Talk me out of Satellite & HDTV???

Bob_Skurka · Dec 14, 2004

I have boosters on both antennas. The bedroom TV has its own antenna in the attic, it gives worse reception on CBS and NBC than the rooftop antenna. All of this stuff was professionally installed (I'm scared of heights!)

GerardC · Dec 14, 2004

I forgot to mention closing the drapes too (remotely) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif. G

AndyM · Dec 14, 2004

All of this stuff was professionally installed... 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I get the impression that you live closer to Chicago than RobS. Maybe there's some technical TV/radio type people who can explain why he has a much better signal.

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

If there's not a technical issue, could there be an installation issue?

Bob_Skurka · Dec 14, 2004

I'm under the impression he draws his signals from South Bend, IN, which is on the IN/MI border just south of Niles, MI.

AndyM · Dec 14, 2004

Sorry, I misread his post. I thought it said he could get Chicago if he aimed the antenna that direction, but then he lost South Bend.
I re-read his post and realized my faux pax. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

P.S. I know South Bend well. That's where the Studebaker museum is! I found it's possible to hit the Studebaker museum and the Auburn-Cord-Duesenburg museum in the same day! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

v8dave · Dec 15, 2004

( Even if budget we no issue, the ideal set doesn't seem to be available. I already have a couple Harmony remotes in the house, they are supposed to be ultra programmable, ulta compatible, ultra easy . . . and to some extent they are, and they do replace about a dozen remotes simultaneously, but they are not perfect.

So now I am leaning on sticking with fuzzy tv reception and letting the lovely Mrs_Bob complain while she attempts to watch "COLD CASE".)

( I have a large (about 12' long?) antenna on the roof. About every other year a bolt of lightning strikes it and blows it apart and I find elements all over the yard in every direction. The antenna is pointed toward Chicago, we pick up all their stations, but CBS and NBC often come in very badly. Chicago is the closest transmitting city. South Bend is about twice as far away.)

Well, instead of a killer system for all, how about a nice system for Mrs_Bob? You might think about getting a plain old vanilla satellite system. The smaller dishes mount on the lower eaves--probably like your internet connection. It may not be as likely to get the lightning hits. But if your internet dish survives so should a satellite TV.

Although at $50 per month you might be paying a lot per hour for the little it is on. On the other hand, you get the ability to get the recorder boxes and most dishes will have multiple receiver feeds to cover both your TVs. The remote controls we have for ours can operate the TV and DVD players also. With a local channel option you'll get what you do now only not fuzzy. And, if you get Dish network you can get RFDTV. Somebody posted about RFDTV earlier in this thread and I found it last night. I already recorded a couple of tractor shows early this morning and watched them tonight. As I'm typing this it just finished recording a show on Icebreakers on another channel, I'll watch this later in the week.

The recorder boxes allow you to stop and/or replay live TV, it really is a nice feature. Phone rings, stop the show, forget to stop it? Just back up and replay it. Most satellite TV suppliers have periodic deals where you can get the equipment cost reimbursed through lower monthly fees and they include installation with the equipment purchase.

Before you buy, make sure you are included in the local TV area you wish to purchase [Chicago maybe?]. The rules (FCC??) are restrictive and don't allow long distances.

RobS · Dec 15, 2004

Yes, I'm basically a "suburb" of South Bend and about 90 miles from Chicago. Bob is much closer to Chicago. I'm surprised though Bob, that you don't get Chicago perfectly. When I went to school in West Lafayette we could get WGN though it was a bit fuzzy. That was a real treat for someone from central Indiana.

Caught some tube in Chicago recently, good to see the Empire guy is still living on in a cartoon life. 588-2300 E-M-P-I-R-E /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bob_Skurka · Dec 15, 2004

I'm surprised though Bob, that you don't get Chicago perfectly. When I went to school in West Lafayette we could get WGN though it was a bit fuzzy. That was a real treat for someone from central Indiana. 

CBS (2) and NBC (5) come in fuzzy. CBS being worse. ABC (7), WGN (9), WTTW-PBS (11), WYCC-PBS (20), independent (26), FOX (32), PAX (38), UPN (50) all come in from crystal clear to pretty good with 50 being the worst of the "good" channels for reception.

WYIN (56), which is a PBS station in N.W. Indiana comes in pretty good, but the antenna is facing Chicago, if we pointed it toward Gary that would be crystal clear.

And the odd thing is the rooftop antenna, which is used for the living room TV gets 2 and 5 pretty well, 26, 32, & 38 are decent, but 50 & 56 barely come in at all. . .and with the exception of 56 most of those channels antennas are on only 2 building (Sears & Hancock) in Chicago! While the attic antenna, hooked up to the bedroom TV, gets a reasonable signal for 50, but 2 is often more "snow" than picture and 5 is marginal when it is at its best.

Honestly, I'm thinking of just not buying anything at this point. In the past 60 days, as a family we watched one movie together in the living room and no "real" TV watching, and that is where I am thinking of spending a bundle of money. The main use of the living room TV is me watching the news early in the morning on Saturday & Sunday before the family is awake (while I play on TBN & review the newspaper). I don't need HD or satellite to do that. Usually when the lovely Mrs_Bob wakes up and comes downstairs, we flip the TV off and start doing whatever it is we plan on doing for the day.

So, I think AndyM, and his recommendation early on in this thread is the temporary winner in the advice giving. He suggested not doing it! And I think I'm going with his advice. At least for a little while. If the whinning heats up, or the technology catches up to give me the sophistication I want with the ease that the lovely Mrs_Bob wants, then I'll probably spring for the VOOM satellite system. It seems to be the best for the money, about the same price as DirectTV's base system, but much cheaper than DirectTV when you figure in HD broadcasts.

carrickfad · Dec 15, 2004

Here's a site that will give you a map of where to point your antenna and a list of stations you can or should be able to receive, with the proper equipment of course.
Antenna Web

RobS · Dec 15, 2004

Honestly, I'm thinking of just not buying anything at this point. In the past 60 days, as a family we watched one movie together in the living room and no "real" TV watching, and that is where I am thinking of spending a bundle of money. The main use of the living room TV is me watching the news early in the morning on Saturday & Sunday before the family is awake (while I play on TBN & review the newspaper). I don't need HD or satellite to do that. Usually when the lovely Mrs_Bob wakes up and comes downstairs, we flip the TV off and start doing whatever it is we plan on doing for the day.


I missed the early part of this thread but you're describing our sitation as well. This is why I'm not rushing into a dish. I'm sure there is a lot of neat TV available out there, but I've got way better things to do with my time than sit in front of it all day long. I've got my news, how-to shows on PBS and the occasional interesting movie or show on the networks. I'd love having the Weather Channel and Discovery but not willing to put up with all the other baggage they pile along with it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif