8-VSB observations and recommendation.

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

Thanks for the post. What brand and model HDTV did you buy?

Christopher Calder


jeremy@pdq.net (JDeats) wrote in message news:<b0738dc6.0405221251.241816cb@posting.google.com>...
> So I recently purchased a HDTV with an 8-VSB OTA HD tuner built in.
> After doing the manditory channel scan I was happy to see that the
> tuner was able to locate all UHF/VHF channels. I surprised to see that
> some of the local affiliates offered multiple channels (e.g. my local
> ABC affiliate has three channels broadcast over 8-VSB, one is
> dedicated entirely to doppler radar for the local weather, one seems
> to be a news channel. Only one of the three ABC channels are simucast
> in HD.
>
> According to www.atennaweb.com almost all my local networks require a
> medium size outdoor directional atenna. I decided to go spend $20 on
> Philips Mant410, powered indor multidirectional sit-top atenna,
> surprisingly this did the trick just fine (for all the networks listed
> in red on atennaweb), I had to tinker with the direction of the rods
> and the reception disc a bit, but I am able to watch all the networks
> with a very seldom pixelation and even rarer loss signal (by rare I
> mean once every two to three hours, with the disturbance lasting a few
> seconds). Only problem with a small powered indoor atenna like the
> Mant410 is that you have to adjust it's direction when channel
> surfing. This was also a problem with UHF/VHF but at least you would
> get some reception, with my 8-VSB tuner I often get a "no signal"
> message until I adjust the atenna's direction, from what I've read
> this is just the nature of 8-VSB.
>
> Overall, it's quite amazing. I've always found the reception of
> UHF/VHF only tolerable. Local networks over cable have always looked
> better, with OTA HD (8-VSB) this is not the case. The quality of the
> picture is consistant and better quality than that of my local
> channels (e.g. I have an HD cable box, so I'm comparing CBS-HD on
> cable to CBS-HD over-the-air, over-the-air wins hands down).
>
> So why invest in a HDTV with an 8-VSB (OTA HD) tuner built in? Two
> reasons to ponder:
>
> 1. The cost of HDTV with the tuner vs one without (HD monitor) is only
> about $150-$200 on many models, sometimes (depending on sales) you can
> get practically get the tuner for free. If you wanted to go buy an
> external OTA HD tuner you'd pay $400+
>
> 2. I can finally Tivo one thing and watch another at the same time.
>
> 3. I'm no longer bound by my cable providers selection of HD
> broadcasting in regard to local network affiliates (I can get them
> all).
>
> I think it's worth it.
>
> -Jeremy

Archived from groups: alt.tv.tech.hdtv (More info?)

The HDTV is an Hitachi 57T600. My second rear-projection Hitachi (my
other was a 51F500).

-Jeremy


calderhome@yahoo.com (Christopher Calder) wrote in message news:<e93fecf5.0405222125.40cbdd6c@posting.google.com>...
> Thanks for the post. What brand and model HDTV did you buy?
>
> Christopher Calder
>
>
> jeremy@pdq.net (JDeats) wrote in message news:<b0738dc6.0405221251.241816cb@posting.google.com>...
> > So I recently purchased a HDTV with an 8-VSB OTA HD tuner built in.
> > After doing the manditory channel scan I was happy to see that the
> > tuner was able to locate all UHF/VHF channels. I surprised to see that
> > some of the local affiliates offered multiple channels (e.g. my local
> > ABC affiliate has three channels broadcast over 8-VSB, one is
> > dedicated entirely to doppler radar for the local weather, one seems
> > to be a news channel. Only one of the three ABC channels are simucast
> > in HD.
> >
> > According to www.atennaweb.com almost all my local networks require a
> > medium size outdoor directional atenna. I decided to go spend $20 on
> > Philips Mant410, powered indor multidirectional sit-top atenna,
> > surprisingly this did the trick just fine (for all the networks listed
> > in red on atennaweb), I had to tinker with the direction of the rods
> > and the reception disc a bit, but I am able to watch all the networks
> > with a very seldom pixelation and even rarer loss signal (by rare I
> > mean once every two to three hours, with the disturbance lasting a few
> > seconds). Only problem with a small powered indoor atenna like the
> > Mant410 is that you have to adjust it's direction when channel
> > surfing. This was also a problem with UHF/VHF but at least you would
> > get some reception, with my 8-VSB tuner I often get a "no signal"
> > message until I adjust the atenna's direction, from what I've read
> > this is just the nature of 8-VSB.
> >
> > Overall, it's quite amazing. I've always found the reception of
> > UHF/VHF only tolerable. Local networks over cable have always looked
> > better, with OTA HD (8-VSB) this is not the case. The quality of the
> > picture is consistant and better quality than that of my local
> > channels (e.g. I have an HD cable box, so I'm comparing CBS-HD on
> > cable to CBS-HD over-the-air, over-the-air wins hands down).
> >
> > So why invest in a HDTV with an 8-VSB (OTA HD) tuner built in? Two
> > reasons to ponder:
> >
> > 1. The cost of HDTV with the tuner vs one without (HD monitor) is only
> > about $150-$200 on many models, sometimes (depending on sales) you can
> > get practically get the tuner for free. If you wanted to go buy an
> > external OTA HD tuner you'd pay $400+
> >
> > 2. I can finally Tivo one thing and watch another at the same time.
> >
> > 3. I'm no longer bound by my cable providers selection of HD
> > broadcasting in regard to local network affiliates (I can get them
> > all).
> >
> > I think it's worth it.
> >
> > -Jeremy