The Digital TV Transition - Questions.......

[global1]

Not long ago we went through a 'digital TV' transition. Much was made about this as we were barraged by commercials to get the converter box almost on an hourly basis. The transition was even extended because it was felt that many were still not prepared for it. Then it happened. We made the transition.

I really haven't read any accounts as to how well the transition went. I guess no news is good news. However, the two people that I know that made this transition (they don't have cable or satellite TV) are constantly complaining about reception problems. Now I know that reception is better with an outside (on the roof) type antenna. However, one of these persons has an on-the-roof antenna and the other just has antenna's attached directly to the TV and both are experiencing the same problems.

Pixelization and loss of signal seem to be the most common and it doesn't matter which antenna set-up - both share the same complaints.

They might lose reception on the TV of one channel. If they re-scan the channels - it instantly comes back on.

One TV in one room has all the channels - another TV in a different room doesn't gets the 'poor signal' message or completely loses a channel. This happens at any time even while watching a program.

How did this digital transition go overall? Are other people experiencing the same problems out there? Is the fact that the media has been silent on this transition mean that it is going good or that they don't want to acknowledge that the system is problematic?

One of these people that I referenced here that is having problems - thinks this whole transition is just a ploy to get everyone to switch to a PAY TV outlet - like cable or satellite.

Can you TV buffs out there that have a feel for this - help me out with some answers?

[Statistical]

1. I likely am in the minority but get flawless High Def picture for $0.00 a month.

I even have it hooked into a Tivo so I have a DVR for my free Over the Air TV.
I will NEVER get sat or cable ever again. I love saving $50+ a month = $600 a year (nice start to a vacation).

The problem is digital is "complicated".

It is affected by walls. An antenna in the attic only gets about 50% of the signal compared to an antenna outside. An antenna on a TV only gets about 15% of the signal.

Larger is always better than smaller
Taller is always better than shorter
Outside is always better than inside

99% of the antennas at Best Buy and other retail stores are hyped up junk.

Your friend with an outside antenna.
Does he know if it is UHF only, VHF only, or UHF/VHF?
How old is it?
Are the elements damaged?
Has he even looked at it in a decade?
What is the condition of the cable from antenna to the TV?
Does it use real coax connectors or those twist on junk?

[TransitJohn]

4. Wow your terrestrial broadcasters broadcast in HD?

That's pretty rare and you should be happy.

[Statistical]

6. Almost all are and have been doing for nearly 2 years now.

To broadcast in "HD" over digital cost no more than to broadcast in "SD" over digital.

Since the feeds from the networks are all in HD now it actually takes MORE work to broadcast in SD.
They down convert the stream and then broadcast it over a channel allocation that has more than enough bandwidth for HD.

Are you sure your local affiliates don't at least some HD now?

[TransitJohn]

9. You must live in a major metropolitan area then.

It's WAY different when you get terrestrial signals from a translator. Ours aren't even digital yet.

[Statistical]

10. Well I wouldn't say "major" but it is suburbs.

Of course is your signal is still analog then of course HD is not possible.

I can't find it now but I believe something like 90% of stations are now broadcasting at least 4 hours of HD per day. Given uneven population distribution that means more like 95% of the population has access to some amount of HD from one or more stations.

[TransitJohn]

12. 95% is way high

unless you're counting cable and satellite. It's just like broadband internet access, we'll never get real speeds, because it'd cost money to upgrade us, and the ROI takes to much time to pay out dividends quickly. City dwellers are always taken care of, though. 90% of stations may be broadcasting some HD, but lots of people don't get signal from stations, but from translators.

[eShirl]

2. the two channels closest to us are often cutting out - so annoying we often turn it off in disgust.

(One of those channels is supposed to be right here in our little city, the other in the town right next to us.)

The other two channels we get, from a city over an hour's drive away, come in flawlessly 99% of the time.

Go figure.

[ejpoeta]

3. digital signal is not as strong as the analog one, i don't believe. there are commercials around

here urging friends and family of people who can't get channels to rescan and such to see if they can get reception. We have satellite, so i don't know if we would have problems... but i know i have heard of people having trouble getting some channels to come in. I wonder how many people will end up breaking down and getting cable or something... can't NOT have tv, you know.

[global1]

5. Unfortunately - It Is Seniors On Fixed Income And Low Income Families That......

can't afford cable or satellite that have to deal with these digital problems. Just another frustration in their already dismal existences.

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. Some people gained stations; most people lost stations.

>>>>How did this digital transition go overall? Are other people experiencing the same problems out there? Is the fact that the media has been silent on this transition mean that it is going good or that they don't want to acknowledge that the system is problematic?>>


I lost four of seven free stations and gained four or five new non-useful ( to me) stations. I posted abut it sometime back ( it's in my journal). The conversion experience a very idiosyncratic thing.

