Smart Antennas (Antennae)

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

There is a specification (CEA-909) for Smart Antennas (Antennae) which makes
it possible to steer an antenna electronically without actually rotating the
antenna physically. Late last year at least one product was announced that
would take advantage of this capability: A company named Funai announced a
set top that would include ATI's XILLION 226 and NXT2004 chips, the latter
providing support for an attached Smart Antenna. At the time they announced
it, the said that it would be available "later" in the year.

What's happening with this Smart Antenna technology? Can I actually buy
such an antenna today? Where do I buy it? Is the Funai set top box really
available? What company or companies in the U.S. are selling the Funai box,
if any?

Neil
Salem, MA USA

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

"n2ogb" <n2ogb@aol.com> wrote in news:3385863bfca14cc8cde8c1fb08016078
@localhost.talkabouttelevision.com:

> http://www.sylvaniaconsumerelectro [...] b/stb.html
> Funai makes the Sylvania STB with a smart antenna connector.

Any idea what the physical dimensions of the actual antenna are? I
couldn't find them in a search.

--
Dave Oldridge+
ICQ 1800667

A false witness is worse than no witness at all.

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

"Mudd Bug" <muddbug@cox.net> wrote in message
newsGVZd.11588$N15.8446@okepread06...
>
> "Dave Oldridge" <doldridg@leavethisoutshaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:Xns961AD59B2EA10doldridgsprintca@24.71.223.159...
>> "n2ogb" <n2ogb@aol.com> wrote in news:3385863bfca14cc8cde8c1fb08016078
>> @localhost.talkabouttelevision.com:
>>
>>> http://www.sylvaniaconsumerelectro [...] b/stb.html
>>> Funai makes the Sylvania STB with a smart antenna connector.
>>
>> Any idea what the physical dimensions of the actual antenna are? I
>> couldn't find them in a search.
>>
> http://www.accessoryexperts.com/An [...] A-5000.asp
> http://www.hififorless.com/categor [...] oryid=1192
>
>
>> --
>> Dave Oldridge+
>> ICQ 1800667
>>
>> A false witness is worse than no witness at all.
>>

My thanks to n2ogb and Mudd Bug for the links. I searched everywhere trying
to find any kind of a review for the Sylvania 6900DTE STB or for the
DTA-5000 antenna to no avail.

Has any one used either the Sylvania 6900DTE set top box or the Sylvania
DTA-5000 Smart Antenna? Better yet, has any one used them both together?

Neil
Salem, MA USA

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

Antenna beam steerage in linear arrays is not something easily realized, if
at all. I would not look to find such devices available.


"Neil - Salem, MA USA" <Neil@Salem.Massachusetts.USA> wrote in message
news:UpydnZlxOsnv7qrfRVn-qQ@comcast.com...
There is a specification (CEA-909) for Smart Antennas (Antennae) which makes
it possible to steer an antenna electronically without actually rotating the
antenna physically. Late last year at least one product was announced that
would take advantage of this capability: A company named Funai announced a
set top that would include ATI's XILLION 226 and NXT2004 chips, the latter
providing support for an attached Smart Antenna. At the time they announced
it, the said that it would be available "later" in the year.

What's happening with this Smart Antenna technology? Can I actually buy
such an antenna today? Where do I buy it? Is the Funai set top box really
available? What company or companies in the U.S. are selling the Funai box,
if any?

Neil
Salem, MA USA

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

"Mudd Bug" <muddbug@cox.net> wrote in
news:1i4_d.11625$N15.6589@okepread06:

>
> "Dave Oldridge" <doldridg@leavethisoutshaw.ca> wrote in message
> news:Xns961B57A03A986doldridgsprintca@24.71.223.159...
>> "Mudd Bug" <muddbug@cox.net> wrote in
>> newsGVZd.11588$N15.8446@okepread06:
>>
>>>
>>> "Dave Oldridge" <doldridg@leavethisoutshaw.ca> wrote in message
>>> news:Xns961AD59B2EA10doldridgsprintca@24.71.223.159...
>>>> "n2ogb" <n2ogb@aol.com> wrote in
>>>> news:3385863bfca14cc8cde8c1fb08016078
>>>> @localhost.talkabouttelevision.com:
>>>>
>>>>> http://www.sylvaniaconsumerelectro [...] b/stb.html
>>>>> Funai makes the Sylvania STB with a smart antenna connector.
>>>>
>>>> Any idea what the physical dimensions of the actual antenna are? I
>>>> couldn't find them in a search.
>>>>
>>> http://www.accessoryexperts.com/An [...] enna-DTA-5
>>> 00 0.asp
>>> http://www.hififorless.com/categor [...] oryid=1192
>>
>> Nope....no dimensions in those ads.
>>
> Sorry.
> Try this one. May be the box size.
> a.. Dimensions
> 19 X 18 X 3
> http://www.dsmiller.com/html/Elect [...] Accessorie
> s-DTA-5000.htm

Thanks, that pretty much at least puts limits on it. I wonder what its
performance is like. The only UHF I can get here is Channel 14,
Vancouver BC, analog French CBC!

I get all my HDTV by satellite. But the time will come when there are
some stations around that are digital and readable and I'll probably want
an antenna out on the balcony to sort them out. Too many mountains
around here that bounce the signals.


--
Dave Oldridge+
ICQ 1800667

A false witness is worse than no witness at all.

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

Bob H wrote:
> Antenna beam steerage in linear arrays is not something easily realized, if
> at all. I would not look to find such devices available.

How about a phased array?

Bob Miller
>
>
> "Neil - Salem, MA USA" <Neil@Salem.Massachusetts.USA> wrote in message
> news:UpydnZlxOsnv7qrfRVn-qQ@comcast.com...
> There is a specification (CEA-909) for Smart Antennas (Antennae) which makes
> it possible to steer an antenna electronically without actually rotating the
> antenna physically. Late last year at least one product was announced that
> would take advantage of this capability: A company named Funai announced a
> set top that would include ATI's XILLION 226 and NXT2004 chips, the latter
> providing support for an attached Smart Antenna. At the time they announced
> it, the said that it would be available "later" in the year.
>
> What's happening with this Smart Antenna technology? Can I actually buy
> such an antenna today? Where do I buy it? Is the Funai set top box really
> available? What company or companies in the U.S. are selling the Funai box,
> if any?
>
> Neil
> Salem, MA USA
>
>
>