OTA better than cable

On May 21, 11:07 am, noel8 wrote:
On May 21, 10:30 am, Wes Newell wrote:



snip
The cable box doesn't receive OTA ATSC. If you want ATSC, you must have an
ATSC tuner. If your TV doesn't have one, then you can buy a standalone
ATSC box to hook to your TV (projector in your case). You could also buy a
recording device that has a built in ATSC tuner and outputs HD Like one
of the new DVD recorders. Use caution when buying a DVD recorder. Some
that receive ATSC won't ouput HD. There's also HDD recorders like the S3
Tivo or Sony. And then there's the DIY recorders where you use a PC with
ATSC tuner(s) to record OTA ATSC. This is the best choice of recorders
IMO. It's much cheaper than Tivo like devices and does a lot more. See
info below. Of course all these require a TV antenna of some kind.

Thanks to all and especially Wes Newell. I did go to those
recommended links you supplied, but for this person. rather
intimidating info. Don't know what it is all about. You mentioned a
box called DIY...where can one see this unit and price it? I'll try
google, but in the event that google doesn't help, please enter here
and I'll check later. Thanks

DIY would be Do It Yourself as in build a MythTv box likw Wes's. There
are other systems besides Myth and while I'm currently using ATI
tuners and software, I'm looking into going the Myth route. Sage TV
and BeyondTV are other possibilities as well.

GG

In article .com,
noel8 wrote:

On May 21, 9:16 am, (Cass Lewart) wrote:
noel8 ) wrote:

: I just heard on this mornings newscast technical segment that OTA
: gives better hdtv than cable...cause cable condenses its transmission.
: Of course, the closer you are to a transmitter, the better the
: reception. They make no mention of satellite reception, if they are
: condensed as well. I have a question. Apparently, one cannot get hdtv
: if their set does not have an atsc built in. My projector tv does not,
: so i have it hooked up to my cable box in order to get my hdtv...I
: guess there is no way I can just hook up my OTA directly in order to
: get hd...right? This one thing that segment ignored..they made it
: sound that all you need is an OTA and be close to the transmitter.

All recent vintage HDTVs have a built-in tuner for OTA digital reception.
If you don't have it and live within 30 miles of the transmitters it may
be worth to buy an external tuner. Reception OTA with an uncompressed
signal is superb. Checkwww.antennaweb.orgfor reception at your
location.

Cass

Well, that was my point...my projector does not have a built in
tuner...I'm forced to use my cable box, although I do have a great OTA
and live near the empire state building where it transmits. How can I
bypass that cable box is the question. I guess I can't. what is the
difference of a built in astc tuner compared to the cable box?

OTA is not a noun. It is an adjective. I'm just saying.

In article .com,
mogator88 wrote:

On May 21, 7:11 am, noel8 wrote:
I just heard on this mornings newscast technical segment that OTA
gives better hdtv than cable...cause cable condenses its transmission.

I went to a Tweeter store to compare TVs and they had a Time-Warner
cable feed. During action scenes the fast moving areas (like a moving
hand) showed as groups of blocks. It completely ruined the viewing
experience. That rarely if ever happens with OTA HD broadcasts

I think it depends on signal strength. If the cable dB drop to the
tuner is too high, you can get pretty bad pixelation, or alternatively
the signal can just drop out... depending on how the electronics are
designed to deal with the low signal. I had about 15-17 dB drop to my
set with my initial cable wiring setup, and I would get pixellation
and stuttering audio on digital channels, and dropped channels in the
analog range. I redid my wiring splits, terminated with good
compression F connectors, added 75 ohm terminators on unused drops and
added a quality amp, and now it's all beautiful. Amazing improvement

I can also get OTA signals. And I get that kind of pixelation with OTA
HD signals because I'm using a simple UHF hoop, and I really need more
antenna for some of the stations.

I was trying to switch back and forth between cable and OTA the other
day during an HD baseball broadcast that was available both ways. I
had a hard time comparing A/B because the TV takes about 2-3 seconds to
swap sources. But my gut impression was that OTA was better. Very
subjective, though.

On May 21, 5:32 pm, Steve Cutchen wrote:
In article .com,

mogator88 wrote:
On May 21, 7:11 am, noel8 wrote:
I just heard on this mornings newscast technical segment that OTA
gives better hdtv than cable...cause cable condenses its transmission.

I went to a Tweeter store to compare TVs and they had a Time-Warner
cable feed. During action scenes the fast moving areas (like a moving
hand) showed as groups of blocks. It completely ruined the viewing
experience. That rarely if ever happens with OTA HD broadcasts

I think it depends on signal strength. If the cable dB drop to the
tuner is too high, you can get pretty bad pixelation, or alternatively
the signal can just drop out... depending on how the electronics are
designed to deal with the low signal. I had about 15-17 dB drop to my
set with my initial cable wiring setup, and I would get pixellation
and stuttering audio on digital channels, and dropped channels in the
analog range. I redid my wiring splits, terminated with good
compression F connectors, added 75 ohm terminators on unused drops and
added a quality amp, and now it's all beautiful. Amazing improvement

I can also get OTA signals. And I get that kind of pixelation with OTA
HD signals because I'm using a simple UHF hoop, and I really need more
antenna for some of the stations.

I was trying to switch back and forth between cable and OTA the other
day during an HD baseball broadcast that was available both ways. I
had a hard time comparing A/B because the TV takes about 2-3 seconds to
swap sources. But my gut impression was that OTA was better. Very
subjective, though.

