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February 16, 2009 at 7:51 am #589803
ellenaterMemberHi folks.
I am so sick of Comcast. I want to get rid of them, get an antenna, and get an HD Tivo. Am I crazy? I’ve been researching all night and am still confused. Yes, antennas confound me. I can set up a wireless network but have no idea how to go about setting up an antenna.
First, I’m wondering if anyone else is using an antenna-especially in Gatewood. Second, if so, is it possible to avoid a roof install at any cost? (Our house is in some lousy cell pocket so I’m wondering if this will even work) Third, do I need some kind of converter box, or can I go right into the TV (which is an HD plasma). It seems weird but somehow right to go with the antenna. So nerds, if you solve my antenna dilemma (sorry it was right there), I’ll bake for you the cookies of your choice (as soon as I’m over the horrible flu of death).
Thanks!
February 16, 2009 at 8:29 am #658210
cjboffoliParticipantellenater: A few years ago I briefly tried one of those powered indoor antennas (I think the maker was Terk) with my LCD flat panel TV. I was living downtown at the time and even with a line of sight to the transmitting antennas (on Queen Anne hill) the signal wasn’t very good.
The information on these things is needlessly confusing so they can get you to spend $50-$100 on a special antenna when really any antenna that is capable of receiving a signal will work. As long as your TV has a built-in tuner (which it probably does) any antenna should work. The larger problem will be trying to get a decent signal without resorting to a large, rooftop antenna. In the days of analog, you might at least get some signal, even if it was unclear or had static. But with the new digital broadcasts it all flies through the air in binary so if you don’t get a sufficient signal strength you might get nothing.
There are other options besides Comcast. You can look into Dish Network. I get my television service through the Internet. I have a high-speed DSL connection through Qwest and I have an AppleTV connected to my television. I can purchase television and movies directly through that device and watch them on my television in high-definition.
If you’ve had enough of Comcast I’m sure you can make something else work. Best of luck to you.
February 16, 2009 at 3:03 pm #658211
AnonymousInactiveStart here:
*By putting in your address, Antenna Web will tell you how far you are from a broadcast tower, what stations you should be able to receive, and what direction the tower is in location to your residence.*
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx
And maybe this article can help.
February 16, 2009 at 3:32 pm #658212
GinaParticipantSee if you can borrow a portable tv( with the pull up antenna) from someone first to see what the reception is in your area. Gatewood was one of the first areas in West Seattle to get cable for a good reason. Channel 11 was about the only station that could be received there, the others had a lot of static.
February 16, 2009 at 4:48 pm #658213
WSBKeymasterIt all depends on where you live. If you’re sunken down or there’s a larger hill in your way then you’ll have problems. Unless you live near the water tower on 35th or the very far north end of California you’ll have problems. Those areas have clean shots right at the towers on Queen Anne and First Hill. Otherwise YMMV.
February 16, 2009 at 5:24 pm #658214
HomerParticipantI live in the Admiral area so a bit closer to the city than you do but all I have is a NON-AC powered tv top antenna. I got it at Radio Shack about 5-7 years ago and it works just great. It is NOT an HD antenna as this is just a farse put on by the antenna people to make you upgrade your antenna or buy an new one when you don’t need to at all.
So, I even tried using it in my basement and it get’s all the major channels just fine with some tweaking. YES, you still to buy a DTV Converter Box even if you have this so called HD antenna as again, they do nothing different than rabbit ears will. With my DTV box and my old tv top antenna, I get all the major stations perfectly clear. I’d suggest going to Radio Shack and buying one of their $20 non-AC powered antennas to try and if not, I would upgrade to the AC powered one. The lack of cell service should have no bearing on your TV reception. Hope this helps.
February 16, 2009 at 7:18 pm #658215
ellenaterMemberThanks for the inputs! ;)
I have been on the antenna web site and on other sites. Based on reviews and on other info., it does seem like it’s virtually impossible in Gatewood. But I will try it and report back.
February 16, 2009 at 8:40 pm #658216
rockhillsMemberI live on California near Alaska Junction and use an amplified antenna on the fourth floor of my building. It works just fine and there really are quite a few options over the air. It sounds as if your TV is new enough that it has a digital tuner, so you shouldn’t need a converter box (I did.)
