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General Discussion => Essentially Flyertalk => Topic started by: ew2x4 on February 27, 2010, 06:08:13 PM

Title: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: ew2x4 on February 27, 2010, 06:08:13 PM
Have any of you guys gotten fed up with cable and switched to antenna? All the stuff we watch in usually on the 4 main networks anyways, so we're gonna make the switch and save us $100 a month. Will probably help when I get laid off.
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: Duncan on February 27, 2010, 08:17:05 PM
Yes.  This one (http://www.winegarddirect.com/viewitem.asp?p=MS-1000&d=Winegard-MS-1000-Metrostar-Omnidirectional-NonAmplified-TV-Antenna-%28MS1000%29&post=).

HD over the air isn't compressed like cable/satellite.  Quality is amazing.  Just make sure you select the right one for your needs.

Go to antennaweb (http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx) to find out.
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: GetFipps on February 28, 2010, 10:00:48 AM
Have any of you guys gotten fed up with cable and switched to antenna? All the stuff we watch in usually on the 4 main networks anyways, so we're gonna make the switch and save us $100 a month. Will probably help when I get laid off.
We dropped cable back in October.  As long as you have the hd part, super.  Its the d part by itself that sucks ass.  We may have a terrible antenna/receiver box combo  :dunno:.  There is never one place you can leave the monolith antenna thingy.  Still, it was something we had to do to save money (for the same potential reason as yours, good luck and let me know when you're hiring ). 
Channel selection is ok.  There are the main networks plus PBS=3 channels w/ different programming, ion and ionlife which plays matrix revolutions every week  :confused:, qubo=nonstop kids shows my kids usually hate (spoiled on nick), and a bevy of Christian channels.
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: ew2x4 on February 28, 2010, 01:19:52 PM
We got a pretty sweet antenna. It's a flatbed omnidirectional and we can get all the channels full strength. I guess it helps the towers are on a mountain. I'll miss DVR, but not much outside of that I think. We have NBC, ABC, Fox, CBS, PBS, and about 14 mexican channels. Some channel even had deadliest catch on. No idea what it was though. Thanks for the well wishes, sir. I'll let you know when we do indeed start hiring. How are you guys doing? Is living off of unemployment as awesome as it is cracked up to be? I'm getting kind of excited to be honest.
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: pissclams on February 28, 2010, 02:02:55 PM
no such thing as an "HD antenna" just a fwiw tia.
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: GetFipps on February 28, 2010, 02:03:14 PM
We got a pretty sweet antenna. It's a flatbed omnidirectional and we can get all the channels full strength. I guess it helps the towers are on a mountain. I'll miss DVR, but not much outside of that I think. We have NBC, ABC, Fox, CBS, PBS, and about 14 mexican channels. Some channel even had deadliest catch on. No idea what it was though. Thanks for the well wishes, sir. I'll let you know when we do indeed start hiring. How are you guys doing? Is living off of unemployment as awesome as it is cracked up to be? I'm getting kind of excited to be honest.
not unemployed... yet.  Still down 20% from Dec 2008's pay w/ no foreseeable raises in the near future.  I'm the sole breadwinner, so being laid off will crush us.  Doesn't help my cause that I recently had a shouting match w/ my firm's president.  Don't do that, btw.  
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: ew2x4 on February 28, 2010, 04:46:48 PM
We got a pretty sweet antenna. It's a flatbed omnidirectional and we can get all the channels full strength. I guess it helps the towers are on a mountain. I'll miss DVR, but not much outside of that I think. We have NBC, ABC, Fox, CBS, PBS, and about 14 mexican channels. Some channel even had deadliest catch on. No idea what it was though. Thanks for the well wishes, sir. I'll let you know when we do indeed start hiring. How are you guys doing? Is living off of unemployment as awesome as it is cracked up to be? I'm getting kind of excited to be honest.
not unemployed... yet.  Still down 20% from Dec 2008's pay w/ no foreseeable raises in the near future.  I'm the sole breadwinner, so being laid off will crush us.  Doesn't help my cause that I recently had a shouting match w/ my firm's president.  Don't do that, btw. 

Sounds.... interesting. I'm down 15%, but I don't really make anything anyway, so it's not a huge amount.

Clams- there are antennas for HDTVs, though. fyi.
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: mcmwcat on March 01, 2010, 11:36:02 PM
no such thing as an "HD antenna" just a fwiw tia.

this is true.  just a btw
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: ew2x4 on March 02, 2010, 10:10:05 AM
Question- are there DVR's for OTA signals?
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: pissclams on March 02, 2010, 10:21:33 AM
Question- are there DVR's for OTA signals?
i'm sure you get that there's no need to pay a premium for what's called an HDTV antenna, unfortunately others don't.  maybe we weren't posting for your benefit.  :chainsaw:
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: ew2x4 on March 02, 2010, 11:02:55 AM
Question- are there DVR's for OTA signals?
i'm sure you get that there's no need to pay a premium for what's called an HDTV antenna, unfortunately others don't.  maybe we weren't posting for your benefit.  :chainsaw:

You don't pay a premium, since every antenna maker switched their boxes to say capable of 1080. I paid $30 for a decent flat bed amplified antenna. Time to move on, k?
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: ew2x4 on March 02, 2010, 11:05:02 AM
And the only DVR that I've found that does OTA signals is Tivo, and I'll be damned if I pay monthly for a signal that is free. I'm thinking an HTPC is the best bet.
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: pissclams on March 02, 2010, 11:37:12 AM
And the only DVR that I've found that does OTA signals is Tivo, and I'll be damned if I pay monthly for a signal that is free. I'm thinking an HTPC is the best bet.
elgato
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: pissclams on March 02, 2010, 11:37:57 AM
And the only DVR that I've found that does OTA signals is Tivo, and I'll be damned if I pay monthly for a signal that is free. I'm thinking an HTPC is the best bet.
walmart had two identical except one said HDTV on it.  it was $20, the one i bought was $11.
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: ew2x4 on March 02, 2010, 12:07:39 PM
And the only DVR that I've found that does OTA signals is Tivo, and I'll be damned if I pay monthly for a signal that is free. I'm thinking an HTPC is the best bet.
walmart had two identical except one said HDTV on it.  it was $20, the one i bought was $11.
All the ones I saw said 1080 on it. I paid extra to not have bunny ears and a flatbed style. I can't even see it.
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: pissclams on March 02, 2010, 12:23:44 PM
also, of course HTPC is the way to go.
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: Duncan on March 02, 2010, 12:51:53 PM
Yeah, you can get HD/Digital signal OTH with wire coat hangers (http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/01/maker_workshop_dtv_antenna_steadyca.html) if you want.  No such thing as a HDTV-specific antenna.

It really depends on where you are located (Urban vs. Rural) and how good of a sightline you have to the source.  I needed the $70 amplified outside version, lots of buildings and trees around me that can cause trouble.  I know someone that lives 5 miles west of me that gets great reception with an inside antenna mounted in her attic.  So it depends.

A good read on life without cable/satellite: http://gizmodo.com/5366161/life-without-cable-or-satellite-tv-is-easier-than-you-think (http://gizmodo.com/5366161/life-without-cable-or-satellite-tv-is-easier-than-you-think)

And cheap good htpc's: http://gizmodo.com/5420853/why-its-finally-time-to-get-a-home-theater-pc (http://gizmodo.com/5420853/why-its-finally-time-to-get-a-home-theater-pc)
Title: Re: HDTV Antenna?
Post by: mcmwcat on March 02, 2010, 01:43:27 PM
can anyone get cbs or fox in manhattan w/ an antenna?

in hd?