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Yes, I can't really knock the variety and quality of programming available on cable/satellite... but I noticed more and more re-runs on History Channel, and a big decline in content on Discovery Channel. That, along with AMC cramming commercials into its movies, as well as the morons appearing on Fox News, made me feel that the investment just wasn't paying off.

I might someday get a satellite dish... although I'm kind of waiting to see if "ala carte" subscriptions will ever materialize. I wouldn't mind paying a few bucks a month for four or five favorite non-broadcast stations, but $55 for junk like Home Shopping Network is a bit much.
 
When I was a kid (in the 60s), I was told that in the future we would have cable tv. There would be a monthly charge, but no commercials. It didn't work out that way, did it? In fact, even the channel-guide channel has commercials.

Wait until satellite radio catches on -- it will have commercials too.

Ken D.
 
We have the crappiest cable service here. It has changed hands so many times that the formats are all scewed up. Depending on where you live, you have a different decoder box, and the picture is crap no matter where you live.

It started out as Continental Cable, and it was pretty good then. They were a nice local company, and when the digital cable system came about, started to upgrade to the Scientific Atlanta system within 1-3 miles around the central office. The plan was to upgrade the system in stages starting at the central office and working outwords. They ran out of money though, and Media One bought them out just as they had finished the neighborhoods within 3 miles or so. Media one started using the Motorola system as they pushed farther and farther away from the central office to about 5-8 miles away or so. The customers on the original Scientific Atlanta system remained on that system even though they used S.A. equipment. AT&T then bought them out and they obviously used Lucent Technology boxes. They too, however never upgraded the older neighborhoods using the other two formats. Finally, AT&T got bought out by Comcast...or as we call it com-crap, and they went to the Jerrold system and completed the rest of the coverage area. They too, didn't upgrade the older systems leaving 4 different formats depending on where you live!

With each upgrade, the bill gets bigger. It's up to $55 a month for "basic" service which consists of about 75 channels of grainy, fuzzy analog pictures. For an additional $15 a month, you can have blocky, jumpy, broken up digital cable pictures, and a stupid converter box on top of every TV. Still, none of it's high-defninition either!

I feel really sorry for the people that were swindled into their "high speed internet access". The more people that sign on, the slower it gets. For the people that are on it, it gets a sluggish as a dialup in the evenings, and it's always doing down and simply not working. $40 a month for a flakey, slow internet service? Sorry, I'll keep my reliable DSL for $15 a month!

For me, I'm like Sudsmaster. I like my rooftop antenna. I put together a system very simliar to what he is using. My shop is a blonder-tongue dealer, and I picked up some of their pro-grade components for the house. A weird name for a company that sells CATV distribution components. I've got 3 TV antennas on the same mast pointed at the individual towers for the local channels (3 stations are on the same tower). They all run through a signal combiner, and then a distribution amp, and then to jacks in the wall of all the rooms. The picture is DVD quality!

For the cable networks, I use Dish network. It's pretty cheap in comparason...about $40 a month, and it's all digital with a really nice picture!
 
Ken,

I remember the same hoopla in the 60's about how cable would bring everyone commercial free TV. What a joke.

Cybr,

Have you tried getting digital broadcast TV signals yet? Our local PBS stations have gone digital - one even has already dropped it analog signal and gone completely digiatl (it lost its analog tower lease). I've been looking for a good, inexpensive digital broadcast tuner, with radio-controlled remote, so I can change the channel from anywhere in the home. So far, no such luck. I could cobble together something with a gizmo that Radio Shack sells, which converts infrared remote to radio remote, but I'm still looking for a good tuner. RS has one for $90 but they are all sold out and "discontinued". The next step up, from what I've seen on the internet, is $200 or more.

I find that my antenna are not directional enough to get the best picture when the two are combined. There is a bit of ghosting that occurs on some channels (5 is the worst at the moment). They come in crystal clear when only one antenna is used. And of course the reception will vary somewhat with the weather. But it's much sharper than the old analog cable was/is.
 
HDTV broadcasting-Since I do work in the broadcast sector--some points on the new digital broadcasts-Most of the digital channels are in the UHF band.the low band analog channel assignments are being given "back" to the FCC.(Analog channels #'s 2-5)and the higher band VHF are still going to be used for digital.The broadcasters would love to stay on the VHF channels.VHF transmitters are more efficient and cost less to buy and run.also they have to run less power to cover the same area.And in markets where digital was first tried--Raleigh NC,Wash DC,NYC.If the listener is too close to the transmitter site-the receiver is "Overwhelmed" with signal and won't work.And these is a "Plateu" effect with the digital--If too far away it cuts out suddenly.The analog broadcast may still be useable.And more complications-broadcasters have to decide or determine --can they install the digital UHF broadcast antenna on the same tower as their analog antenna is on?Is there enough room in the transmitter building top accomidate the digital transmitter?and is there enough AC power going to the building to run both transmitters?In the transistion period we are in broadcasters are faced with running their analog transmitters(until the analog cutoff date--midnight on april 7,2009)and the digital one at the same time.This sure adds to their power bills!After the analog cutoff date--the digital transmitter is used.The broadcaster "turns in" his old analog channel.The FCC will use them for other services.Then the other thought-all of those analog TV's and transmitters suddenly become USELESS!!!Esp the transmitters.Pity the broadcaster that bought a new one during the "transistion" period.Other stations are "nursing" their old rigs to last thru it.At least rhe analog TV's could have a new lease-you can use the digital tuner to display the HD programs on the older set-of course it won't be HD.The converter-tuner has to convert the digital broadcast to a analog signal the older TV can display.
 
