Clever Marketers Want You To Believe You Need Cable/Satellite for HDTV: But It's Not True.

[The Cleaner]

This is seldom reported in the media, but when you purchase a new HDTV, you don't need to get coaxed into buying a cable or satellite subscription. All you need is a digital antenna, which you can purchase at various electronics stores. In fact Radio Shack has 'em:

http://www.radioshack.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2032189&cp=2032057.2032187

Anyway, just don't be fooled into thinking you MUST get cable or satellite to enjoy your new HDTV.

[Darkseid69]

1. But you only get local channels..

"If you want high definition channels, but don’t want the cable or satellite bill that usually comes with them, then an HD antenna is a great alternative. Of course, you won’t have the increased channel selection that you get with a subscription service, but you will get all major network stations delivered to your TV set in pristine high definition quality."

I need my Cartoon Network and Nicktoons

[The Cleaner]

2. It's like free basic cable with an antenna.

Local channels in HDTV so long as the channels air in HDTV. For example here in Dallas ABC WFAA Channel 8 is the first station to air via HDTV transmission. The other local channels do not air in HDTV yet to my knowledge.

The antenna route is a good option for people who want to save money or who don't really care about cable/satellite programming.

But those Nicktoons...I gather they are addictive! And personally I would enjoy CNN, CNN Headline News, Weather Channel, Discovery, CSPAN, National Geographic, etc. We don't have cable/satellite right now but I'm kind of afraid to get it because I probably wouldn't get my fat butt up off this couch if I did.

[Dr.Phool]

3. I have Dish Network

They don't carry my local Tampa Bay channels in HD. So, I bought a Terk HD antenna at Best Buy, and I pick up everything local in HD except our local Fox affiliate. I also get a lot of Extra HD channels. We have 3 PBS channels and each of them have multiple channels broadcasting in HD that Dish doesn't carry at all.

I think if I buy a amplifier, I'll be able to pick up the Fox affiliate. Gotta watch "24".

[peacetalksforall]

4. A must for me is FSTV, LINK, CSPAN - what's the minimum a

person can get to see them? Thanks for informaton on HDTV - I didn't know anything.

[tkmorris]

5. With Dish Network

All of those are available with the most basic package, which costs $29.99 per month. The last time I checked FSTV was unavailable on DirecTV at any price.

Edited to add that this applies only to normal resolution broadcasts. I don't believe any of these channels are available in HD. A channel must be broadcast in HD for you to see it in HD, and most secondary cable/satellite channels are not.

[watrwefitinfor]

6. $29.99? My god that's 3% of my income.

If I got that I'd have to give up something, like my monthly tank of gasoline, or food for a week.

That's why I'll keep on missing Olbermann and The Daily Show, and need you guys to keep on posting about what they're saying and reporting on.

Wat

[The Cleaner]

7. Right -

A channel has to be broadcast in HD for you to see it in HD.

With Dish Network, I believe you have to pay extra for the secondary HD channels - although if your local station broadcasts in HD you will see it in HD. But certainly it's not like if you purchase a new HDTV and get Dish Network you'll instantly be watching all-HD. At least not yet - that is still at least a couple of years down the road.

[papau]

8. Over the air HD digital in Tampa via rabbit ears works - why do we need "digital antenna" ? n/t

n/t

[davepdx]

10. UHF antenna is needed currently but that will change

A UHF antenna is needed until the transition period to digital transmission ends. I don't remember the date in 2009, but after the transition period ends some TV stations will switch back to VHF while others will stay UHF.

The big difference between digital TV and analog TV is that when the signal got weak, the picture faded. With digital transmissions, if the signal strength drops you don't get any picture. Digital TV is all or none when it comes to your picture. The digital signal is problematic in that it can bounce off buildings and hills and you end up with a type of interference that causes dropouts. Highly directional antennas help this situation. Check out antennaweb.org for help in determining what type of antenna you need for your specific location.

[papau]

12. True as to direction - a 30 arc needed - but 10 year old rabbit w/hoop works fine n/t

n/t

[The Cleaner]

14. You are not getting that station in HD then.

You are receiving that signal via analog signals. A digital antenna specifically receives digital, versus the old analog, signals. Since all stations will continue to air in analog, with some already airing in digital, you can pick up the signal via old analog rabbit ears antenna. However, if you want to see the station in full HD, you need to purchase a digital antenna.

REMEMBER: In January 2009, ALL stations will be DIGITAL-ONLY. The Feds are buying up the analog bandwidth. Thus everyone will be forced to purchase HD-ready TVs or else purchase set-top box converters.

[Justice Is Comin]

9. Actually I think the quality of signal

is even higher than satellite or cable, with a simple antenna. The signal is never compressed at any point, it is pure.

What I'm trying to decide is which high def set to be thinking about. And the prices seem to be falling every week.

It looks to me like Samsung is the obvious choice.

[The Cleaner]

15. The other day I went to Sams Club and fell in love with

the "Vizio." That HDTV had crisp, colorful display and although inexpensive, got good reviews over at CNET. The only thing that seemed to be negative was "color saturation" and lighter blacks.

The 37" model I saw at Sams was running for only $800.

[3waygeek]

11. Note, however that most of the

new digital TV frequencies are UHF, which has less range than the old VHF channels. www.antennaweb.org is a good resource for determining your antenna needs.

[ncteechur]

13. There are several places on the web that show you how to build your own

HD antenna. Cheap!!!