OK Dead, more questions,

I see you say OTA, can you give me the specific's?

-How far away from the broadcast antenna's are you?
-Which antenna did you use?
-Did you use any sort of amplifier on it?

Next week will likely order my Dishnetwork HD Receiver. And IF I got to pay a tech to install it, I might as well have an OTA antenna set up.

I'm typical and want to mount it in the attic. I'm right at 30 miles from the broadcast antennas and they all are on the same hill. Sooo I think I SHOULD be able to make an attic antenna work. The question becomes do I get one of those typical "yogi" style antenna's and fight with the size, or try something smaller? While I usually order everything on-line, think I will buy this local so if I don't like it I can exhange in an hour instead of a week.

Yea, I've been reading a lot over at AVS and some of the other sites. I know that "bigger is better", "higher is better" and "outside is better", but only being 30 miles away and very directional, I think I can make it work. Plus if I can put it in the attic above my HT room, then it will litererally be just a 10-15 foot run to my receiver.

antennaweb.org

Put in your info there to see what kind of antenna is recommended for your spot. Look at the direction of the transmission antennas and decide if the terrain will cause any problems for you, if so try bumping up to a slightly bigger or higher antenna than recommended.

At 30 miles you ought to be able to get one of the smaller antennas that can easily attach to your dish's pole. Maybe even without an amp if the terrain/buildings are not in the way.

Yea, I have done that. I'm trying to go attic for now as the only think I got that will even show HD is my X-1, so I want it close to that room. I'm just wondering if I need to go with one of those "typical" antennas or if a square shooter or one of those would work. According to the antenna web thing, it looks like I'm at the upper end of short range and lower end of mid range. And since all antennas are on the same hill directional would be fine/best.

Course if I did add an OTA antenna to my dish, and it worked, then I would be "future proofed" for when I get a HD TV in my living room or bedroom.

Hey Spiky,

Something I just thought of, assuming I get a Dish Network HD receiver, how would that work hooked up through my stand alone Tivo? I understand I would not be able to record in HD, but even just watching "live tv" would no longer be in HD, would it?

My kids use the Tivo a lot. I would hate to yank it out, but I could. If I got a seperate non Dish HD STB for OTA HD and hooked that in my HT Receiver with component switching, then I could still run the Dish Network SD receiver through the TV and through a HT receiver's component switching. Then could just switch between the two on the receiver???? Does that sound right? Loose to much quality? Hummm had not thought about hook up.....

You wouldn't be able to run HD through the Tivo, anyway. Wrong inputs. So run the component or digital video (for HD) to the TV and the Svideo to the Tivo for recording. I don't know about Dish receivers, you'll have to check to see if they have simultaneous SD/HD output.

EX: My HDTivo receiver has simultaneous output only if you set it into 480i output. I use this occasionally to record to DVD-R.

I'm not sure why you would need another HD box, the Dish box should do OTA. If you want to record Dish channels on the Tivo, another SD box would be the best bet. Don't you already have that? But it will cost another $5/month.

Honestly, I don't know WHAT I want! Well not true, I really want to watch my beloved Cowboys in HD this fall, and have a huge SB party in January and watch the game in HD. While not big into TV, most every one of the few shows I like to watch is broadcast in HD (CSI, for example).

I do not care about recording in HD.

I currently have a Toshiba Tivo/Progressive Scan DVD player. I don't have to keep it in the mix, but would like to. Again not caring if I can record in HD or not.

Yes, I already have a Dish Network SD receiver. I was going to move that into another room, but wouldn't have to.

The only thing I have runing to my X-1 is component cables and a single video cable. I would prefer NOT to run any more, though I suppose I could.

Right now I have a pretty simple set up. The Dish Network SD receiver goes into my Tivo via S-video (highest quality connection on the DN receiver). Then I have the Tivo/DVD player hooked to my X-1 via components.

I need a new receiver so thought I pick one up that did component switching and then I could use that to switch between everything (well I think I would only have two sources, HD and SD w/Tivo/DVD player.).

