Over-the-Air Reception Devices Rule

jim5506 · 10-24-2005, 01:49 PM

I'm betting that these $50 DTV tuners are not what we are buying right now.

They will be more apt to be a converter type tuner that has only RF and RCA outputs, no component, HDMI, or any other HD compatible stuff, just barebones convert it from DTV to channel 3 or 4 analog and MAYBE composite. Sort of like what you get out of your VCR now.

Tony Neece · 10-25-2005, 05:28 AM

Yikes! I had not thought of that. I bet you are right! Still, John Q will get better pix quality than with analog transmission.

Tony

Tony Neece · 10-25-2005, 05:34 AM

TV Technology has posted a comprehensive article on the Senate Commerce Comittee action re the analog shut-off.
http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=3376

There is still more work to be done on the bill before final markup for full Senate vote.

Tony

RSawdey · 10-25-2005, 11:12 PM

And the House version has a 1/1/09 date instead of 4/7/09 in the Senate.

sasteel · 12-08-2005, 10:50 AM

You probably can't do anything about it as you do not own the apartment. Your best option would be to encourage the management to upgrade their central antenna system to include UHF stations (which is where 95% of the DTV signals are being broadcast). You might try an indoor antenna if you are close to the transmitter towers or high above ground level. If you are very far from the transmitters, there is no getting around the need for an antenna with good gain, a mast mounted preamp, & rotator if stations are located in different directions.

Scott Steel
Springville, TN

Top_Speed · 01-13-2006, 09:56 AM

Get both UHF and VHF (separate or combined). It's free programming and every nickle & dime "additional" channel you get (for free I say!) is a benifit. If your area isn't broadcasting anything on one of the bands, someday they might?

I have 8 HD PBS channels (duplicated from 2 different cities). Now I'm not a big PBS guy but the way I think is "Ya just never know"

More is better

sytsy · 06-04-2006, 08:19 AM

thanks,The federal law trumps everything below it.

Ratt Rules · 10-08-2006, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbiee19

Sorry, but they are right on the antenna for HDTV. Any antenna can get the signal and supply it to your receiver. Its the receiver that does the conversion not the antenna. But you do need a good antenna to receive the signal to supply it to the receiver, so the receiver can do its thing.

Yes, BUT-

Since the antenna is a VHF-only, and most HD channels are on the UHF band...they aren't providing a quality signal. In less than 2 years, that antenna will be useless.

Barry_R · 12-10-2006, 06:57 PM

Interesting thread...

Having come from the days of tube TVs outdoor VHF/UHF antennas the current world of broadcast video has gotten a bit more complicated. Likewise the way communities are now being setup with their HOAs and the rules that they attempt to enforce is making life equally complicated.

What has happend to us? there used to be an attitude of live and let live. No one complained about your antenna or where it was located. We all watched the usual 2 thru 13 TV channels and sometimes UHF if the reception was decent.

I admit that having a few hundred channels is better than the 2 to 13 we used to get but I miss the attitude that people had towards each other and would trade all the channels for a return to the decency we once had.

jim5506 · 12-20-2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratt Rules

Yes, BUT-

Since the antenna is a VHF-only, and most HD channels are on the UHF band...they aren't providing a quality signal. In less than 2 years, that antenna will be useless.

Their distribution/amplification system is probably also VHF and maybe VHF only. It may have to be totally replaced. If they don't replace it they are not providing you with a watchable signal.

SuperAmmo · 12-25-2006, 10:48 PM

Does this rule apply to college dorm rooms as well? I think my only shot at getting "nearby" stations would be through an OTA outdoor antenna.

jim5506 · 12-25-2006, 11:13 PM

If your colloge provides you a "cable" signal like a cable company, as long as they give you local channels you are getting what is required. If you are not getting local stations (analog or digital) then you are unserved.

SuperAmmo · 12-25-2006, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim5506

If your colloge provides you a "cable" signal like a cable company, as long as they give you local channels you are getting what is required. If you are not getting local stations (analog or digital) then you are unserved.

That's exactly what I didn't wanna hear

especially if the college cable system doesn't have any digital signals capable of QAM retrieval.

electrictroy · 02-02-2007, 07:53 AM

Your college situation is the same as an Apartment dweller. You can only use the space provided to you (like a balcony) NOT the roof of the dorm. ------ When I was a student at Penn State, this was never a problem. They provided free satellite to all the rooms, including local channels, so all we had to do was screw the TV into the RF cable sticking out of the wall.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coyote

But a private community? If you want an antenna, move to a place that allows 'em, you know?

What if you live in an area, as I do, where EVERY development forbids the use of an antenna? Where am I supposed to move? Your solution is not workable, because while I could change homes, I'd still be saddled with the same "antennas not allowed" restriction.

The FCC solution, allowing everybody to have the Freedom (key word and the basis for this nation) to modify their own home for an antenna, is better.

JonsZX2SR · 04-16-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbinck

It says that no local restrictions can prevent you from putting up an antenna or dish to receive TV or internet signals.

Not exactly. Renters or condo owners can put dishes or antennas in areas where they have exclusive use, for example patios and decks, but not on common property such as common grounds and roof areas external to their units.

