Video Asylum

Posted by petew (A) on October 21, 2002 at 09:16:36

In Reply to: If I were you, I would just go get a job at the local PBS station posted by lwang on October 20, 2002 at 23:17:49:

i'm sorry, but i believe i wasn't clear

where i live i get 7 digital signals that are broadcast via "old-fashoned" TV towers through the eather about 20 miles to a 9-inch "bowtie" antenna in my attic. there is no charge for this service. sometimes the networks broadcast a true 1080i HDTV signal, like for the last winter olympics or for a special feature movie.

but our PBS station, WHYY, has an alternate frequency (digital 12.3) that broadcasts in 1080i high definition all the time. the picture is beyond description.

i've had so many problems with cable service, noise interference, lost signals every time it rains, lost signals for no reason, sudden changes in station frequencies, etc...that i went out and bought a dish and installed it myself in a few hours--it was easy. the picture is way better than cable ever was. HBO broadcasts movies in HD on one of the satellite frequencies all the time, but the absolute best picture you can get is the off-the-airwave PBS alternate signal--and you don't need a cable or a dish to get it--even a bent coathanger sticking out of the back of your receiver is enough to get this unbelievably life-like picture!

to find out who is broadcasting analog or digital in your area and where to aim your antenna, check out this website:

• http://www.antennaweb.org