OTA Antenna and HD ATSC Broadcast Information

Many people are interested in Over-The-Air (OTA) antennas and signals, especially with the rise of high definition (HD) television screens. There are presently three types of OTA signals: analog standard-definition signals; digital standard-definition signals; and digital high-definition signals. Following is an explanation of what each is, why you'd want them, and how to find out if you can get them. All, of course, in relation to TiVo.

• Analog, standard-definition: Generally called NTSC, this is the old-fashioned and original television broadcast. This still exists pretty much everywhere, but the FCC has mandated that it cease to be broadcast eventually. The reception can be fuzzy and have ghost images in urban areas due to reflections off buildings, but if it works, it looks just fine on a standard television. Any standalone TiVo (with or without a built-in DVD recorder - EXCEPT the dual tuner unit) can record and tune these signals. So this is a great way to use a TiVo to harvest good programming off the major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, WB, Fox) without paying for the signal - you just pay TiVo the fee ($12.95/month, or $6.95/month for non-primary units on your account) and avoid paying a cable fee.
• Digital, standard-definition (SD): Digital SD broadcasts are part of the transition to ATSC digital television and are often overlooked. They generally provide the same picture as the analog version, but at a much higher quality, and with a better chance of clear tuning. Basically, though, there is very little that can deal with these signals that doesn't also do HD, so there's not too much to do with it. Currently, only the HR10-250 high definition TiVo and the TiVo Series 3 can record these broadcasts, and if you get them, the only reason to record these would be to save recording space on your TiVo (assuming you don't want or need HD quality for a specific recording).
• Digital, high-definition (HD): This is the highest quality signal broadcast from antennas, and it's also generally higher than the compressed signals from both DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable companies. Local stations broadcast these ATSC signals in every major metropolitan areas and many smaller ones. They sometimes carry more than one stream of HD signal allowing for more programming options. It is these channels that DirecTV is adding to its new satellite and broadcasting in the MPEG4 format. But the DirecTV, Dish Network, and cable rebroadcasts of these channels are down-rezzed so that the HD image loses much of its clarity and sharpness. In many cases the differences are enormous. For that reason, even if you have DirecTV, Dish Network, or cable equipment that can get these locals, you'll be better off with an antenna pulling these stations in from the local towers. Also, getting the signal this way is much more imperious to weather conditions especially rain-fade.

Equipment: As mentioned, a standalone TiVo, or a TiVo with a DVD burner can tune the analog OTA signals. If you want a TiVo to record HD OTA signals, you need a special TiVo. Currently, there are TiVo DVRs that can tune OTA - the DirecTV HR10-250 and the the TiVo Series 3 for cable.

DIRECTV HR10-250: The first TiVo to record HD, including OTA HD stations. This unit has four tuners from three inputs: two for satellite signals from a 3 LNB (elliptical) or 5 LNB (AT9) dish; and one input for OTA HD signals (one external port is split internally to two tuners since this is a one-way communication conduit). The unit can tune all current OTA signals - both HD and SD. The HR10-250 can record any two programs at once from any of the four tuners.

TiVo Series 3: This product is a TiVo-brand DVR. It actually has six tuners, and the ability to record from any two at once. The six tuners are two of each of these three varieties: two cable (via one or two CableCARDs), two NTSC tuners, and two ATSC tuners. This is the most flexible TiVo by far - able to act as a cable box (with the CableCARDs), and receive and record the OTA HD signals - which are the cream of the crop. The key to any of the above scenarios is the source of the data. Re-broadcasters, like the satellite companies or cable providers, essentially try to cram lots of programming down a certain amount of bandwidth. In the process, they use some type of compression that inevitably results in the loss of image quality by the time it reaches your television screen. In the case of SD transmissions, the quality was never great, and it doesn't suffer a lot by the time you get it. And since satellite and cable providers digitize the NTSC signals at the source the quality is often better than a broadcast NTSC signal. But with HD, the reverse is true. The networks and their local affiliates all have the bandwidth to broadcast very high quality images. Local stations can broadcast ATSC OTA channels in resolutions up to 1920 × 1080, which makes for a pretty amazing picture, even on a 1080p screen (the highest quality currently available). Local stations have every reason to bring you the highest quality signal they can. The problem is that the re-broadcasters (satellite and cable companies) have the reverse incentive. They want to squeeze more channels in, generally sacrificing quality. Locals are ensured their frequency space and don't have this constraint.

Getting HD local broadcasts: An OTA antenna. Since the DirecTV HR10-250 and the TiVo Series 3 (as well as the non-DVR H10 and H20 and most older DirecTV HD receivers) can work with OTA signals, use those in place of the DirecTV-rebroadcast feeds. You'll get better quality, more options, and less vulnerability to weather problems. To find out how far your local stations' towers are, enter your zip code at AntennaWeb (all you need is your zip code, but entering a full address is going to get you more accurate information).

WeaKnees offers two antennas currently. We offer the Winegard SquareShooter line - the SS-1000 and SS-2000. The SS-2000 basically takes the SS-1000 and adds a power amplifier to it to extend its range. For more information about choosing and installing an OTA antenna, see our TiVo Blog entry here.

	SS-2000: Antenna for receiving over-the-air broadcasts. Will receive signals from yellow, green, light green, red and blue distances (see AntennaWeb for detail). Includes Amplifier. $139 - FREE GROUND SHIPPING
	Terrestrial Digital 91XG Off-Air Antenna Directional antenna for receiving over-the-air broadcasts. Will receive signals from yellow, green, light green red and blue distances (see http://www.antennaweb.org for detail). Mast not included; assembly required. Additional Specifications. $99.00 - FREE GROUND SHIPPING This item is NOT returnable