Archive for the ‘Free To Air’ Category
Why are OTA’s and HDTV Sets So Important?
Over the air, or OTA, antennas are needed to receive the signal for HDTV. Important features for this antenna are the radio and direction specifications to make sure you get the highest quality and clearest reception on both digital and analog broadcasts.
As broadcasters prepared and make the transition to the digital signal broadcasting, the decision to purchase an HDTV system became harder to postpone. The stations have prepared their programs to fit the high definition resolution. The owners of the old analog TV sets can either get an HDTV or use a converter box to be able to receive the digital signal. However, the old cathode ray tubes have a hard time competing with the resolution of displays like a plasma or LCD monitor. Over the Air, or OTA, antennas provide a wonderful quality of reception that is equal to satellite or cable TV.
The first step when buying your antenna is to see if you have a built in tuner. Most sets are being sold as “HDTV-ready.” These sets are able to receive high-definition from a satellite or cable receiver, but cannot receive signals from OTA broadcasts. The reason for this is that HDTV broadcasts cannot be decoded into visual images and sound.
All you have to do to decide if the DTV you have has a built-in tuner is just look to see if there is an RF antenna connector on the back of the TV set. A set with the built-in tuner will have to have a connector to plug in for an off air high-definition antenna.
OTA’s can be found for the outdoor or indoor areas. With outdoor antennas, you can receive high-definition signal from a longer range, but the set must be aimed in a certain direction. This type of antenna is great if the source of the signal is in the same direction from your location. Indoor antennas aren’t as stable as the outdoor models. You can also get an amplified indoor antenna to get better reception, however, in most circumstances an outdoor HDTV antenna is the most reliable option. After you decide which type of antenna to purchase, you simply make sure the cables are connected properly and the antenna is aimed in the right direction.
The problems with reception are usually due to the direction of the TV set or sometimes the gain is too low to pick up the signal. The cheapest component of the HDTV system is the antenna and it also plays a very important role in the enjoyment of TV watchers. Those that want to purchase an HDTV set or antenna need to know the many components of the system, how it works, and what all the capabilities and functions are. This will give them the best options for performance. This will also include a lot of research which is possible in both stores and online. By getting all the facts on the system you would like to purchase, you will prevent any confusion and this will make you procrastinate less on your decision to upgrade to HDTV. You can also discuss the equipment you wish to buy with a salesperson and compare the quality to get the best model for your personal preference.
The Case of the Shrinking Satellite Dish
Okay, I am sort of going to reveal my age right off the bat. I actually remember when we had three channels on television. I even will admit that I sat through the national anthem a few times until the announcer would state, “And that concludes the end of our broadcasting day.” Yep, that really is how I remember television as a kid.
The coolest thing about this time in my life was my grandpa. He wanted to be the first to have whatever was the newest gadget. He was the first person in town to have a microwave, a cordless phone and a satellite dish.
Let me describe that dish to those of you who may not remember them. They were about six feet across and stood about six to eight feet high. They sat on the ground and were that tall. I love the day they brought the new toy home. It took four men to get it out of the truck and since Gramps would never pay for installation, they had to hook it up too. I can never describe how hilarious that day was to watch from the front porch.
Picture my grandmother sitting in her chair crocheting, muttering under her breath that this was a ridiculous “new-fangled” thing. Grandma was in charge of shouting when the picture on the television was clear. Now remember the four guys out in the yard sweating and groaning every time they had to move the enormous thing.
Okay, this is how it went down; the guys moved the dish and Gramps would yell to check if the picture was clear. Granny would then bellow back that there was nothing but white snow showing. The men would move it again and Gramps would yell again, and so on. This continued for about 2 hours. That dish got moved to every corner of the yard. Granny finally said that the picture was clear and everyone cheered. Gramps later sat down with his new remote control to explain to me that now he would be able to watch shows all night. He now had access to 36 channels.
Satellite dishes, thankfully, have come a long way. I have seen them as small as eighteen inches in diameter. They get hundreds of channels and installation is super easy. The newest satellite systems allow you to watch programs broadcasting from all around the world. You can watch television in every language when you pay a one time fee for your equipment. Incredible FTA offers the most state of the art satellite system available. Take advantage of the latest technology and get your family excited about the new program choices available. Okay, your grandkid won’t be telling the story of how crazy it was to install, but you will get a lot more viewing choices. Just for fun, you could get Granny to sit in the chair and yell when the signal gets strong. Trust me; the kids will remember it forever!