Sunday, February 24, 2008
Q. Is there a way to get HDTV with an old rooftop antenna?
A. You can indeed receive and watch high-definition signals for free using a standard rooftop antenna, says Alfred Poor, the high-def expert behind HDTVprofessor.com.
There are three keys to making it work.
First, a local TV station must broadcast some of its programming in high definition.
Most local stations offer the traditional analog format as well as digital signals, which could — but doesn’t necessarily — include HD, Poor said.
As long as the HD signal is available, your old rooftop antenna is adequate for receiving it.
Second, you need to be able to input that signal into your TV. For that, you need a digital tuner.
If you’ve purchased a TV in the past several years, there’s a good chance that it has a digital tuner.
If you haven’t — and you don’t want to buy a new TV — you can purchase a converter box that adds a digital tuner to your existing set and allows you to watch standard digital broadcasts, as well as high-definition.
Finally, although you can watch an HD program on a regular TV, you will need to upgrade to an HD television to enjoy the extra detail provided by the format.
Your question raises another timely issue. Upgrading to digital tuners will be increasingly important over the next year, whether you care about receiving HD signals or not.
You see, most TV stations will end their analog broadcasts and send out only digital signals by Feb. 17, 2009.
Once that happens, if you’re among the 11 percent to 25 percent of U.S. households without satellite or cable service, you will need a digital tuner in your TV or will have to use a converter box to pick up the digital signals.
Note: You won’t have to buy an HDTV as of February 2009, just a TV or converter box that can process digital signals.
Because upgrading technologies could be a hardship for some people, the government is offering consumers up to two $40 coupons per household for the purchase of up to two digital converter boxes.
There aren’t many models available, but Best Buy is selling one for $60.
As February 2009 draws near, Poor expects more of these products to hit the market.
For more information on the government coupon program, go to www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/index.html.
So to make a long answer short, yes, you can receive HD signals through your old rooftop antenna, but you might have to upgrade the technology inside your house to appreciate them.
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