Lortra8

bicker

Someone is going to be forced some way: Either folks who want digital would have analog forced on them, or folks who want analog would have digital forced on them. There is not enough bandwidth, nor is there enough money to justify, broadcasting everything in both analog and digital. The reality is that analog television transitions was designed about 80 years ago, and is an incredibly inefficient use of the limited resources that is the broadcast spectrum. Given a choice between analog and digital, digital is simply superior based on most (though not all) objective measures.

I think you're confused...

Here, analog cable service ("Standard Cable") costs about $55, and digital service ("Digital Starter") costs about $58. Generally, cable companies charge "a fortune" for cable networks, not for "digital channels", like you implied.

Regardless, the digital transition we're talking about in this thread has nothing to do with cable networks. We're just talking about the digital transition concerning broadcast television stations. That has nothing to do with cable, and nothing to do with what your cable company may or may not be charging you a "fortune" for.

1inxs

When the DTV transition was first announced a few years ago I didn't give it much thought. We live in a mountain valley and don't see many rooftop antennas up here and like many others assumed you had to get cable to watch television. With the recent economy and to make ends meet we decided to disconnect the local cable. Talk about withdrawals. I couldn't watch the local evening News, Weather and Sports or watch the local news the next morning. It bothered me so much I decided to go to AntennaWeb to research the DTV transition. The information I found was disheartening. There is no plan to support DTV in our area. I went to Home Depot and they had a rooftop antenna on sale. The store clerk said we could return it if it didn't work. With nothing to lose I took the antenna home and installed it. I contacted the Summit County engineer and she told me there was a translator tower on Lewis Peak. With the help of Google maps I aimed the antenna in the direction of Lewis Peak. Neighbors thought I was crazy, stating "you can't get television with an antenna up here". When I connected the antenna to the television the reception wasn't very promising. We received a few channels with poor to very poor quality. We would have to live with it or pay for cable. Not giving up I drove 55 miles to Sears. The clerk told me I could return the converter box if it didn't work out. Well again with nothing to lose this time I purchased a Dish Network ATSC Converter Box. I got home and unpacked the converter box contents. It was very simple to install. The on screen setup was simple to follow and within a few minutes it was complete. To my complete amazement it located 17 channels super clear DTV channels. The on screen TV guide is amazing. While watching a little television and reading the user manual I found a section on aiming the antenna. We did notice a few periods where we lost picture and then it came back, so I went back onto the roof and started moving the antenna using the converter box signal strength meter. That did the trick and the picture was stable and super clean. I have amazed our neighbors with the quality and number of channels in our area. I'm quite impressed with the new DTV quality and with the on screen guide there are no expensive or messy paper guides to lose or leave lying around. It's like a new toy. I hope the broadcasters expand their programming with the addition of DTV quality. We could sure use a new converter for one of our other televisions that need a converter. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your contest.

Sincerely
Robert

IwantmyDTV

Cowboy,
TV Fool - TV Signal Locater
I have no idea how to interpret this map/graph. As far as I can tell, I should be receiving the channels with vhf indoor antenna. Any help is appreciated. Currently receiving CBS, ABC, WTJR, and 3 PBS. No NBC, (WGEM). Had them all before the transition, through all of the "DTV Ready?" tests.

bicker

CBS and NBC maybe, and WTJR. You'll still need view of the south-by-southeastern sky from your antenna. If there is a rebar-braced brick wall between the antenna and that direction, you might not be able to get decent reception.

Bramble

How has the digital transition affected me? Don't know yet because I haven't been able to get a converter box. The stores are always out. My coupons expire tomorrow so I'm on a hunt at the moment on the internet and the phone.

Denied TV converter box coupon program-My dad was denied his coupons because he was told they had already applied. He has written a letter and still hasn't received a response. They have two TV's and need two converter boxes. I'm purchasing a converter box for them with one of my coupons so they will be able to watch one TV like me. I had to fill out my coupon form on line because I live in an apartment. Everytime I tried to enter my apartment number I received the same message that I needed to call back at another time-not during high volume hours. It didn't matter when I called or what day, I could never get a response. Luckily I received my coupons, late of course! Hopefully I will be able to locate a box for me and my parents. I'm not sure this process was well thought out by the powers that be. I wonder if it will be ready to go in July or will there be another delay? I know we have reception problems all the time in Houston now.

Upgrade antenna-won't know till I get my box and one for my dad.

staticMHZ

I need to find a way to get my antenna up as high as possible, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to put up an outdoor antenna. I really don't think an antenna is a difference. I live 28 miles from transmitters, that's like on the outer edge.

I need to get my antenna up high and in the clear, to get rid of the no line of sight problem.

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DTV USA Forum is not affiliated with the converter box coupon program in any way, visit http://DTV2009.gov for more info.

Ricardo

I'm expecting things to go smoothly with our TV service because we're in a condo with cable service.

I think my father-in-law may have to rethink his reception. At the moment he has a satellite dish and he still tries to get a local channel with rabbit ears.

DTVuser2009

I've got 19 channels (pretty much all of them in my area that have gone digital) total and i can receive all of them with a Phillips Indoor HDTV antenna with adjustable 50Db gain. but i have to adjust it all the time as the channels are everywhere on the compass. i would give anything to get an antenna that doesn't require it twisted this way for CBS, another way for ABC, or who knows what direction for RTN-25. i just like to hit channel up/down one time without having to move the blasted thing. the only problem is wind. during winter we get abnormally high winds in excess of 50mph for days at a time, rendering Digital reception completely useless so it can be days for the TV to be out before it is back. sucks major time.

staticMHZ

how can i get over the line of sight problem when i'm limited to an indoor antenna?

__________________
DTV USA Forum is not affiliated with the converter box coupon program in any way, visit http://DTV2009.gov for more info.