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Comments on news posted 2008-09-24 16:10:17: The FCC made Wilmington, North Carolina their Guinea pig ahead of February's digital TV transition, with area broadcasters cutting analog transmissions on September 9. ..
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 russotto
join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA
| Loss of what? My guess is that the vast majority of those who lost stations were watching totally snowy barely visible black and white images with staticky sound in the first place. Yeah, if that's what you're getting now, you're going to lose out with the digital changeover. Most people, however, will go from a somewhat better analog signal to a really good digital signal.
As for Teletruth and Hunterdon County, NJ, I smell a rat. I'm guessing their "sample" was a very few people, all using a VHF-only antenna (all digitals in Philly and NYC are currently UHF), turned the wrong way, at the bottom of a valley, with the crappiest converter box they could find.
In fact, I'm certain that it was a VHF-only antenna. Note that all the stations they list as currently getting are VHF, despite the fact that UHF analog stations exist in both markets.
Note that the very biggest all-band antenna Winegard makes costs $140. The best common pre-amp out there costs $80. And that several of the NY stations and two of the Philadelphia stations (6 and 12) will be returning to VHF come February. | |
| | 
MeanPeepsSuk
Premium
join:2004-11-21
Muddy Field
clubs:
| Re: Loss of what? said by russotto  :My guess is that the vast majority of those who lost stations were watching totally snowy barely visible black and white images with staticky sound in the first place. Yeah, if that's what you're getting now, you're going to lose out with the digital changeover. Most people, however, will go from a somewhat better analog signal to a really good digital signal. As for Teletruth and Hunterdon County, NJ, I smell a rat. I'm guessing their "sample" was a very few people, all using a VHF-only antenna (all digitals in Philly and NYC are currently UHF), turned the wrong way, at the bottom of a valley, with the crappiest converter box they could find. In fact, I'm certain that it was a VHF-only antenna. Note that all the stations they list as currently getting are VHF, despite the fact that UHF analog stations exist in both markets. Note that the very biggest all-band antenna Winegard makes costs $140. The best common pre-amp out there costs $80. And that several of the NY stations and two of the Philadelphia stations (6 and 12) will be returning to VHF come February. You're pretty sure that the people in that area are either making it up that they had those channels before in any usable way... Or... that they did, but they lacked the equipment or know-how to set it up properly (or they do have hills, but most people will be okay).
Maybe it all is just spin from Teletruth.............
I won't argue with your beliefs.
Ok... I've got an idea. Since you live in Collegeville, PA you aren't really that far a drive to Hunterdon County.... Why don't you get a portable and drive around the county to see for yourself what channels you can get. Then, hook up a DTV converter and see what you get then.
I'd be interested in hear your results. I'd also like to know if it's possible that that a single DTV converter and rabbit ears is all that you need, or if there is some truth to the fact that they'd need to invest in a roof antenna, installation, amps, anything other than the DTV converter that the FCC says is all you need.
They may all just be full of sh*t and you could be the man to bust this wide open. | |
| | goalieskates
join:2004-09-12
Knoxville, TN
 ·Knology
·Comcast
| It's not just rural.
Those of us who live in mountainous areas within city limits are going to have major problems. Our reception using analog is so bad even with antennas that we won a court settlement years ago when DirecTv took away our network channels based strictly on mileage. One would think a Federal court case would get some notice from a Federal agency, but that would be asking too much.
If a test fails under optimum circumstances (flat terrain), it's a safe bet the percentage of folks without coverage is going to be higher. Yet another boondoggle ... | |
| 
Bobcat
Premium
join:2001-02-04
Bedminster, NJ
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| So digital is useless to me quote:
...over-the-air viewers in Hunterdon County, New Jersey (technically part of the NYC viewing market) are losing NY and Philly broadcasts after installing DTV converter boxes.
Given that I can only use rabbit ears and I get a lousy analog signal, I won't waste my time trying digital. | |
| | jay_rm
join:2002-04-12
Netville
 ·Fox Valley Internet
 ·ViaTalk
| Re: So digital is useless to me said by Bobcat :Given that I can only use rabbit ears and I get a lousy analog signal, I won't waste my time trying digital. Nah - give it a try first, you might be surprised. Just use that government hand-out coupon wisely and buy a decent box - don't cheap out. I understand any unit that uses the LG chipset has a real good RF front-end.
--
3500/512 5.7 GHz Motorola Canopy Wireless; FoxValley.net
"Peace through superior firepower" | |
| 
Lurch77
Stop looking at me.
Premium
join:2001-11-22
+44.88-87.89
| We lost channels too. We are about 30 miles from where our locals broadcast from. We used satellite, but used over the air signals for locals. Saved $5 a month and over the air was nice and clear. Installed the converter boxes. Lost two of our seven local channels, and a third is hit or miss. Two of those lost, Fox and PBS, are two of my most watched. We ended up adding the locals to the satellite and gave the stupid converters away. Stupid that we are going to be forced to do this or lose channels.
--
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati | |
| | 
Arctic nut
join:2006-11-26
Thief River Falls, MN | Re: We lost channels too. Digital is dead as a bag of hammers here. They'll fix it when advertisers realize they're not reaching as many households and demand lower prices for airtime. Oh well, there isn't much on television anyway. | |
| | 
DeeplyShrouded
@comcast.net
| Well, when the twin towers went down, all tv stations in the
new york area went offline. CBS still had a backup transmitter
at the Empire State building, WABC and WNBC used studios in
New Jersey provided backup facilities.
I have not yet played with the tv card in my PC but it is
my understanding it can pick up digital tv.
As a ham operator, I'd be curious as to what I'd be able to
pick up on an analog tuner hooked to a large antenna once
the analog stations are gone.
I was thinking the other day, how far out in space the very
first radio signal must be right now if power were no problem.
Let's see, 186,000 miles per second.....
For argument's sake let's use this:
Earliest one I can find is December 24, 1906, made by Reginald Fessenden of Brant Rock, Massachusetts.
Using this date, and calculating to December 24, 2008
there would be 3,218,918,400 seconds in that time span.
I used midnight as the time for these calculations.
598,718,822,400,000 miles.
Anyone got an OTA antenna to receive Star Trek from way
out there? 
I just think that a lot of people regardless of where they
are are going to have trouble receiving television no
matter how many times people are told the switch is coming.
I know that even though I have cable, one of my elderly
neighbors doesn't, so i ordered a DTV box and will install
it for them.
--Deeply Shrouded & Quiet
--Central Control! D-Dial #49
PS: Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati yourself....
Got yer duct tape? | |
|
CaptnE
@verizon.net
| OTA is the ONLY way Over the air is the ONLY REAL way to get tv.
Under general principles I don't go for this Cable TV stuff since its just WRONG to pay someone else to bring you signals that are yours to catch free to begin with.
Do whatever you have to do. Antennas, preamps, actually I've seen a small antenna with a built in preamp and rotor that is supposed to pull in DTV signals from over a 100 miles and it wasn't too expensive either. Like in the $60 to $100 range.
DTV is here, except for some more final modifications once the big switch happens. Its the ONLY REAL way to watch TV.
BTW I live about 25 miles from NYC and get about 32 or so channels on DTV with the same outside antenna we have used for decades for analog. | |
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