They were showing Lord of the Rings. The blocking was very consistent
and predictable. The same feed was going to at least 30 TV's, and the
blocking was the same on all of them, regardless of brand, size,
plasma, DLP, etc. This was from compression, and that's just the way
TWC was broadcasting the signal.

I know what you're talking about with signal issues. I get blocking
at times on a couple of OTA channels. When its the signal, the
blocking is very random, and can affect any part of the picture, and
often affects the sound too. Compression blocking is very easy to
spot. The sound is never affected and the blocking only occurs in the
fast motion parts of the picture. So with cable, even with a
"perfect" connection, you'll get blocking if the cable co. is
broadcasting it that way, which was the case in my example.

In article . com,
mogator88 wrote:

On May 21, 5:32 pm, Steve Cutchen wrote:
In article .com,

mogator88 wrote:
On May 21, 7:11 am, noel8 wrote:
I just heard on this mornings newscast technical segment that OTA
gives better hdtv than cable...cause cable condenses its transmission.

I went to a Tweeter store to compare TVs and they had a Time-Warner
cable feed. During action scenes the fast moving areas (like a moving
hand) showed as groups of blocks. It completely ruined the viewing
experience. That rarely if ever happens with OTA HD broadcasts

I think it depends on signal strength. If the cable dB drop to the
tuner is too high, you can get pretty bad pixelation, or alternatively
the signal can just drop out... depending on how the electronics are
designed to deal with the low signal. I had about 15-17 dB drop to my
set with my initial cable wiring setup, and I would get pixellation
and stuttering audio on digital channels, and dropped channels in the
analog range. I redid my wiring splits, terminated with good
compression F connectors, added 75 ohm terminators on unused drops and
added a quality amp, and now it's all beautiful. Amazing improvement

I can also get OTA signals. And I get that kind of pixelation with OTA
HD signals because I'm using a simple UHF hoop, and I really need more
antenna for some of the stations.

I was trying to switch back and forth between cable and OTA the other
day during an HD baseball broadcast that was available both ways. I
had a hard time comparing A/B because the TV takes about 2-3 seconds to
swap sources. But my gut impression was that OTA was better. Very
subjective, though.

They were showing Lord of the Rings. The blocking was very consistent
and predictable. The same feed was going to at least 30 TV's, and the
blocking was the same on all of them, regardless of brand, size,
plasma, DLP, etc. This was from compression, and that's just the way
TWC was broadcasting the signal.

I know what you're talking about with signal issues. I get blocking
at times on a couple of OTA channels. When its the signal, the
blocking is very random, and can affect any part of the picture, and
often affects the sound too.

I would agree... that's what I was talking about.

Compression blocking is very easy to
spot. The sound is never affected and the blocking only occurs in the
fast motion parts of the picture. So with cable, even with a
"perfect" connection, you'll get blocking if the cable co. is
broadcasting it that way, which was the case in my example.

bummage. I'm not sure I've seen that. Yet.

: Well, that was my point...my projector does not have a built in
: tuner...I'm forced to use my cable box, although I do have a great OTA
: and live near the empire state building where it transmits. How can I
: bypass that cable box is the question. I guess I can't. what is the
: difference of a built in astc tuner compared to the cable box?

You can not connect the cable box to an outside antenna and receive OTA
signals. I also get my HD channels from the Empire State Building. PBS has
channel 13-1 with outstanding programs. Much of the material on network TV
also comes in HD. This includes news programs and live sports events.

Cass

SoCalCommie wrote:
You can get the DTB-H260F for $179.99 at Circuit City - Crutchfield's
pricing is way out of line.

SoCalCommie

"I'm tired off those comparisons between Hitler and George W. Bush!
Hitler was a highly decorated combat veteran who won office by
majority vote!" - Jon Stewart

"Jimbo" wrote in message
...
noel8 wrote:

You will need to purchase an OTA receiver, which is a box that
connects between your TV and your antenna. You use the OTA box to
tune
in the stations that your antenna is receiving.

see:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-PvwHo5N...r&i=305DTBH260
Jim


I have dtb-h260f I get all 14 channels in st. louis.

wrote in message
t...
SoCalCommie wrote:
You can get the DTB-H260F for $179.99 at Circuit City - Crutchfield's
pricing is way out of line.

SoCalCommie

"I'm tired off those comparisons between Hitler and George W. Bush!
Hitler was a highly decorated combat veteran who won office by
majority vote!" - Jon Stewart

"Jimbo" wrote in message
...
noel8 wrote:

You will need to purchase an OTA receiver, which is a box that
connects between your TV and your antenna. You use the OTA box to
tune
in the stations that your antenna is receiving.

see:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-PvwHo5N...r&i=305DTBH260
Jim


I have dtb-h260f I get all 14 channels in st. louis.

DOH???? I have a Sharp Aquos with built in tuners for both analog and
digital OTA signals. Don't all new TV sets have that capability built in
these days?

Sam

DOH???? I have a Sharp Aquos with built in tuners for both analog and
digital OTA signals. Don't all new TV sets have that capability built in
these days?

Not yet. The rules mandate all tv's manufactured since March to have ARSC
tuners. Older tv's already in the supply pipeline can be legally sold in
retail stores until they are gone. If you want a new tv that will not become
a boat anchor in 2009, you have to shop carefully.

On May 21, 8:11 am, noel8 wrote:
I just heard on this mornings newscast technical segment that OTA
gives better hdtv than cable...cause cable condenses its transmission.
Of course, the closer you are to a transmitter, the better the
reception.

With digital, either you get it or not. There's no such thing as
"better" reception.