Question about Digital TV

[rdel]

Hello Everone
I have a question about HDTV, If I have a unit which picks up SDTV but not HDTV and the OTA show is in HDTV will I still get the show in SDTV? Do they broadcast both HDTV and SDTV at the same time?
Thank You
rdel

[davideck]

Do they broadcast both HDTV and SDTV at the same time?

Many do but some don't. Some HDTV channels do not have SDTV equivalents. PBS, for example.

[edDV]

Hello Everone
I have a question about HDTV, If I have a unit which picks up SDTV but not HDTV and the OTA show is in HDTV will I still get the show in SDTV? Do they broadcast both HDTV and SDTV at the same time?
Thank You
rdel

Yes they broadcast on separate transmitters on different frequencies. Regular analog TV sets pick up the traditional channels (NTSC in the USA). These channels will be turned off in ~2009.

Each station now has a second DTV station that needs a DTV tuner to receive. The DTV station can carry either the SDTV or HDTV version of the program or both since DTV can carry multiple "subchannels". The subchannels can also carry completely different programming like the PBS HD channel which is fed from a national satellite feed.

A typical major network station looks like this.*

NBC4 - traditional analog NTSC broadcast
NBCDT 4.1 - SD or HD version of the network broadcast
NBCDT 4.2 - Weather or News

A typical PBS station looks like this

PBS9 - traditional locally programmed PBS NTSC channel
PBSDT 9.1 - PBS HD or SD widescreen channel off the satellite (same nationwide)
PBSDT 9.2 - second SD local program schedule
PBSDT 9.3 - third local channel (daytime)
PBSDT 9.4 - forth local channel (daytime)

The third and forth channels often support the local schools When they are on the air, the HD n.1 channel must be SD since bitrate is shared.

The new Digital TV sets, or older analog sets with an external DTV tuner will receive all the DTV stations. If the TV is only able to display in SD resolutions, HD broadcasts are downscaled in the tuner to the display resolution of that TV.


* In ~2009 the analog channels will be turned off. When that happens, a typical Network station is expected to look like this, although each station has options for resolution, aspect ratios and use of subchannels.

NBCDT 4.1 - HD or SD 16:9 version of the network broadcast
NBCDT 4.2 - SD 4:3 version of the network broadcast.

If you had a SD 4:3 TV, the first channel would always show in letterbox. The second channel would always show full screen.

[rdel]

Thank You edDV and davideck
The reason why I was asking is I'm into FTA (free to air) and I want to get the digital OTA channels to go along with my setup. I'm looking into getting a Dreambox 7025 which will do FTA, OTA and has a PVR but won't do HDTV (yet) My TV isn't HDTV so I really don't need the HDTV setup yet.
I think I'll start a new post and see if anyone has a dreambox.
rdel

http://www.dream-multimedia-tv.de/english/products_dm7025.php


http://www.dream-multimedia-tv.de/english/products_dm7025_technical.php

[Marty2003]

That box you posted is for DVB, which is the european DTV broadcast standard. WHat you're looking for is a ATSC tuner.

[davideck]

CC has an ATSC tuner with HDMI, HD component, and SDTV outputs. No QAM. OTA only.

[edDV]

Here's a list of current OTA and DBS turners
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=179095

[rdel]

Thank you for all the replys, I found a phillips tuner that may work and its plug and play.

Quote from data sheet

The Philips plug-n-play tuner is an integrated, so-called 2-can product that offers a unique dual RF input, supporting NTSC, ATSC and QAM reception. It consists of the PA1232D and the TUV1236U modules. All RF tuning for analog, digital and out-of-band signaling is self-contained in these modules. The PA1232D is an “input module” that offers dual RF input with an electronic switch that meets stringent FCC requirements for isolation. One input is intended for off-air terrestrial reception and the other is intended for cable reception.

here is the link

http://rfdesign.com/mag/radio_philips_launches_unique/index.html

Please post any input you may have, I'm new to OTA and trying to get the best of both worlds in one.
Thank You Everyone
rdel

ps I wrote to the dreambox company today for their input and am still waiting for their reply, will keep you posted.

[jman98]

rdel - OTA is not as great as you might think. It varies from location to location. I live within 15 miles of almost every single HD transmitter in my city. I think one is 16 miles from me and the others are between 12-15 miles. I was never able to get in NBC no matter what I did. Only Fox came in great every time and then disturbingly I stopped getting consistently good feeds from Fox. It would be great for 20 minutes and then crap for the next 10. It got real old. I finally just paid the cable company to get HD with a cable box and life is good again.

To be fair, I do not have an outdoor antenna, just an indoor one. Be prepared that you may need to put an antenna on your roof to get reliable OTA signals. The further you live away from the broadcast towers, the more problems you will likely have.

[ROF]

To be fair, I do not have an outdoor antenna, just an indoor one. Be prepared that you may need to put an antenna on your roof to get reliable OTA signals. The further you live away from the broadcast towers, the more problems you will likely have.

Geography plays a big part in this too. You could be five miles from the broadcast tower and yet have a big ol' mound of a mountain between you.

[rdel]

Thanks jman98 and rof for the input, I'm around new orleans and I know were having problems with some of the stations. I guess I'll just take my time with OTA and stick with FTA awhile.
I'll keep you posted on what I find out about the Dreambox.
Thanks again
rdel

[rdel]

CC has an ATSC tuner with HDMI, HD component, and SDTV outputs. No QAM. OTA only.


Just wondering, what is CC???
rdel

[davideck]

Circuit City - Pro Brand HDTV Receiver (HD3150PLUS)

[edDV]

Review this forum for others DTV OTA experiences around the New Orleans market. Usually the signals are strong in the larger cities. Small towns usually run at minimal power until 2009. Ask them which tuner and antenna you should use. Don't trust retail sales people. They don't know much.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=357741&page=20&pp=30

[zzyzzx]

To be fair, I do not have an outdoor antenna, just an indoor one. Be prepared that you may need to put an antenna on your roof to get reliable OTA signals.

Or just a better antenna. The outdoor antennas work pretty good when mounted indoors. It does practically take up your whole living room ceiling, but it works great and is a conversation piece.