I want to use an OTA HD antenna...

I live in Playa Del Rey just north of the LA airport. I heard a piece on NPR where the guy screwed in his old rabbit ears to his new digital flat screen and was amazed at the digital stations he picked up.

On Monday I hooked up my FM tuner's TERK antenna ($30 anywhere) to my digital capable bedroom TV. It worked like a champ. I got 48 digital stations off the air. Many are hi-def. Lots of stations are already broadcasting a HD signal and one of their digital feeds with a non-HD signal of the same show on another digital feed (Ex: NBC is channel 4. On digital I get HD in Channel 4.1 non HD in channel 4.2 and RAW Tv-- a non edited news feed--on 4.3). What is really cool is the embedded info that shows up in the station ID window. It shows the name of the station, the name of the show and run/play times for the show and a little progress bar that indicates where you are in the broadcast, kind of like playing a You Tube video on computer.

Other stations are broadcasting seperate shows on each seperate feed. Some stations are broadcasting on digital but not sending out content (Ex: Channel 7 is ABC and they have 4 feeds my TV picks up but the screen is just black, yet the menu shows the TV getting a digital signal).

Then, I just screwed in a longish pice of coax. Worked really well on most channels with some digital breakup on a few. I think that in general if you can get your digital tuner TV to simply receive a signal with a cheap antenna the digital aspect will resolve itself. No need for big expensive attic antennas unless you live outside of town.

My TV also picks up basic cable plus all local HD and a few non local (Food Network for example) if I just split my cable signalout of my converter box from the living room.

I can't wait for "the switch." I may be able to dump the whole cable thing and save $100 a month.

Do bare in mind here when using OTA broadcast reception, as with any other source component, signal integrity is key.

The use of antennas will allow a certain level of signal strength to be realized at your location. The better the receiver, or antenna, the better the strength of signal you will realize.

In this instance of attaining 'SOURCE INFO OFF THE AIR' the more better the receiver/antenna and it's resident installation, the better the signal will be.

An example of this might be, having a $100 CDP as a source on a system valued at $35K.

OR using rabbit ears on a $3K display.

Greater attention to detail in the area of antennas for OTA use is something I'd recommend whole heartedly... as mo' is betta.

Think about it this way... if you like what you are getting with minimal effort or expense thus far, just think how much more improvement lays ahead with a bit more effort in that area? ..and a very good setup won't be enourmously expensive at any rate and likely will run under $500 if a contractor is employed. DIY installs could be less than $200 for the simple hardware. filters, lightening protection, and amps will be a little more of course.

...and your actual geographic location in proximity to the towers, and surrounding edifices or landscape will dictate much of your needs.

the hidden benefit here, if greater attention is paid to the OTA antenna upgrade is accomplished, is for the radio enthusiast. your AM/FM reception will improve dramatically too. In essence, you kill two birds with one stone.

I'm close to downtown and the landscape is pretty flat. Exactly what do I need for an average rooftop installation? THe signal would be split to four TV's.

Tabl10s

Each spot for erecting an antenna is different. As is most installations… such as in your case, dumping the signal into 4 sets with very good to excellent reception at each set being the desired result.

NOTE: Deed restricted communities usually do not allow external antennas. Check to make sure.

My bet is that your’s is going to need a signal amp following the antenna as close as possible to it… perhaps in the attic or where ever the coax first enters the house and power can be fouhnd.

First off with antennas the rule of thumb is “big and tall”. The taller and the larger the ant, the better the chance of gaining greater reception. Circumstances and good sense makes most of the choices for us in these regards.

This website will be of immense benefit for location, direction, and possible height of your installation.

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

it supplies many good tips too as to positioning and so forth.

A few phone calls to the locally aired stations will find out for you, the towers site for each of them. If most or all of them are in the same general compass direction away from you, that’s a good thing. One element with many vanes on it will likely be very suitable.

The Height of the element (arrow like pointy thing) is determined by adjacent structures and distance of the tower sites away from your own residence. A little overkill here is a good thing… not a lot of overkill mind you, but surely some.

Piggy back, (two element) antennas are for pointing towards two general compass directions which do not line up… ex. NE & SE.

If the towers in your area are scattered about and in no specific general area away from your home, a remote controlled, self-powered, rotating single element will be more applicable. This sort I alluded to earlier. It will point directly to the compass direction of the distant tower and allow more focus, and reduce ghosting. The configuration of the element’s vanes also will inhibit collateral vague images from being introduced onto the display.

A little overkill here in selecting the element isn’t a bad thought, given the effort in erecting your antenna… as skimping will only mean having to redo it all over again. … and antenna elements, by and large, aren’t costly. I’d like to recommend one or two but some research on your part in respect to the newer technology here will further improve your situation.

Tip: Call a couple aerial installation contractors and ask what they routinely use or recommend for your particular effort.

Fortify the support for the aerial if strong winds are common in your area too as it takes less to wiggle or move an antenna well up into the air, than one set lower..

Signal amps vary too. Static amps, powered amps, differing amounts of gain, etc. Most get rated in db. Every split, and/or connection in the signal cable line introduces loss. From 1 – 4db… depending upon how well done the splice or splitter being used is done or constructed. Couplings, splitters and connectors all induce loss, and why you’ll want to overcome this overall loss up front by putting the amplifier in front of all these subsequent connections, thereby amplifying as pure a signal immediately as possible.

We all know the advantages of using good amps. Some are gbetter than others and in this case those powered ones are far better. Many have filters in them as well and fine tuning abilities. Some Googling is in order here.

The Length of the overall amount of cable plays into this as well, though not as significantly. Plan out the coax circuit and just figure on -3db for every coupling, connector, or splitter, and you should be in good shape.

Be mindful too of weather proofing exterior connections, and electrical grounding. Another thought here is to consider the use of a grounding transformer placed inline with the coax to inhibit or eliminate a possible ground loop situation. Run the coax well away from any exposed romex in the attic… if there.

It may sound like a lot and quite involved, but it really isn’t. Do your resident research area specific info, buy accordingly, and in one morning or afternoon, you’ll wind up pretty happy when you see the on screen results.

Good luck.,