Digital TV

[sherpa]

What do we know about digital TV reception?

Are we going to have any better TV reception in the rural ares?

I have the converter box but can only get 3 educational channels.

Will it get better?

I live a long way from a town with TV stations.
mtnman

 

[MikeInEburg]

Do you get analog reception? Even though most stations are broadcasting in both analog and digital right now, the VHF stations (ch 2-13) are almost always broadcasting their digital signal in the UHF RF spectrum. This would require a UHF antenna for reception and is more susceptible to terrain interference. After Feb 09 discontinuance of analog broadcast many will move their digital broadcast to their old analog RF space. Good news is that less signal is required for a great picture.
Mike

 

[sherpa]

Do you get analog reception?

No, I dont get anything but the Educational TV in digital?

mtnman

 

[Mighty Dodge]

I've already switched to digital myself. The local channels come in great. I can now even get Washington stations clearly and I live in norther MD however I can't get any PA stations anymore. As Mike said you need a uhf antenna. I built one of these and it works well. YouTube - Coat Hanger HDTV Antenna!
I also read that a lot of stations that are broadcasting in digital are doing so at lower power for now to save money. If that's true it will now doubt get better as the February deadline gets nearer.

M.D.

 

[MicroPilot]

I built a version of this and got %200 better reception.

YouTube - Coat Hanger HDTV Antenna!

I substituted 12 gauge copper (some romex i had laying around) wire for the coat hangers, and added a backplane.

Google "DIY TV antenna". Lot's of option's that won't cost a lot of money.

 

[randy41]

How far are you guys from the transmitter?

 

[jk96]

Take a look at this site

AntennaWeb

This should help you figure out what channels are possible for your location including whether they are uhf/vhf, distance, and also what direction you need to aim your antenna for specific stations. While not 100% accurate it should be pretty close. I was able to pull in a few channels that did not show possible for my location.

**One note, if very few channels show up, you can increase the elevation using the options link when entering your info to show additional channels, however some of these may or may not actually come in depending on your antenna type and surroundings. My location showed 3 channels available, by entering my elevation at 400 feet it showed over 40 channels. I actually get about 10 channels.**

 

[Jimbrown]

Some of the converter boxes do not pass thru the anolog channles and only receive digital channles. So if the locals have not switched to digital you have to bypass the box to get them. This will mostly go away in Feb.

 

[randy41]

I just tried that jk. With their best antenna including preamp I could get 2 HD stations. Unfortunately my cable provider (the local phone co which provides my DSL and DSL TV)doesn't provide HD. They do provide digital signal. If I want HD (which I do) I would have to use direct tv or dish network.
Thanks for providing that link jk.

 

[jk96]

No problem. FWIW I added a pre-amp to my antenna and was able to draw in the additional channels. I only recieved the 2-3 listed without the pre-amp.

 

[tommu56]

I am a bit discouraged by it so far!
At my cabin I get like 6 fuzzy stations with a "100 mile antenna" from RS
I hooked up a new digital box with analog pass through and got 3 new digital pbs stations (and these are a great pictures lust like regular cable) but none of the other commercial stations are received.

I called the FCC and asked some Questions the gal there was very helpful.
I asked about the change over on 2/17/09 was figured
The digital conversion was mandated by and scheduled by congress, turn analog off and the and digital on.

So I have fuzzy analog tv on the 16 and maybe no digital tv on the 17 the fcc isn't to blame.

The stations don't have to broadcast digital in full power until the 17 th and some are doing it now at reduced power that might explain no digital signal she said.

I tried spinning my antenna (manual) when looking at signal strength and it didn't help.

I'll try any suggestions

will congress pay for satellite tv if i don't get any reception?

tommu

 

[texbaylea]

We recently bought a 42" Toshiba REGZA on-line for a good price, about $900. The only reason I bought new was our 10 yr old Toshiba was starting to fail. It would spontaneously turn itself off at random times. I like the new one and the only negative comment I have is that color controls could be better.

I have a long distance antenna on the top of a 75' tower. I can pick up about a dozen station from 123 degrees to 300 degrees azimuth With a remote control on my rotator it only a minor annoyance. 75 miles is about the limit for usable signals now, might be better after the switch. It does seem that antenna pointing is more critical with digital.

Vernon

 

[ray66v]

If you live way out in the fringes, good luck. Hopefully; the FCC will eventually allow them to transmit at a higher power.

I can't get one of the local stations, (PBS), in digital at all. and I am surprised, because it came in fine on analog TV. I am kind of far away, and don't have a giant antenna, which I am sure would help. But, I don't want a huge antenna and a rotor just for them.

One thing for sure, watching blacked out football games out of Toledo, (80+ miles away), is not going to happen on digital.