HD TV Receivers?

[Tower]

Hi Again to the Techie crowd!

I haven't had cable TV for 15 years and I won't do the Expressvu stuff either. Been running off of the rabbit ears all this time with no real problems.

Lately though, I feel I've been missing out on the HDTV experience. I know that many TV stations are now transmitting a HD signal, just need a good receiving system for it.

I'm looking at installing a tower that gives enough clearance over my roof. We don't have a bylaw or covenant that covers towers so I'm planning to grandfather my tower before a bylaw comes in.

My plan is to get a rotor with antenna and a digital receiver to pick up the HD feeds from the CN Tower and from Buffalo and a few other places.

Does anyone know where to find a HD receiver to put in line with the HD TV I'm eventually going to buy? I'm no technical person when it comes to this stuff, but I like the picture and have no real desire to pay Rogers or Bell for this feature.

 

[2wheeljunkie]

I don't think you can get an HD reciever to run over air, since the ones available are only for cable. If you new HDTV has support for HD over air then you are good to go there and you can use your RG59U connection to the TV. The only thing is do you have line of site to the CN Tower? The other thing is, if you want a clear picture I think you need to be within a 15 mile range of the tower. I would ask around if other people are doing this also.

2WJ

 

[Tower]

Thanks 2 wheel.

I've been looking at HD antennas online and they typically have a range of 50 miles. As such, I can reach the CN Tower, but still 20 miles shy of Buffalo.

Still looking at range options.

 

[Gentle Ben]

Over the air HD TV is possible, available, totally legal ,and great quality because of the frequency it's transmitted on.

 

[thirdtime]

If you buy an HDTV, get one with an ATSC tuner. Then just plug your HD antenna cable into the TV. An ATSC tuner receives over-the-air HD broadcasts.
You don't need a separate HD receiver.

 

[Tower]

If it doesn't come with the ATSC tuner, is one easy to connect to the system?

Planning on having 2 HD tvs in the future. Can the signal be split easy enough?

 

[my2cents]

First you can get ATSC/NTSC tuners seperately and Viewsonic is one company that makes them. I suggest calling around to T.V. or electronic sales places to find an ATSC tuner in Toronto. Do some online research also of types etc.
As others mentioned if you buy an HDTV with ATSC tuner built in you are good to go. Actually this would be a better choice since the price of HDTVs has dropped.
You may also want to investigate HD tuners for your computer that plug into your USB connection. I think tiger direct had some there www.tigerdirect.ca You will need a computer that matches the specs for the HD tuner if you go this route.
HD is a digital signal that can be picked up with a UHF antenna even the old style that were on tower antennas in the past work. However if your starting from scratch you can research the new HDTV antennas. Splitting the signal is possible but use high quality cable and splitters going to your antenna.
HD over the air is better than a cable signal of HD and best of all its free.

 

[l69norm]

If it doesn't come with the ATSC tuner, is one easy to connect to the system?...Planning on having 2 HD tvs in the future. Can the signal be split easy enough?

Can you even buy a new TV today without an ATSC tuner ? I thought for new:

July 1, 2005: All TVs with screen sizes over 36" must include built-in ATSC tuner
July 1, 2006: All 25-35" TVs must include ATSC DTV tuner
July 1, 2007: All of 13-24" TVs must include ATSC DTV tuner
July 1, 2007: All devices must have ATSC DTV tuner (VCR, DVD recorder, DVR)

 

[Harry_Z]

Samsung makes one for about $180 u.s. available at Best Buy. Works great.

Over the Air HD is quite common in the U.S. so you might get a lot more helpful info from the web or by visiting some u.s. HDTV dealers.