High Definition TV at Voyager

 

While all of the television stations in Tucson broadcast in HDTV, it is not possible to get the local stations in HDTV over the Voyager Cable nor on either of the satellite systems (Direct TV or Dish TV)

 

The local station feeds are available over the air using a relatively inexpensive antenna. What you will need:

  1. A high definition TV with either a high definition tuner built in or a separate high definition tuner.
  2. A  UHF/VHF antenna. (To test your TV a simple rabbit ear antenna will most likely find one or two stations.)

 

To determine how to aim your antenna go to the following website:

http://www.checkhd.com/aw/Address.aspx

Fill in the address portion (you don’t need to give them your name or email address.) Use 8701 S Kolb Rd, Tucson AZ 85706 and <submit>

Note: If you know the latitude/longitude coordinates of your park model or home you can enter that instead of the address. (go to options at bottom of page, center of park is approximately Lat: 32.094 Lon: -110.8376 )

Then click on “Show Digital Stations Only”.

  The stations in yellow are strong enough that an indoor antenna should work.  The new Winegard SS-3000 works very well in the Cove. The chances are that a less expensive antenna would work just as well.  See the following web site for information on this antenna. Note that the Cove homes are shrouded in chicken wire which is an excellent shield for HDTV signals. 

 

http://www.hometheaterblog.com/hometheater/2004/12/winegard_to_int.html

 

Hooking the antenna to your TV:

 

If you have Dish or Direct TV and a relatively new box you can connect the antenna directly to the “outside antenna connection on the box and the Dish or Direct TV program will add the local broadcast channels to your line up.

If you are connected to the Voyager Cable you will need an RF A-B switch.  Hook the cable to one side of the A-B switch and the antenna to the other.  You will need to set up your TV to “antenna”  and then have your TV tuner auto scan for stations and it should find the  HD stations. You may have to experiment with aiming your antenna. You might aim it in the direction indicated on the first website above, or simply aim it at the nearest window.

 

A note about Digital TV

The TV tuner will lock on to the digital signal and you will receive a perfectly clear picture. The signal will either be clear or no signal at all. You will not experience snow like we used to with analog signals.