[opendtv] Re: OTA reception? Where?
- From: James Watt <jwatt@xxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 09:24:59 -0400
> -----Original Message-----
> From: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of John Willkie
> Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2005 1:41 AM
> To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [opendtv] Re: OTA reception? Where?
>
> You are not going to be happy watching HDTV content streamed at 8 mbps,
> let
> alone having to put 13 mb/sec into a 3 mb/sec pipe. HDTV is easily 13
> mb/sec. Buffering is not the issue; you'd be happy to have some
buffering.
> Analog, encoded appropriately, should be able to fit into a 3 mb/sec pipe,
> even at 30 fps.
Our tv at home is not HD, just a regular analog set, and it's fine.
Streaming what I have now will do. When bigger pipes come along and HD
content is really there to watch, then maybe I'll switch. Besides, I'm
going to be watching it on my computer. It's a big screen TV if you get
really close :-)
> Toronto has a few DTV stations. Have you thought about buying a $300
> Samsung DTV STB and just hooking it up to an existing set?
Yes, I had thought of getting something that will receive HD OTA but what's
the content? CityTV? Now, there's quality programming (ugh). If I could
receive WPBS OTA I'd be a happy camper, well happier at any rate. Also,
there is nowhere in Canada to buy it. I'm not averse to buying from the US
but it's telling that there's no HD OTA products available in Canada (how
backward are we up here, anyway?).
> The problem
> with
> 8-VSB reception is near-field (close to the transmitter) among high signal
> levels and multiple transmitters among tall, reflective buildings. You
> might need a fancy indoor antenna, but first try just the box-tie antenna
> that comes with tv sets and stbs.
> Frankly, even with snowy pictures, you're better off with analog ota tv
> than
> with using your idea to transmit digital.
I can only get a few channels and they're really bad (reception), so bad in
fact that I couldn't tell by the picture what was playing last night. With
streaming I'd get all the satellite channels and could finally watch rally
(when Speed decides to put a break into the banjo racing programming). It's
not a perfect idea, may not even be a good idea, but it's all I have right
now. Until I can have TV over the internet (640x480 is probably just fine)
it's going to be frustrating to get any television content.
James.
>
> John Willkie
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "James Watt" <jwatt@xxxxxxx>
> To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 8:42 PM
> Subject: [opendtv] OTA reception? Where?
>
>
> > I've been following much of what has been said on this list about over
> the
> > air broadcasting and the future of same. It's been interesting to hear
> the
> > various viewpoints.
> > However, as a consumer (or consumer wannabe), I wish some of what you're
> > talking about was actually available. During the week I live in
Toronto,
> a
> > fairly major center in Canada. I'm living in an apt here but go home to
> my
> > comfy house with satellite during the weekends. Here, in the largest
> city
> > in Canada, in a relatively dense residential area, on _the_ major street
> > through the city (Yonge St), I can't even receive ONE channel without
> also
> > getting the weather report (SNOW! And lots of it). There are no clear
> > channels, not that we receive more than about 5 over the air here
anyway.
> > The apartment carries Rogers cable only, no satellite and no big antenna
> on
> > the roof. I just want to watch some television once in a while. Is
> that
> so
> > much to ask? It doesn't even have to be HD - I'm happy with the crappy
> old
> > analog signal as long as it's clear.
> >
> > So, if I may, while you are discussing the relative merits of COFDM vs.
> 8VSB
> > and other very useful and very interesting things, there are plenty of
> > potential viewers out here who can't watch TV. Yes, it's television and
> on
> > the whole not very important, but there are _some_ shows worth catching,
> and
> > it's good for a break now and again.
> >
> > My solution, for when I eventually get around to it, is to capture the
> > satellite signal from the television at home and use one of the programs
> > that streams video content to send it to the apt (over a VPN link
> between
> > the two places). At the apt I get 8Mbps service and at home it's 3Mbps
> > (down, 500k up I think it is), so there may be some buffering involved -
> and
> > a very powerful remote control! :-)
> >
> > James.
> >
> >
> >
> >
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