Receiving HDTV Over the Air
Simple Steps For Receiving Free HDTV Signals –
Overview
The steps for getting HDTV over the air are easy. Here is the short
version. If you want the step by step details, just click here for a complete, easy to follow, step by step
guide.
- Determine if
you can receive HDTV broadcasts over the air in your area. This site should do the
trick, www.antennaweb.org
- This step is optional, but you can get a
coupon from the government worth $40 towards the purchase of an HDTV converter box to use with your old TV. Click here to apply for
your coupon. www.dtv2009.gov An HDTV
converter box receives the new HDTV digital signals and converts them to an analog signal that your old TV is used to getting
now.
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There's a bit of a "gotcha" right now with the government HDTV coupon program. Almost all
retailers right now require you to come into the store if you want to redeem a government coupon for your HDTV converter box. I
hope to be providing a list shortly of verified online retailers that accept HDTV government coupons for online
orders.
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- Purchase a digital to analog converter, which
will allow you to use your analog TV to receive HDTV signals. The Zenith DTT900 is low cost,
and works great! I purchased mine from ABT, and here is a link to the Zenith DTT900 page. Check back in a few days to see a
complete review of the Zenith DTT900. Right now, they don't accept the government coupons for online purchases, but I hope that will
change soon.
- Connect your HDTV converter box, to your
existing rooftop antenna or rabbit ears. If you don’t have a set of rabbit ears or a cheap
antenna already, then you might want to buy an HDTV antenna. The site www.antennaweb.org will guide you on what type of antenna you need. But I found
their advice just a little bit lacking. Check back here in a few days for some practical advice on how to know if you can use an
indoor HDTV antenna or not.
- If you are not happy with the results using
your old antenna, you can try connecting an HDTV antenna. The info from step 1 will help you know what kind to try. Click here for details on the Winegard SS3000 that I ordered. It
did help me improve my indoor reception over a set of old rabbit ears. Check back in a
few days to see a complete review of the Winegard 3000.
If you read through the above and need more information, or just have
questions, click here for the Step by Step Detailed
Description of all of the above.
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