antenna

OTA DTv

Over the Air Digital TV

and How to Get it

OTA DTv

Get free TV with just an antenna. Pickup major networks, local stations, and a growing number of entertainment channels. Over 100 TV channels are available near large cities, over 70 channels near mid size cities, and over 30 channels near small cities. The number of Over the Air networks keeps on growing.

How Over-the-Air TV Works

Typical Tower Map

A TV station will transmit up to a 1000 kilowatt signal over the air (OTA) from a broadcast tower. The station’s tower antenna is typically mounted 300 to 2000 feet above the ground. Coverage range varies with tower antenna height and power. Range varies from around 30 miles or more for low power stations, to over 80 miles for full power stations. Towers are often concentrated in or near a city.

Television transmitters are on an FCC licensed Radio Frequency (RF) channel in either the VHF or UHF Frequency Band. Each RF channel can contain multiple TV channels.

OTA
RF

FCC

– Over-the-Air
– Radio Frequency
– Federal Communication Commission

BROADCAST TOWER

TV Broadcast Tower

OTA DTv

– is

FREE

You need

– an

Antenna

– a Digital Television

–

or tuner / viewing device

Get

– Major Networks
– Local TV Stations
– Entertainment Channels

Resolution

– Ultra High Definition (UHD

/4k TV

)
– High Definition (HD)
– Standard Definition (SD)

Audio

– Multi Channel Surround Sound
– Stereo
– Mono

Data

– Program Guide
– TV Channel, Callsign, Network
– Closed Caption (CC)

Most RF/TV channels are broadcast using a High Definition signal
(ATSC 1.0).
A few stations broadcast an Ultra High Definition (UHD) signal
(ATSC 3.0), a 4k UHD television is needed for reception. A few UHD TV channels are encrypted and required an Internet connection, see 4k UHD Televisions below. Most stations that broadcast a UHD signal also simulcast an HD signal on a different RF Channel and usually from a different tower. The TV channels (displayed) stay the same. Currently the number of UHD broadcast is small, and not growing very fast.

BROADCAST
HD

ATSC 1.0

UHD

ATSC 3.0

TV Channels
16,000+
368

Market Cities
500+
82

As of Feb 2023.

Digital Televisions

Televisions that get over-the-air broadcast will have an ATSC 1.0 tuner for HD signals, or an ATSC 3.0 tuner for UHD and HD signals. The television will also have a coax connector labeled
“RF In”
or “Antenna”.
You will need to setup your television for over-the-air (antenna) reception after you connect an antenna.

TELEVISION SETUP

1 – In the TV menu set Channels to:

Air

OTA

2 – Then select

Scan

Scan for Channels

.
Test Pattern

RECEPTION

All Digital TV’s receive a perfect picture or no picture. A signal that is weak but above the TV minimum has the same picture as a strong signal. Signal power just below the televisions minimum the picture starts to pixilate. Just a few decibels (dB’s) below the minimum the picture disappears. See TV Minimum Signal page.

Picture resolution is as good as or better than cable or satellite TV. Cable and satellite operators often compress local channels before re-broadcasting. The compression reduces picture quality. Compressing signals opens up more bandwidth and allows providers to squeeze in more channels nobody watches.

HD TELEVISIONS

ATSC 1.0 Standard for OTA Broadcast

High Definition (HD) televisions will have a resolution of 1080 or 720 ppi (pixels / inch). Broadcast HD TV channels are in HD (1080 or 720), or Standard Resolution (480 ppi). The TV will adjust a broadcast HD resolution to the TV’s resolution. An SD TV channel will display in SD resolution.

4k UHD TELEVISIONS

ATSC 3.0 Standard for OTA Broadcast

A 4k Ultra High Definition (UHD) televisions is needed to receive a UHD (or HD) broadcast. A UHD broadcast has 2 to 3 times higher resolution compared to High Definition. It also has enhanced audio and better reception. A screen size less than about 40 inches diagonal will not see much if any difference between a UHD and HD picture.

There are 3 types of UHD broadcast. Two types are encrypted () and require an Internet connection to get a decryption key to view the broadcast.

1.)
Free and Open Reception

All you need is a 4k UHD television connected to an antenna.

Some UHD broadcast can be (optional) synchronized with an Internet connection to stream in real-time additional content and video.
Some UHD broadcasters are moving to a DRM system which requires an Internet connection.

2.)

Digital Rights Management (DRM)

—- Internet connection Required —-

This encryption scheme is also called Content Protection and prevents the viewer from fast-forwarding commercials, recording, and rebroadcasting. A few UHD TV channels are using this scheme, but the numbers are increasing.

3.)

Subscription Service

—- Internet connection Required —-

This encryption requires the viewer to pay a fee to receive the channel, or just 1 or more programs. Only one TV channel tried this method but discontinued it. Currently no known TV channels are using this scheme.

Both encryption schemes require an Internet connection and allow the provider to track your viewing habits. However, the number of UHD broadcast is very small and not growing very fast. Encryption will not increase public interest.

Smart TV’s (NextGen)

These televisions can be connected to the Internet for streaming video. Many HD TV’s and all 4k UHD TV’s have this feature.

HD and 4k UHD Televisions

TELEVISION

4k UHD

Digital Tuner

ATSC 1.0

ATSC 3.0

Broadcast

UHD

Resolution

HD, SD

UHD, HD, SD

Smart TV

Optional

All

SD
HD

UHD

RESOLUTIONs

— Standard Definition
— High Definition
— Ultra High Definition (4k)

PIXELS / INCH

480
720 or 1080
2160

Also see Digital Televisions / Specifications

DIGITAL TUNERS and CONVERTERS
Set Top Digital Tuners are available to connect to your computer / network, or monitor. Analog TV’s need a Digital to Analog Converter to receive OTA broadcast. See Tuners and Converters.