HawthorneVillager.com

do it yourself, just get a ladder and install it as high as you can... roof line or higher for best reception.

Stoopid questions.

1. I own my Cogeco PVR. Am I correct in assuming that I can't use it to record programs from an OTA antenna?

2. If my Cogeco PVR is useless as I presume, what is the best set-up for an OTA PVR? I'm an Apple user, not PC (don't hold that against me). sschung suggested on page 6 to use a USB ATSC plugged into a cheap old PC with lots of HD space. Does not sound like an elegant solution (I'm into elegant solutions). AYSMark's blog (second post, page 1) had a $1,500 PC Media centre which looked more elegant but is on the expensive side (I'm into inexpensive solutions). It would be nice if the PVR or media centre could handle streaming (or some alternative to streaming) shows from the internet.

So once I figure out the PVR thing it seems to go to OTA I should do the following;
1. Buy two antennas.
2. Face one towards the CN Tower and the other to Buffalo.
3. Mount them on top of the roof instead of in the attic.
4. Use a preamp for each antenna installed as close to the antenna as possible.
5. Hook into TV or PVR contraption once I have that figured out.

Would a Harmony One or 900 be a good remote?

When you say pick up a PC do you mean a desktop PC? I would need a desktop PC tower that lies on it's side so it could fit in my cabinet with my other stereo components. Do they exist?

if you are inclined to spend more money you can actually buy a dedicated pvr for your OTA. it should look similar to your cogeco pvr. check out saveandreplay.com. i'm not a heavy tv watcher/recorder so i wasn't looking for an expensive solution.

i'd think you could also find an OTA receiver that will work with your mac. the one for my pc just plugs into a usb. note that recording on HD can fill up 100s of gigs of drive space very quickly. this is where a computer with cheap and easy external drive capability is convenient.

Not wanting to start a new thread, for those considering OTA, there is a guy on RFD doing it for $275 (all in). Really good price.
http://forums.redflagdeals.com/group-buy-ota-hdtv-gta-thru-skytune-2012-a-1185783/

Raspberry Pi running XBMC !

I concur with the other posters, a PC with an HDTV card would make the best PVR at this time although development of the Raspberry Pi software is ongoing, hopefully it will become the holy grail.

FTR, I bought my panel style HDTV antenna, wall mount, mast and cable at AA Electronics on Matheson just west of Dixie in Mississauga all for < $100.
Installed it myself, 5 legs of the wall mount are fixed to the brick using 5 tapcons. The mount sits just under the roof overhang and the antenna is just above the eavestrough.
The single panel antenna is mounted in a plastic radome, IMO looks better than the exposed wire antennas, has good gain and near 180 degree coverage. I get TO, Buffalo and Hamilton stations, no pre-amp installed.

People like tv way too much

_________________
I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down, Down, Down And The Flames Went Higher
And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Ring Of Fire, The Ring Of Fire!

I agree with you, people should be outside enjoying the fresh air especially in the summer! It is kind of hot out today though.

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Chuck Barkley, Esq.
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It's going to be and me, the idiot, is planning on laying a few patio stones in this weather, arg!

_________________
I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down, Down, Down And The Flames Went Higher
And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Ring Of Fire, The Ring Of Fire!

I like not paying Cogeco or Bell for TV way too much !

Fact is we don't watch a lot of TV so the limited channels that we get through the HDTV antenna and a little bit of streaming/downloading is perfect.

Agreed... we spend most of our free time lounging in the backyard with a beer !

Meh, over the three years I've gotten down Bell to a reasonable price where I don't have to worry about installing, downloading, blah blah blah. I'll stream the occasional sh*t but I'd rather be in my basement tinkering with projects.

_________________
I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down, Down, Down And The Flames Went Higher
And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Ring Of Fire, The Ring Of Fire!

Anyone else having OTA issues this day? Since this morning can only get CBC.

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I havent paid for cable or satellite since 2001. Get an antenna and high speed internet. 10 years of saving $120 a month is $14,000. that and no phone line saving $50/month is another $6,000 by using magicjack. All you need is high speed internet. you really need to dump tv and home phone packages...