HD TV - Free vs. Subscribing

kberg

For all of you folks getting HD signals, I'd like to get a feel for how many of you subscribe for the service vs. getting it free via OTA broadcasts.

Can you provide some feedback on each? How many channels do you typically get with each alternative? Are there typically any reception problems with OTA broadcasts? Any other issues needing consideration?

bknauss

kberg - I will point you toward avsforum.com. There is a forum there specifially dedicated to different metropolitan areas around the nation, and within those threads about each area, there are usually people you can find within a short distance of you. This really helps out with choosing what kind of antenna to get, what channels you can get at what strength, problems, joys, etc.

From what I've seen, at least in the DC/Balt. thread, everyone likes OTA better than the local cable company piping it... better quality since you don't have the compression going on.

tecmo04

i am currently paying for my hd through brighthouse. the box is 8 bucks a month and im not sure how much the monthly is becuase my parents pay for all the rest. theres about 10 channels including hbo, espn, discovery, and a couple other random ones. To be honest i didnt buy the best lcd (costco's cheep prices FORCED me to buy one, dam costco) and i dont think the local channels look that good at all. the dedicated hd channels like discovery and few few channels called hdtv1 and hdtv2 look fantastic. i cant imagine getting the channel for free through an antena being good quality. shoot im disapointed with the direct signal for the local channels. but, i havent tried getting it for free so i can only speak from the my experience with the cable box.

my advise, but the antena, if u dont like it, return it. the cable company will always be willing to take your money too...

good luck with your ventures

billbillw

I get HD through OTA and through DirecTV. If you live in one of the larger markets, OTA is great, but there is no way to know if you will have good signal strength until you try.

Antennaweb.org is a good place to start.

I have zero problems with my OTA signal and I'm able to get 10+ digital channels. DirecTV only adds about 6 more channels of HD, so I've debated many times whether to dump them and save money every month, but I just like HBO too much.

thehaens@cox.net

Originally posted by kberg
For all of you folks getting HD signals, I'd like to get a feel for how many of you subscribe for the service vs. getting it free via OTA broadcasts.

Can you provide some feedback on each? How many channels do you typically get with each alternative? Are there typically any reception problems with OTA broadcasts? Any other issues needing consideration?

I use OTA and DirecTV. I am very happy with OTA being in the Los Angeles and San Diego market, there is plenty of affiliates that broadcast. I get them all without problems. My recommendation would be to just get yourself a UHF only antenna from Radio Shack, it is inexpensive, and to be honest, buying a more expensive antenna, such as a Channel Master isn't in my opinion worth it. My neighbor bought the C.M. and we both get the same channels with the same Digital Signal strength. So best thing to do is climb on that roof with a two way radio and get it done. You will find that your viewing habits are going to change, I rarely will watch a non digital channel anymore.

As far as DirecTV goes, I am only getting one national affiliate (NBC) that comes in. I couldn't get the FCC approval to get the other channels FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS in my area. Which really pisses me off, not so much that I am not receiving the channels already via OTA, but my neighbor put in for the waiver the same time as me, and somehow he managed to get approval for FOX East and West, NBC West, and ABC East and West. And I am the one that pioneered HDTV in my neighborhood.....to the dismay of the H.O.A. after I put an antenna on my roof.....anyway good luck with your ventures.......and happy viewing..

Scott

kberg

Thanks for the great feedback so far - I'll check into all of your suggestions.

Right now I don't have an HD set yet, but plan on getting one soon, and the one I want will only be HD-Ready, so a tuner will be required; therefore, my question is for "planning" purposes, since I'm not sure whether I should plan on pulling the trigger on buying a tuner AND antenna when I get my set, or just go the subscriber route, or BOTH!

thehaens@cox.net

Def. go both, as you will find that their are a lot of other channels available OTA, such as PBS stations, Spanish, Japanese, etc. (at least in the south. cali market)...

ledhed

I use OTA but never tried cable b/c comcast wants 90$ a month. The channels look excellent, I would reccomend getting an Antenna rotator for sure, esp. if you live between two metropolin areas

bvette94

I live in westland mi and i use a samsung hd ota box with an antenna on the roof.i also had dish network hdtv sat. imo the quality from the antenna looked better that same channels broadcast from dish. i bought a roof top antenna from radio shack and have it fixed and havent had to move it yet. i get quite a few channels with the antenna. i dont subscribe to cable due to the fact the pic quality is terrible on a hdtv that arent broadcast in hi def.