abediz
join:2002-01-10
Chicago, IL
 ·Comcast Formerly ..
| HDTV over the air in Chicago
I have this TV: »www.hdtvpub.com/viewprod.cfm/cat···T34WX50/
DirecTV HD is too expensive for a couple movie channels. I want to get locals over the air with an antenna. I can physically see the Sears Tower from my place ( 10 miles away)
has anyone done this?
Is all I need an antenna, and if so, recommendations?
Do I need any receiver or is this built into the TV? |
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
 ·AT&T Midwest
| If the TV has a HDTV receiver built-in then you should be able to get the HDTV signals from 10 miles out if you have a good outside antenna. The current HDTV signals in Chicago are relatively puny and just enough to get the FCC off the TV stations' backs so don't expect rabbit ears to work. Unfortunately it looks like your TV does not have a HDTV receiver.
The channels are:
WBBM (CBS-2), 3
WMAQ (NBC-5), 29
WLS (ABC-7), 52
WGN (9), 19
WTTW (PBS-11), 47
WFLD (Fox-32, 31
WCPX (PAX-38), 43
Several of the others have DTV assignments too but I don't think they are on-air yet.
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"Nothing fuels a good flirtation like need and anger and desperation"-Aimee Mann |
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abediz
join:2002-01-10
Chicago, IL | reply to abediz
I am like 3 miles from the Sears Tower. DO you think it is worth the OTA signal to buy a $400-$500 reciever and an Antenna?
Does DirecTV have plans for local HD channels? |
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| I doubt DTV will do HDTV for locals anytime soon.
I'm a TV Luddite, and with the dearth of programming out there in true HDTV I just can't pull the trigger myself. You are obviously more into it than I am. It might be useful to check out each network's programming schedule to find out how many are actually broadcast in HDTV and not just "ATV".
At 3 miles you should get good reception even on a cheap set-top antenna.
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"Nothing fuels a good flirtation like need and anger and desperation"-Aimee Mann
[text was edited by author 2002-11-04 21:23:50] |
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WSoxRock
Go Sox
join:2000-10-10
Lake Villa, IL
clubs: 
·Comcast
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to abediz
My uncle looked into DTV HDTV box. I believe it does get local channels in HDTV from what he was told by rep at DTV. He has DTV but just didn't want to pay for the box. He has a HDTV card on his PC. That thing is sweet! He recorded the Sox/Cub series this year that was broadcast in HDTV. Only one this year. You could see the stitching on the patches. Every blade of grass..It was unbelievable!
Once we close on our house we are getting a HDTV Wide Screen. Figure we are going to be spending a lot of time at home now..;)
Edit: BTW..Does ATT Digital cable broadcast or handle the HDTV signal? Just curious.
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If God had wanted to go around nude, He would have given us bigger hands.
[text was edited by author 2002-11-06 16:43:33] |
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abediz
join:2002-01-10
Chicago, IL
·Comcast Formerly ..
| reply to abediz
doubt it. I think DirecTV (as opposed to Digital TV or DTV) converts the signal to HD. They advertise their HD stations as HDNET, Showtime, HBO, and Discovery. This would mean less than ideal reception, but you did notice a difference as opposed to the other games on that tv?
p.s. sox suck. |
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djdanska
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Glen Ellyn, IL
clubs:
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·T-Mobile US
·A + Net
·Mediacom
·RCN CABLE
| Many parts of attbroadband offer local hdtv channels through the digital cable. It's not everywhere but worth a shot.
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»www.sonic.net/~raj/disciples/history.html |
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Suchaknight
Premium
join:2002-10-06
Houbytown | reply to WSoxRock
You said your uncle has an HDTV card in his PC and he recorded those ballgames. What did he record them to, and what did you view them on? |
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WSoxRock
Go Sox
join:2000-10-10
Lake Villa, IL
clubs:
·Comcast
·AT&T Midwest
| He has this card.
He records to his HD then burns to a DVD.
