How to Use Built-In Tuner with Antenna?

[Jhodi]

I searched the forums and did find some information, but thought some might benefit from a newbie discussion of this topic. At least, I think I can.

I bought a fancy HDTV antenna (that I am going to return thanks to learning on here that "HDTV Antenna" is nothing but marketing hype...but while I have it, I am trying to get it to work.

Tomorrow it will be hooked up to my new Dish Box, but for tonight, I plugged it straight into the TV and nothing happened. The channels were all fuzzy and stuff. I did set the tv to recieve AIR over Cable, and that did not help.

Any suggestions?

My TV is as noted below, and it is stated to have a built in tuner.

[Jhodi]

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...built-in+tuner

Ok, so I found this thread which helps and my go-to man Crackedhedz states that an HDTV antenna IS indeed necessary.

I am still returning my 74 dollar Terk for the exact same antenna I found online for 36 bucks.

Why do I shop at Best Buy???


I still may need an outdoor antenna though given my distance from town (35 miles).

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Jhodi

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...built-in+tuner

Ok, so I found this thread which helps and my go-to man Crackedhedz states that an HDTV antenna IS indeed necessary.

I am still returning my 74 dollar Terk for the exact same antenna I found online for 36 bucks.

Why do I shop at Best Buy???


I still may need an outdoor antenna though given my distance from town (35 miles).

ahhh...but I never said an HD antenna is necessary!

...I merely provided a link to an antenna that happened to say "HD" in the name! ....because it was super cheap.

[Jhodi]

well, you led me to the same antenna I bought at Best Buy but for half the money! Man, I gotta get those cookies in the mail!

Do I have to do anything special to activate the built-in tuner or is it just automatic?

cause this antenna did absolutely nothing...wouldn't even get the channels in clearly enough to view at all.

the Terk says up to 45 miles away and I am 35.

Thoughts?

[crackinhedz]

without being able to read your user manual, I really couldnt be of much help.

sometimes you have to be in a good spot for it to pick up the signal. Try this website out to find which direction you need to aim...

AntennaWeb

[davidxiphoid]

Originally Posted by Jhodi

well, you led me to the same antenna I bought at Best Buy but for half the money! Man, I gotta get those cookies in the mail!

Do I have to do anything special to activate the built-in tuner or is it just automatic?

cause this antenna did absolutely nothing...wouldn't even get the channels in clearly enough to view at all.

the Terk says up to 45 miles away and I am 35.

Thoughts?

There can be so many issues when trying to get OTA hd channels. Where is your antenna within the line of sight of the transmitter towers, are there lots of trees or tall buildings surrounding your house etc.. I bought a $100 terk and it was pretty worthless. i returned it and had better luck with a $20 rca brand of rabbit ears.

even with the rabbit ears I had to constantly fidget with it, move it from one side of the ent center to the other, drop it behind the tv, depending on what channel I was trying to get.

I eventually gave up and bought an outdoor channel master stealth ANTENNA.

http://www.channelmasterintl.com/3010.html

Its relatively small, I just mounted it outside on my middle deck post and I haven't had any issues with getting OTA since then. I did have to buy a power booster to get channels that were slightly farther away but even with that total cost was about $100.

Now with most sat and cable companies offering local hd's its not that big a deal for me but they dont offer the CW which I watch sometimes and the local HD weather channels are very convenient.

[Jhodi]

Can't I just fax you my manual?

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by davidxiphoid

even with the rabbit ears I had to constantly fidget with it, move it from one side of the ent center to the other, drop it behind the tv, depending on what channel I was trying to get.

so true!

[davidxiphoid]

ALSO.. you may already have this info but if not, here is a really handy link with a ton of good FAQ's with info about HDtv antennas



http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx

[Jhodi]

David, thanks, I may just go with that one...can I just duct tape the damn thing to my Dish up on my roof?

[Jhodi]

Yes, I did just look up my address and I am no further than 25 miles from a tower, and some much closer.

I bet for me it is all the trees..I live in the forest. (and yes, I CAN see the forest...hahahhaha)

Looks like I need to mount one on the roof.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by davidxiphoid

I did have to buy a power booster to get channels that were slightly farther away

me too, I got one of these: 36 db High Performance VHF / UHF / FM / HDTV Signal Amplifier

...but because of my location I still have to play with the ears every now and again.

[davidxiphoid]

Originally Posted by Jhodi

David, thanks, I may just go with that one...can I just duct tape the damn thing to my Dish up on my roof?

haha well Duct tape is amazing but I don't think I could honestly reccommend that and feel good about myself

[Jhodi]

I think I'd rather climb on the roof one time than play with my ears all the time.

[crackinhedz]

david, how did you run the coax cable into the house form outside?? My home theater is on the lowest level, so going to the roof isnt an option and I don't wanna crack a window open!

[davidxiphoid]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

david, how did you run the coax cable into the house form outside?? My home theater is on the lowest level, so going to the roof isnt an option and I don't wanna crack a window open!

I had to drill a small hole from the inside out where I assumed My ent center would stay for life I ran the cable from the ant into the house, connected it to a newly installed cable switchplate on the inside, filled the outside hole with industrial strength putty , and all around the cable so there is no crack whatsoever and that was pretty much it.

I check the outside hole every 3 or 4 months to make sure its still completely covered. It's been 2 years and I havent had to refill it yet

the back of my house is just drywall and vinyl siding though. I imagine it would be a lot harder to do if it was brick or stone

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by davidxiphoid

the back of my house is just drywall and vinyl siding though. I imagine it would be a lot harder to do if it was brick or stone

Brick.



...oh well, I cant complain...LOST comes in HD wonderful! ...its CBS I have trouble with, but nothing good until football season.

[davidxiphoid]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

Brick.



...oh well, I cant complain...LOST comes in HD wonderful! ...its CBS I have trouble with, but nothing good until football season.

argh! still not impossible. you might be able to rent a drill from Home Depot or a lowes that can drill through brick. My father in law kept screaming at me that if I needed something like that, he def had the right drill for the job

[Jhodi]

Mr. Crackedhedz, I have appreciated your help immensely the last few days. BUT, I cannot help but giggle a bit as I observe the irony of you (and others) being SO knowledgable in this high-def world and owning thousands of dollars in high tech gear and STILL having to mess with rabbit ears!!!










OMG!!! I just heard Andy Griffith has died!!!This is indeed the end of an era.

[davidxiphoid]

Originally Posted by Jhodi

Mr. Crackedhedz, I have appreciated your help immensely the last few days. BUT, I cannot help but giggle a bit as I observe the irony of you (and others) being SO knowledgable in this high-def world and owning thousands of dollars in high tech gear and STILL having to mess with rabbit ears!!!










OMG!!! I just heard Andy Griffith has died!!!This is indeed the end of an era.

Jhodi I think it was the Andy Griffiths show composer, Earl Hagen that actually died. ANdy is still going strong as far as I know