HDTV Antenna

Local Digital TV (DTV) and High Definition TV (HDTV) can be received with inexpensive television antennas. Two $29 Radio Shack UHF antennas made 13 DTV including 5 HDTV channels available here. Digital television signals are nothing like the old days of wrangling with the antenna, trying to eliminate ghosts and straining to see a snowing picture. The picture is perfect or it is not there with digital TV.

The pictures below are of two houses with HDTV antennas installed in the attic. Details of the antenna selection and installation are described below.

Background

After purchasing a Sony Wega SXRD TV, TiVo Series 3 DVR and Dish Network VIP622 DVR, we were ready for some HD content. The local cable provider's HD offerings were expensive and limited. The Dish Network offered more content but the broadcast networks, NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX were not in HD. The DVRs include antenna inputs so we started the process of finding out if antennas were practical and would actually work. Memories of antenna rotors and standing on one foot while holding a rabbit ear antenna clouded the issue with doubt.

Research was started at AntennaWeb.org. Operated by the Consumer Electronics Association the website offers antenna recommendations for your location. Their site lists your local TV stations, the distance from your house, the direction to the station and the antenna reception pattern required to receive a signal. 

In our location the broadcast network stations are about 10 miles away and all in the same direction. The nearest PBS station is 30 miles away and about 90 degrees from the other stations. Two antennas would be required. 

Selection

After trying a few cheap rabbit ear type antennas and deciding there was no good location for them in the home theater room, larger outside antennas were tried. The Radio Shack Model: U-75R, Catalog #: 15-2160 was tried and it worked great. The antenna is UHF only. All our stations are UHF but some DT stations are VHF. Be sure to check Antenna Web before buying an antenna.

Installation

Exercise caution when installing TV antennas. Heed all installation warnings included with the antenna.

Digital signals are good when they work but many things can interfere with them. If they are not aimed correctly or trees or heavy rain interfere, the audio drops out first. Then the picture might freeze. Some testing is required to establish the proper location and aim. Watching the TV for a couple days will usually determine if the signal is good. Some TVs and DVRs have a signal strength meter. A signal better than 80 out of 100 seems to assure very infrequent loss of quality. Get the largest antenna you have room for. The better the signal you have in good weather, the better it will be during bad weather.

A piece of 1" EMT conduit was used to mount the antennas in the attic. A splitter used as a combiner was used to put the antennas on an RG-6 coax to the home theater location. At the home theater, a splitter provides the signal to the TiVo DVR and the Dish Network DVR. 

Usage

The picture quality is excellent with occasionally signal loss during very heavy rains. There is not a clear view to the TV towers. A bank of pine trees blocks the view and of course the attic roof diminishes the signal. Your location might require an outdoor installation.

The Dish Network DVR and the Series 3 TiVo provide program guide information for all the digital channels. 

It is interesting to note that when the Dish Network satellite reception fails, the Dish DVR prevents watching the antenna channels. That is not a problem on the TiVo however, in fact, our TiVo only has an antenna input since we don't have cable TV service.

As a media backup, a short piece of copper wire was inserted into the antenna input on the Sony TV and in good weather it receives the 10 mile digital stations with very good quality. The slightest rain however, disrupts the signal.

Digital and HDTV have revolutionized television quality. We look forward to the day when all content is HD.