Again, I just now started to think about hook up. So if I get a Dish Network HD box, then I need to hope it does output with component and S-video at the same time. If I get get a seperate HD receiver, then it really doesn't matter.

EDIT: After looking it does appear that the Dish Network 811 HD receiver DOES output to both component and s-video at the same time. If that is the case then I should have two sources correct:

1) Component HD
2) SD thru s-video to tivo/dvd player

However, unless I want to run more wires I need a switching box of some sort or a HT Receiver that has component switching. What do you think? And I see some of the lower end H/K have "only" 30-35 Mhz component switching, while starting with the mid range ones they have 50 Mhz component switching. Seem even the lower end Onkyo (502/503) have 50 Mhz component switching. Does it make that much of a difference?

That's probably the best bet for now, with what you want. Just add the HD receiver to what you have now. With some sort of switching.

If you ever keep stuff on DVD, downrezzed HD copied to DVD-R tends to look a bit better than straight SD recorded on DVD-R. So you might prefer to record from the HD receiver at some point, even though it won't be in HD res.

EDIT: After looking it does appear that the Dish Network 811 HD receiver DOES output to both component and s-video at the same time. If that is the case then I should have two sources correct?:

1) Component HD
2) SD thru s-video to tivo/dvd player

However, unless I want to run more wires I need a switching box of some sort or a HT Receiver that has component switching. What do you think? And I see some of the lower end H/K have "only" 30-35 Mhz component switching, while starting with the mid range ones they have 50 Mhz component switching. Seems even the lower end Onkyo (502/503) have 50 Mhz component switching. Does it make that much of a difference?

I don't know. Some people say yes, others say no. I've never compared my Onkyo to anything else. In fact, I just started using it a month or 2 ago. It always claimed to be able to handle HD bandwidth, but I'm not sure of the speed rating anymore.

This was a huge discussion topic a few years ago. Some claim 35MHz is enough for HD bandwidth, others say 50, still others claim over 100 is necessary.

Which Onkyo did you get and how do you like it? You can really get those at a discount, especially the refurbished. I saw a refurb'd 502 @ ecost for like $165. But, I really love my H/K in my living room (I can't switch it is a couple of years old and does not have component switching. Plus I want 6.1)...humm I know, I know, either is a huge step above the POS Sony I got.

I have the 898 from a couple years ago, current model is the 902, I think. Got a great deal since Circuit City is generally stupid. But mine, for component switching, is probably about comparable to the low end models today. Electronics is a bizarre marketplace. The only thing now where there is a distinction between Onkyo's mid-range and low-range is usually number of inputs, amp capabilities, DAC capabilities, and then a couple less-used features. Oh, and build quality....maybe.

I love it. The DACs are better than most products, although I like two of my sources better. It is 7.1, and I am finally running all 8 speakers. Here is my equipment thread, both the HT and the thread are a work in progress. The amp rating is like most in the under-$4000 group, a pack of lies. But at least it is detailed lies, so I know how to translate. And my Klipsch speakers make the most of any amp, so it is plenty powerful at the moment. The usability is great, menus could be a bit better but no serious complaints. I'd like a few more features, but they are really only available on high end stuff: better crossover choices and tuning, stuff like that.

In the coming years I will replace this with a preamp and amp, but I'm happy enough with the 898 to start with either side and go slow. Probably used market for amps, and some spiffy new preamp with the latest technology sometime in the future. Definitely will need HDMI switching sometime soon. With this method I can buy better stuff than I can afford all at once.

Nice looking set up. When I was in high school/early college I worked at the highest end audio store in all of Dallas/Ft Worth. I use to deliver the Klipsch Cornwalls and Cornerhorns all the time!

Well I last night I won an auction for a Voom, got it for right at $100 shipped and it even comes with one of those small Windgard antenna's. The guy didn't have a lot of feedback which makes me a little nervous, but figured it was worth a shot. He did clearly state that it would pick up signal's "in your area" so I'm assuming it has the most current FW and will "search for channels".



Course the bad part is I also got an e-mail yesterday and I have to go work in Florida. Should only be for a couple of weeks, but now won't be able to test it out when it comes in. Bummer...

