Will OTA HD reception diminish once the leaves return?

Question

I have had cable HD for 5 years (Comcast and now FIOS). I have been pretty satisfied. One day I decided to see what OTA HD TV looked like assuming if I received it it would look similar. The only thing I had for an antenna at 10PM was the Dish 500 on the roof I wasn't using. I received 1 HD channel which was CBS. My jaw dropped when I saw the picture. I went to the internet and realized it was all about compression. I'll watch any ridiculous HD show on OTA just to see the quality of OTA. I live 20 miles from the Philadelphia towers. I am at an elevation of 650 FT. When I look out the window I can see the lights of the TV towers when the leaves are off the trees. My radio shack indoor antenna pulls in all network HD with a perfect 10. Will this diminish when the leaves come back or is my signal so strong it should overcome this?

Answer 1

The leaves will not have much of an effect on your reception.

I have been using a good old fassioned UHF/VHF roof antennae for about 6 years now and have had excellent reception for HD.

I am about 35 miles from Milwaukee and I am even hindered by the many rolling hills and valleys in my area.

I use a Tru Spec 25db amp on an OTA, and all the major networks come in perfectly.  I would imagine the worst thing you may have to do is use a signal amp/booster. BTW I get NO channels HD or otherwise without my booster. OTAs are not like satellite they do not need a direct "line of sight". radio waves for antennaes will go right through the leaves. Just like the walls of your house.

But they don't go through hills very well. That is why I have the booster.

Answer 2

All the networks broadcast at the FCC maximum allowable power (50,000 watts) and you're only 20 miles away with line-of-sight to the towers. I'd say you have nothing to worry about. Even if your signal strength drops a point or two, your picture will remain the same.

Incidentally, I have Time Warner Cable HD, DirecTV HD and OTA HD. I'll take the OTA any day too!

Answer 3

Television waves travel in straight lines rather like light rays and do not bend much around obstacles. Consequently, wherever you live, your receiving antenna should be as high as possible and in the clear, so that it gets the best direct signal.

Reflected signals, also called multipath signals, from hills, tall buildings, trees, etc, arriving at your antenna a tiny fraction of a second after the direct signal from the transmitter will affect the signal.Trees and their leaves reduce television signal strengths, and create complicated reception patterns around your antenna. Trees both attenuate and reflect radio waves, (due to the water and mosture in them). So depending on your signal strength and amount of trees and foliage you may or may not have a problem, (since you can see the towers I doubt it).

I mounted a $40 OTA antenna in my attic with trees outside my house. I still pick up 18 HD broadcast uncompressed channels from stations quite a long distance away.  I do agree the quality is definitely better and its free!

Answer 4

You will have to wait 'til the leaves return and find out. If it does weaken your HD reception, you should get the outdoor HD antennas.