hdtv antenna

[TriPP]

anyone got an indoors antenna they use to get hdtv signals, if so, what kind?

thanks in advance

[Zabka]

When my satellite dish installation turned out to be FUBAR so I cancelled and my cable guys couldn't make it out for weeks, I just went out and bought a set of boosted rabbit ears. ANY antenna picks up HDTV signal, it isn't a special antenna. If you have a newer TV, the TV will try to amplify the signal as well which makes it so that my HDTV signals were crystal clear while their analog counterparts were snowier than the Himalayas.

Depending on how well an indoor antenna works at your place (walls, etc), getting a simple $20 which is boosted (electrically) could be enough. If this is your primary means for receiving TV signals, something a bit more powerful might be in order. If you don't mind the hassle, start low and keep trying them till you find what works.

Interestingly, my rabbit ears actually provide clearer signal than my cable company which still only transmits in 720p, but my rabbit ears were picking up 1080i.

[TriPP]

i'm gonna try finding an amplied indoor antenna at walmart, see how it works. the abc & pbs channels here use vhf for there hdtv signals, so i may have to go for an on the roof model.

[Zabka]

In my area, all the major networks are VHF (2-13). I watched the World Cup via my indoor antenna. it worked like a charm. I mentioned it to a friend of mine who has DirecTV in an area where local broadcasts aren't available by satellite, so he went to Radio Shack or Costco or something and got an amplified indoor antenna and says it is perfect.

because mine is a cheapo, I had to adjust the rabbit ears for each channel, which was a pain, but a better antenna would have eliminated that problem....of course because my cable guys eventually came it hasn't been an issue for me. But as a big soccer fan, it was annoying for me to not be able to watch World Cup games in HD--and during the weekdays, the world cup was only on ESPN and ESPN2--so I watched on Telemundo which was not HD. But anyway, just make sure there is a decent return policy to what you buy and just work your way up.

[TriPP]

yeah, the return policy is why i'm gonna try walmart first, ha.

[TriPP]

dang, i bought one of the indoor amplified ones. it worked the same with or without the amplification on, ha. i'll need to put one of the roof models up if i want to get all the local channels though i guess.

[Zabka]

That can be such a pain. some indoor ones are better than others. the cheaper ones tend not to make such a difference with amplification. but some of them can be quite effective--but they start to get expensive.

[madmax32]

When my satellite dish installation turned out to be FUBAR so I cancelled and my cable guys couldn't make it out for weeks, I just went out and bought a set of boosted rabbit ears. ANY antenna picks up HDTV signal, it isn't a special antenna. If you have a newer TV, the TV will try to amplify the signal as well which makes it so that my HDTV signals were crystal clear while their analog counterparts were snowier than the Himalayas.

Depending on how well an indoor antenna works at your place (walls, etc), getting a simple $20 which is boosted (electrically) could be enough. If this is your primary means for receiving TV signals, something a bit more powerful might be in order. If you don't mind the hassle, start low and keep trying them till you find what works.

Interestingly, my rabbit ears actually provide clearer signal than my cable company which still only transmits in 720p, but my rabbit ears were picking up 1080i.

So, the signal is sent out analog and converted by the TV to HD? Lol, I always thought it was magic digital signal and that you needed a special antenna.

[Zabka]

thats what some antenna manufacturers want you to think. and then others repackage their rabbit ears as "HDTV antenna". lol. But it is still the same signal, but your HD tuner converts the signal. think about HD radio--same thing.