Was the Digital Transition a success? - Page 2

Yes616 · 07-12-2009, 02:39 PM

There should have been a requirement that if you were on VHF, the digital signal should have gone right back to where you were on VHF at the transition. Likewise on UHF. The flip-flopping of real channels is what is driving everyone crazy!

I have to add this exception. There are technical issues with digital lo-VHF channels so they should just move to hi-VHF or UHF only if there is no more room around your DMA.

Is this a crazy thought?

IMO.. The cable companies paid the stations off to drive everyone crazy so they would subscribe to them.

Nowhere did any channel say to you that all you might need to do is a get different antenna after June 12th along with the new box. All they said to you is that you would need a digital tuner. That's all. You bought the box and had your current antenna in place but the channel switched bands just to throw you off the track. Now you have been caught in that trap set by both the cable and satellite networks. Hook, line and sinker to get anything.

The FCC along with all of the networks and local channels are all in cahoots on this.

DTVuser2009 · 07-12-2009, 02:49 PM

I should mention our own Fox affiliate did run a PSA saying they were moving from VHF to UHF and the real channel 28.1 (virtual 7.1) and one may need an upgraded UHF/VHF combo antenna. so it wasn't like all channels left that information out.

Aaron62 · 07-12-2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yes616

There should have been a requirement that if you were on VHF, the digital signal should have gone right back to where you were on VHF at the transition. Likewise on UHF. The flip-flopping of real channels is what is driving everyone crazy!

I have to add this exception. There are technical issues with digital lo-VHF channels so they should just move to hi-VHF or UHF only if there is no more room around your DMA.

Is this a crazy thought?

IMO.. The cable companies paid the stations off to drive everyone crazy so they would subscribe to them.

Nowhere did any channel say to you that all you might need to do is a get different antenna after June 12th along with the new box. All they said to you is that you would need a digital tuner. That's all. You bought the box and had your current antenna in place but the channel switched bands just to throw you off the track. Now you have been caught in that trap set by both the cable and satellite networks. Hook, line and sinker to get anything.

The FCC along with all of the networks and local channels are all in cahoots on this.

Agreed. I liked how the FCC waited about a week prior to the digital transition to release the "double rescan" info along with a bunch of other overlooked problems like under estimating power output for VHF stations too. blah, I could go on.

Don_M · 07-12-2009, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron62

I liked how the FCC waited about a week prior to the digital transition to release the "double rescan" info...

IIRC, it was more like a week after the transition, so it did even less to prevent confusion. :banghead:

spokybob · 07-12-2009, 06:45 PM

WHBF waited until May 28 to announce that those nice UHF antennas we bought were not going to work after June 12. How nice of them to locate away from the antenna farm AND require a large rooftop antenna.
The dozens of folks I helped were using rabbit ears with analog. I made those YouTube indoor antennas which were working fine. Now, even switching back to rabbit ears will not pick up the digital signal on RF4. Even so, those folks are happy they only lost one station.
..In an email, WHBF management stated I had done those folks a dis-service by building an antenna that will not receive his station.
(The #1 network) LOL

1inxs · 07-12-2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spokybob

WHBF waited until May 28 to announce that those nice UHF antennas we bought were not going to work after June 12. How nice of them to locate away from the antenna farm AND require a large rooftop antenna.
The dozens of folks I helped were using rabbit ears with analog. I made those YouTube indoor antennas which were working fine. Now, even switching back to rabbit ears will not pick up the digital signal on RF4. Even so, those folks are happy they only lost one station.
..In an email, WHBF management stated I had done those folks a dis-service by building an antenna that will not receive his station.
(The #1 network) LOL

Informing the viewer, to get ready for the DTV transition. Telling them to do it sooner than later. Then waiting until May 28, 2009 before informing them of the need for a different antenna. I hope advertisers are getting a ripping deal on advertising space with WHBF. I've wondered, at what point the many broadcast stations, knew which way they were going after June 12, 2009. Were some of them flying by the seat of their pants, just waiting for funding approval? It seems like there were numerous stories of this broadcast station buying back VHF rights and that broadcast station acquiring other VHF rights.

Piggie · 07-13-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spokybob

WHBF waited until May 28 to announce that those nice UHF antennas we bought were not going to work after June 12. How nice of them to locate away from the antenna farm AND require a large rooftop antenna.
The dozens of folks I helped were using rabbit ears with analog. I made those YouTube indoor antennas which were working fine. Now, even switching back to rabbit ears will not pick up the digital signal on RF4. Even so, those folks are happy they only lost one station.
..In an email, WHBF management stated I had done those folks a dis-service by building an antenna that will not receive his station.
(The #1 network) LOL

Hey Bob, welcome to the forum. Sounds like a letter we received from a local station running 4.9 KW on a very directional antenna so the city of license only get 2 to 3 KW at 12 miles! They said the FCC would not let them raise power (they never applied) and were told this is enough power to cover their contour, of which I know the engineer and he knows it's not enough. So it's all cheap paint on a problem.

I would have emailed him back and said it was even more of a dis-service to wait a couple weeks before flash cutting to tell your viewers they need to buy an antenna (when I bet the application is years old).

Are you the same Spokybob from AVS?


Home \| DTV & HD News \| Today's Posts \| JakesDTVBlog.com Interview \| Join DTV USA Forum