I was in Tweeter last night and was talking to salesman about getting a TV with HDTV. He said he heard ATT has a box coming out that will bring in the HDTV signal. Like HBO, Showtime, and some local channels. I plan to call cable co to find out more.
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If God had wanted to go around nude, He would have given us bigger hands. |
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djdanska
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Glen Ellyn, IL
clubs:
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·T-Mobile US
·A + Net
·Mediacom
·RCN CABLE
| they do in my area already. To see if they have it in your area, go to help.broadband.att.com, click on illinois, cable
go to the cable lineup. IF they do have them, you would see them somewhere about channel 700 but do look. otherwise call them.
--
»www.sonic.net/~raj/disciples/history.html |
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WSoxRock
Go Sox
join:2000-10-10
Lake Villa, IL
clubs:
·Comcast
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to abediz
Thanks djdanska! I'll do that. Been looking into DTV to see which is better. Cable or DTV. Guy at Tweeter made DTV sound like it had more options than cable. More for your money.
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If God had wanted to go around nude, He would have given us bigger hands. |
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djdanska
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Glen Ellyn, IL
clubs: | it doesnt look like it from the listings i saw, id give them a call.
--
»www.sonic.net/~raj/disciples/history.html |
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WSoxRock
Go Sox
join:2000-10-10
Lake Villa, IL
clubs:
·Comcast
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to abediz
Just called ATT and the guy said that will be rolling out something next year and looks like they will have a box with the decoder in it. That was all the info he had.
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If God had wanted to go around nude, He would have given us bigger hands. |
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Warzau
Premium
join:2000-10-26
Naperville, IL
clubs: | reply to abediz
Man ATT really get my goose. They said late summer....Now its next year. argh!!!. |
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WSoxRock
Go Sox
join:2000-10-10
Lake Villa, IL
clubs:
·Comcast
·AT&T Midwest
| said by Warzau  :
Man ATT really get my goose. They said late summer....Now its next year. argh!!!.
That's the same thing they've been saying about cable internet connection. It's been 3 years now.:(
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If God had wanted to go around nude, He would have given us bigger hands. |
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cybermud
join:2000-08-25
Chicago, IL
·Comcast Workplace
| reply to abediz
Have any of you guys had any good luck with antennas for regular UHF/VHF broadcasts? I am in 60607 about 1 mile west of the loop, and really want to ditch AT&T Cable...I bought a cheap RCA antenna from Best Buy, and it doesn't work too well. I was thinking about going with the Terk TV-55 mounted inside my apartment, but according to Terk, I will only find success with a roof-mounted antenna, which I can't do being on a lower floor of a multi-unit dwelling. Any experiences, good or bad, would help.
Thanks in advance... |
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| Being on a low floor that close to the Loop means you get lots of multipath reflections (ghosts), and that's pretty much unavoidable. In that situation, short of a roof or attic antenna pointed at the TV antennas (Sears, Hancock), rabbit ears work just as well. You may be able to hide them somewhere unobtrusive and run coax from them to the TV.
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It's not about having what you want, it's about wanting what you have. |
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cybermud
join:2000-08-25
Chicago, IL | Thanks for the tips. That's what I have, and I guess I will keep fooling with it. I don't think an amplifier will help, because it will also amplify the reflections, right? |
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
·AT&T Midwest
| Yup. Sometimes you can even have too much signal. RadioShack sells 6 dB attenuators you screw on the coax at the TV, which may get rid of some kinds of ghosts. Unless you are getting snowy pictures (unlikely at your location) an amplifier will just make things worse.
If you have a balcony maybe you can hide the antenna out there?
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It's not about having what you want, it's about wanting what you have. |
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cybermud
join:2000-08-25
Chicago, IL
·Comcast Workplace
| 2 comes in a little snowy regardless of antenna placement, but I can get all the other major channels snow-free. I do have a balcony that faces north, which means part of it faces east...its pretty small, though, and close enough to the ground that theft may be a problem...would you suggest putting an external antenna out there? I could probably fit one of those disc-shaped antennas from Channel Master...or the TV55 mounted up above the door... |
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