Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - Receiving HD signals over antenna

I have a DISH 811 HD satellite receiver that feeds my HD TV. It allows input of "off air" tv signals from an antenna. I have heard that HD signals can be recieved over the antenna. If I bring the tv feed into the 811 receiver, will I be able to see HD tv or will I need some other type of box to be able to use the HD signals from the antenna? If so, what kind of box?

If your TV has an HD tuner in it then you will be able to recieve HDTV. some sets are sold a HD READY.

I have a Toshiba model 65H80 which is NTSC std. I was hoping that the Dish HD receiver model 811 would act as the tuner for the HD signal and send it on to the TV since that is what is does with the HD satalite signals. If this won't work, what kind of tuner do I need and where do you insert it in the system? Do you take the antenna feed directly into it and bypass the satilite receiver? There are two HD ports on the TV. One is currently used for the satalite and one for the DVD. If I bypass the satilite receiver with the HD tuner, can I feed two sources into the same HD port? Thanks for your help on this.

Your sat receiver should be able to handle antenna input. If fact, look on the back panel and you should see an antenna input. If the input is there, the receiver can decode ota hd.

BTW - what do you mean by HD inputs on the tv. HD signals are carried by 3 types of cables: component, DVI, and HDMI. You only have two sets of component inputs?

My tv has 2 sets of component imputs. This gives me the opportunity to have two different sources of HD signals and I can select the active one with the TV remote. Thanks for your comments.

I have now been told that I have to have a special kind of outdoor antanna that is a "HD antenna". Is this correct?

Okay, for starters, you do not need another tuner. The 811 will handle OTA digital/HD signals. But you do need some type of antenna, whether it s/be indoor or outdoor.you will have to determine by testing.
First go to antennaweb.org and follow the instructions and you will probably find most or all your DT channels are on the UHF side. A very few are using VHF!! It will also show you distances to the transmitting towers.
If you are within say 15 miles+/= you might try a set top indoor antenna. Try RS or wally world. If it doesn't work, you can always take it back. If you are a great distance from towers, you may need a fringe combo UHF/VHF antenna on your roof(some try them in attics-but you do lose some strength). I've got a Channel Master 4228 on my chimney, it's VHF only.
Once connected to the 811, do a Menu, 6, 1, 5, and scan for digital signals.
Save the results, and they will show up in your guide.

fred
btw - there is no such thing as an HD antenna... This is marketing hype.
A combination vhf/uhf is prolly what you need.

Just wanted to say a big "Thank You" to all. Your advice was absolutely correct. Especially about the antenna. I have now run the digital scan and have a number of "off air" HD channels located and providing great HD reception through the existing 811 satellite receiver. I have CBS and Fox, but I can't get ABC and NBC to register. I am going to add one of the in-line amplifiers to the antenna feed just before it goes into the 811 receiver and see if that works. Thanks again for taking the time to provide your suggestions and expertise.

What antenna are you using? Did you check the website suggested by Fred?

I did check the web site and it indicated the CBS HD channel 11.1 at 60 degrees and the FOX is also at 61 degrees. Interestingly, the NBC site does not show a HD site and it is at 60 degrees. I don't know for sure that the NBC affilliate is transmitting in HD. The KETS PBS channel is at 104 degrees and I get 4 different channels with it. The ABC station is also at 104 degrees yet I can't detect it in HD. It is the weakest of the major stations. The display on screen for the CBS and the FOX channels indicate 78%.

I was not able to find a brand on my antenna. However, I think it was a Winegarden or something like that when it was installed 5 years ago when I built the house. It is quite large, maybe 5 to 7 feet long. One of the local antenna companies sent a technician out when it was intalled to carefully position the direction of it. The small end is pointed somewhere around the 60 degree direction.

Okay, glad things are improving!!!

Now you're ready to go here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=45

find your particular location and you'll learn tons of stuff about your different stations, location, power, etc.

fred

Now that I have good (actually very good) HD reception for CBS, and good for PBS and Fox, I am wondering if I could get another antenna, point it to the 104 degrees direction, use a splitter in reverse and feed both antenna signals down the same coax cable to pick up the ABC channel. Is this feasible?

It certainly is!!

I'm gonna do the same. All my digital/HD is on UHF except for PBS.
My CM 4228 and amp work fine for UHF, going to add a lil vhf antenna for PBS, which for some strange reason is on VHF ch 3??

fred
(btw, the pbs ch3 played havoc with big dishs hooked up via coax ch3.. we had to have 'em all switch to ch 4)