HDTV Antennas

MikeVic · 09-23-2008, 12:20 PM

I'm looking around on monoprice.com for an optical switcher, and came across this:

For only $14.88 each when QTY 50+ purchased - HDTV Indoor Antenna | Indoor HD Antenna

Anyone used one of these? I'm thinking getting free HD channels using this is too good to be true, and even more so in Canada...

lordscarlet · 09-23-2008, 12:27 PM

I do not have this exact one, but I have an indoor HD antenna that works fantastically.

MikeVic · 09-23-2008, 12:48 PM

I'm looking for more info on this, and everything I find is for U.S. residents only... some site called Antenna Web is apparently really good for finding out what type of antenna to buy for your local channels, but it's for the U.S. only.

Any Canadians on the board have experience with this?

Fidatelo · 09-23-2008, 01:22 PM

What does an HD antenna do? I'm assuming it allows you to accept over-the-air HD feeds, but do we even have OTA channels in HD in Canada?

timmynausea · 09-23-2008, 01:57 PM

TVFool.com is way way way better than antennaweb, and there are some great threads about this on avsforum.com. If TVFool doesn't handle Canadian info, avsforum becomes your best bet.

Obviously what you need will vary based on your location in terms of distance from the towers, whether the towers are mostly in one direction or spread around you, and whether most locals are in VHF or UHF. In any case, here are my general tips:

1. There is really no such thing as an "HDTV antenna". It's marketing hype. Any antenna can pick up an HD signal including aluminum foil and/or a coat hanger.

2. If your TV doesn't have an atsc tuner, you'll need to buy one to be able to pick up a digital signal. There are a bunch of cheap ones on the market because of the government's $40 coupon program. Everything else I could find was expensive, though. I have the Channel Master 7000 (about $65), which is an awesome tuner - I get 19 locals whereas I only got about 10 on a USB tuner. The only problem is that the CM is only a 480i output. You'll probably have to spend quite a bit more to get a true HD output, and I don't have a huge screen, so it wasn't a problem for me.

3. Different antennas are good at different things. One of the main things you need to look at is whether UHF or VHF is more prevalent at your location and find an antenna that excels at that. This is a big issue in America where everything will switch to digital in February. A lot of channels will be making the switch from UHF to VHF (where a channel 3 CBS in Kalamazoo may be broadcasting on 20 right now on their analog equipment, many are choosing to switch to 3 when they make the change to digital equipment) and some people may need to change antennas to keep their local HD.

Tasan · 09-23-2008, 02:52 PM

What timmynausea said. I currently fly an old school channel master antenna and get HD signal just fine. Find out how far the towers are, and then find an antenna rated for that distance and set it up. The antenna does NOT have to say HD ready or HD compatable or any nonsense like that.

MikeVic · 09-23-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

What does an HD antenna do? I'm assuming it allows you to accept over-the-air HD feeds, but do we even have OTA channels in HD in Canada?

That's what I want to know too. Do we even have any?

Fidatelo · 09-23-2008, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeVic

That's what I want to know too. Do we even have any?

I have no idea, but my gut feeling is 'no'.

MikeVic · 09-23-2008, 03:25 PM

According to avsforum ( International THREAD INDEX - find your local discussion thread HERE. - AVS Forum, nothing yet for certain areas... including mine.

timmynausea · 09-23-2008, 03:28 PM

I did a search from Toronto on TVfool.com and a bunch of digital channels came up. Not sure which are or aren't HD, but it does look like the TVfool signal locator works for Canadian addresses.

TV Fool - TV Signal Locater

MikeVic · 09-23-2008, 03:33 PM

You're right, Winnipeg is showing stuff.

lordscarlet · 09-23-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmynausea

1. There is really no such thing as an "HDTV antenna". It's marketing hype. Any antenna can pick up an HD signal including aluminum foil and/or a coat hanger.

