HD Antenna for Directv

[JMNY83]

In my area Directv doesn't offer my local channels in HD so they tell me I need an antenna. I want to buy an antenna before the Bills game on Friday. Does anybody have any suggestions on a good one to buy and if I am able to plug the antenna into my Directv HDDVR to record?

[sukie]

I tried all kinds to no avail but that was years ago... What channell is it on?

[JMNY83]

I tried all kinds to no avail but that was years ago... What channell is it on?

It's on CBS.I get my local channels through the dish just not the HD ones. Directv told me that I need an antenna to see the HD ones.

[sukie]

Isn't CBS available in the 70-80'S

[sukie]

CBS is channel 80 on my dish HD I get my local feed on channel 4... same broadcast

[JMNY83]

Yeah I get my local channels just not the HD versions. I get channel 4 but not 4-1,4-2 or 4-3 which 2 of the are HD.

[sukie]

no chnnel 80

[Bosco]

In my area Directv doesn't offer my local channels in HD so they tell me I need an antenna. I want to buy an antenna before the Bills game on Friday. Does anybody have any suggestions on a good one to buy and if I am able to plug the antenna into my Directv HDDVR to record?

There is no difference between an HDTV antenna and a regular TV antenna.

If you are located close to where your local stations broadcast from you maybe able to use an indoor one. Try looking at your local Radio Shack.

Check out this site it might be helpful :http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

As for the Directv HDDVR question look at the owners manual.

[JMNY83]

No thats CBS South East. I'm on the tip of Texas on the Boarder of Mexico so I think I'm South West.

[sukie]

81 then

[Bosco]

It's on CBS.I get my local channels through the dish just not the HD ones. Directv told me that I need an antenna to see the HD ones.

You may not be getting your locals in HD could be because they are not offered in your local broadcasting market yet. Directv is adding more locals in HD all the time but they are currently limited by satellite space. They launched another HD satellite in July and another is on the way. More locals in HD and more HD channels will be coming this fall.

[JMNY83]

There is no difference between an HDTV antenna and a regular TV antenna.

If you are located close to where your local stations broadcast from you maybe able to use an indoor one. Try looking at your local Radio Shack.

Check out this site it might be helpful :http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

As for the Directv HDDVR question look at the owners manual.

So I'm confused to why it is that I can view my locals on Directv just fine but I can't view the HD versions? Am I going to need a strong antenna for these stats?


http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Stations.aspx

[sukie]

How old is your dish?

[JMNY83]

I got the new Directv 5lnb Slimeline HDDVR Dish installed like 2 weeks ago.

[sukie]

no west coast cbs feed?

[JMNY83]

Nope I it says I have to purchase them .

[JMNY83]

I think I will just buy an HDTV antenna and hope for the best.

[Bosco]

So I'm confused to why it is that I can view my locals on Directv just fine but I can't view the HD versions? Am I going to need a strong antenna for these stats?


http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Stations.aspx

You would be picking up your locals with an antenna pointed at the TV channels broadcast towers not the satellite in this case. This is assuming that your locals are not available in HD in your market on Directv's satellites.

If no locals in HD available on Directv you need an antenna to pick them up until they become available in HD (receiving via antenna,like the old days)

[JMNY83]

You would be picking up your locals with an antenna pointed at the TV channels broadcast towers not the satellite in this case. This is assuming that your locals are not available in HD in your market on Directv's satellites.

If no locals in HD available on Directv you need an antenna to pick them up until they become available in HD (receiving via antenna,like the old days)

Yeah thanks. I used to get my HD locals on Time Warner but with the Dish I don't so I guess I'll try out an HDTV antenna. If that doesn't work than I will have to watch the game on non-hd local.

[sukie]

Do you get ESPN HD and DISCOVERYHD?

[JMNY83]

Do you get ESPN HD and DISCOVERYHD?

Yup I get everything HD except my local HD.

[sukie]

Get the F out of Texas... Pronto

[JMNY83]

Lol I don't know if I should consider myself in TX or Mexico, I'm literally on the boarder. I do miss Buffalo though.

[sukie]

I was in WACO 2 weeks ago... YIKES!!!!!

[JMNY83]

Yeah TX is werid.It's different down here in Brownsville though because it's not really Texas it is more like Mexico with American Law.

[35Pete]

There is no difference between an HDTV antenna and a regular TV antenna.

If you are located close to where your local stations broadcast from you maybe able to use an indoor one. Try looking at your local Radio Shack.

Check out this site it might be helpful :http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx

As for the Directv HDDVR question look at the owners manual.

That's not correct. HD operates both in wideband mode and on a different frequency band than VHF and UHF. All antennas physical dimensions and internal circuitry are specifically tailored to both frequency band and bandwidth.

Terrestrial HDTV is at UHF, so a regular antenna that is broad across the entire UHF band should be able to pick it up. But a satellite antenna (called a parabolic reflector) is no where near tuned to the UHF spectrum (350-600 MHz). DirecTV, starting later this year, is beginning to operated at Ku and Ka bands (10-30 GHz). No way a regular antenna picks up Ku or Ka.

