[mythtv-users] Comcast to drop analog cable

[Mark Knecht]

On Mon, Jun 16, 2008 at 4:51 PM, Rod Smith <mythtv at rodsbooks.com> wrote:
> On Monday 16 June 2008 06:50:49 pm Michael T. Dean wrote:
>> On 06/16/2008 09:31 AM, Tom Dexter wrote:
>> >
>> > I know OTA isn't an option for some,
>>
>> For those who feel that's the case, I /highly/ recommend trying out OTA
>> HDTV.  I could not (and still cannot) receive a single local analog
>> channel OTA even with my very nice (and very big) antenna mounted nice
>> and high (and in Florida where there's no such thing as hills).  However
>> /every/ single HDTV station in the area comes in with a very good
>> signal.  This is the beauty of the digital cliff--broadcasters no longer
>> have the "class-B reception" cop out.
>
> FWIW, this isn't the case for me -- at least, not as far as I've taken it.
> I've yet to try putting a Big Ugly Antenna (BUA) on my roof, but I have put a
> BUA in my attic and fiddled with it for hours. Although I could tune in, with
> significant static, about half a dozen analog channels, I couldn't get a
> single digital channel with this setup. I'm not all THAT far from most TV
> transmitters (14-35 miles), but between various factors (low hills near me,
> the indoor nature of the antenna, and the distance), it's blocking reception,
> and the reduction in digital quality is enough to completely kill its signal,
> whereas analog can still be received, albeit poorly.
>
> Of course, YMMV, as they say. For me it's cable, satellite, bad analog, or
> nothing (or possibly a BUA on my roof, but I'm not willing to go that far,
> particularly not without a guarantee that it'll work).
>
> --
> Rod Smith

My (as of yet unrealized) intention is to get one of the Pinnacle HD
Pro Stick devices and try it out on Windows. Has anyone in the SF Bay
Area in a tougher signal area tried this out yet? (Using Linux or
Windows?)

Some years ago I put up an HD antenna on our previous house. At that
time there was a web site wherein you entered your address or zip - I
don't remember which - and it gave you directions to turn your
antenna. Worked great if you had a remote controlled antenna moter.
Anyone know if that site's still around? I tried to find it with no
luck.

- Mark