My Dad is using the antenna that was installed on his roof in the late 70s or early 80s to receive his flawless HD signals.

stevew · 09-23-2008, 04:52 PM

I'm becoming more and more tempted to go with a rooftop setup. Although TVFool seems to think it's extremely unlikely that I can get Pittsburgh from my current location. So I'd hate to hook this shit up, and then have it not even work.

09-23-2008, 12:27 PM	#2
lordscarlet Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Washington, DC	I do not have this exact one, but I have an indoor HD antenna that works fantastically. __________________ Sixteen Colors ANSI/ASCII Art Archive "...the better half of the Moores..." -cthomer5000

09-23-2008, 01:22 PM	#4
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	What does an HD antenna do? I'm assuming it allows you to accept over-the-air HD feeds, but do we even have OTA channels in HD in Canada? __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

09-23-2008, 01:57 PM	#5
timmynausea College Starter Join Date: Dec 2002	TVFool.com is way way way better than antennaweb, and there are some great threads about this on avsforum.com. If TVFool doesn't handle Canadian info, avsforum becomes your best bet. Obviously what you need will vary based on your location in terms of distance from the towers, whether the towers are mostly in one direction or spread around you, and whether most locals are in VHF or UHF. In any case, here are my general tips: 1. There is really no such thing as an "HDTV antenna". It's marketing hype. Any antenna can pick up an HD signal including aluminum foil and/or a coat hanger. 2. If your TV doesn't have an atsc tuner, you'll need to buy one to be able to pick up a digital signal. There are a bunch of cheap ones on the market because of the government's $40 coupon program. Everything else I could find was expensive, though. I have the Channel Master 7000 (about $65), which is an awesome tuner - I get 19 locals whereas I only got about 10 on a USB tuner. The only problem is that the CM is only a 480i output. You'll probably have to spend quite a bit more to get a true HD output, and I don't have a huge screen, so it wasn't a problem for me. 3. Different antennas are good at different things. One of the main things you need to look at is whether UHF or VHF is more prevalent at your location and find an antenna that excels at that. This is a big issue in America where everything will switch to digital in February. A lot of channels will be making the switch from UHF to VHF (where a channel 3 CBS in Kalamazoo may be broadcasting on 20 right now on their analog equipment, many are choosing to switch to 3 when they make the change to digital equipment) and some people may need to change antennas to keep their local HD. Last edited by timmynausea : 09-23-2008 at 02:04 PM.

09-23-2008, 02:52 PM	#6
Tasan College Starter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Houston, or there about	What timmynausea said. I currently fly an old school channel master antenna and get HD signal just fine. Find out how far the towers are, and then find an antenna rated for that distance and set it up. The antenna does NOT have to say HD ready or HD compatable or any nonsense like that. __________________ 2011 Golden Scribes winner for best Interactive Dynasty

09-23-2008, 03:28 PM	#10
timmynausea College Starter Join Date: Dec 2002	I did a search from Toronto on TVfool.com and a bunch of digital channels came up. Not sure which are or aren't HD, but it does look like the TVfool signal locator works for Canadian addresses. TV Fool - TV Signal Locater Last edited by timmynausea : 09-23-2008 at 03:33 PM.

09-23-2008, 12:48 PM	#3
MikeVic Head Coach Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hometown of Canada	I'm looking for more info on this, and everything I find is for U.S. residents only... some site called Antenna Web is apparently really good for finding out what type of antenna to buy for your local channels, but it's for the U.S. only. Any Canadians on the board have experience with this?

09-23-2008, 03:25 PM	#9
MikeVic Head Coach Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hometown of Canada	According to avsforum ( International THREAD INDEX - find your local discussion thread HERE. - AVS Forum, nothing yet for certain areas... including mine.

09-23-2008, 03:33 PM	#11
MikeVic Head Coach Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hometown of Canada	You're right, Winnipeg is showing stuff.

09-23-2008, 04:52 PM	#13
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	I'm becoming more and more tempted to go with a rooftop setup. Although TVFool seems to think it's extremely unlikely that I can get Pittsburgh from my current location. So I'd hate to hook this shit up, and then have it not even work.

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