I think that Spiky already covered the most important questions, but since I finally notice this post I'll go ahead and reply.

According to AntennaWeb, I'm 15-30 miles from the stations I wanted to pick up. Since I was trying to go cheap, I went with the $25 Philips Mant410 antenna. According to the specs on the Wal-Mart website, it "Features 45db amplified tuning". The reality is that the amplification didn't seem to make much difference in my situation.

When I tried the antenna in my walk-out basement on the underground side, I could pick up from one of the transmitters. By moving the antenna to the other side of the room, I could pick up two transmitters and about five channels. By moving it into the sunroom (as far as it could go without being outside), I got three or four transmitters and about eight channels. These came in pretty well, even though the antenna was aimed directly into the dozens of trees that occupy our back yard. IIRC, this got me CBS, NBC, ABC, UPN, WB and a couple of low interest "others".

What it didn't get me was FOX, which made a big difference to me. The problem is that the FOX transmitter is on the exact opposite side of the house. I suspect that if I were willing to go to the trouble of doing an attic or outdoor install that OTA would have satisfied my every need. My personal requirements for adding HD were that it be cheap and easy though. For me, the hassle factor of spending a day in the attic or on the roof couldn't compete with the ease of contacting the cable company. So, I'll start playing with a new Comcast box next week, which I hope will do a good job of meeting all of my needs.

Cool, thanks for the info. And that is why I'm kind of excited that the Voom box I got is coming with a small antenna. So I should be able do exactly what you did, walk around and see where I get the best signal. I hope to be able to mount in the attic just about my HT room. This will make the install quick, easy and neat.

Unlike you, for me all major stations are on the exact same hill right at 30 miles from me. Nothing really close to me to block anything, so who knows the antenna that is coming might just work. It is rated up to 50 miles.

Of course now got to find a deal on a receiver so I can use it for switching....

I have that precise antenna, Sdallnct, seems to work great although I'm pretty close so I can't guarantee much with my experience. I'm at 10-12 miles so I didn't even bother with the amp.

Dead, if you get an antenna like the one he pictured it would work for you. Even though it is directional, it turns out it is actually essentially bi-directional. It can receive from both directions, 180 deg apart, because of the design. There are several like that. There are also multidirectional, but they tend to be a little pricier, IIRC.

This seems a place to put it....

This weekend I got my ND 2x filter and installed it. Wonderful! My PJ has been plenty bright, but I can't just look at it and say, "that's bright enough" or "that's too bright", since I don't have the experience or eye for it. But apparently mine was too bright, because it is still bright as it can be, but the blacks are MUCH improved. Neo's coat is no longer grey. And with less wash-out there is more detail. RBE is down a bit too. I'm wondering if I can go with an 4x filter, I might try getting a 2nd 2x to add to it.

Also, somebody found the way into the service menu last week. So we discovered that our 5x color wheel is factory set by Toshiba to 4x! How's that for a kick in the head? The BenQ version is set to 5x. Mine is now set to 5x. It's actually got a 6x setting, but that doesn't seem to do anything useful as the sync gets off.

Interesting. Does your lens accept a screw in filter or did you have to mount something in front of the lens? I don't think my X-1 would benefit from a ND filter, tho I have turned down the brightness quite a bit.

Since I have got a HD OTA receiver on the way, I have stepped up my search for a new HT Receiver so I can use it as a switch box. So far I got on my short list,

H/K AVR 135
Onkyo 503

I love the sound quality of the H/K I bought for my living room. And for whatever reason this lowest end H/K has 50 Mhz component switchting (there next few models up do not). The Onkyo has 3 component inputs which is nice, but not really sure I need three, so I'm leaning towards the H/K.

It doesn't seem to be a standard threading on the lens like a photo lens would have, but I am able to screw the filter to it. I've been playing with the service menu and the filter, trying to figure out what looks best. I just sat there watching with one eye for awhile, checking each scene with and without the filter like an optometrist. Definitely like the blacks with the filter, and it doesn't harm the other colors.

The X1 isn't the brightest, but not the dimmest either. If you have turned bright down quite a bit, you may easily be able to do such a filter.

