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Need for outdoor or indoor antenna?

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Need for outdoor or indoor antenna?

Old 01-03-06, 07:39 PM
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Need for outdoor or indoor antenna?

I'm on the east coast (New York metro area) and just got a crt based HDTV, with built in HD tuner. I have analog cable from Comcast and get their channels fine. Rumor has it that in our area you need cable to get any TV reception at all. In any event, with the new HD TV's tuner, I am getting digital channels off the free airwaves. So now I pick up all the old Comcast analog channels and maybe 10-20 digital channels.

I have no plans on getting digital cable or direct/dish TV. Is the above pretty much the maximum channels I'll receive? If so, that's fine...I just want to make sure I'm maximizing my channel inflow with my setup. Is there a way to install an antenna to pick up even more channels? Would that be an indoor antenna or outdoor one? Thanks so much!
Old 01-03-06, 11:22 PM
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If you are receiving 10-20 digital channels that is probably all there are. If they are coming in clear (without dropping out/pixelation) you may not even need an antenna. You can check here http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx to see what reception looks like in your area.
Old 01-04-06, 09:32 AM
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Depends on where you live. I can get digital channels in the clear from Comcast in DC but I also pick up Baltimore local digitals with my indoor antenna.
Old 01-04-06, 03:46 PM
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Digital channels are an all or nothing signal. There is no getting marginal reception, either you get it or you don't.
Old 01-04-06, 11:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Brian Shannon
Digital channels are an all or nothing signal. There is no getting marginal reception, either you get it or you don't.
I know people say that but it is not entirely true. A digital signal can have "digital noise" such as random pixelation, dropped audio, random artifacts being left on screen. , etc. I have seen this on mutliple hd sets using different antennas and loations. A low signal can cause many strange things to happen to a picture..
Old 01-05-06, 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by PhYbEr
I know people say that but it is not entirely true. A digital signal can have "digital noise" such as random pixelation, dropped audio, random artifacts being left on screen. , etc. I have seen this on mutliple hd sets using different antennas and loations. A low signal can cause many strange things to happen to a picture..

Yeah - if you get a signal that is hovering in the 40-50s, it will regularly drop in and out (video and/or audio). Sure, it looks great when it is in, but if it keeps dropping in and out, that does you no good.

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