Home theater basics

Antenna

Upside: No monthly fees; snow-free signal; most newer large-screen TVs have a built-in HD tuner; most prime-time network shows are presented in HD; more than 750 stations broadcast digital signals.
Downside: Some HDTV sets require expensive set-top boxes to decode over-the-air HD signals; outdoor antenna required in most cases; HD signals won't reach viewers in outlying areas; no specialty channels such as HBO or ESPN.
Forecast: With the FCC determined to require more built-in DTV tuners, broadcast high-definition TV will be around for a good long time.

For most owners of new HDTVs, getting over-the-air high-def programming is as simple as putting up an antenna. That's because most TVs that can display HDTV are still sold with built-in DTV tuners, which are required to receive high-definition as well as lower-resolution digital broadcasts.

The situation will only continue to improve as the FCC mandates more built-in DTV tuners. The ruling currently requires that all TVs sized 36 inches or larger include built-in tuners. The mandate trickles down to smaller TVs and other gear with TV tuners, such as VCRs and DVD recorders, until finally, on July 1, 2007, every TV tuner sold will be able to receive digital broadcasts. Soon thereafter--probably around 2009 or so--broadcasters will be able to turn off their analog over-the-air transmissions for good, allowing the federal government to re-allocate that portion of the broadcast spectrum for other uses, such as wireless data and telephone services. Here's a chart that covers the mandate as it stands today.

Equipment
Unless you have an integrated HDTV (one with a built-in DTV tuner), you'll need a separate set-top box that receives digital signals from your antenna and sends them to your TV set.

Humax's HFA100 high-def tuner

The bright side is that HD tuners are falling in price and will almost certainly continue to do so. You can also buy boxes that combine over-the-air and satellite reception capability--a necessity since very few local high-def channels are currently available via satellite.

Believe it or not, you don't need a high-tech antenna to receive HDTV signals. The spindly models you see on neighborhood rooftops will do the trick, although some designs work better than others (see below). While indoor antennas can receive HDTV transmissions in some situations, you'll usually have a harder time getting a signal. We recommend an outdoor model for best performance.

Setup
Just align the antenna so that it points at your local transmission towers; after a little trial and error, you should get your HDTV. It's a good idea to work with someone who can read the signal-strength meter on your HDTV receiver or TV so that you can get the best signal.

Visit Antennaweb.org for help aligning your antenna. Type in your zip code, and the site will give you compass headings for the nearest HDTV transmission towers. The site also has helpful info on how to pick the best antenna for the neighborhood you live in.

Once you get an HD signal, the picture should be crystal clear. Unlike analog TV signals, digital HD transmissions won't suffer from static interference or ghosting (the faint, duplicate picture that you see when analog signals bounce off tall buildings). They can, however, break up and drop in and out of weak signal-strength areas.

Programming
Until recently, very few local stations broadcasted in HDTV. In June 1999, only 66 TV stations transmitted a digital signal. Since then, the growing popularity of HDTV sets--along with a little pressure from the FCC--has spurred local TV operators to pick up the pace. By June 2002, that number had risen to about 400 stations, and in May 2004, it reached 1,200. Today, about 99 percent of U.S. households are within range of at least one DTV station.

The number of shows produced in HDTV is also on the rise. Back in the late '90s, only The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the odd NFL game got the full HDTV treatment. Now, ABC and CBS offer their entire slate of dramas, comedies, and movies in HDTV, although most news and reality shows are in standard definition. NBC, the WB, and UPN offer most of their filmed dramas and some of their comedies in HD, while Fox--a relative latecomer to the HDTV playing field--jumped on the bandwagon in the 2004-2005 season. Most high-profile sporting events, including just about every NFL game and NASCAR race, as well as many basketball and baseball games, are also in high-def.