HDTV signals

[dpantle]

OTA pictures will always look better than any subscription service, be it Dish, DirecTV, or cable. The broadcast signal is not compressed. Subscription signals are compressed to a lower resolution in order to fit more channels on the satellites which transfer the signals (and yes, even with cable, although there's id not as compressed).

We still use the dish, but view things like sporting events with local channels via antenna. We use a 6 ft regular TV antenna up in our attic, and have no problems with the 12 channels. We get both SA and Austin channels (we're a little north of Bulverde). I can't remember how many, but it's somewhere in the range of 40-50 we get through the antenna.

On thing you might consider when pointing the antenna is the location of the towers, which are in the Elmendorf area (most of the channels including the 12's). If I remember correctly, I had more trouble tuning in 12 than any other. It just took me a lot of patience. It sure beat trying to point antennas the way we did in the 60's though!!

[Hedgehog_Mom]

Oh, another thing I've figured out in four or five years of using an antenna...put the antenna on a high shelf, otherwise sometimes the picture will distort when someone walks in front of it.

[bolonyokte]

here's the deal those rabbit ears need to be placed outside your window and still connected to the tv once placed turn tv on and afix the ears while looking at your best reception and leave you should get all the channels crystal clear of course on windy days there might be some blackouts with the PBS channels but it will come back do not move ears outside of windows unless they fall.

[ashbeeigh]

Thanks for all the input guys. This - GE Flat Panel Amplified TV Antenna : Target was the one I bought and it says it gets all the signals. Maybe it's just not as strong as it should be.

[DerpyDerp]

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

Maybe it's just not as strong as it should be.

An amplified antenna is of no use if there's no signal to amplify. For optimal performance, the antenna should be mounted as high as possible and have an unobstructed view of the transmission tower.

[bigtexan99]

Your channel reception has a lot to do with where you are located, elevation, hills, trees, etc.

But as far as antennaes go, a co-worker recommend the "leaf" antenna which is a new flat indoor antenna. I was a bit skeptical, because its the size and thickness of a sheet of paper, but after installing it I'm amazed that I get all the over the air channels in!

Mine is even mounted behind the tv, on the wall, so its 100% not visible in the room.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by bigtexan99

But as far as antennaes go, a co-worker recommend the "leaf" antenna which is a new flat indoor antenna. I was a bit skeptical, but after installing it I'm amazed that I get all the over the air channels in!

Mine is even mounted behind the tv, on the wall, so its 100% not visible in the room.

I have one of those, too... the unamplified version. It only picks up KENS when I remove it from the wall and lay it flat. Everything else comes in while it's wall-mounted. Even so, it definitely works better than the $8 rabbit ears and loop combo from WalMart that it replaced!

http://www.gomohu.com

[mojosalsa]

Originally Posted by Bo

I have one of those, too... the unamplified version. It only picks up KENS when I remove it from the wall and lay it flat. Everything else comes in while it's wall-mounted. Even so, it definitely works better than the $8 rabbit ears and loop combo from WalMart that it replaced!

Home of the #1 Rated Indoor Antenna - Mohu

I second this.

I've been using OTA antennas for a few years now. I got myself the unamplified Leaf for Christmas off of Amazon. It's a miracle. The trick we did for ours was to put it up in the corner. We taped it so it completes a triangle with the two walls. Doing that gets us all the channels, except for 2.1 and 2.2. In my experience, I only had channel 2.2 for a short period of time when I was living in a house with a huge outside antenna. I would have to adjust it all the time though.

I liked our leaf so much I got another for the other tv. Works well in that room also. FWIW we live on the almost far west side, near Marbach between 1604 and 410. My friend who lives closer to westover hills got the amplified leaf from Sams for $80 or so. He is pleased with that version as well.

The biggest benefit for me is not having to screw with the antenna every time I wanted to change the channel. I would get all the channels with the bunny ears, I just would have to re-adjust for each range, which was annoying.