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jokes posted:Yeah but a lot of antennas do both. It's just that in the process of making it work for both, the antenna loses reliability with VHF signal apparently. This probably isn't the place for a VHF/UHF primer but here are some basics (I work in the broadcast industry): Both have been around for decades. Your parents, grandparents, or if you are an old gently caress like me, yourself, are quite used to this, just with analog signals instead of digital. The decision around which stations transmit in VHF vs. UHF for the purposes of HDTV transmissions in the US was made decades ago, in the late 90's, and is often dependent on what the station in a particular market was using for analog transmission. Some markets these days have only UHF, which is generally preferred. Many have both. No broad market area that I know of in the continental US uses VHF only though I am sure there are exceptions to the rule somewhere. VHF operates in the lower frequency band, generally the spectrum between 54-216 MHz (more specifically, certain ranges inside that). The wavelength of these frequencies is longer than UHF and more susceptible to interference, physical obstructions, metal (such as radiant reflectors installed in many houses and buildings in hotter areas, such as the American South) and so on. Said signals have weak reflection properties and as such generally operate best via line of sight. I'm oversimplifying quite a bit here so if a broadcast engineer wants to jump in and nitpick have at it. UHF wavelengths for HDTV operate in the range of 470-890MHz and as a result are much shorter (literally), reflect much better, and to make a very long explanation short (pun!) are easier for smaller antennas or those with a lot of obstructions in the way to pick up. Again, generally speaking. The primary cause of poor VHF reception when it comes to modern, practical purposes with HDTV, is small, indoor multi-directional antennas. These can, and do, work, but you better be close to the VHF tower (under 15 miles is ideal if it is transmitting at a good power level...and not all do, depending on local conditions, regulations, cost concerns, and so on). And the fewer obstructions - particularly any metal close to the antenna - the better due to the issues outlined above. UHF has the same general concerns but is much more forgiving overall. Indoors, a well positioned directional antenna - or at least one that allows you to align the VHF element - with said element properly aligned towards the tower can help. Attic antennas are the next step up, since A) they can be positioned higher, which can mitigate external obstructions B) the elements can (and should) be larger because it's hidden in an attic so who gives a poo poo what it looks like and C) You probably (though not always) will have an easier time positioning it in an ideal spot. Of special note is the aforementioned radiant shielding installed in many attics, particularly down south - good luck pointing an antenna towards a tower with that in the way if it isn't close by and transmitting at high power. In that case many people (and I am one of them) actually find it better to mount it lower in the attic, aligned towards wooden joists/etc. or other spots where there is a gap in the shielding. Fun fact: the stereotypical "rabbit ears" you still find in a lot of antennas (and were quite common years ago) are for VHF. The shorter "loop" is for UHF. You've probably seen indoor table-top type antennas like this. Newer-style "flat" unidirectional antennas combine both elements (usually), not always with the greatest level of success. Outdoor antennas are the best, generally, for the same reason as attic except you also avoid another layer of obstruction and in some cases can position it even higher. This isn't always practical, of course. These days it's not practical at all more often than it is for a variety of reasons. Special note on signal boosters/amplifiers - a common misconception is that these somehow boost the ability of the antenna to pick up signals. Not true. They boost the signal that the antenna gets in the first place. It won't boost what the antenna isn't already getting. It can help in some circumstances with weaker signals that are right on the margin however really they are used to boost the signal coming out of the antenna down the cable. This is useful for long cable runs, or cable runs that go in to a distribution box (in the latter case it may make more sense to power said box, otherwise make sure the power injector is inserted in the cable before it reaches said box). I.e. if you are installing one of those flat behind the TV antennas and have a 3 foot cable running from it to your TV (or HDHR, etc.) an amp is not likely going to help and in fact can make things worse since it amplifies every aspect of the signal coming in, good and bad, and can distort it. The TL;DR of all this is check Antennaweb, the Winegard app, whatever, and get both an accurate picture of where the towers broadcasting the stations you need are, and what frequency band they are using. This will help you both pick the right kind of antenna and where to put it. You could also just buy a flat antenna that has good reviews off Amazon, slap it up behind your TV, and hope for the best. It might even work. Just don't be shocked if it doesn't.
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Jul 15, 2018 08:01
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I ended up buying like 20 of these from eBay and giving them out as gifts They work like poo poo if connected straight into the TV, but if you hook them up to a coax cable and feed it to a window/line-of-sight of a window they work excellent
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Jul 15, 2018 13:52
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I complain about DTVN picture quality a lot but I'm watching the World Cup final at my parents house and they have Optimum and holy poo poo the picture quality is worse.
