some questions about OTA HDTV

[kevision]

I'm almost able to get an HDTV set, and want to get an ATSC OTA decoder to watch local channels, but I have a few questions:

-Are the local broadcasters simulcasting in DTV? That is, if i have an OTA decoder, is it picking up digital transmissions from my local stations in both SDTV and HDTV?

-If a program is not HDTV, does my tuner not show anything and I have to switch to the OTA analouge signal? I guess this is kind of the same question as above. If an SDTV source is available, does it default to that?

[DarkStar]

Originally Posted by kevision

I'm almost able to get an HDTV set, and want to get an ATSC OTA decoder to watch local channels, but I have a few questions:

-Are the local broadcasters simulcasting in DTV? That is, if i have an OTA decoder, is it picking up digital transmissions from my local stations in both SDTV and HDTV?

-If a program is not HDTV, does my tuner not show anything and I have to switch to the OTA analouge signal? I guess this is kind of the same question as above. If an SDTV source is available, does it default to that?

You'll need to check with your local TV stations specifically, but most broadcast stations will have their HD channel on subchannel 1 and then the SD channel on subchannel 2.

If a show isn't in HD, the stations will upconvert the SD show for the HD channel, sometimes stretched, or with black bars on the left and right sides of the image.

--Chris

[kevision]

Thanks DarkStar. I think our local stations are very much the same
:mozilla_laughing: So everything then is an over the air digital signal, both the SD and HD? My tuner would never have to go to the analogue signal anymore?

[videobruce]

Try here for your locals;
http://www.2150.com/broadcast/default.asp

TV's 36" and larger all have an ATSC/QAM tuner included unless the set is a monitor only (no tuner).