The time has come...

[alarson]

Here's my stupid question for the day:

How does HD over the air produce a better picture when I can't even get a semi-decent signal from network channels over the air in non-HD?

from what someone told me, cable providers cut the true OTA bitrate down, resulting in a loss of quality (still much, much better than SD, but you can tell the difference between it and OTA).. it saves a lot of bandwidth on cable providers end, allowing more hd channels to be on the system

[brianhos]

True, to an extent. The picture won't be fuzzy if it comes through, but if you get a weak signal *ahem*WOI*ahem* it will sometimes pixellate and the sound will cut in and out. Very annoying.

I don't have an amplified antenna, though, so you may not even have a problem.

An amplified antenna will probably make it worse. Those are only of use when you are way out in the fringe on a towers signals. But if you live anywhere in DSM/Ames, you will be fine with a high quality antenna.

[alarson]

Yes Jeremy you could be wrong. KDSM does have a Digital signal, and is actually one of the better ones. Most of their primetime lineup is in HD, and all of their NFL games are in HD.

yeah, makes me glad sinclair cut the cable signal... i wouldntve realized kdsm had such a good HD broadcast.

[brianhos]

from what someone told me, cable providers cut the true OTA bitrate down, resulting in a loss of quality (still much, much better than SD, but you can tell the difference between it and OTA).. it saves a lot of bandwidth on cable providers end, allowing more hd channels to be on the system

You are correct. DTV is a good example, their HD stuff is highly compressed and does not look nearly as nice as OTA.

[brianhos]

And Saturday night, after we've moved our furniture and boxes into the new pad - we'll relax in front of this magnificent machine and watch our Cyclones take on Oklahoma State - in HD - for the first time.

Sony, please be gentile with us. We're only virgins.

Is the ISU game in HD this weekend? I doubt it is, usually only the ESPN2 games are in HD. Even the KU game the other week was on ESPN, but was not in HD.

[ISUFan22]

Is the ISU game in HD this weekend? I doubt it is, usually only the ESPN2 games are in HD. Even the KU game the other week was on ESPN, but was not in HD.

So what happens when using the HD OTA antenna and something isn't in HD. It just gets sent to the HD antenna in SD?

[cydsho]

I've already purchased the antenna...here is a link to the model I've got.

Hey ISUFan22,
Congrats on the tv. It is an awesome experience. I've had mine for two months now.
About your antenna, you are spending way more than you need to, IMO. I live outside Omaha farther than Grimes is from DM. We do all our HD watchin OTA so I have tried MANY different types of antennas and research them over and over. At your distance, I would first try one of the cheapest you can find. I've tried $40 powered ones, cheaper ones from best buy, and the ones that worked the best were a basic VHF rabbit ears that came with an old TV (15 years ago) and an 40 year old rabbit ear set.
I've noticed that the "newer" indoor antennas are poor quality when compared to older ones, so if you have an old set in your closet, try that. Also, the Terk antennas aren't well spoken of among some A/V geek sites.
All antennas are "HD compatible", btw. No difference.

[brianhos]

Here's my stupid question for the day:

How does HD over the air produce a better picture when I can't even get a semi-decent signal from network channels over the air in non-HD?

Its digital, no more interference. Either it works or it does not work.

[jbhtexas]

Here's my stupid question for the day:

How does HD over the air produce a better picture when I can't even get a semi-decent signal from network channels over the air in non-HD?

This is a gross simplification, but here goes...

The HD transport stream is basically digital MPEG-2. If your tuner can pick up enough of the transport stream, the MPEG-2 decoder in your tuner will be able to create a nice big pretty picture from the data packets it receives. If some data packets get messed up along the way due to interference, they can usually be fixed because the transport stream contains error correction information for the packets. If a packet can't be fixed, it is ignored, and the decoder moves on to the next one. However, if enough of the data packets get disrupted, you will start to see noticable drop outs, and in the worst case, you will get no picture at all.

With analog TV, "interference" becomes part of the signal, and your TV tuner passes much of that interference right on to you, as it really can't tell the difference between broadcast signal and interference. There is no error correction information to correct the original broadcast signal.

In any case, it works wonderfully for me, and I get marginal analog reception at my place. However, be aware that many HD stations are presently broadcasting at low power, so you may need a good antenna to pick up their Over-The-Air broadcasts.

Also, some cable companies are reducing the bitrate of the local station transport streams before they put it out over the cable in order to cram more stations onto their cable bandwidth. Ideally, you will get the "virgin" unadulterated HD transport stream from the station's OTA broadcast.

[brianhos]

Well I assumed being it would be on WOI and they broadcast in HD that the game would be in HD as well.

Not true?

Sorry, not true. All the cyclone games are in standard def, except the rare times they are on ESPNHD.

[ISUFan22]

Hey ISUFan22,
Congrats on the tv. It is an awesome experience. I've had mine for two months now.
About your antenna, you are spending way more than you need to, IMO. I live outside Omaha farther than Grimes is from DM. We do all our HD watchin OTA so I have tried MANY different types of antennas and research them over and over. At your distance, I would first try one of the cheapest you can find. I've tried $40 powered ones, cheaper ones from best buy, and the ones that worked the best were a basic VHF rabbit ears that came with an old TV (15 years ago) and an 40 year old rabbit ear set.
I've noticed that the "newer" indoor antennas are poor quality when compared to older ones, so if you have an old set in your closet, try that. Also, the Terk antennas aren't well spoken of among some A/V geek sites.
All antennas are "HD compatible", btw. No difference.

While the website shows $60 or $70 for that antenna, I only spent $30 including shipping by purchasing it online. Thx for the info though.

[brianhos]

You are the man I need to talk to. I do have an HD DVR coming tomorrow.

Have a link to the OTA HD antenna you bought? I am assuming the one I bought won't work for that (see the link in a previous post I made)?

You antenna might work for that, it will not be as good as an outdoor or attic antenna. Here is the one I have:

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_disp...p?PROD=ANC4228

[Nedrick]

I was told I'd need an HD antenna for the locals - costing about $160. Is this right??

[brianhos]

So what happens when using the HD OTA antenna and something isn't in HD. It just gets sent to the HD antenna in SD?

Exactly. But it will look better than getting it over cable or sat. It will not be compressed like those two options.

[ISUFan22]

Exactly. But it will look better than getting it over cable or sat. It will not be compressed like those two options.

Excellent. Just wanted to have an idea when makes a difference to view locals via the antenna or DirecTV dish.

You antenna might work for that, it will not be as good as an outdoor or attic antenna. Here is the one I have:

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_disp...p?PROD=ANC4228

Yes, I am aware an outdoor antenna is best yet I didn't run a cable line for it and don't want exposed lines running through the house. My father-in-law has the same antenna I bought and it works perfectly.