TW subscribers on OTA tuners

[btbowen1]

I'm a TimeWarner subscriber that lives in a condo so Sat. not a option. I was wondering is there any TW subscribers that decided not to wait for TW to give us the local hd and went out and purchased a OTA tuner. I'm considering it being that a Samsung SIR-t151 can be purchased for arond $400. Still alot of money but with the news of all the big sporting events and the local getting their acts together, I'm really considering it. Who knows when Tw will add the local and what they're offering, the 3 HD channels, only HBO is worth it.

[Rafiki]

Why is Sat not an option?  I own a condo and have Sat.

[btbowen1]

Well, I did research on this issue somewhat, my understanding is basically you can either ask the condo assn. for permission to mount a dish or you can mount a dish in a non common area such as the balcony of your condo. No luck here, I don't have a balcony, these are individual units, and the assn. already told everyone don't even ask to install a ground dish, they're totally against the idea.

[John Polulach]

I've been using TWC with  Samsung SIR T 150 tuner and RS indoor antenna (15-1890)with excellent results for the past few months.  The local channels (especially CBS) are providing so much good HD programs I just didn't want to wait for TWC.  Go for it.

JP

[Matt Heebner]

There is no area in which you can install a dish? The federal government has passed laws stating that condo association's cannot prevent you from putting up a dish or an antenna if you want. I understand about not being able to put it up on "common" (rooftops, lawns)proprety, but if you have any area on or by your condo that is part of what is considerd your property, the association can not stop you from doing so. Hell, mount it with some brackets outside a window facing the  southwest sky.

Here is the link to the FCC rules regarding this. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

Good luck
Matt

[btbowen1]

Thats correct Matt but with Condos such as mine, the assn. owns everthing outside, the common area, such as the exterior of the units. We actually only own the interior of the unit, therefore I would need permission to put up a dish, am I correct condo owners?

[Tom Snyder]

So if the wind rips off a strip of siding on your wall, or the weather stripping around your window springs a leak, or the trim needs repainting, the condo association pays for it?

[btbowen1]

Yes, thats correct, the assn. is responsible for everything on the exterior of the properties, they replaced the roof on mine two years ago. I decided to purchase the Samsung sir-t151 from American at Browndeer Rd., they had one for $399. No luck with the Radio Shack antennae that everyone raves about, guess I'm late. I had a old antennae at home, hooked it up and I'm now watching college football on channel 1. Its great! Does anyone know of a good indoor alternative to the RS double bow attennae? My TV is in the basement, I live in the northwest corner of Milwaukee, and i now get medium to low power for channel 1 and the PBS multicast with the antennae that I'm using.

[John Polulach]

The Silver Sensor (check out silversensor.com) has gotten good reviews.  Made in England but sold in US with Zenith name.  I believe Circuit City carries them.  Anybody out there using the SS?

JP

[jeffbyk]

If you are interested in the Radio Shack Double Bow-tie, I have one that I no longer use.  I put up a tower and a UHF Yagi instead.  The double bow-tie worked very well with it hung in the window facing North, but it isn't a pretty site.

Send me an email if you are interested.

Jeff
Jeffbyk@hotmail.com


[This message has been edited by jeffbyk (edited 10-19-2002).]

[John Polulach]

You may want to check out www.projectorexpert.com  which has many interesting reviews including one on various indoor antennas.

JP

[btbowen1]

I tested several indoor antennaes for my basement family room toshiba 50h81 with the Samsung sir-t151. I purchased the SS which is sold under the Zenith name for $40 from Circuit city and is not amplified. The results was not very good and placement of that antennae was very important, not worth $40 in my opinion, so I returned it. I checked the RadioShacks in the area and found a double bowtie antennae at 27th and college. I did the modification to it and I got a little better results then the SS but Channel 58 multicast was still not very stable, this is in the city. So then I tried a amplified GE Optima tv94714 which was on my kids tv. This antennae was the best of the bunch in my basement. Placement wasn't important with this one and I recieved solid reception. Maybe this one performed better because it is powered, I dunno. I still haven't recieved a signal from Channel 6 or 12, is either on the air? I'm about 15 minutes west of channel 6, I would think I should at least recieve a signal from them.

[Gregg Lengling]

Channel 12 (WISN-DT34) is not on the air right now..they were last week testing but been gone since Friday.  Channel 6 (WITI-DT33) is running flea power from their Studio Tower (150' tall at Green Bay and Brown Deer Roads, in Brown Deer).  There are less than 3% of the users on this board that can receive it (even with an outdoor antenna like I have up 50').