Talk me out of Satellite & HDTV???

Bob_Skurka · Dec 14, 2004

If I were to do it again, I'm pretty sure I would have a professional come in and put it together. Perhaps you should check around your area for a good installer. They should be able to provide you with what you want. 

I'm pretty much a geek wanna-be so I'm pretty confident I could put it together. We have surround sound now, albeit an "old as dirt" version, but I ran the wiring for all 5 speakers, did the set up, etc. So I figure I could do a new HDTV version too.

My BIGGEST CONCERN is that the lovely Mrs_Bob and Jr.Miss_Bob would not be able to use the system because of the complication. . . I don't want a system that requires me to be home to turn on! As it stands now, we only use the surround sound in the living room a few times a year.

I also have surround sound in the bedroom, but that is really simple, it is a DVD/VCR/AM/FM/Surround Sound in 1 box system. And the remote for that system works the TV so the lovely Mrs_Bob can control everything with 1 remote and it is a simple remote. That is what I would like for the living room. Something SIMPLE. Yet something sophisticated and up to date. I figure we'd probably use it once or twice a month, but it would be a nice place to watch a movie and have the complete experience instead of seeing the little box in the corner with the fuzzy picture.

GerardC · Dec 14, 2004

Why not just buy a learning remote /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ? G

Bob_Skurka · Dec 14, 2004

The Harmony remotes are the most advanced I know of, can operate 18 devices simultaneously, and operate by setting up very complex macros. I use them now. You can literally have it set up to operate based on various moods/types of movies. So for a romantic movie with the wife, the Harmony will dim the lights in the room, set the surround sound to a low volume level, etc. For action adventure, you can kick up the bass so the gunshots shake the room. Really nifty remotes. Like I said, I have 2 of those already.

And the problem is set up time and complexity. The lovely Mrs_Bob hates using it, even after it is programmed. Probably because they offer too many choices. I suppose I could simply set it up to just operate the TV and then go turn down the lights manually, eliminate the custom surround sound settings for different movie types, etc, but what is the fun of having technology if you don't use it?

I guess it boils down to the fact that while the remote is easy to use in the living room, the lovely Mrs_Bob is intimidated by it, and that takes me back to the concept of a SIMPLE to operate system (like the one in our bedroom) but I still would like the new technology. It seems that "new technology" and "simple" are mutually exclusive.

GerardC · Dec 14, 2004

My wife doesn't even look at the remote that I use. It too, at the touch of one button, turns on the desired components, dims/brightens the lighting etcetera. She just doesn't have the interest in the modern day technology /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. She likes to be able to just turn it on and forget about it. Oh well, to each their own I guess. G

AndyM · Dec 14, 2004

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" 

If you mentioned it already, I missed it...
What are you using now to pick up your over the air signals?

At our old house, we had a large rooftop antenna mounted on a tripod at the peak of the roof. It also had an antenna rotor with it, but we never used it. We picked up all of the local stations from one position, so once we set the rotor to one position, there was no need to move it.

When we moved into this house, I bought the largest rooftop antenna that Lowes sold and I mounted it in our garage attic, because MrsAndyM didn't want the eyesore sticking out like a sore thumb on the rooftop of our new house. When I hooked it up to the television, I got frustrated because the reception was so poor.

I was really close to ordering cable! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Fortunately, someone at CountryByNet stepped in and suggested I buy one of those antenna signal boosters at Radio Shack. That made all the difference in the world. However, it makes my signal TOO strong on one of the local channels-- the picture is great, but there is too much "noise", making that channel unwatchable sometimes. We're able to receive four other NBC stations, so we can turn the channel if one doesn't come in well enough!

I was told that mounting the antenna in the garage causes the signal strength to be reduced by 50 percent. If I can receive five NBC stations now, what would I receive if I mounted the antenna on the roof? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Bob_Skurka · Dec 14, 2004

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.

RobS · Dec 14, 2004

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 

I just got the same 12 foot long antenna the other week. Put it in the attic hoping to get Chicago. When aimed at nearby South Bend I get their stations just fine but aimed at Chicago all I get is fuzz and the South Bend stations then come in poorly as well. So it's aimed back to South Bend, I guess I could have gotten the smaller model antenna after all /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

AndyM · Dec 14, 2004

When aimed at nearby South Bend I get their stations just fine but aimed at Chicago all I get is fuzz and the South Bend stations then come in poorly as well. 

Is that with a signal booster installed? I suggested that Bob install his in the attic with the booster, and maybe that will improve the signal and solve his lightning problem.

RobS · Dec 14, 2004

Hmmm, hadn't considered a signal booster. I may have to try that. Of course, if it does work I may have to have one of those rotator things too as we will still want the South Bend stations /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

AndyM · Dec 14, 2004

The signal booster worked great for me, but I can't use a rotor in my garage attic-- it's wedged in there pretty good and I have to disassemble and reassemble the antenna every time I want to reposition it.