I received these links from my father yesterday about building your own HD antenna, that are supposedly more powerful than most amplified antennae. They claim that the configuration of the wires is optimized to pick up on the HDTV signal wavelengths. I’ve watched a couple of them but have not waded through all of them:
start with the first video. the others will help with details and overall understanding.
coat hanger hdtv antenna
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWQhlmJTMzw&feature=related
there’s a similar one using copper
better?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yue3dH4bhPM
response to coat hanger antenna
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRtl454HDE0&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGJKIjiZo60&NR=1
copper
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0m6AfR-9As&feature=related
I should add the disclaimer that I certainly haven’t built my own and don’t know anyone personally who has, although my father says he plans to– but it might give you some more possibilities.
February 16, 2009 at 8:59 pm #658217
ellenaterMemberthose are awesome, thanks! I will definitely watch them and hopefully be able to build one. That is EXACTLY what I was hoping for.
I think my TV must have a digital tuner but will have to find out for sure. I LOVE my TV. It’s been great so far.
Man I can’t wait to get rid of Comcast and start streaming form Netflix!
Wooohoooo.
February 16, 2009 at 10:58 pm #658218
B-squaredParticipanti have a roof-top antenna from way back and i’m in Seaview. i just hooked into a converter box from radio shack. my antenna is old, granted, but now, with my new converter box, i can no longer get 4 and 5 reliably. it is very annoying. even more annoying are all the religious channels that i DO get!
February 16, 2009 at 11:09 pm #658219
ellenaterMemberyou should check out the videos and the comments. especially on the first one. there are people who had old rooftop antennas that they replaced with the home made one. I’m going to try it. Can’t hurt. :)
LOL “…religious channels”. God must have a greater frequency!
February 16, 2009 at 11:14 pm #658220
rockhillsMemberAhhh, but do you get RetroTV (ch.7.2)? It’s my new fave. Actually, you did remind me that I had to move my antenna from my fireplace mantel to my window when I installed the converter box. That solved the problem and even brought in some that I hadn’t been able to tune in well pre-conversion, like 12 and 33. I imagine that’s not very helpful to you, though, since (I hope!) your roof is staying put.
February 17, 2009 at 12:38 am #658221
rockhillsMemberJust to add a little more food for thought… I went to the antennaweb site that JT posted. With my setup, I’m receiving stations in the blue-violet range for my address (but remember, I’m on the 4th floor.) Another note– most of the stations they have listed as going live on Feb 17,2009 have actually been broadcasting for several months.
February 17, 2009 at 2:46 am #658222
alki_2008ParticipantRockhills, did that antenna website say that you get 7.2? I also love that channel and do get it in my area, but the website didn’t list if for my address. It doesn’t look like any of the “.2” channels are shown on the website (like 13.2 weather).
Ellenator, if your TV has a digital tuner (as mine does)…then you may be able to get by with just a non-powered ‘rabbit ears’ antenna, which you would plug into the TV without the need for a converter box. If your area has sufficient signals, then you’ll get digital channels (ie, 7.1, 5.1, 13.2, etc). You could pick-up rabbit ears for ~$15 and see what you get, and then return them if you don’t get enough channels.
February 17, 2009 at 4:56 am #658223
rockhillsMemberGood observation, Alki2008. I didn’t pick up on that. No, it only lists the _.1 stations. Ellenator, a lot of the stations have .2s, some of them go up to .4 or I think in one case .5. The higher decimals tend to be religious or other-language programming, but not all of them. My assumption would be that if you can pick up the .1, you can pick up the others at that frequency too.
It is important to note that amplified does not equal digital reception, which does not equal high definition–you need a digital tuner or converter box to view digital broadcasts, and HD capacity on your TV to view HD. The amplified antenna just helps you pick up weaker signals, whether they are digital or analog. My antenna is three years old, but I doubt the price has changed much–I paid ~$25 for it.
The people on the YouTube links DO claim that their antennae are good for picking up weak HD signals. If you decide to build one, please let us know how it goes!
February 17, 2009 at 6:14 am #658224
ellenaterMemberI will def. let you know. I went on the Antenna site and it does look like I have a line on some signals. I think I’ll try the rabbit ears first just to see what happens. Thanks so much for all the tips! I really appreciate it. Updates coming soon.
p.s. pretty sure my TV does have the digital converter option.
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