Aaron62

HTNut

It's more of a PSA kind of alert.

DTVuser2009

Funny, most of our stations here are going to UHF, NOT VHF. Fox has already done that long ago, it's on digital channel 28.1

Aaron62

Don't know about that, I mean it's not like they've been saying, "You’re going to need good ears and a bow-tie to make the transition to
digital television (DTV)" all along. and what the heck does that statement mean anyway? Are we to stack or combine bunny ears with bow tie antennas?

"Some viewers may have to install roof top antennas. But try good ears and a bow tie first."

Try good ears AND bow tie first? Who wrote this thing?

HTNut

Aaron, would you prefer that they issue this information through you first?

Did you noticed the "6 days and counting" and "5 days and counting" notice at the beginning? These are more of a reminder for television viewers. Not so much a, "Oh we forgot!".

Piggie

You might have typo here, but rabbit ears are the best for VHF with V for Very.

First the FCC knows exactly how many stations are going to VHF. They can't just go to a channel they pick, they have to apply and then be approved and licensed.

So yes the FCC knows exactly who is going where.

That said, that was the stupidiest Public Service I have ever seen.

They dare call it "Good Antenna Key to Making the Switch"

What are "Good Ears". This could be implied by the time someone gets to the store they need to buy amplified rabbit ears or something they don't even need.

Then take the idea of a bowtie antenna. While a bowtie is a better antenna than a loop, how do they attach it to the CECB? After all, all the bowties I know that are sold are 300 ohm balanced output antennas, requiring a balun.

Then how do they combine that with the Good Ears they already own? Cram two coaxes in one input?

I don't even know of any combination antennas that are "Good Ears" and a bowtie. A LOT of them are rabbit ears and a loop that have a balun built in so all the consumer has to do is attach it to the converter box with a coax.
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This is the perfect example of everything I have seen from the FCC to consumers not to mention not any better from the NAB.

They are either totally inept individuals best suited for garbage collection (since they spout it out), or they are being so purposely vague not to promote or do anything politically wrong.

I can't see where that document would do anything but totally confuse anyone really needing information.

Someone now caught a day late or almost reading that might run to the store and say the FCC says I need Good Ears and a Bowtie. The sales person sees a sucker, sells them the most expensive indoor antenna (more than a real outdoor in a lot of cases) that is mostly likely really a UHF antenna with an amp that is "claimed" to work on VHF but only if the antenna is next to the tower where even a bent paper clip would work.

__________________
The more I understand, the less I know.

Piggie

Then some towns like Tampa FL have 4 VHF stations. PBS, NBC, CBS and FOX are on VHF there. Only major networks there on UHF is ABC.

They have other stations including a PBS from the Un of South FL. But the above 4 are the major players out of the 5 big networks.

RabbitEars.Info

__________________
The more I understand, the less I know.

Piggie

Don't know if they wrote it but these two put their emails and phone numbers on the document.

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

Rick Kaplan, 202-418-1728
Email: rick.kaplan@fcc.gov

Mark Wigfield 202-418-0253
Email: mark.wigfield@fcc.gov

They deserve an email or phone call.

__________________
The more I understand, the less I know.

bicker

If the FCC is doing anything this week that they didn't previously plan, it is probably in reaction to their buddies at the newspapers telling them that they've already prepared a set of post-June 12 horror stories to print on June 13.

Orrymain

To the best of my knowledge, only one of our channels is flipping, and it's going from VHF to UHF. As for the PSA, it no doubt could have been worded better, but I think it's being over-analyzed. It's just a reminder, not a main issue; at least, that's my take on it.