Another thing that I will most likely try is a color correcting filter. The red is weak in the Toshiba and always has far higher gain settings, so adding a red filter has eased calibration and improved contrast for those that have tested it. A german company called Cine4home.de does some amazing reviews of many PJs, including recommending color filters for each model. They did the 4805, but I don't see one for the X1.

HK makes great amps, that is the best reason to look at their receivers. Onkyos are back to being halfway decent at the low end, like they were 20 years ago. I'll bet the HK sounds better, but the Onkyo is easier to use and better looking, although that is VERY subjective. Audio quality would be most important in my book.

Exactly. I know this lowest end H/K lacks some features and has limited inputs (and some would say limited power, it won't be a problem in my smallish media room). But I'm so impressed with the sound quality of the H/K I got for the living room (a very low end discountinued model), I'm really leaning towards the H/K. And I have the exact same speakers in both my media room and living room, so there is no reason to think it wouldn't work well with those speakers.

Well settled on the H/K and got it on the way (well probably be shipped early next week).

http://www.harmankardon.com/product_...%20135&sType=C

I'm happy it has the 50 MHz component switching and is 6.1 (I already have the 6th speaker up). Sure even tho I know it is a "powerful" real world 40 watts, do wish it had a little more power. But, the H/K I have in the living room is "only" 40 watts and gets plenty loud in a huge room (roughly 40' X 25 X 10) and much more power then a POS Sony I had rated at 100 watts. So I don't think I will have any issues in my smallish media room (15 X 12 X 8). I could have moved up to the mid-level H/K but would have been about $400 to $500 more and didn't want to totally blow my budget. So this will, hopefully be good.

Yeah, the HK is probably correctly measured at 40 wpc. If the Sony were comparably measured it would probably come in at 15 wpc or something. Very similar to how they rate horsepower in cars, the method changes the result.

Back home...and playing a little,

I did a quick test of the Voom HD receiver and just plugging in the antenna and setting it on the floor near my sliding glass door got me two of the four channels I'm mainly interested in! So went to Lowes and got some hardware to mount the antenna in the attic. Even tho the antenna came with a mounting pole I picked up a very short one (well plumbing pipe that should work just as well) as I plan to mount the antenna upside down from the ridge beam. This way will be out of my way and as high as I can get it in the attic. I hope to mount it just above my furnace as this way it won't be bumping my head into it.

That was a pretty darn good picture! I was able to watch the rest of the golf tourny on with the HD signal. Very nice and if all the channels are that clear, I will be very happy with the $100 I spent to get it!

More later as I get farther along.

OK, some updates,

My Voom box for HD is working pretty darn good. I'm still tweaking the antenna direction but mounting it in the attic got me about 12 or so HD channel including 3 of the 4 majors. I'm not getting my Fox affiliate. I can get a strong signal, but it won't lock on. I'm working on it. However, very pleased with the picture, sometime I think it is very close to my DVD player and some channels on some shows maybe a touch better! Course that may say more about my DVD player then the HD Receiver! Even tho right now I cannot do a direct comparison, I can easily tell the HD is a ton better then Dishnetwork SD.

I have partially hooked up my H/K receiver. I ordered some more component cables and optical cables so I could do it right, so right now it is just running audio. The sound is very good. Much, much better then the POS Sony I had. Much fuller sound, more depth and no tinny sound. Power wise, it is fine. I don't think my speakers could handle any more and it really is great for movies. I love it and glad I got the H/K.

Soon as the component cables come in I will check out the component switching and see how that goes. Then I just need to figure out how to get Fox and I will be set!

I ordered a 2nd Voom box off ebay based on research that the FW version might make a difference. I bought a cheap one as it had no remote, cords but had the last FW. It works AWESOME. Now pick up all major channels.

I also finished hooking up the H/K using the component switching. I'm sure there is some signal difference (loss), but I sure can't see it. The H/K really is an awesome sounding unit. Very impressed.

Of course I just got off a conference call and will have to leave town for shortly which means I will miss the first week of NFL football . Got everything up and running and now will have to leave . Ah well.