Determining OTA reception before purchase

zackangelo · 09-14-2006, 10:07 AM

I'd like to use a Series3 for OTA only (at least for a year so that I can partially subsidize the purchase by not having a cable bill). Before plunking down $800, I'd like to determine how good my OTA reception will be. I'm 15 miles or less from all the stations I'm interested in (according to AntennaWeb), but I live in an apartment complex. Is analog signal strength indicative of digital signal strength? How much more robust is digital? Are some tuners better at acquiring and keeping signals than others? If so, how good is the Series3?

Stormspace · 09-14-2006, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zackangelo

I'd like to use a Series3 for OTA only (at least for a year so that I can partially subsidize the purchase by not having a cable bill). Before plunking down $800, I'd like to determine how good my OTA reception will be. I'm 15 miles or less from all the stations I'm interested in (according to AntennaWeb), but I live in an apartment complex. Is analog signal strength indicative of digital signal strength? How much more robust is digital? Are some tuners better at acquiring and keeping signals than others? If so, how good is the Series3?

From what I understand about digital is that it is an all or nothing affair. So while an analog signal that degrades has artifacts introduced into it (snow) the digital signal will just drop out completely. Effectively this makes digital transmission distances shorter than analog.

rainwater · 09-14-2006, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormspace

From what I understand about digital is that it is an all or nothing affair. So while an analog signal that degrades has artifacts introduced into it (snow) the digital signal will just drop out completely. Effectively this makes digital transmission distances shorter than analog.

The issue with OTA digital is you will get constant skipping and picture freezing if you do not have a good connection to the station. If you have a bad connection it will just be no signal of course.

snathanb · 09-14-2006, 10:33 AM

The good part is you don't get any of the snow and noise you typically get on the lower band stations like 2,4,5 etc.

Stormspace · 09-14-2006, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rainwater

The issue with OTA digital is you will get constant skipping and picture freezing if you do not have a good connection to the station. If you have a bad connection it will just be no signal of course.

I of course forgot to mention this, but you are correct. A not good signal will cause drop outs and freezes, unlike with analog where the signal slowly degrades over distance but doesn't drop out completely until you aren't getting any signal at all.

skitime · 09-14-2006, 11:09 AM

I think you'll be suprised at the reception. I am using a radio shack outdoor antenna mounted on the roof. My analog reception was pretty fair, but after getting the new tv, the digital reception is amazing! No more interference, and some new stations as well. Antennaweb is a big help with locations, so try a couple of different antennas and see what works best for you. (can always take em back) Maybe two smaller ones and avoid the use of a rotater.

vman41 · 09-14-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormspace

I of course forgot to mention this, but you are correct. A not good signal will cause drop outs and freezes, unlike with analog where the signal slowly degrades over distance but doesn't drop out completely until you aren't getting any signal at all.

The signal is susceptible to tropological conditions and foilage, so it can be working fine one day and horribly the next, or it works great in winter but lousy when the leaves grow in.

Like the other guy said though, you might be surprised at how well a little antenna works.

Stormspace · 09-14-2006, 12:23 PM

When the digital mandate was in the works I seem to remember that the broadcasters didn't like it because the footprint for thier stations would get smaller as a result. Digital just didn't have the range of Analog, but if you were in range the picture was incredible. I think the number I heard was a 75% reduction in range, but I'm not certain. My memory is spotty.

ah30k · 09-14-2006, 12:28 PM

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

Will show your channels (along with compass directions to the towers) and reco a type of antenna.

snathanb · 09-14-2006, 12:31 PM

Just as a data point... your mileage may vary...

I live 45 miles away from the broadcast towers in Dallas. I have fairly large antenna in my attic, and I pull in every digital station in Dallas at very high signal levels. In fact, I had to install an attenator, because the signal was so strong on one channel, it was overdriving my OTA box.

zackangelo · 09-14-2006, 12:50 PM

This is slightly puzzling, because I have an antenna on top of my entertainment center and I have trouble picking up most of the analog channels and the ones that are intelligible are very snowy. That said, I guess have to experiment with some different types. The one I have now is amplified and highly directional (I think). I'll probably try using an omnidirectional this evening and see if things improve.

rainwater · 09-14-2006, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zackangelo

This is slightly puzzling, because I have an antenna on top of my entertainment center and I have trouble picking up most of the analog channels and the ones that are intelligible are very snowy. That said, I guess have to experiment with some different types. The one I have now is amplified and highly directional (I think). I'll probably try using an omnidirectional this evening and see if things improve.

I do not pick up any of my analog channels very clearly. But I get all of the major networks in perfectly clear on their digital OTA channels. There's really no way to test it until you get a TiVo or a digital tuner.

TiVoToo · 09-14-2006, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zackangelo

[snip...]I'm 15 miles or less from all the stations I'm interested in (according to AntennaWeb), but I live in an apartment complex. Is analog signal strength indicative of digital signal strength? How much more robust is digital? Are some tuners better at acquiring and keeping signals than others? If so, how good is the Series3?

At a max of 15 miles, you could use a coat hanger as an antenna, and get a good signal. The S3 tuner is very good. It's typical example of what I like to call a 3rd generation ATSC tuner. I would estimate that the 3G tuners have 2-3 times the sensitivity of the 1G tuner I started with back in 2000, and are less susceptible to dropout and multipath.

loubob57 · 09-14-2006, 03:56 PM

I'm 24 miles from the transmitters at Cedar Hill (DFW stations). I have a medium size outdoor antenna that goes through 2 4-way splitters before it hits my TV. My signal strength on most stations is reported at 98, the weakest one I think I ever saw on one of the independants was 89. So I'd agree that you could probably use a coat hanger.

zackangelo · 09-14-2006, 04:00 PM

Two years ago, I lived in an apartment roughly 24 miles from the broadcast towers and I could barely pick anything up. One maybe two stations would come in, but those would pause and freeze and lock up. This was using the terrestrial tuner found in a DirecTV receiver. It may have been that I was on the first floor of a three story apartment complex (which hasn't changed, except I'm roughly 10 miles closer now), or it may just be that Houston's broadcast towers aren't as powerful.

vman41 · 09-14-2006, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zackangelo

Two years ago, I lived in an apartment roughly 24 miles from the broadcast towers and I could barely pick anything up. One maybe two stations would come in, but those would pause and freeze and lock up. This was using the terrestrial tuner found in a DirecTV receiver. It may have been that I was on the first floor of a three story apartment complex (which hasn't changed, except I'm roughly 10 miles closer now), or it may just be that Houston's broadcast towers aren't as powerful.

2 years, few stations were operating at full power. I think everyone was required to quit diddling around and go to full power in July 2005.

TonyD79 · 09-14-2006, 07:40 PM

zackangelo, you don't say what floor you are on.

My condo is first floor and with a settop antenna I get the stations on the TV side of my condo from about 20 miles away reliably. Ones that are just a bit further I have to put an antenna on the other side.

If you have a patio or balcony that you can put a small antenna on that faces the stations, do it. Walls have a big influence on signal strength, particularly if they have plumbing or wiring in them.

smak · 09-14-2006, 09:06 PM

I'm about 15 miles from the antenna's, in an apartment building, and get excellent pictures on all channels! One is in the 60's, but it comes in good.

I'm on the top floor, and I use a silver sensor just sitting on top of my entertainment rack to get a picture!

I know where the antenna's are, and I have a clear line to them.

Unline my old place, where i was probably also 15 miles, but on the same lateral position as the antennas, with hills in the way.

-smak-