Tolivac,

What's the typical realistic broadcast distance (unimpeded) for digital TV signals?

I live about 25 miles from the Mt. Sutro multi-station TV transmission tower in San Francisco. Analog comes in really well with a rooftop antenna, with minimal ghosting and no snow. Can I expect to get good digital reception as well? I'd be willing to upgrade my rooftop antenna if necessary, but I suspect the current one will be just fine (even though it's probably over 30 years old, it's a well made one. I upgraded it to RG6 a while back...)
 
The "range" of the Digital signal-just like any other-depends on terrian,weather conditions-and the orientation of the listeners receiver with respect to the transmitters antenna.Broadcast TV,FM,and medium wave AM face the problems of not causing interference to neighboring broadcasters on the same frequencies-therefore many of the transmitter antenna systems are Directional-they will put out a strong signal in one or more directions-but weak or even non-existent to an area the broadcaster has to "protect".Your present antenna should work if it can receive UHF band broadcasts.Does the UHF analog broadcasts come in OK with your present antenna?If so it should work for digital.A good thing to do is contact the stations in your area--ask them the channel # their digital broadcasts are being run on.(Usually UHF,but could be "Hi-Band VHF-ch#7-13)Then ask them the direction you will need to point your antenna.The digital transmitter could be at a different site than the analog one.From material I have read about Mt Sutro site in the past-wouldn't be surprized if the digital signals could be broadcast from there.when you call the stations they can tell you their digital channels,and the directions you need to point your antenna.Another thing-You can look up the stations website on your computer-that can give you the information you need to receive their digital broadcasts.If you call them on the phone for info-try to talk to their engineering department.They could give you the best information.
 
Thanks, Tolivac.

I get UHF stations just fine on my antennae. So it should be no problem getting the major HDTV broadcast stations.

Do you have any suggestions for a broadcast HDTV tuner? Please note my preference would be for one with a radio-remote, and also one that can output coax NTSC broadcast signals for redistribution to three or more other sets (I'll use Channel 3 for that, and the radio remote to change the HDTV channel from anywehre in the home).

I'm sure the digital transmitters will be on the Sutro tower. That tower caused a lot of grief for SF residents, but I'm sufficiently far enough away, and with a relatively clear shot, to get very good reception.
 
sudsmaster:Glad that your antenna works on UHF-that means it should work for HDTV.For tuners-the technology on them changes rapidly--Samsung makes them-the unit they make provides outputs for HDTV-Component video,and standard analog video(analog via RCA "phono" type connector"I don't know of any tuner that "downconverts" the digital broadcast to a ch#3 NSTC signal.sounds like you would like to display the HDTV broadcasts on an older tv or one that doesn't have a video input.For what you need-you may want to visit a store that carries and caters to folks putting in home theater systems.They may be able to help.Do you want a seperate program to be displayed on each of three TV's-With whats out there today you would need three tuners-one for each TV-and a "modulator" to convert the analog video output of the tuner to a modulated Ch#3 signal for the display TV.If the TV does have a video input-would be better and easier to connect to that.No modulator required.At one time components such as VCR's Laser disc players and early DVD players had "modulated Ch3,or 4 outputs so they could be played thru TV's that didn't have a video input.I am not sure but Radio Shack may still have "modulators"You would have to find a knowlegeable salesman at the store in your neighborhood and ask.The remotes for most video components are the standard Infra-Red type.An RF remote and its interface is an option.Beleive RCA makes them.Again this is a specialized item.Stores such as Best Buy,Circuit City don't carry such specialized components. you would need to see a dealer that specializes in Home Theater or Hi-Fi for these.Lots of Luck!!
 
Cable Channels get renamed

TV Channels are just as bad as radio stations. The same stuff over and over.

Discovery = The Mythbusters Channel
TVLand = The Good Times Channel (Formerly the Three's Company Channel)
Nick = The Spongebob Channel
Boomerang = The Tom & Jerry Channel (that's not a bad thing)
MTV = The Real World Channel (formerly the Beavis & Butthead channel, not a bad thing)
TLC used to be called "The Guts Channel" because they always showed operations... YUK! Now it's Discovery Health.