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Jul 15, 2018 16:15
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Yes, all of the OTT providers have better picture quality than any of the traditional MSOs, including FiOS.
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Jul 15, 2018 17:16
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Cable-rear end cable has really gotten extra terrible about compression. There are channels that honestly would be better off at 480p with the bitrate they've been given.
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Jul 15, 2018 18:06
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Matt Zerella posted:I complain about DTVN picture quality a lot but I'm watching the World Cup final at my parents house and they have Optimum and holy poo poo the picture quality is worse. Yeah picture quality with DTVN is straight up better than either Optimum or FIOS.
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Jul 15, 2018 19:31
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Ixian posted:Very useful signal post I did some fuckin' around and getting the Leaf 50 placed high in our apartment solved the problem. I was considering getting some rabbit ears solely for VHF signal. It was fun watching live ABC via DTVN come in with poo poo resolution, presumably because of their compression hijinks and comparing it to the antenna and getting it much, much more clear. I've heard rumors that a lot of OTT and cable providers just take an antenna signal and compress it for their customers in certain areas.
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Jul 16, 2018 04:26
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jokes posted:I did some fuckin' around and getting the Leaf 50 placed high in our apartment solved the problem. I was considering getting some rabbit ears solely for VHF signal. Those aren't rumors that is exactly what they do, all of them everywhere. Your average channel piped over a bandwidth constrained cable or satellite link is likely going to be compressed to the 5Mbps-10Mbps range, usually mpeg-4/h.264 - and 10 is if you are lucky (or, in the case of some broadcasters like Discovery, they've negotiate minimum bitrates in to their contracts). OTA signals are 19.2Mbps Mpeg-2, though obviously if you have something like Plex or an HDHR re-encoding it you'll get that sent to your TV - though at least there you have a measure of control.
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Jul 16, 2018 04:40
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Ixian posted:Those aren't rumors that is exactly what they do, all of them everywhere. Your average channel piped over a bandwidth constrained cable or satellite link is likely going to be compressed to the 5Mbps-10Mbps range, usually mpeg-4/h.264 - and 10 is if you are lucky (or, in the case of some broadcasters like Discovery, they've negotiate minimum bitrates in to their contracts). OTA signals are 19.2Mbps Mpeg-2, though obviously if you have something like Plex or an HDHR re-encoding it you'll get that sent to your TV - though at least there you have a measure of control. Most cable companies are still doing mpeg2, which at those bitrates...yikes
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Jul 16, 2018 11:21
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Ixian posted:Good post on UHF/VHF The whole VHF thing is definitely something I've never considered for my antenna, as there is exactly one channel I cannot get, no matter how hard I try. I didn't have any issues getting it at my old apartment which had a pretty much straight unobscured line of sight to the Cincinnati stations. In the new apartment, I have a lot more in the way, but at least I get the Dayton stations too so I'm not missing the CW and CBS. I've got an old Radio Shack, double bow-tie with reflector (sadly, discontinued like 10 years ago now), perched high atop a bookshelf, in my room pointed at Cincinnati, and fed back through the pre-installed Time Warner cable junction box, it works pretty great.
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Jul 16, 2018 14:30
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I have ps vue and just installed a new device (Fire TV 4k) and now I can't rewind or fast forward live tv. I can pause tv but when I try and go backwards (or forwards after a pause), it doesn't do anything and tells me to restart the program. It's like it builds some kind of buffer because it allows me to pause but never lets me travel across that buffer. Has anyone else had this issue? Did you fix it?
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Jul 17, 2018 14:28
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RevKrule posted:I have ps vue and just installed a new device (Fire TV 4k) and now I can't rewind or fast forward live tv. I can pause tv but when I try and go backwards (or forwards after a pause), it doesn't do anything and tells me to restart the program. It's like it builds some kind of buffer because it allows me to pause but never lets me travel across that buffer. The only time I've seen that when I used PSVue was for live sports. But I just figured "eh, it's sports. they're super weird and specific about their broadcasts" Have you tried it on a different device? Like phone/tablet/PC?
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Jul 17, 2018 15:52
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I've also seen that with live sports on PSVue. After the game completes and changes to a DVR recording the fast-forward / rewind works normally.
