October 30, 2008

Broadcast HDTV in Brooklyn

Hi - Just a follow-up on a previous post in which I promised to share my experience with getting free broadcast digital HDTV in Brooklyn. I installed a UHF antenna on the roof (this one: http://www.antennasdirect.com/DB2_Indoor_antenna.html). Fortunately there was already an old antenna pole bolted to my chimney - which made installing the antenna very easy. The antenna is connected to a Samsung HDTV tuner that I bought on Amazon for about $150. If you've got a television with a built in digital tuner you don't need to buy one. I've got the tuner hooked up to an Optoma HD70 projector - so there's no TV involved. I seem to be getting a strong signal and am able to pull in all the major broadcast channels - CBS, NBC, ABC, plus WPIX, WOR, FOX and several others including a few Spanish language stations. I'm not getting PBS. Apparently WNET will start broadcasting a strong digital signal on February 17th - so I hope to start getting it at that point. Its notable that all of the HD channels broadcast in New York are in the UHF spectrum - so you have to purchase a UHF antenna to pull them in. The old VHF ones won't do it. Also - its best to get a multi-directional antenna. Most of the broadcast towers serving New York are clustered together but a multi-directional antenna is definitely recommended. I live right across the street from Brooklyn Tech and was worried that the school might block the signals - but they're not coming from that direction so its not an issue. Note that WNET will not be broadcasting its digital signal in UHF. Per the Antennas Direct website though, UHF antennas should be able to pick it up as they pull in UHF signals as well as signals in the upper VHF spectrum - and that's where the PBS signal will be. If come Feb 17th I don't start getting PBS - I'll probably have to purchase a different antenna. We'll see what happens. For the uninitiated, digital TV is nothing like the old analog television. For one thing, you either get it or you don't - meaning it comes in crystal clear or not at all. No shadowy or grainy pictures. Also - much of it is broadcast in a 16:9 aspect ratio - so the picture is wider than what you'd see on your old analog set. The stations that come in in 720P or 1080i are stunning. I watched the World Series last night and the Phillies fans twirling those white handkerchiefs was so vivid it was psychedelic. The picture is shockingly clear. And best of all its free. So if you're trying to economize, you can start by canceling your cable or satellite subscription and installing an HD antenna. I hear indoor antennas work well also by the way. Lastly - I did have to hire someone to install some f connectors to the ends of coaxial cable. They're the screw things on the ends. It may be possible to do it yourself - but without the proper specialized tools and some experience you may want to save yourself some trouble and hire a pro. I used A Ceriello Electric on Carroll Street and felt their service and prices were both very good. Please let me know if you have any questions. I like to share information - not argue with strangers over a blog - so if you have anything constructive to add to this post - please do so. If for some reason you've decided I'm an "Asshat" or some such thing - please keep it to yourself.

Chris

Posted by fexleycb at 3:14 PM | Comments (7)

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