Air waves rant

[Plainsman]

Re: Air waves rant

Almost every TV now has a built in tuner, the only ones that still may not are the smaller LCD's. At work I used to have to run component from a big set top box to every HDTV we had.......in about a years time I have been able to completely remove the component "runs" and can use strictly coax. Tuners aka set top boxes have REALLY dropped in price now too, as less and less TV's actually require one.

Kagee is correct, not all channels are HD......during the day it is almost strictly SD broadcasts. Prime Time and sporting events are about the only things that are HD right now. Regardless, a HD antenna is a must buy with any HDTV. Even if your Digital cable company or Satellite company offerers your local stuff in HD, you will get a much better picture going through the antenna.

Do have any recomendations on an HD antenna Pony. I have a Sony 3 LCD HDTV ( Sony's KDF-50E2000) and was looking into getting an HD antenna.

 

[chugger]

Re: Air waves rant

I dropped Comcast cable earlier this year because I didn't think their $40 package was worth the price and their $10 package wasn't worth ****. They could offer something in between but Comcast is a buisness and like all buisnesses their primary goal is to make as much money as they can. If that means marketing their product a certain way then that's the way it has to be. So I gave them back their set top box and put up an antenna. I then added a digital tuner and am now getting 6 digital channels some of which broadcast in HD. I also get about a 6 very watchable analog channels.

Start here: http://www.antennaweb.org then go here http://www.highdefforum.com

 

[KaGee]

Re: Air waves rant

Eric,

Pony has been sold a bill of goods at Best Buy. All digital terrestrial channels are broadcast on the UHF band. A good UHF antenna is all you need. Around here the old 4-bow-tie antennas work the best.

Depending on your location and distance to the broadcast antennas will determine if extra pre-amps are needed. For now, I'm using my Channel Master combo antenna. That way, I can switch back to analog whenever I want or need. Plus all the other TV's in the house are still analog.

Sorry Pony, not to dis you, you are only repeating what you've been told. I've been selling electronics and antennas since you weere in diapers!

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Air waves rant

Thanks KaGee!

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Air waves rant

I pay 14 bucks a month for ultra basic cable. I rarely have the time to switch it on.

The picture qualty is much better so thats why I use cable.

Anyone know how far away Digital broadcast can be received?

Ken

 

[KaGee]

Re: Air waves rant

I pay 14 bucks a month for ultra basic cable. I rarely have the time to switch it on.

The picture qualty is much better so thats why I use cable.

Anyone know how far away Digital broadcast can be received?

Ken

It's all variable Ken. UHF is somewhat line-of-sight. 40 to 50 miles with the right equipment. The beauty of digital is, the picture is the same whether you are 5 miles or 50.
Ask JB!

 

[roscoe]

Re: Air waves rant

The point is choice.

Yep, and your local TV companies choose not to broadcast any longer. You're still free to choose whatever you want.

Why should they have to pay millions to upgrade their equipment just because you don't want a bill?

The FORCED switch to digital broadcasts was a huge screw up by the gov't.
As was the airwaves sale. They thought they would generate billions and billions of free $.
But they ended up getting only pennies on the dollar.

SO, now only a few mega corps can afford to switch to digital.
Smaller broadcasting companies had to sell out because of the high cost of the required upgrades.

 

[Pony]

Re: Air waves rant

Kagee, you are correct......you don't NEED an HD antenna. I say "HD" but in reality meant anything that you can use to pick up the HD signal. I could stick a paper clip into the tv and recieve a broadcast. It really depends on where you live and whats in the way.

In actuality had I been given the chance I would have recomended the Terk25.......pretty standard antenna, but its what I use and I love it. $25.

Kagee I know I am younger than you, and may very well be the youngest active member here......but this technology hasnt been around since I was in diapers, so it really is a mute point......unless that was 3 years ago8)

BTW, I dont sell anything at work. All I say is from personal expirience working in part as a functionality technician. The other part of my job is purely Inventory.

 

[Link]

Re: Air waves rant

They used to be free....The local news paper ran article that said that by 2009 in my area all TV broadcasts will be either satellite or cable,no more air wave broad casts.

Their reason is that the equipment is old and the towers need to be replaced. They also state that 80% of the population uses sat or cable. Well I'm part of the cheep 20% that still uses an antenna. We get seven channels and we find that's enough. If we want more we'll rent a movie. Satellite or cable is just another bill.

I've been getting a kick out of reading this thread.
Like others I agree with you. (your point)
Have always used a outside antenna myself.
TV has always been free and always will be to me.

Someone said if you can't afford 5 bucks a month you shouldn't be watching tv in the first place.

LOL and I know where he is coming from and agree.
But I have never seen a 5 dollar a month cable bill.
Here it is 25 to 30 a month for basic cable.
For the same free channels I get now.
Thats 250.00 -300.00 + plus a year!

Could buy a good GPS or fill up your truck twice!

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Air waves rant

I've been selling electronics and antennas since you weere in diapers!

And we all know how much sales and marketing really know about the products.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Air waves rant

I still want to know who got payed off to force the switch to HD and give them the abilty to turn off your LEGAL abilty to record for personal use



Tommays

Bush's fault.. You know -- "BIG" airwaves and all that rot.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Air waves rant

I wish we could get free airwaves around here, but in the sticks, in the hills of Central PA, unless you are on a mountain top, you don't get no reception. I can get 2 channels, CBS and PBS, and they are very, very, very fuzzy, and only at certain times. Guess I gotta choose to pay Comcast (only cable company in our area), or Direct TV, or go without. The last option is looking better all the time!

 

[KaGee]

Re: Air waves rant

I've been selling electronics and antennas since you weere in diapers!

And we all know how much sales and marketing really know about the products.

Not as much as you obviously, because we all know that you know everything.

 

[Pony]

Re: Air waves rant

I've been selling electronics and antennas since you weere in diapers!

And we all know how much sales and marketing really know about the products.

Not as much as you obviously, because we all know that you know everything.

Then you'd think you guys would agree more......since you seem to know everything as well 8)

 

[Link]

Re: Air waves rant

I wish we could get free airwaves around here, but in the sticks, in the hills of Central PA, unless you are on a mountain top, you don't get no reception. I can get 2 channels, CBS and PBS, and they are very, very, very fuzzy, and only at certain times. Guess I gotta choose to pay Comcast (only cable company in our area), or Direct TV, or go without. The last option is looking better all the time!

Direct TV ... is that the one where you mount a little dish on the house? or tree where ever??
Just about every other house on our loop has one.
Havent checked the cost on those at all.

 

[Pony]

Re: Air waves rant

Eric does your tv have any issues at all with it? I have seen an increase in returns on that TV. All with out of the box picture issues.