thanks"....

I ended up giving away or scrapping all that stuff, but now wish I had kept a few. I can't guarantee that you will find something in your area that will work for you, but it's worth a try...and "free" is better than "cheap"!

11-29-2004, 09:04 PM	#1
sines71 My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 9	Inexpensive way to get OTA HDTV? Im new to this group. Maybe this has been discussed time and time again. I just didnt see anything in my days of following these Forums. Ok... I dont mean Cheap as in bad quality. Im interested in getting OTA signals for my newly bought HDTV without a tuner (with in 3 or so months). We live in a pretty rural town, 30-50 miles from Toledo and Detroit, who both provide OTA HD channels. I know it seems pretty far compared to the many people who complain that they cannot receive signals from less then 10 miles away. But in looking at antennas for sale they claim that we can. Especially if I get an amplifier. I mean cheap as in I have a low budget for this. I jumped in the HDTV not because I wanted to get the latest thing but because our TV died. I didnt want to spend up to $500 to replace it now and have to buy a new HDTV in 2 or so years later. So, we bought it now thinking it should last up to 10 years like our last one. We dont really watch a ton of TV. Actually we only pay $11 for our basic, basic cable package. I would upgrade if the local Comcast sent HD channels but they dont here. I know I have many options of get satellite, but no packages (considering the complaints of Voom) attract me to spend up to $50 for just a few channels that I most likely will not watch. We also get cable internet which would increase in costs if I dump the $11 package cable TV. A local PBS channel from Detroit started sending in HD and that is attracting me. Im thinking of getting tuner and antenna, but am worried that I will not get any signals living so far away from the towers. How can I get started with OTA HDTV without paying hundreds of dollars more than we paid for this TV? I was noticing that there are many used satellite HD tuners for sale cheep on ebay. Can I get one of those for under $50 and have it receive and convert HD signals to my TV when I want to watch a particular show? Or, do I have to pay $200 or more for those new tuners? Also, what type of antenna should I shoot for at 30-50 miles from any towers? Sorry to babble.... Jason

Similar Threads to Inexpensive way to get OTA HDTV?
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Best SD PQ...HDTV, EDTV, Panny, Sammy?	wayoutjohn	Flat-Panel TVs	6	10-31-2005 04:01 PM

11-29-2004, 10:27 PM	#2
jeffkrug A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 10	From what I have read, the newer tuners have value as the DSPs that come with them are more sophisticated and more capable then the older tuners. If you do buy a new tuner, be sure to buy it from a retail store that makes returns easy (there are no guarntees it will work). As far as your antenna needs, the first thing to do is look at: http://www.antennaweb.org/ Put in all your info and see what it tells you. If it reports that you will be able to receive the channels that interest you, make certain that you get an antenna rated appropriately (more information on that is available on that site). From everything else posted on this site, successfully installing an antenna and getting it working is more of an artform than an exact science. I wish I understood it better myself, but after failing with several indoor tv top antennas, my problems went away as soon as I got a decent attic antenna (Channel Master 4228).

11-29-2004, 10:50 PM	#3
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,337	Just be sure that the satellite receiver has the OTA tuner built in. Some don't. Also be sure the receiver will allow the reception of the OTA stations without the access card being authorized. Most Voomers that have the service love it, btw.

11-30-2004, 07:10 AM	#4
mripple 1080p Sharp LCD, please. Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 16	Jason, If you like PBS-type programming you NEED to find a way to get that PBS HD channel. The stuff is always on, and even though there are a ton of repeats I find myself watching ot over and over just to see the image quality. My favorites are the Rudy Maxa travel shows. Good luck. Mike

11-30-2004, 09:30 AM	#6
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,337	The Zenith SAT-520 is one. There are just as many satified posts on this forum as there are unsatified for Voom. Actually some posters have posted multiple compaints and if you count posters, there are more satified than there are unsatified. But Voom, like any satellite service or cable service, does not fit your criteria for HDTV service anyway, so I'm not sure why the comment is not moot in your case. It seems like even with all good reports, you would not have used Voom, Directv or Dish.

11-30-2004, 11:48 AM	#7
hdtv4me2 Go Bruins! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,284	I live about 40 miles from my transmit towers and also use the Channel Master (CM) 4228 antenna with a CM 7775 pre-amp mounted to my chimney. I can get ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, WB all in HD just fine. Be aware that the CM 4228 is designed for UHF only. Some of your locals might be VHF as well so you would need a combo, VHF + UHF, antenna. Getting OTA signals can be a little tricky but if you ask here and do some homework it can be done. A good receiver/tuner is going to cost you ~$300. I know my Samsung can receive OTA without an access card for the Directv satellite channels. I hear that the LG receivers are very good for OTA. So expect to pay $500, for new equipment, or so for all that you need to receive HD broadcasts via OTA.

11-30-2004, 05:32 PM	#9
denyart I want my free OTA HDTV Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 58	hey if you really want to try something cheap (and can't find an ebay satellite tuner that has OTA built in w/o needing an access card) you could go to your neighborhood walmart and look into the USDigital ATSC OTA tuner. it costs ~200 new and if it won't work you can take it back. you will still need an antenna, but you could get a cheaper indoor one just to see if it ges anything. you may find that it does get some channels, but they drop out. in that case you can be pretty sure that a larger antenna such as the channel masters mentioned earlier should work. and all of this without spending any money on anything you can't take back. then after ~300 total in hardware costs you could be enjoying free OTA HDTV (whatever is receivable in your area anyway).

12-07-2004, 09:18 PM	#10
wilbilt OTA HD...Yes! Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 10	Another suggestion relating to "cheap"..... You might try asking local satellite installers (DishNet, DirecTV) if they know of any cheap or free used antennas locally. A few years ago, I worked as a Dish/Direct/Starband installer, and constantly had customers asking me to haul away their no-longer-needed antennas, rotators, masts, etc. After hauling home several Winegards, Channel Masters, and 10-foot C-band dishes, I started saying "no, thanks".... I ended up giving away or scrapping all that stuff, but now wish I had kept a few. I can't guarantee that you will find something in your area that will work for you, but it's worth a try...and "free" is better than "cheap"!