Over the air digital tv

[crunchyjew.livejournal.com]

Does anyone know if there is over the air digital tv reception in the Davis Square area? I'm looking to drop my cable but would still like to have basic networks particularly for the election season.

Comments

[ellf.livejournal.com]

I am fairly certain that every major US television station that broadcasts OTA is currently providing both an analog and a digital signal. As of 2/19/09, the analog signal will be disabled.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Yup: http://www.buyinghdtv.com/html/boston_local_channels.html

[ron_newman]

But the question is whether those signals can be clearly received in Davis Square.

[ellf.livejournal.com]

Fair point. Given that digital signals are being broadcast, I would assume that the reception is largely antenna-dependent, but as I don't have a television I can't confirm that.

[jodi.livejournal.com]

we get about 15-20 over-the-air digital channels. all the basics plus some you may not want like shopping and such.
drop your cable with confidence.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

What sort of antenna do you have? The first one I tried was disappointing.

[warlord-mit.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've got a small indoor antenna in Teele Sq and I get decent but not excellent reception. What antenna do you have? I'd love to get OTA working "well enough", now that RCN is going the bogus route and encrypting all their HD QAM.

[smammy]

I've heard that FCC rules prohibit cable operators from encrypting their retransmissions of over-the-air channels, digital or analog. Is RCN really doing that? Last I checked (6 months ago) all the local network channels were still unencrypted.

[warlord-mit.livejournal.com]

That's my understanding of the FCC rules, too. But yes, RCN is really doing that. They started doing it in May (so 6 months ago it was still all okay). All HD is encrypted, even the local OTA HD channels.

I've filed a complaint with the FCC, but who knows if that will help anything?

[smammy]

OK, so it looks like the FCC rule doesn't prevent them from encrypting OTA channels, they just have to provide you with the unencrypted stream somehow. I remember reading that many providers set up their cable boxes to dump the MPEG2 transport streams to FireWire. Never tried it though, since I've never actually bought cable. :)

[a51abductee.livejournal.com]

Jodi and I are using a Pinnacle PCTV HD Ultimate USB, and SnapStream Beyond TV software for program guide and PVR capabilities (zero monthly fees). We're just using the cheap indoor telescopic antenna that was included in the Pinnacle package, magnetically attached to a metal object. We get clear digital reception of about 20 channels here in Davis Square. It took a bit of research, tweaking, and luck. Building height also helps.

I was tired of being jerked around by Comcast. We dumped the cable (and their authoritarian internet as well) about a year ago, supplemented with a Netflix subscription, and never looked back. I think if more of the American population was aware of what was available free OTA digitally now, there would be a lot less people on cable.

[derekp.livejournal.com]

You may have already looked into this, but if you have cable modem service it might just be cheaper for you to go ahead and keep a basic level of service for cable TV in order to receive bundle pricing.

I believe comcast charges about $15/month for Basic (local channels - digital/hd's are included).

[smammy]

I used to get tolerable reception with a Terk HDTVi indoor antenna on top of my TV. Less than 100% data integrity, but error correction dealt with most of it. Occasional visual glitches on some channels. I think it would be possible to get perfect reception with a larger or outdoor antenna. Another thing to keep in mind is that most HDTV antennas are highly directional. Use a site like AntennaWeb to determine where to point your antenna.

[coeceo.livejournal.com]

I've got a plasma with the HD tuner, with no antenna plugged in I still picked up some OTA HD stations (2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 7.1 & 25.1).

[ron_newman]

Does ".1" mean the primary HD feed (the same program that the analog channel has)?

Rooftop -FTW!

[red-liner.livejournal.com]

With a rooftop antenna (which you can get for pretty short bucks at Radio Shack and install in a couple of hours), the reception is awesome. Even the smallest and least powerful ones will pull in the Boston stations nicely; with a bigger one and a rotor you can also get New Hampshire and Providence.

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Yes, over-the-air digital TV works just fine around here.

If you'd had trouble with the lower channels on analog ( I couldn't get 2, 4, or 5 ), you won't have trouble with digital. The digital channels in Boston are all UHF, which penetrates through urban areas better.

Plain old rabbit ears work fine. You don't need an amplified antenna in the city. You may want something a little directional though so you can aim it.

I get the digital versions of all the locals. Plus PBSHD, PBS World, PBS Create, PBS Kids, some of the PAX subchannels, and a weather channel that's part of 7. I especially enjoy the dubbed action movies on Telefutura.

I'd like to know from the one who had the roof antenna, is 26 ( the German channel ) still around or is that gone?

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

i love all the PBS type stations you get OTA.... we get 6! (for us, 2-1, 2-2, 44-1, 44-2, 44-3, 44-4).... it's awesome!