How Can I get NBC in HD? (no this isn't spam)

mattsk42 · #1 01-29-2009, 04:01 PM

We live in South Dakota. We live JUST a mile outside town, but the local cable company will not deliver service to us since it's technically outside the limits. So...

We have Dish Network.

We do get some channels in HD, but none of the "local" ones. (ABC, NBC, CBS, etc.)

So how can I get at least NBC in HD for the Superbowl?

Oh, and we have an OTA antenna on top of the house, but in SD in our area at least, they only broadcast ABC and CBS in digital signals.

**WillPlay4Food** · #2 01-29-2009, 04:11 PM

If your local NBC affiliate doesn't broadcast in HD then you may want to consider going into town on Sunday. Maybe contact your local NBC affiliate and see what they say?

Fontaine · #3 01-29-2009, 04:15 PM

SPAM!!!

Chunk-O-Funk · #4 01-29-2009, 04:16 PM

HD antenna.

Depending on how much you want to spend you may be able to grab most of the over the air HD stations with a decent HD antenna.

A quick google found this:
http://www.hdtvantennalabs.com/index.php

I tried using an inexpensive indoor HD antenna from Bestbuy/Circuit City a few years ago, but it didn't really pick up any stations. A friend of mine had a very similar one and was able to pick up pretty much all the local stations that broadcast in HD. He lived on the second floor and had better reception.

You can also check out http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/

I have read a few post over there that have great results. Indoor and outdoor antennas. I know there are also amplifiers available that can pickup weak signals too. Depends on how the reception is in your area and how elaborate ($) you want to get.

**WillPlay4Food** · #5 01-29-2009, 04:22 PM

From www.dtv.gov

Will I need a special antenna to receive DTV over-the-air?

In general, dependable reception of over-the-air digital TV programming will require the same type of signal reception equipment that currently works to provide good quality reception of analog TV programming. If you need a roof-top antenna to receive analog TV broadcasts, the same antenna generally will work to receive digital TV broadcasts. You should not have to purchase new antennas that are marketed as “digital ready” or “HD ready.”

Chunk-O-Funk · #6 01-29-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillPlay4Food

From www.dtv.gov

Will I need a special antenna to receive DTV over-the-air?

In general, dependable reception of over-the-air digital TV programming will require the same type of signal reception equipment that currently works to provide good quality reception of analog TV programming. If you need a roof-top antenna to receive analog TV broadcasts, the same antenna generally will work to receive digital TV broadcasts. You should not have to purchase new antennas that are marketed as “digital ready” or “HD ready.”

That's to receive a DTV (digital television) signal.
He wants to receive a High Definition signal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by www.dtv.gov

High Definition TV (HDTV) - HDTV in widescreen format (16:9) provides the highest resolution and picture quality of all digital broadcast formats. Combined with digitally enhanced sound technology, HDTV sets new standards for sound and picture quality in television. (Note: HDTV and digital TV are not the same thing — HDTV is one format of digital TV.)

mattsk42 · #7 01-29-2009, 04:51 PM

Yeah, that's a different thing altogether.

We have a big huge antenna mounted on the roof. The problem is that the signal doesn't get broadcasted within 20 miles of our place, and actually comes from a place about 200 miles from here.

So ideally I would be able to "con" Dish Network into giving us NBC in the NY or LA HD signal, but I don't know how to get them to do that.

???

Chunk-O-Funk · #8 01-29-2009, 05:22 PM

Ahhh, I see.

We had a similar problem with our cable company, Cox Communications. Actually the problem was between Cox and Fox Networks. Although Cox in neighboring Connecticut was broadcasting the game in HD, Cox in Rhode Island was not. Basically Fox wanted to charge extra for the HD service and Cox, RI didn't feel they should have to pay for it. There was a lot fuss made over the problem as the Patriots were in the Superbowl. It wound up in the news and made the papers. Just before Superbowl Sunday Cox announced they worked out an agreement with Fox to broadcast the game in HD, and then they would take their HD broadcast off the air.

Now, FIOS is coming to town and Cox is handing out HD stations as fast as they can get licensed to do so.

Not sure if that helps you at all, but maybe if you and all your friends call Dish Network and make some noise maybe they can broadcast the game if they are able.

Good luck.