Thank God for movies and TV shows on DVD. My Sony upconversion DVD player make an awesome picture on my HDTV.
 
And for that matter...

What is it with all the forensic programs, both fictional and drama? CSI this, Forensic Files that. They lost me on an episode where a young woman was being strangled, and the camera "went inside" her body to show you graphically how she was dying. Excuse me, but is that entertainment, or is that sick?

There was some lame cable show on about a family that ran a funeral parlour, and I guess their romances in between buring people. YECH. Then, on like Arts and Entertainment, they put on a REAL show about a family that works a funeral parlour. Speaking of Arts and Entertainment, what is with that trash Gotti show, with the daughter of that murderous punk gangster and her three disgusting sons?

There was one show that showed a rather dysfunctional family building motorcycles. Now there are like three of those shows. There are so many reality shows that Speed Channel actually has a phony reality show. How many shows can there be showing people arguing as they assemble motorcycles?

Maybe some of these shows get better with repeated viewings, I don't give them that chance. I doubt it, however.
 
Thanks, Tolivac and Jason.

All my TV's can accept component input, but the reason why I want to output Ch3 NTSC over Coax is so that I can share one digital antenna signal coverted to analog NTSC with several sets in the house - an avearge distance of 35 feet from the HDTV broadcast tuner box, which would be out of the specs for component cable (as I understand it).

Eventually, when I get a real HDTV set, I will make sure it's one with a digital HDTV broadcast tuner. But I don't see any reason to jettison three perfectly good tube-type non-digital TV's at the moment.

Kevin,

I agree, there's way too much preoccupation with forensics on TV these days. I think it's a sign of our paranoid times - always suspecting someone somewhere of doing something wrong. I like the original "Law and Order" with Sam Waterston, but that show has spawned way too many clones. Reality TV shows are popular with networks because they are relatively cheap to produce (don't have to hire professional actors) and they still get good ratings. I find "Lost" somewhat interesting because on the surface it looks like a reality show, but it's really a drama with a touch of fantasy. At least they are employing actors and writers.
 
Sudsmaster-Now I get it-you want to show the "HDTV" program on three older tube type sets.No,I wouldn't get rid of those vintage tube sets either.Used to have some of those-are kinda fun to work on-fixed lots of 'em.What I figure you will need for your setup-is-your present antenna feeding into the HDTV tuner.Then you take the analog video out of the tuner and feed it into the modulator.I don't think the modulator will act as a distribution amp-since you are feeding more than one TV.Most modulators were designed to feed one set.You will need to feed them modulator into a RF distribution amp-then feed the TV's.You can also put a RF switch on the antenna in of each set so you can use the switch to select a regular analog signal-or the signal from the HDTV tuner.Just a thought.
On the TV shows--I have a DVD boxed set of the 70's "Quincy"-this would be like todays CSI.The older Quincy show wasn't as "graphic"-I also think since digital and other modern special effects are available-producers of TV shows and movies love to use them-sometimes too much and not in good taste-like the stragulation of that woman.In the 70's such effects weren't available.
 
Tolivac,

As you can see from the photo I posted, I already have all the components in place to do what you describe. The box with the red light is a signal amplifier. I would probably just mix in the CH3 output of the HDTV tuner/modulator directly into the mix, without needing to have it feedinto the antenna switch first, since CH3 shouldn't interfere with any other signal or cause ghosting.

My problem is that I have yet to see a digital broadcast tuner in person. I've only seen them on the internet, and I'd like to have an actual specimen in hand to get a better idea of its features, quality, etc.

I suppose I'll have to visit a higher end video store (besides Fry's which was a bust) to look at these devices.
 
You can get HDTV tuners from Best Buy,circuit City-or any of the "Hi-end" Hi-fi-Home Theater stores in your area.I tried one breifly from Samsung-It had Component video out,and standard NSTC analog video out.it also had dolby Digital out and 5.1 Ch analog audio out.If you have to feed its audio-unless the tuner has a mono out for older systems-use the center channel.HDTV uses Dolby Digital as its sound standard.-Same as the Dolby digital on DVD's and in movie theaters.--Makes it easy to broadcast films on HD with digital soundtracks--dolby digital encoded in between the sprocket holes on 35mm film-beside the analog soundtracks.I did return the Samsung becuase the signals in my area wouldn't work with an indoor antenna-their strengths are low here. Will try one later with an outdoor antenna.HDTV broadcsts are not a priority with me right now.
 
This brings up a point... if the HDTV doesn't have NTSC Ch3 out, then the modulator would need to accomodate TV broadcast audio stereo, not just mono. All my TV's are color/stereo, so I wouldn't want to lose that feature.

I suppose I could just get three HDTV tuners, one for each TV, but if they're $200 a pop, that's almost the cost of a new, mid-size TV.
 

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