[35Pete]

You would be picking up your locals with an antenna pointed at the TV channels broadcast towers not the satellite in this case. This is assuming that your locals are not available in HD in your market on Directv's satellites.

If no locals in HD available on Directv you need an antenna to pick them up until they become available in HD (receiving via antenna,like the old days)

But terrestrial HD operates at a different wavelength than an HD LEO downlink. So while your satellite antenna may "pick up" terrestrial HD it is not at all tuned for that part of the spectrum so your TV tower had better be pretty close and the signal strong. And if you pick the wrong antenna, one that has a tight spec for what is called "pre-select filter bandwidth" then you'll be SOL as that antenna will tune out the terrestrial signal as "interference".

[35Pete]

So I'm confused to why it is that I can view my locals on Directv just fine but I can't view the HD versions? Am I going to need a strong antenna for these stats?


http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Stations.aspx

Your present dish is not tuned for the satellite HD spectral band, that's why.

[sukie]

Pete he has the correct dish... It's freakin Brownsville. That's the problem

[TRIPLE P]

I have the DirectTV HR20 HDDVR box... you should be able to pick up local HD channels over the sattelite through that...I can, thats one of the new features that was included when they released the HR20 box a years ago. If you can't maybe they didn't set it up correctly.

IF you NEED an antenna get the Terk amplified antenna...thats what I used before the new box came out.

BUY THIS, its worked great for me... make sure it has a power cource you plug into the wall....

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/3394/3394455_sa.jpg

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=3394455&type=product&id=1051384457031&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=3394455

[Bosco]

That's not correct. HD operates both in wideband mode and on a different frequency band than VHF and UHF. All antennas physical dimensions and internal circuitry are specifically tailored to both frequency band and bandwidth.

Terrestrial HDTV is at UHF, so a regular antenna that is broad across the entire UHF band should be able to pick it up. But a satellite antenna (called a parabolic reflector) is no where near tuned to the UHF spectrum (350-600 MHz). DirecTV, starting later this year, is beginning to operated at Ku and Ka bands (10-30 GHz). No way a regular antenna picks up Ku or Ka.

35Pete

I certainly know the difference between the two and I am sorry that I gave the impression that a satellite antenna could receive terrestial TV transmissions as they cannot.

I was refering to the fact that there is NO difference between a terrestrial HD TV antenna and a standard broadcast TV antenna.

http://www.dennysantennaservice.com/1161550.html

When color Tv first came out many people were falsely led to believe that they needed a special antenna to receive color programing. I think that many people now think that they need a special HD TV antenna to pick up terrestrial TV signals.

[Bosco]

I just checked the Directv site for local channels for Brownsville Texas zipcode 78920.

Locals are available but "HD Local Channels: High-definition (HD) local channels from DIRECTV are not available in your area at this time"

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/localChannels.jsp?_requestid=815177

So as of right now you will need a terrestrial TV antenna to get yor locals in HD.

As far as receiving your locals in HD from Directv it won't be happening as they are not offered.

[JMNY83]

I have the DirectTV HR20 HDDVR box... you should be able to pick up local HD channels over the sattelite through that...I can, thats one of the new features that was included when they released the HR20 box a years ago. If you can't maybe they didn't set it up correctly.

IF you NEED an antenna get the Terk amplified antenna...thats what I used before the new box came out.

BUY THIS, its worked great for me... make sure it has a power cource you plug into the wall....

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/3394/3394455_sa.jpg

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=3394455&type=product&id=1051384457031&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=3394455


Can that pick up HD channels though? I just need like CBS,NBC,ABC and Fox in HD everything else I already have in HD.

[35Pete]

35Pete

I certainly know the difference between the two and I am sorry that I gave the impression that a satellite antenna could receive terrestial TV transmissions as they cannot.

I was refering to the fact that there is NO difference between a terrestrial HD TV antenna and a standard broadcast TV antenna.

http://www.dennysantennaservice.com/1161550.html

When color Tv first came out many people were falsely led to believe that they needed a special antenna to receive color programing. I think that many people now think that they need a special HD TV antenna to pick up terrestrial TV signals.

That is correct. They both are resonant at UHF. Good point.

[JMNY83]

I bought an antenna today and it works fine. I get all my HD channels now. Thanks Guys.

[TRIPLE P]

Can that pick up HD channels though? I just need like CBS,NBC,ABC and Fox in HD everything else I already have in HD.

yeah

[dasaybz]

So I turned on my TV on Friday night, pretty psyched to see my first HD game on my new 42 inch plasma and I come to find out that CBS does not broadcast in HD in my area. I was friggin heated. It's not like I'm in east bum****, I'm in Lancaster!!! I guess I'm gonna need one of these antennas just for CBS. Uggh.

[JMNY83]

So I turned on my TV on Friday night, pretty psyched to see my first HD game on my new 42 inch plasma and I come to find out that CBS does not broadcast in HD in my area. I was friggin heated. It's not like I'm in east bum****, I'm in Lancaster!!! I guess I'm gonna need one of these antennas just for CBS. Uggh.

lol, thats what happened to me. I have an antenna but I hate it. I feel like I'm in the 80's again at my Grandmas house fooling with the antenna to get signal.