HD TV-Love it, hate it!

[ctpres]

Decided to switch from Dish to Direct. This should be easy. Oh-Oh antenna angles different and Direct can't see sky from Dish antenna location. I ran RG-6 coax from new antenna location so install should be easy. Wrong. Installer shows up and says "new antenna to heavy for eave mount, I'll put it on the roof." My answer, no way your going to punch a bunch of holes in my roof. He says need pole. Shows me pole mount and leaves. After a lot of internet research I find antenna needs two inch od pipe. Turns out not to be a common size. Finally figure out that muffler guys use two inch pipe all day. Comes in 7.5 or 10 foot lenghts and can expanded on end for coupling. Pole problem solved for about $25.00 for my 15 foot pole. Will install in ground and brace at eve today and reschedule installer.
Ditto on "not my ten bucks for HD" I figure double programming transmission is costing them a lot of bandwidth and eventually demand for more HD will force them to drop digital.

 

[ray66v]

antenna needs two inch od pipe. Turns out not to be a common size.

I did a bunch of these years ago, and never used anything other than 2" sch. 40 galvanized steel pipe. Yes, it's 2 1/8" there should be plenty of adjustment to fit on there.

They wobble enough with the galvanized pipe, if your going to use exhaust pipe, I would keep it short.

Also, if the water collects in the top of the exhaust pipe, it is going to rust out.

 

[CurlyDave]

... Oh-Oh antenna angles different and Direct can't see sky from Dish antenna location...

When I got Wild Blue satellite internet, I asked them about the dish angles. They gave me an azimuth and an elevation, I picked out a spot and mounted the correct pole. Looked at the azimuth they told me and there is a huge tree.

Well, out comes the chain saw and a few hours later the tree is gone.

Installer shows up and aims the antenna, way off from the azimuth they told me. I asked what gives and he shows me his compass. He is using magnetic north as 0 degrees. I was using true north as 0 degrees. Where I live declination is 17 degrees.

The bottom line is I cut down that tree for no reason at all. I was completely astonished that the satellite internet company, who is technically savvy enough to get me internet from a satellite, is so primitive that they can not correct for true north vs. magnetic north, something I learned as a cub scout, not even a boy scout. Now, the orbit & location of that satellite is based on true north, not magnetic north.

Anyway, if you are installing a new antenna and the company gives you an angle, make sure you know what they consider north.

 

[Highbeam]

Installers don't know big words like declination. Easier for the company to spew out magnetic numbers than to try and teach the installer what declination is.

 

[chili]

Has anybody tried to make a fractal antenna? I seen something about how great the signal was after using a fractal antenna. I am assuming it works with digital signal also. Just google "fractal antenna" for more information if interested.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've been looking at TV's and trying to do some research, but every time I think I know what I want, something new comes along. Plasma and LCD seem to be so close to each other now that I'm not sure I can tell the difference. But laser TV seems to be the big new thing.

I googled laser TV and read what I found, but wonder if it's as good as it's being hyped up to be. Our big screen is still working fine, so I'm not in a rush, and it might be another year or two, but of course, I might have to buy next week. Either way, I want to get the best that I can afford without paying for features or extras that I don't need or can't even see.

Any thoughts on laser TV?

Eddie

 

[the_sandman_454]

High Definition TV and video sources absolutely rock. I cringe every time I'm forced to look at a standard definition feed. Standard definition (480) is simply awful after seeing the true capabilities of HD picture and sound.

 

[Redneck_Randy]

Any thoughts on laser TV?

Eddie

LaserVue didn't take off like they thought and it's just way over priced for what you get. Last year (2008) the hottest TV's were LED DLP's. The newest upcoming tech in TV's now is OLED but will be a year or two before you see them in sizes over 50 inch. If you really want to research TV's go to AV Science Forum