Sorry if this post is in the wrong section, i also put it in the programming forums...basically im just broke and really desperate on getting hdtv channels.
Well I just recently bought a new mitsubishi wd-65833 the other day and i am dying to try out some hdtv programming on it. the only problem is i am already a dish network subscriber and i dont want to drop anymore money than i have too and if i upgrade to hd its gonna cost me another 250 bucks for the hardware. my question is what is my best option of getting hd programming and equipment for the cheapest price. Go to dish network or another provider or re-subscribe to dish and get the new customer discount, if that is possible which would be the best since they wont charge for the new equipment. well any info is greatly appreciated since i am dying to see this tv in action. Thanks guys.

My question is what is my best option of getting hd programming and equipment for the cheapest price.An antenna.

OTA HDTV is the biggest bang for the buck of all the options.




Programming is free.

No rain fades.

If the cable co (or sat provider) and local station get in a p***ing match over "retransmission consent" you don't lose that network/station.

Picture Quality is generally superior to Cable and E*, D*.

If in range of two or more markets, can receive those legally OTA.

Most primtime network programming (except for "Reality" shows, etc) is now HD, and ABC and NBC's morning news shows are HD.


The Downsides though.....


No ESPN's, RSNs and specialty channels (Discovery, etc).

Summer months is a wasteland for Network TV as its reruns and cheap SD Reality/Game shows

NASCAR OTA coverage limited to first third of season (FOX) and "Chase" races (ABC). Also no early round coverage of Golf, Grand-Slam Tennis events.


Many D* and E* subs use OTA locals to supplement their HDTV offerings. OTA only can be done, but just realize the limitations.

I get most everything from three markets OTA, and I also have an E* SD package that costs me only $42.00/mo., and which gives me something else to occasionally choose from (plus, my Pio plasma does a very acceptable job of displaying 480i). The Sirius music channels are also included with that, and are run through my stereo system.

If it weren't for that darn, lo-VHF WBBM-DT in Chicago, I could drop the locals from E* and save another 5 bucks. That will be realized whenever I can get around to putting up a full-range, VHF-UHF antenna.

Thanks for the help everyone...do you guys have any recommendations for OTA antennas and where to pick em up?? and possibly what are the best ways to go about setting these things up?? thanks for all the help!!

Sorry if this post is in the wrong section, i also put it in the programming forums...basically im just broke and really desperate on getting hdtv channels.
Well I just recently bought a new mitsubishi wd-65833 the other day and i am dying to try out some hdtv programming on it. the only problem is i am already a dish network subscriber and i dont want to drop anymore money than i have too and if i upgrade to hd its gonna cost me another 250 bucks for the hardware. my question is what is my best option of getting hd programming and equipment for the cheapest price. Go to dish network or another provider or re-subscribe to dish and get the new customer discount, if that is possible which would be the best since they wont charge for the new equipment. well any info is greatly appreciated since i am dying to see this tv in action. Thanks guys.


I 2nd what Ramm and haley-SEA have said. Go for the OTA first, you will be shock how much better your local SD/HD station PQ will be on OTA antenna than the Sat or Cable. Best thing is to just post your zip code and we could look up and see what you can get and give you a better idea what good antenna will be for you or go to tvfool.com and enter your address and see what you can get.

-Willie

I get most everything from three markets OTA, and I also have an E* SD package that costs me only $42.00/mo., and which gives me something else to occasionally choose from (plus, my Pio plasma does a very acceptable job of displaying 480i). The Sirius music channels are also included with that, and are run through my stereo system.

If it weren't for that darn, lo-VHF WBBM-DT in Chicago, I could drop the locals from E* and save another 5 bucks. That will be realized whenever I can get around to putting up a full-range, VHF-UHF antenna.

Ramm, You know the winter is just around the corner next thing you know you will have snow on the roof :eek: and the brisk cold breeze :eek: that you will have to put off putting up the antenna until next year :(. Hopefully that WWBM will move to 12 and would be nice if CM,AD and Wingard would make a VHF-HI / UHF antenna that would make it little smaller than WG 8200.