**WillPlay4Food** · #9 01-29-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunk-O-Funk

That's to receive a DTV (digital television) signal.
He wants to receive a High Definition signal.

Oops!

Oh, my bad. Glad I haven't bought my antenna yet.

MJ5150 · #10 01-29-2009, 05:37 PM

Why would this be spam?

One person isn't going to be able to con Dish into doing anything, so Dish won't give you a specific channel because you ask for it. These guys just dropped ABC altogether for not cooperating with them.

You could pick it up streaming online and send the feed from your PC to your TV.

-Mike

Pilgrim · #11 01-29-2009, 05:45 PM

Are the local stations transmitting in HD? You didn't say - but many are not, and if not, you're out of luck, because Dish and DirecTV re-broadcast the local signals. No HD locally, none on satellite.

If they are in HD, you have two simple options:

1) Buy an HD RF (broadcast/radio frequency) antenna and install it on your home. Check Antennaweb.org for information on antennas.

2) Upgrade your Dish system to an HD-compatible dish, AND add an HD receiver, AND pay extra for HD service. You need all three.

mattsk42 · #12 01-30-2009, 08:31 AM

Yep, it looks like I'm out of luck. The local station comes from Sioux Falls, NOT the town we're a mile away from. It IS in HD, but the signal's too far away for us to get it.

If you read the post I had originally, it says that we have an antenna that gets some of the channels in HD, just not NBC.

We DO have all the right digital equipment and do have HD service with Dish. But they won't give us the "local" Sioux Falls channels in HD.

Philbiker · #13 01-30-2009, 08:34 AM

Lots of ignorance on this thread. No wonder there's so much confusion about the digital transition....

HDTV is a subset of DTV, both under the ATSC standard. The signal is the same it comes from the same tower the same transmission. And you use the same antenna.

If you have an antenna on your roof you should be able to pick up the same stations in digital as you could pick up in analog (though there is a great deal of variation here). If your antenna is made for VHF/UHF you should be good. I can't imagine many people have VHF only antennas, but if you happen to have a VHF only antenna on your roof, that may be your problem, and you may be better off with set-top rabbit ears for the Big Game™.

Go to www.antennaweb.org to check the status of your local stations, what you should be able to recieve.

The biggest difference between standard ATSC transmissions and old fashioned VHF analog transmissions is that the ATSC is broadcast on bandwidth which was in the analog days known as "UHF". These signals are more directional than VHF signals were. The result is that if your antenna is not pointed in the right direction, you may have gotten the VHS analog station "off-axis", but the new DTV station won't work with your antenna. The web site I linked above, www.antennaweb.org , will help you determine which direction to point your UHF/DTV antenna.

Another good site: http://www.dtv.gov/

According to a quick lookup on antennaweb, from the center of the zip code 55433 for Coon Rapids, SD you have an NBC afiliate sending out a DTV signal 11 miles away that can be recieved with a "small multidirectional" antenna. It should be easy for you to get fantastically awesome HDTV picture for the Big Game™ with even a small indoor UHF/HDTV antenna.

You should be gold. You may have to rescan your tuner and may have to aim your antenna.

BTW, the absolute best picture quality you can get with HDTV (other than possibly blu-ray) is over-the-air ATSC pickup. Cable and sattelite providers generally compress the signal, sometimes by a lot.

mattsk42 · #14 01-30-2009, 08:56 AM

Well thanks for the info, I agree it's confusing when people don't know exactly what they're talking about. (me included)

That would work great BUT..... I'm talking about the house in Pierre, SD. Check out the coverage map here: http://www.kdlt.com/coverage.html

Philbiker · #15 01-30-2009, 10:56 AM

For zip code 57501 in Piere, antennaweb reports few DTV stations. It's possible they are planning on switching the analog signal over to digital.

**WillPlay4Food** · #16 01-30-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

BTW, the absolute best picture quality you can get with HDTV (other than possibly blu-ray) is over-the-air ATSC pickup. Cable and sattelite providers generally compress the signal, sometimes by a lot.

This is exactly why I want an antenna for my TV again. Comcast uses very heavy compression on their signals. When the Fruity Pebbles commercial comes on and the multicolored spiral of pebbles flies out of the box, it's all MPEG compression blocks.

excane · #17 01-30-2009, 01:30 PM

Buy tickets to the game on the 50 yard line. Best HD you'll get.