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Jul 17, 2018 15:59
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Except this isn't live sports. This is every channel. I have 4 different devices in my house that stream ps vue. 2 of them (an original 2014 Fire TV and a 2015 Fire TV 4k) stream Vue just fine and I can forward and backward through shows all day long (within normal limitations like the 4 minute pause buffer or with on demand content with commercials). The other 2 devices (a brand new Fire TV 4k pendant and a sony 930e tv), I can only back/forth through shows if they're in the DVR section. So it's not just sports and it's not all devices.
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Jul 17, 2018 16:52
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TheScott2K posted:Most cable companies are still doing mpeg2, which at those bitrates...yikes Depends on the local franchise (monopoly) and often even the channel,; these days the trend is mpeg-4 simply because they can cram more poo poo in. Switched video (think U-Verse, etc.) was supposed to alleviate this but in practice...well. That said yes mpeg-2 is still widely used around the country still. Iron Crowned posted:The whole VHF thing is definitely something I've never considered for my antenna, as there is exactly one channel I cannot get, no matter how hard I try. I didn't have any issues getting it at my old apartment which had a pretty much straight unobscured line of sight to the Cincinnati stations. In the new apartment, I have a lot more in the way, but at least I get the Dayton stations too so I'm not missing the CW and CBS. I'm guessing the channel is probably Fox which due to its later entry in the broadcast arena (remember that until the late 80's there were really 3 "big" broadcast networks in the US, not 4) went VHF in a lot of markets for a lot of reasons...which worked out ok, more or less, when TV signals were analog. Digital transmissions are less forgiving. Not always the case today of course, and there are several Fox markets that broadcast in UHF but it is more common than not to find them at the lower VHF end of the spectrum. Whereas in the 90's what is now the CW (used to be two networks, The WB and UPN, Google it) went the other direction for similar reasons and found themselves in a better position when digital OTA became widespread.
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Jul 18, 2018 08:28
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Anyone else having tons of problems with directv now since they rolled out their update? I pretty regularly have to exit the app because it just goes to some technical issues screen and it has even crashed my TV.
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Jul 18, 2018 16:51
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I just discovered the Wipeout channel on Pluto TV. It’s exactly what it sounds like: 24/7 of the show Wipeout. So far I’ve only seen a few episodes from the Australian and Canadian versions. Not sure if they have the licensing rights for the US version. I mean, it’s no MXC, but it still scratches that itch of seeing people volunteer to receive blunt force trauma to the head.
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Jul 21, 2018 08:06
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This looks pretty good: https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/01/vizio-adds-100-free-streaming-channels-smartcast-tvs/
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Aug 1, 2018 18:58
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Noticed yesterday while watching Castle Rock that Hulu has enabled DD 5.1 sound for Hulu Originals for LG's WebOS app. Finally, it took them long enough to add modern sound.
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Aug 1, 2018 19:32
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wandler20 posted:This looks pretty good: https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/01/vizio-adds-100-free-streaming-channels-smartcast-tvs/ Huh. I'll give that a go.
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Aug 1, 2018 19:50
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It’s just Pluto, it’s a pretty cool service but it’s already on every stream box out there pretty much.
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Aug 1, 2018 20:16
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Pluto is pretty cool. If it had been available when I was on my own in my 20's I would have loved it. I can afford much better now but man, that would have been awesome back then. All I could afford was rabbit ears that got me Telemundo, UPN, a whole host of religious channels and Fox. I don't speak Spanish. Pluto also has a channel called Eye Candy. It's pretty much the Look At These Butts channel and that just cracks me up every time I think about it.
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Aug 1, 2018 20:37
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Croatoan posted:Pluto is pretty cool. If it had been available when I was on my own in my 20's I would have loved it. I can afford much better now but man, that would have been awesome back then. All I could afford was rabbit ears that got me Telemundo, UPN, a whole host of religious channels and Fox. I don't speak Spanish. What cracks me up is the IT'S TIME FOR A COMMERCIAL NO MATTER WHAT, cutting off things sometimes mid-sentence. At least when they come back from the ads, they rewind 3 or 4 seconds. I've recently discovered they have a Wipeout channel for the UK/CA/AUS version of the show. Also a dedicated New Detectives channel. Pluto.tv is a legit good service.
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Aug 1, 2018 21:00
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Croatoan posted:Pluto is pretty cool. If it had been available when I was on my own in my 20's I would have loved it. I can afford much better now but man, that would have been awesome back then. All I could afford was rabbit ears that got me Telemundo, UPN, a whole host of religious channels and Fox. I don't speak Spanish. Eye Candy is pretty unintentionally hilarious. They have a formula and they're going to get there, no matter how ludicrous it is. And it's not actually very titillating, even as attractive as the women are.
