Question about connecting a HDTV?

[arnesto]

I just bought a 1080p TV.

I have an outdoor attennae that has a co-ax cable going in to a Tivo player(old analogue version), the Tivo player has an RCA cable going to my new TV.

My question is, all TV stations that I am receiving are in the old 480 format and the picture looks lousy.

I know some stations over the air waves are broadcasting in HDTV, but I am still getting the old format output to my TV.

Do you know what I need to do to see the signal broadcasting in HDTV in the newer format on my new TV?

I'm want to use the air waves without having to pay for HD cable.

 

[VicAjax]

your TiVo probably isn't an HD box, in which case you need to bypass it and send the antenna signal through an HD tuner (which may or may not be built into your TV).

if your TiVo is HD compatible, you either need to use component or HDMI from TiVo to TV

 

[Homeless]

If you are sending the signal from the OTA antennae to the tivo and then the tivo to the TV with an RCA cable you won't be doing any HD feeds any favours anyway.

Is there a separate input for an OTA antennae? I'm pretty sure my set has one but I don't use it as there are no stations I can pick up where I am.

What is the make and model of the set? If it has an HD tuner built in it should just be plug and play...

 

[Binaural Fusion]

I believe there is a special antenna for HD signals.

and... whhaaaa?! You got a 1080p tv and don't want to pay for HD cable? There's so much good material, even where I live in Canada, it definately worth it if you can afford a 1080p TV.

 

[VicAjax]

oh...

i don't know much about OTA HD signals... but can a standard outdoor antenna receive them?

 

[adanac061]

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnesto /img/forum/go_quote.gif the Tivo player has an RCA cable going to my new TV. .

You'll find thats the problem. rca = poor quality, s-video better but still not HD.

 

[arnesto]

I'll have to try bypassing Tivo and connection the outdoor antenna's co-ax directly to the TV.

I wasn't able to find any info. on it, but I thought you can pull a digital HDTV signal from an outdoor antenna.

Since it is a digital signal, the way I understand it, it is an all or nothing signal. I will receive either 100% clear picture or nothing at all.

The TV does have a built in ATSC and NTSC tuner.

 

[Samgotit]

The page below will tell you everything available in your area. Most likely all you will need is a cheap UHF antenna. Plug it straight into your TV if you don't want to do a set-top-box then scan for channels. An antenna is a PITA, but it's free.

http://www.hdtvantennalabs.com/tv-antenna-type.php

Hit the link in the middle of that page called AntennaWeb. It will ask for your zip code, go from there.

 

[Homeless]

As far as I know there are not a lot of boxes that allow pass through. I don't have any experience at all with Tivo (not sure if it is even available in Canada). I wish my sat receiver had a pass through to show material in its native resolution. I ended up just leaving it on 1080i.

If it has an ATSC tuner it will be able to decode the OTA signals. Try just plugging the coax from your antennae to the set.

 

[Samgotit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnesto /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'll have to try bypassing Tivo and connection the outdoor antenna's co-ax directly to the TV. I wasn't able to find any info. on it, but I thought you can pull a digital HDTV signal from an outdoor antenna. Since it is a digital signal, the way I understand it, it is an all or nothing signal. I will receive either 100% clear picture or nothing at all.

Unfortunately, that's not the way it works for OTA. You can pick up choppy OTA HDTV. It depends on signal strength. See the page I linked in the previous post.

If you had digital cable, a QAM tuner can pick up in-the-clear HD digital signals without having to subscribe to HD services. Most providers don't have many in-the-clear channels so having a QAM tuner is not that big of a deal IMO.

 

[GlendaleViper]

You need to get an HD box and upgrade your Tivo. HD content CAN be taken through an antenna (and your set will likely have a built in ATSC tuner to make this happen). But if you're used to the functionality of your Tivo and want the best quality/most content, you just have to bite the bullet and subscribe to some HD content. You'll be happier with your purchase.

 

[3x331m]

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnesto /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'll have to try bypassing Tivo and connection the outdoor antenna's co-ax directly to the TV. I wasn't able to find any info. on it, but I thought you can pull a digital HDTV signal from an outdoor antenna. Since it is a digital signal, the way I understand it, it is an all or nothing signal. I will receive either 100% clear picture or nothing at all. The TV does have a built in ATSC and NTSC tuner.

Make sure that your antenna can pull UHF signals. ATSC is on UHF. You might need to connect your coax from the antenna directly to the coax input on the panel.

I've been using OTA HD in the last 5 years, using a $20 Ratshack UHF antenna, mounted on my chimney. The coax cable goes directly to whichever device that can decode ATSC signal. I used to have it connected to my Directv box and uplink to my TV. Currently, I no longer have Directv (Netflix side effect), and the coax from the antenna goes directly to my LCD panel.

It's a no return for me. Anything less than 720p or 1080i is just annoying.

 

[MikeyII]

Quote:

I'll have to try bypassing Tivo and connection the outdoor antenna's co-ax directly to the TV. I wasn't able to find any info. on it, but I thought you can pull a digital HDTV signal from an outdoor antenna. Since it is a digital signal, the way I understand it, it is an all or nothing signal. I will receive either 100% clear picture or nothing at all. The TV does have a built in ATSC and NTSC tuner.

If your TV works fine directly connected to the antenna, just buy an RF splitter (usually ~$5) and connect the antenna to both the TV's ATSC tuner, and your DVR. Then you will be able to use the built-in HD tuner in your TV to watch content live in HD, but still be able to use your DVR. (Of course, recorded content would be limited to 480i though). Depending on your signal quality, though, you may need to purchase a slightly pricier splitter/amplifier (~$30) instead. (since a splitter basically gives half the signal strength to each device, unless you amplify the signal first).