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Need HD Antenna Help!
#80725 02/05/05 06:47 PM
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player8 Offline OP
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I read somewhere that you can use an antenna to pick up your local stations broadcasts even the ones in HD. My dad wants to see the Superbowl in HD and I remember reading that an antenna is the cheap way to go about it. Can any of you fine people recommend an antenna? My dad probably won't spent any more than $20-$40. Do any of you have any tips for a quality antenna (that can be picked up at your local BB, RS, Target, HD, etc.) and how to set it up for optimum recieving signal clarity?

Re: Need HD Antenna Help!
#80726 02/05/05 06:52 PM
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A lot depends on your location in relationship to the broadcast antenna's. In my case I live in the country, so I bought a TERK antenna that actually mounts on the outside of my home. It is constructed of ABS plastic so weather does not affect it...Works great for both. I know many people that live in town and use just regular rabit ears. I would recommend looking around for a good interior HD antenna. I think one can be had for the prices you mention. You don't mention this, but i assume your Dad has a television the is HD ready? Also, you will need a HD receiver, unless his TV has a built in HD receiver for OTA (over the air) hd signals.



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Re: Need HD Antenna Help!
#80727 02/05/05 07:20 PM
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player8 Offline OP
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We live in a suburb of Phoenix so I doubt we'll have a problem getting a clean signal if properly set up. My dad's TV is the Hitachi 57F500A. It is HD ready, but I'm not sure about the tuner. I'll have to read the manual. Any antenna's better than other for pulling a clean local signal?

Re: Need HD Antenna Help!
#80728 02/06/05 02:52 AM
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axiomite
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Yeah, I was looking into the whole HD via air (as opposed to cable or sat.) and the antenna is pretty inexpensive, but if you need a tuner, it will go well above the $40.

Check out www.hdtvpub.com and put in your zip code for what you can get in your area, and find out about tuners and antennas... Good luck...


Farewell - June 4, 2020
Re: Need HD Antenna Help!
#80729 02/06/05 03:05 AM
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buff
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I have a (UHF only) Zenith Silver Sensor and it works great. Available at Sears for about $40.


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Re: Need HD Antenna Help!
#80730 02/06/05 03:54 AM
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Wow, you had luck w/ a Terk? You're lucky...

I've had luck w/ the Silver Sensor and a Radio Shack Powered indoor antenna for $50.

But it's true, if you don't have an HD tuner in the system somewhere, forget it.

Funny how all the threads on most of the boards have some type of last minute thread cause everyone's trying to get HD for Superbowl. My buddy called me in a panic yesterday cause he wants to buy a DLP because of the sales. No background on HD at all. When I tried to explain the "mess" to him, his head almost exploded...

Re: Need HD Antenna Help!
#80731 02/06/05 04:39 AM
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player8 Offline OP
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Yeah, he'd need a tuner. He wants to go HD but wants to wait till more stations are having TV in HD. I found an old antenna and I figured out that you need an HDTV tuner. I'm guessing for next year's Superbowl party my pop will ante up for a HD subscription. By then there should be some more progress made in the HD format.

Re: Need HD Antenna Help!
#80732 02/07/05 12:10 AM
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I'm beginning to think this Terk 55 ABS external antenna is junk. I've had it about a year hooked to my Samsung OTA receiver, and over the last few weeks I've noticed I keep losing my Red signals. I know it is not my TV as DVD's look fabulous. If I turn off the unit and back on, usually it is fine for awhile, but eventually the Reds drop and everything looke yellowish. Now the SuperBowl tonight on FOX looks outstanding, however the FOX antenna is closes to my house, so it may have something to do with signal strength.


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Re: Need HD Antenna Help!
#80733 02/07/05 04:02 AM
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buff
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I know it's too late for the Super Bowl, but here's some info for the future.

First, you can get HD for free via an antenna, and almost any mid-large type will work. I've had back luck with the Terk's, and great luck with RS antennas. They're cheap, easy to install, and have good range and reliability even in weather. My current one is hanging in my attic, out of sight, and I pick up about 9 HD stations alone in Minneappolis area.

Second, you will need a HD tuner of some kind. Either built into the TV itself, or if it's HD-ready, an external box of some sort. I'm using a HD Sat. box I had when I was with DirectTV. I have cable now, but I can still run the antenna feed through that box to convert the signal for my TV even without being a DirectTV member anymore.

In the end, you have to decide how much HD programming you want to watch. I get all my locals(NBC,ABC,CBS) along with Fox, WB, PBS, a childrens station(the kids love cartoons in wide format), and a couple of news and info networks all in HD. I just got done watching the big game, and without the antenna, I wouldn't have gotten it in HD. Even with the HD cable package I have, they only give you a couple of HD stations(ESPNHD, 1 Showtime, CBS, and HDTV with movies). Setting up is easy, the really tough call is where you get your converter.


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Re: Need HD Antenna Help!
#80734 02/07/05 04:30 AM
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thanks for the info, I may have to go check out the Shack soon for a replacment for my Terk. Eventually, I'm going to be feeding the signal to my Sanyo PLV-Z2 when I complete my basement HT, so I want to get a good antenna. Besides, I need to go check out those Analog SPL meters anyway...


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