Homeowners can install terrestruial TV antennas or satellite dishes less than 1 meter diameter up to 12' above the highest point on their house without impediment by zoning ordinances or land use covenants (even if the antenna is in common view.)

http://www.keohi.com/keohihdtv/hdrec.../fccrules.html

I went through a 'discussion' with the local zoning board over a mast and rotor which mounted an antenna 11' 8" above the peak of my house roof (with a chimney that was another 2' higher than the roof.) A local zoning board memeber and neighbor visited me to tell me to take the antenna down, I gave him a copy of FCC 47 C.F.R. Section 1.4000 and suggested that he talk to the town counsel. A few days later I recieved a call from the town attorney.

We met and he had a copy of the FCC regulations and we proceeded to have an intelligent chat. I explained I understood the law and was not interested in pushing limits. He agreed with me and recognized that if the local zoning board decided to push things I would resort to legal action. A week or so later I received a letter from the zoning board informing me that thier finding was the antenna was legal and the matter was closed.

I did share information with many of my neighbors about the legality of the antenna. A few informed me they had been told by the individual in question that visible antennas and satellite dishes were not legal. That local zoning board member is now surrounded with many houses with perfectly legal satellite dishes, most in plain view.

10-25-2005, 05:28 AM	#47
Tony Neece My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5	$50 converter STBs Yikes! I had not thought of that. I bet you are right! Still, John Q will get better pix quality than with analog transmission. Tony

10-25-2005, 05:34 AM	#48
Tony Neece My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5	Good article explaining what the Commerce Comittee did TV Technology has posted a comprehensive article on the Senate Commerce Comittee action re the analog shut-off. http://www.tvtechnology.com/dailynews/one.php?id=3376 There is still more work to be done on the bill before final markup for full Senate vote. Tony

12-08-2005, 10:50 AM	#50
sasteel What is HD? Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Springville, TN Posts: 3	OTA DTV Reception You probably can't do anything about it as you do not own the apartment. Your best option would be to encourage the management to upgrade their central antenna system to include UHF stations (which is where 95% of the DTV signals are being broadcast). You might try an indoor antenna if you are close to the transmitter towers or high above ground level. If you are very far from the transmitters, there is no getting around the need for an antenna with good gain, a mast mounted preamp, & rotator if stations are located in different directions. Scott Steel Springville, TN

01-13-2006, 09:56 AM	#51
Top_Speed [H]is [D]omain Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NY Posts: 58	Get both UHF and VHF (separate or combined). It's free programming and every nickle & dime "additional" channel you get (for free I say!) is a benifit. If your area isn't broadcasting anything on one of the bands, someday they might? I have 8 HD PBS channels (duplicated from 2 different cities). Now I'm not a big PBS guy but the way I think is "Ya just never know" More is better __________________ Mitsubishi 73" 1080p DLP (WD-73827) Toshiba DST3100 HD Satellite Receiver Winegard HD-8200 rooftop antenna w/pre-amp, CM 9521A rotor Pioneer front towers, Bose VCS-10 center Jamo A330 Surrounds 2- 150w Self Powered JBL 12" Subs Bose Tri-Port Headphones Nachos Grande Hot Wings Cold Bud Light

12-25-2006, 11:13 PM	#57
jim5506 Yellow Submarine Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,416	If your colloge provides you a "cable" signal like a cable company, as long as they give you local channels you are getting what is required. If you are not getting local stations (analog or digital) then you are unserved. __________________ Programming: Dish HD Absolute with 0.01 Cinemax Displays: Sony VPH-D50Q - 7 ft on the wall; Hitachi 57R59 Receivers: DishNetwork ViP722k; DishNetwork ViP211K; DishNetwork ViP211; DishNetwork 301; 2 - TiVo Series 2's; Accurian 6000; Samsung SIR-T351; Panasonic ShowStopper 2000; ATI HDTV Wonder Dish 1000 on 110,119,129; Dish 500 on 61.5; DPP44 Sony 80GB PS3; Toshiba HD-DVD

10-24-2005, 01:49 PM	#46
jim5506 Yellow Submarine Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,416	I'm betting that these $50 DTV tuners are not what we are buying right now. They will be more apt to be a converter type tuner that has only RF and RCA outputs, no component, HDMI, or any other HD compatible stuff, just barebones convert it from DTV to channel 3 or 4 analog and MAYBE composite. Sort of like what you get out of your VCR now.

10-25-2005, 11:12 PM	#49
RSawdey Mr. Wizard Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ferndale, Michigan Age: 61 Posts: 5,981	And the House version has a 1/1/09 date instead of 4/7/09 in the Senate.

06-04-2006, 08:19 AM	#52
sytsy What is HD? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1	thanks,The federal law trumps everything below it.

12-10-2006, 06:57 PM	#54
Barry_R Aquos Owner Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 10	Interesting thread... Having come from the days of tube TVs outdoor VHF/UHF antennas the current world of broadcast video has gotten a bit more complicated. Likewise the way communities are now being setup with their HOAs and the rules that they attempt to enforce is making life equally complicated. What has happend to us? there used to be an attitude of live and let live. No one complained about your antenna or where it was located. We all watched the usual 2 thru 13 TV channels and sometimes UHF if the reception was decent. I admit that having a few hundred channels is better than the 2 to 13 we used to get but I miss the attitude that people had towards each other and would trade all the channels for a return to the decency we once had.

12-25-2006, 10:48 PM	#56
SuperAmmo High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 33	Does this rule apply to college dorm rooms as well? I think my only shot at getting "nearby" stations would be through an OTA outdoor antenna.