If I get a hd antenna would I need to get a hd box?

Question

If I get a hd antenna do I need to get a hd box. With a normal antenna you need the the normal black or white cable and connect to the tv or a box. To get hd you need to connect the hdmi cable from the box to the tv. Can someone explain

Answer 1

It all depends on if your tv is HDTV "ready"  or it has a built-in tuner.  A good tuner costs around 150 to 300.  So, the regular RG-6 cable coming in is fine.  Hook this up to your tv if it has a tuner built in or hook it up to a seperate set top box (tuner) if it is not.  Here is a website that will shine some light on the subject for you.  It's pretty easy to follow and not too much tech talk.  

If you are planning on getting one a few things to keep in mind:  on midnight of Feb. 17, 2009 - your analog tv signal will cease to exist... so if you want to spend the money make sure you do it right.  Check your tv - built in tuner or not?  It will need it to decode the signal properly.  Be careful what antenna you buy - HDTV antennas are no different than any other antenna,  it is an antenna that is made to pick up either UHF or VHF frequencies.  Granted their are some specs that do improve an antennas HD capability, that is not the only determining factor you need to look at when purchasing an antenna.

What do I think though?  If you are going to need to pick up an HD tuner, antenna, mount, maybe run new wire, get an amp, rotator, etc.   DirecTV is always a good option also.  

Cool bit of info:  OTA (over the air) broadcasts are the only way to receive 'True' HD broadcasts.  Look it up if you don't believe me.  

After the switch from analog in '09,  certain companies are talking about turning the unused UHF frequencies into wireless broadband internet... That'd be cool!

Edit:

Weeder, check your sources, I never implied that DTV was not 'HD', just a different style if you will of HD.  Look a little further into it and actually see where DTV is getting there signal from to give you that great satellite feed.  Guess what, it's not a digital line straight from the studio...

Then read the question,  it was talking about an HD antenna, which is what I was commenting on.  I wasn't putting down your beloved DTV... I like it too ;)

"Analog Broadcast Cut Off

In 2005, the U.S. Senate passed a budget bill that calls for over-the-air television stations to cease their analog broadcasts by 2009-02-17 [3] (this cut-off date has been moved forward several times previously). Following that date, TVs and other equipment with legacy NTSC tuners would be unable to receive over-the-air broadcasts. This switch-off would cause tens of thousands of TVs to go dark and would cut off many lower-income viewers of their only source of television. Lawmakers have proposed subsidizing converter boxes that would allow people to receive the new digital broadcasts on their old TVs. Further details on the transition to digital and the converter-box subsidy are murky, and are a work-in-progress subject to the political process."

Answer 2

A couple of things,

1. Most cable companies compress the HD transmission. OTA is not compressed. The picture quality is more impressive. It is as close to true broadcast HD as you can get.

2. Transmission signals wont cease to exist after Feb 17th. It will go from analog to all digital. Use a standard uhf antenna and you will receive OTA HD the same as you do now.

If your TV has a built in HD tuner and I assume it does because you have hdmi inputs which indicates it's fairly new, connect the cable from your antenna to the TV and go HDMI from cable/sat box to the TV.

Mike

Why is it that everwhere I see "42 aka the answer to all", there are thumbs down above him and none below him?

Answer 3

I just bought a GE HD idoor antenna... you have to have a tv with HD capabilities. I refuse to pay for cable, so this was my only option. Much to my surprise, there are a very LARGE number of broadcast Digital HD Channels in my area. I get Digital HD versions of all of the major networks, plus about 17 other channels that I never knew existed!  The Superbowl came in more clearly than a cable connection could ever hope to provide... we were all blown away by the quality of this antenna:

GE JASCO 24713

Optima TV Antenna (Passive)

Item # 5099525  (www.outpost.com)

$29.95

Description:

Optima TV Antenna (Passive) Digital HDTV Ready Receives the Highest Quality HDTV Signal Revolutionary Passive Microwave Circuitry Eliminates Color Fading and the need for Constant Tuning 2-Way Signal Capture Provides Sharp Pictures Transfers more Noise-Free TV or FM Signal than any Indoor Antenna.

It comes ready to go with a pretty good length of coax and the standard connector... screws right on to the connection on the back of your tv.

This puts the quality of cable tv to shame. No more need to pay for cable with the number of channels it pulls in!!

Answer 4

i didnt know there were HD antennas.

Well usually older TV's dont have a HDMI/HD input so there wouldnt be any point in just getting the antenna if the tv dusnt have the right jacks.

You could just get a HD set top box instead of a HD antenna. Or a new TV with inbuilt HD Tuner.

Answer 5

I never heard of a HD antenna

Answer 6

In a nutshell here is the answer.

Assuming you have an HDTV you can use an antenna to pick up your local HD channels for free.  If you want HD channels like USA, TBS, HBO, etc then you will need to get a box from either your cable or Sat provider.  Either way, you will have already stepped up to the Digital signal and will not be affected by the 2009 cutover.

One last note, I have NO idea what that guy is talking about regarding "true HD".  I have DirectTV and all my HD channels are in 720p or 1080i which is as HD as anything OTA.

weeder

Answer 7

I assume your TV has the HD tuner built in, if it does then to pick your locals over the air you will need an OTA antenna , if you dont have the tuner then you need a hd box, whoever is your provider should provide you with HD

Answer 8

Get a UHF antenna. The Phillips Silver Sensor (classic) is a decent indoor antenna for about $30.

If your TV has a tuner (is NOT "HD Ready") Just run CATV coax from the antenna to the antenna-in on the TV.

Then go to the TV setup menu and have it scan for channels.

Thats about it.

Answer 9

You will need to provide a model number of the TV to see what tuner it has already. You may or may not just need an antenna, but just provide more details.