What is OTA?

OTA stands for off the air. It refers to receiving a television
signal with an antenna. Most people do not realize that a
crystal clear high definition signal can be received for free
with an antenna. Of course, you have to own an HDTV with
a digital tuner. But you can only receive the signals of the seven
major broadcast networks, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CW, MY
and PBS. You cannot get ESPN, ESPN2, HBO, TNT, TBS or
your regional sports network with an antenna. A cable
or satellite subscription is needed to get the so called pay
channels. Generally, the OTA HD picture is a little sharper
than the cable or satellite picture because, your TV set
is receiving the signal directly, and the cable or satellite
company compresses the signal before delivering it to
your HDTV. If you lock onto the digital HD signal, there is
no ghosting or snow. Just a crystal clear picture with
crystal clear 5.1 audio.

But why do I want an OTA antenna, when I get the
local broadcast channels in HD from my cable or satellite
provider? Well it provides another HDTV source in case
your satellite signal is lost, or you want to watch the
HD baseball game on your regional sports network, but also
want to record a show in HD on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CW, MY or
PBS at the same time. Sunday night has a very crowded HD
schedule with baseball on ESPN, football on NBC, HBO series,
Desperate Housewives on ABC, Nature on PBS, and for the
first time ever this past sunday evening, Masterpiece Theatre
debuted in HD. There may be four shows on in HD that you or
another family member wants to watch in HD.

Well Sony makes two DVD recorders with a coaxial input for
HD OTA broadcasts and Sony's web site claims the units
record in HD to a DVD. The units are RDR-GXD455, DVD
Recorder with HD Tuner and RDR-VXD655, DVD Recorder
& VHS Combo Player with HD Tuner. The suggested retail
price is $279.99 and $379.99. I have two Sony DHG HDD500
units which is a HD DVR with both an OTA and a cable TV
coaxial input. These units have a hard drive that holds
60 hours of HD programming. I have both my OTA antenna
signal and cable signal running into the units to complement
my satellite and cable HD DVRs on an evening when I am
recording 3 to 5 different programs at the same time.
The majority of my broadcast channel recording is OTA,
while I leave the satellite or cable DVRs available to record
HD games on NHL Center Ice, NBA League Pass or regional
sports channels. The DHG HDD500 units are generally available
on Ebay. There is also a DHG HDD250 unit which records 30 hours
of HD programming.

Go to www.antennaweb.org, put your zip code in and it will
tell you how far you are from the broadcast signal, what
channels you can get and what type of antenna you need.
If you are 25 miles or less from the signal, an indoor antenna
or an old rabbit ears will probably work well. And remember,
on February 17, 2009, the analog TV signals are going to
be turned off. Only digital signals will be available. Many
HD signals now are UHF, but with the changeover, you will
need an UHF/VHF antenna. After the changeover, the digital
signal will be so strong that you will be able to carry around
a portable digital HDTV and pick up a crystal clear HD picture.
Remember all those baseball fans with portable TVs in the
stand watching football games in September. Well there will
probably be cell phones that are HDTVs in 2009.