hdtv tuner+satellite question

[csmaster2005]

should I go with an ATI HDTV wonder that comes with an antenna like this - http://www.systemcooling.com/images/revi...ge2big.jpg

or should I grab this antenna http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6882125057 with this card http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=32500 ?

(This is for the HDTV part of the system, I think I'm going to get a pvr 150 or 250 for the analog)

The card from geeks doesnt have hardware encoding (I think) but I want to know if hd signals need encoding, since I believe someone else said they dont.
thanks

[linene]

The card from geeks doesnt have hardware encoding (I think) but I want to know if hd signals need encoding, since I believe someone else said they dont.

Flyswatta was correct when he said that atsc does not use an encoder. The data you recieve is just a digital transport stream so the reception part of hd is therefore not computer resource intensive (or tuner card intensive). However, playback of atsc can be more challenging and will require a decent video card. I have the same twinhan card...actually 2 of them. They are working great for me recording atsc. I am not using the analog side of the card.

[linene]

should I go with an ATI HDTV wonder that comes with an antenna like this - http://www.systemcooling.com/images/.../image2big.jpg

or should I grab this antenna http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882125057 with this card http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=32500 ?

I am not a big fan of the terk style antenna that is with the hdtv wonder, i have had more luck with loops like the rca you linked to. Also, i think have heard some horror stories about the hdtv wonder, so I would get a twinhan ( and have). Check with http://www.antennaweb.org to see if you have a shot at receiving atsc with an indoor antenna. It is working for me, but I am only 6 miles from the towers.

[linene]

This is a good resource for antenna ratings/reviews: http://www.hdtvantennalabs.com/hdtv-antenna-reviews.php. Looks like that RCA ANT301 that you had the link for is not highly rated. Might still work for you.

[csmaster2005]

Thanks for the links linene. Because of that I ended up going with the antenna that seemed the most popular/best. Zenith ZDHDTV-1

Also I checked the site, and I'm about 21 miles from all the towers. I do live in houston, and I think I'll be fine with a good antenna.

ok so here's what I'm ending up getting.
AMD Athlon 64 4000
Decent asus mobo
2x512mb ddr ram
1 pvr-150 (for analog)
1 TwinhanDTV 32500 (for hdtv)
1 zenith ZDHDTV1 HDTV antenna (supposedly one of the top indoor ones) to plug into the twinhan 32500

How does all that sound?
thanks

[linene]

That looks good to me, make sure you get a decent video card for the hd stuff...doesn't need to be cutting edge, but decent.