# OTA HDTV? Antennas? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [July 8, 2008, 5:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180 "2008-07-08T05:36:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr.Stevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 5:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/1 "2008-07-08T05:36:41Z")
I should be getting my new new tuner card in the mail today and want to use it to watch OTA HDTV. How is the signal strength in this area? What stations can you pick up (any Canadian)? and what kind of antenna should I be using? I know they make HD antennas but I recall hearing that you can just use a regular UHF antenna too, right? Right now, my standard TV is using a regular antenna and I BARELY get channel 2 to tune in but the rest seem to tune in fine… a little static but not too bad. Are there ways to amplify the signal? Any help is appreciated. edit: and the card I bought supports up to 1080i, if I’m running 1080p, is it a problem? ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 5:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/2 "2008-07-08T05:48:31Z")
Not sure about out there in east bajesus where you are, but after trying several different antennas in Williamsville the best I found was a DB4. Start reading on various HD forums and that’s the one people rave about for HD locals. I can’t pull in any Canadian HD stuff with it mounted in my attic though. [www.antennaweb.org](http://www.antennaweb.org) Plug in your zip and it will tell you what stations are around and how good of an antenna you’ll need to get them. I could get all the locals (NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, PBS and something else) with just rabbit ears but I’d have to aim them differently depending on the channel. After some trial and error with the DB4’s aiming I was able to find a sweet spot where it would pull in all of the channels without needing to be adjusted. Then Dish Network added Buffalo HD locals and now I only OTA when I need the extra tuner to DVR something. I think it was bigairskier who had a big roof mount antenna that would let him get CBC HD out of Toronto. ---
**Author:** ![BuickGN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/buickgn/32/7200_2.png) [@BuickGN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BuickGN)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 6:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/3 "2008-07-08T06:38:57Z")
I have a DB4 also. But a simple indoor antenna will work just fine steve, the towers are in grand island and alden i believe, i have to check but i believe its alden. Check antennaweb like Jay said and you should be all set. [http://www.hdtvpub.com/local/localarea.cfm](http://www.hdtvpub.com/local/localarea.cfm) also a great site for OTA stuff ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 6:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/4 "2008-07-08T06:45:18Z")
I’m 99% sure I have a Philips Silver Sensor that I’d sell you for $20 if you want it. That’s the indoor one I see recommended a lot. It worked well for me, but not as good as the DB4. If you’re interested let me know and I’ll make sure I still have it. I believe it’s sitting right at the top of the attic stairs in the garage. ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/5 "2008-07-08T07:01:35Z")
I’ve rocked a pair of Silver Sensor type antenna for a couple of years. Minimum signal strength into a Dish 622 was ~90. Uncompressed OTA \> \* ---
**Author:** ![BuickGN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/buickgn/32/7200_2.png) [@BuickGN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BuickGN)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:07am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/6 "2008-07-08T07:07:31Z")
I also have an indoor one im using now for CBS, works well, same as u guys silver sensor type. ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/7 "2008-07-08T07:14:59Z")
sorry, just reread the OP. I get 2, 4, 7, 29, 49, & the PBSes… no canadia. I have both in the attic, one towards GI, one towards South Bflo. Use a high bandwidth splitter / combiner and I never have to adjust either of the antennae. You shouldn’t be getting “static”… if you are, you’re not on HDOTA. It’s either all or nothing. If your tuner card takes a RG6 input, then just run the line right to it and capture 1080i OTA. I can’t speak to cathching CBC or the like… I haven’t tried that hard. ---
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/8 "2008-07-08T07:21:54Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > Then Dish Network added Buffalo HD locals and now I only OTA when I need the extra tuner to DVR something. Is 7 in HD on Dish yet? I haven’t even checked since TV is pretty much useless for the next 3 months. ---
**Author:** ![9c1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/9c1/32/7392_2.png) [@9c1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/9c1)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/9 "2008-07-08T07:26:19Z")
> [@BuickGN](#): > > I also have an indoor one im using now for CBS, works well, same as u guys silver sensor type. If you have DirecTV, you don’t need the antenna cause CBS is in HD now. I have an old set of rabbit ears and I get all locals in crystal clear HD. My buddy went to Best Buy and bought some fancy new antenna and it can’t pull stations for shit. ---