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Aug 1, 2018 22:23
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LoL the channel +/- buttons on my Smartcast TV work as page up/down, only it goes in the opposite direction of the guide on screen. Hilarious. Also, like all apps on this thing with an on screen interface, it runs like absolute rear end because the hardware wasn't specced to be an actual smart TV.
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Aug 1, 2018 22:38
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My favorite PlutoTV channel is "Slow TV", where it's just a POV of trains chugging along through the Norwegian countrysides. My son loves it.
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Aug 1, 2018 22:47
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TheScott2K posted:LoL the channel +/- buttons on my Smartcast TV work as page up/down, only it goes in the opposite direction of the guide on screen. Hilarious. Also, like all apps on this thing with an on screen interface, it runs like absolute rear end because the hardware wasn't specced to be an actual smart TV. I guess the logic is + increases channel numbers, but yeah that’s a weird one.
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Aug 1, 2018 22:49
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FCKGW posted:My favorite PlutoTV channel is "Slow TV", where it's just a POV of trains chugging along through the Norwegian countrysides. My son loves it. Thanks for pointing this out, my son also loves trains. We watch some Rocky Mountain blu ray all the time.
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Aug 1, 2018 23:00
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FCKGW posted:My favorite PlutoTV channel is "Slow TV", where it's just a POV of trains chugging along through the Norwegian countrysides. My son loves it. God drat that channel is awesome. I’ll throw that on, sit on the couch with all the animals, and just drink some beer. They have some weird, but oddly satisfying channels like that. I remember when they put on the Gorilla Channel after the Trump thing. I went to it to see what they were showing and stayed because gorilla’s are awesome.
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Aug 1, 2018 23:01
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FCKGW posted:My favorite PlutoTV channel is "Slow TV", where it's just a POV of trains chugging along through the Norwegian countrysides. My son loves it. got the channel and am watching pov trains right now 10/10 many thanks for this suggestion!
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Aug 4, 2018 17:13
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Yeah all these new channels are great, thanks!
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Aug 4, 2018 18:42
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Just wanted to add that the Pluto service is way better than I remembered. Trains are good, but also Springer! And several movies I've heard of! The best thing is that there's zero set up process or enrollment. Go to their website and it just starts playing. It's seriously well done.
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Aug 4, 2018 19:09
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RZA Encryption posted:Just wanted to add that the Pluto service is way better than I remembered. Trains are good, but also Springer! And several movies I've heard of! I went in search of this rumored Jerry Springer channel (Nosey, 536) and found the 1986 comedy classic Armed and Dangerous. Sweet! Previously the main attractions for me were the mst3k and rifftrax channels.
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Aug 5, 2018 22:24
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I’be been using an outdoor antenna and HD Homerun for a couple years now, but we rearranged everything and now my set up has to go to the other end of the house. I’m using this opportunity to run Cat6 to every room and create a network closet. Should I run coax to every room while I’m at it? Fist reaction is yes, but I can’t think of a situation where I’d need the coax over the HD homerun.
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Aug 11, 2018 18:26
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Might as well. If you move one day new owners might want it
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Aug 11, 2018 19:29
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savesthedayrocks posted:I’be been using an outdoor antenna and HD Homerun for a couple years now, but we rearranged everything and now my set up has to go to the other end of the house. I’m using this opportunity to run Cat6 to every room and create a network closet. Also if you ever get DirecTV or something else that could use that coax.
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Aug 11, 2018 19:50
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Don Lapre posted:Might as well. If you move one day new owners might want it New owners will probably assume there are coax Jack's where there should be. We did when we moved into our current house and surpriiiiiise
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Aug 11, 2018 20:02
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savesthedayrocks posted:I’be been using an outdoor antenna and HD Homerun for a couple years now, but we rearranged everything and now my set up has to go to the other end of the house. I’m using this opportunity to run Cat6 to every room and create a network closet. I did - it's great - but almost completely superfluous. Just think of it this way - if you run coax with the Cat6, you can attached your TV directly to the antenna if necessary. For me, it comes in handy when the cable signal the HDHomerun prime goes out and I want to see if weather is bad. It comes up maybe once per year, but I am glad I have it in place when it happens.
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Aug 11, 2018 20:21
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Nice, good point.
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Aug 11, 2018 20:38
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For my deprived fellow Canadian folk, the Shield is 25% off at newegg.ca right now with a promo code. That brings it down to 209.99 with controller. Gotta pull the trigger.
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Aug 13, 2018 17:50
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