-Willie

Channelmaster 4228 UHF-Rocks! (Very directional though)

Ramm, You know the winter is just around the corner next thing you know you will have snow on the roof :eek: and the brisk cold breeze :eek: that you will have to put off putting up the antenna until next year :(. Hopefully that WWBM will move to 12 and would be nice if CM,AD and Wingard would make a VHF-HI / UHF antenna that would make it little smaller than WG 8200.

-WillieI know :o. I've just gotten complacent because I can almost always get CBS from Rockford and/or Milwaukee. I usually just leave it pointed in one of those directions and (remote control) A/B it with my indoor one, which I leave pointed at Chicago. Having the Sammy DTB-H260F now has also improved my all-around reception a lot. With that tuner, even when the U-75R's pointed at Mil., I can still receive all of the Chicago stations steadily, believe it or not.

One of the big antenna makers recently came out with a UHF/hi-VHF model that looks like it'd be perfect. It looks just like the U-75R, but with added VHF elements in the back. Someone in another thread posted a link to it. I think it might've been from Antennas Direct.

So I might just try stalling till WBBM switches. I should be able to get those hi-VHF PBS channels from Milwaukee then, too.

Then I'll just redo everything right, as I kind of half-a$$ed this installation, and only have it going to one TV. If I split it to the other TV, I'll likely lose CBS - even with the CM 7777 I'm using. All the other Chicago stations are 95-100% using the U-75R, so I shouldn't have any problems with those after splitting. Then I can get a proper rotor up there, too.

I know :o. I've just gotten complacent because I can almost always get CBS from Rockford and/or Milwaukee. I usually just leave it pointed in one of those directions and (remote control) A/B it with my indoor one, which I leave pointed at Chicago. Having the Sammy DTB-H260F now has also improved my all-around reception a lot. With that tuner, even when the U-75R's pointed at Mil., I can still receive all of the Chicago stations steadily, believe it or not.



One of the big antenna makers recently came out with a UHF/hi-VHF model that looks like it'd be perfect that looks just like the U-75R, but with added VHF elements in the back. Someone in another thread posted a link to it. I think it might've been from Antennas Direct.

So I might just try stalling till WBBM switches. I should be able to get those hi-VHF PBS channels from Milwaukee then, too.

Then I'll just redo everything right, as I kind of half-a$$ed this installation, and only have it going to one TV. If I split it to the other TV, I'll likely lose CBS - even with the CM 7777 I'm using. All the other Chicago stations are 95-100% using the U-75R, so I shouldn't have any problems with those after splitting. Then I can get a proper rotor up there, too.

Hi Ramm,

Yes, I can believe that you can point a directional antenna way off and still get it off to the side. WIth that antenna that is good haul from northside of Milwaukee in Shorewood in area of N Captial Dr and Milwaukee River.
And those OTA DT station sure do spoil you and you never want to go back to watching analog, I just wish my TV set had a dual ATSC tuner instead of ATSC /NTSC tuner and I wish analog would shut down today and yes I have a Sammy DTB-H260F also and use that as the 2nd tuner and once I find a good antenna set up and use that for the Chicago station tuner. I like watching WGN news but Madison WMTV kills the WGN siginal.

The antenna you talking about that just look like the U-75R is made by Antenna Craft that makes the RS U-75R as well and some of the other RS antenna and Terk models. The Antenna Craft VHF-hi /UHF model is HBU22 ch 7-69http://www.antennacraft.net/HBU22.htm and the specs http://www.antennacraft.net/pdfs/HBU22.pdf
Very lightweight 5.6 pounds

The website price is good $34.99 only $5.00 more than U-75R.

My next project is to built a CM 4220 the bow tie is little bigger than the DB-2and might built a 4221 too. I am hoping with the 4-bay that I could use that antenna just for Chicago station better, expect WBBM of course. I am just having too much fun with my homemade DB-2 antenna :D.

-Willie