**Author:** ![BuickGN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/buickgn/32/7200_2.png) [@BuickGN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BuickGN)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:28am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/10 "2008-07-08T07:28:11Z")
since when is cbs in HD, shit i have to check that, last i checked they still didnt recieve approval from lin broadcasting. fuck lol ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Stevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/11 "2008-07-08T07:29:16Z")
cool, thanks peeps :tup: I’ll try my regular antenna first. Jay, I may take you up on the offer though. > [@Nikuk](#): > > You shouldn’t be getting “static”… if you are, you’re not on HDOTA. It’s either all or nothing. > > If your tuner card takes a RG6 input, then just run the line right to it and capture 1080i OTA. > > I can’t speak to cathching CBC or the like… I haven’t tried that hard. yeah, my bad I meant that standard SDTV gets fuzzy with ch 2. what kind of input is rg6? it’s the hauppauge 1800 ([Hauppauge | Page Not Found](http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_hvr1800.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/12 "2008-07-08T07:32:07Z")
Regular coax cable. RG6 = 3gb bandwidth where as the old RG58 & RG59 is less bandwidth. By that link it looks like it does accept coax. :tup: ---
**Author:** ![BuickGN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/buickgn/32/7200_2.png) [@BuickGN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BuickGN)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/13 "2008-07-08T07:32:10Z")
> [@9c1](#): > > If you have DirecTV, you don’t need the antenna cause CBS is in HD now. > > I have an old set of rabbit ears and I get all locals in crystal clear HD. My buddy went to Best Buy and bought some fancy new antenna and it can’t pull stations for shit. woohoo, fuck i should read up on this more, thanks man, now i can ditch my antenna… steve i have 2 antennas for sale now lol ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/14 "2008-07-08T07:34:50Z")
> [@9c1](#): > > I have an old set of rabbit ears and I get all locals in crystal clear HD. When I first got my HD set a couple years ago, I hooked up a pair of $1.XX rabbit ears and i was able to get most of the HD OTA, but with min signal, and I’d have to change the aiming to get diff channels. I lol’d my ass off that I had rabbitt ears hooked to a $3k tv, but they do work. Worth a shot, and if you don’t get everything, the silver sensor style antenna is only $20 - $30 beans. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/15 "2008-07-08T07:55:55Z")
> [@Joe](#): > > Is 7 in HD on Dish yet? I haven’t even checked since TV is pretty much useless for the next 3 months. I don’t think so, but I don’t watch anything on 7 so I don’t check very often. > [@Nikuk](#): > > When I first got my HD set a couple years ago, I hooked up a pair of $1.XX rabbit ears and i was able to get most of the HD OTA I lol’d my ass off that I had rabbitt ears hooked to a $3k tv, but they do work. Did the same thing. Something geeky funny about going back what most of us consider 1950’s technology to get the least compressed HD picture. Cool idea with using mulitple silver sensors aimed different directions and a combiner. I didn’t even realize that was possible. ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/16 "2008-07-08T07:59:06Z")
Been working that way for almost 2 yrs. Set em both up with a compass. Short run to the combiner. Single run to a 4way splitter in my data box. Runs from there to each tv (or poss) tv location. All RG6 & high bandwidth barrels / couplers - almost nil signal loss. I need to post a pic of my “structured” wiring box one of these days. ---
**Author:** ![9c1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/9c1/32/7392_2.png) [@9c1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/9c1)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 8:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/17 "2008-07-08T08:10:35Z")
> [@BuickGN](#): > > since when is cbs in HD, shit i have to check that, last i checked they still didnt recieve approval from lin broadcasting. > > fuck lol It happened a few weeks ago. I was watching the news on channel 4 and they said that DTV was now carrying the HD signal. Sure enough, I got home and there it was. ---
**Author:** ![BuickGN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/buickgn/32/7200_2.png) [@BuickGN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BuickGN)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 8:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/18 "2008-07-08T08:14:36Z")
nice, 1 less wire to run. ill have to compare it to OTA tho, if its much worse ill stick with the antenna, but i doubt it will be. ---
**Author:** ![Carbonfiberhooded](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/carbonfiberhooded/32/7608_2.png) [@Carbonfiberhooded](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Carbonfiberhooded)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 8:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/19 "2008-07-08T08:31:58Z")
If you want the Canadian HDs, your best bet is to go big with a rotor. An antenna with 50+ elements should work great. I put a 30 element with a rotor at my parent’s house in Cheektowaga and they can pull in Canadian HD, but the signal is a little low. An amp might correct the problem, I just haven’t tried it yet. ---
**Author:** ![BuickGN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/buickgn/32/7200_2.png) [@BuickGN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BuickGN)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 8:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180/20 "2008-07-08T08:33:38Z")
a DB 8 would work also [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/ota-hdtv-antennas/51180.md?page=2)