Televisions and TV Antennas??

Question

I am wanting to set up a television in my room I have about a $50 budget (although I have the money to go over), but I might be able to get the TV for free. I was wondering mostly about what to do about an antenna.
I have heard of HD antennas that get HD and digital stations, I think. Do they work well? Do they work at all with a old, cheap TV or do you need an HDTV?
I want to get the basic channels, like NBC, ABC, CBS, etc. and I would really like to get other channels like what you get with satellite or cable. (I know I won't get that many with an antenna but those kind of channels). What kind of channels can you get with an HD antenna? Would I be better off with rabbbit ears?
I live in a suburb about 30 minutes away from a really big city. In a two floor house. What is my best option for around $50? I don't really care about if the picture is good. Just as long as it isn't too bad.
Sorry, this is a long and probably hard to understand question...

Answer 1

There is no difference between a HD antenna and plain old TV antennas. This "HD antenna" business is just a marketing ploy to separate you from your money.

Assuming that other people in your neighborhood can use indoor antennas, you probably can to. A lot of small (13" - 19") TVs have built in antennas. These are similar in performance with basic "$10 rabbit ears" available at places like Walmart. If you get a good enough signal, great. If you can get a "not quite good enough" signal, stepping up rabbit ear type antenna with a preamplifier may get the job done.

For $50, you are not going to get a HDTV. However, right now used analog CRT TVs have very little resale value because lots of people are buying flat screen TVs. You should be able to find a "like new" used TV for free or very little money.

In Janurary 2008, the goverment will start giving out $40 off coupons (limit two per household) to buy converter boxes that will allow old analog TVs to receive digital signals, including HDTV signals. For about $20 (after coupon) you should be able to buy one and hook it to your "old" TV, this will allow you to receive all the over-the-air channels.

Even though you will be able to receive HDTV signals at that point, the picture that is displayed on your "old" will be limited to a quality similar to that of a DVD player playing on the same TV. With a 13" or 19" screen, the difference between DVD and HDTV quality probably won't matter to you anyway.

The extra digital TV channels you will get for free depend on where you live, but most likely they will be more like extra PBS channels. You will not get anything like "cable only" channels.

Hint: Check your local library, sometimes old cable shows will be avalible on DVD.

Answer 2

An HD antenna will do absolutely nothing toward your ability to get HDTV on a TV that is not an HDTV. You need to have either a TV with a built-in HD tuner or a external HD tuner and a TV that has component video inputs. So, forget about HD.

Just go down to your local Radio Shack or electronics department of just about any store that has one (Home Depot, Target, etc.) and pick up a set of rabbit ears. They'll set you back about $10.

Make sure you know how it's connected to the TV, though. Older TVs have two screw terminals that you have to attach these spade lugs to (300-ohm connector). Newer TVs have a standard cable TV fitting (75-ohm screw-on F fitting).

If the rabbit ears have a 300-ohm cable (flat with two conductors) and the TV has an F fitting for the antenna connection, you'll have to get a 300- to 75-ohm adaptor (couple bucks, if that).

Answer 3

The FACT of the matter is there is no difference between a DIGITAL or HD antenna and the antenna we've used for the last 40 years......So spend that money on your HDTV set....

Now when you autoprogram that TV set, you should come up with the SAME stations you had before, but you will find more SUBCHANNELS...those are the ones you want...

For example, if you have sayyyyy channel 24....then you'll also get 24 .1 and 24.2 and maybe 24.3 and 24.4.

The 24.1 is the HD channel.
24.2 to 24.4 is DIGITAL, but only Low Definition....it will have a super clean picture to the point you might wonder if it's actually HD, but it's only SD/480i.
But believe me....Digital is soooo good you like it.....

Answer 4

good answer TV TECHMAN but one flaw - he doesn't have an HDTV.

rabbit ears may not work too well but it is probably your only option. a small rooftop antenna will cost more than $50 even self installed.