At the moment I'm hobbling along with just the three stations. My guess is: if the other four stations need my $$$ they'll figure out some way to reach me.

But it's only a guess.

[DKRC]

8. Roommate bought the boxes

and antennas for 2 TVs just before the transition. Since she spent money on the gear, we tried for 2 weeks to get the signal to come in instead of freezing up into pixel soup. We gave it up as a lost cause & haven't used the TV for anything other than Netflix & gaming since June.

Don't really miss it.

[guitar man]

11. It all depends

On distance to the transmitters and terrain and obstructions. Some may get away with a pair of unpowered rabbit ears and for others it may take a bit of work. I was having trouble even with a rooftop antenna because of trees and buildings. I found this old antenna, probably 25 years old or more that was left in the rafters of my shed by previous owners of my home. I moved it out to the fence and hoisted it up to about 20ft. on a pole and added a 10db drop amplifier I got for $20 at Lowes and voila! I have every channel in the market crystal clear and perfect.

The antenna: I used 2 10 ft. sections of EMT conduit for the pole, 1 3/4" and 1 1/2" slipped them together and cross drilled and bolted them up.




here's a 10db amp on amazon for 15 bucks

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.amazon.com/TV-VCR-10dB-Signal-Amplifier/dp/B0001GAMR4&usg=__BUy30iwp5YUxATbc3wTYxY85w-E=&h=280&w=280&sz=13&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=ywlR9Jx2JtohUM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3D10db%2Btv%2Bbooster%2Bamp%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1

It might take a little persistence, but when you're done, you get a lot of tv without any monthly charges

[elocs]

13. I have had digital for years and pay $0 for my OTA tv and get twice the channels.

Yes, I have had to put an antenna (with an inline signal booster) on my roof because I have a metal roof which otherwise would block the signals. I have no complaints at all. I also have NetFlix streaming video which I watch on my 50" plasma and have available thousands of movies, tv series, and documentaries as well as getting 3 BluRay dvds in the mail each week for $10.99 a month but no money to cable or satellite.

There have also been those in this country who have had difficulty receiving tv signals whether because of terrain or simply being in the middle of nowhere. The plain and simple truth is that there is no constitutional right or guarantee that 100% of the people will be able to receive tv signals.

[global1]

14. So Just Like Heathcare - A Privilege And Not A Right......nt

[guitar man]

15. not exactly

I don't think anybody will die without tv. Well, maybe, if my wife can't see Y&R somebody might die! :crazy:

[elocs]

20. Yeah, that's perfectly reasonable--equating tv reception with healthcare.

Actually, that's totally absurd.

[Coventina]

16. My experience has included most of what you say in the OP

It's been irritating, and quite honestly, I don't see an improvement in the visual quality of the picture when it does come in well.

In fact, on some stations the picture has shrunk, as in, it doesn't take up the full screen anymore! What's up with that? (Sorry, I'm not very good with technology). There's a band around the picture with the station's logo! Ugh!

I now have a lot more stations, 90% of them are pure garbage. One good station: one of our local Spanish stations is broadcasting old 80s music videos, so that's kind of fun.

So, put me down in the category of feeling like this was a big scam to force people to sign up for cable or satellite.

[guitar man]

17. depending on what kind of box you have

There may be a "zoom" button on your remote which allows you to change the aspect ratio for the picture. The "cropped" setting will usually zoom in and take the black band off.

[Coventina]

19. Thanks! I'll check it out. n/t

[Luminous Animal]

18. I live in San Francisco and the digital reception is crap.

I've lost NBC altogether and the signal on all stations cuts out continuously.

[KharmaTrain]

21. It's In The "Fine Tuning" Stages

While stations changed to digital in June, not all were at full power. Many had to "flip" antennas and other equipment around giving the digital the better height and more power that the analog used to have. It's a work in progress in many places.

Overall the transition went rather smoothly as a majority of viewers watch via cable...the ones with the greatest difficulties are those at a distance from the transmitters. There's adjustments going on as stations get used to their new assignments and signals and I expect those that are getting complaints will either be applying to increase power or move to a new channel.

At my location, I lost the ABC channel (no great loss) during the transition but gained the CBS one. Many others lost the ABC channel as well and now their engineers are applying for a new channel. My mother-in-law loves her digital...she now gets 40 channels where she used to only get about 10.

[guitar man]

22. spot on

I work in TV and I can tell you, the transition is far from over. Lots of work left to do, antennas, channel reassignments and transmitter tuning as you mentioned. Also, transmitter build-outs are still ongoing, stations with a one or two tube tranmitter building on more tube cabinets to increase power takes time and a lot of money. Also, repeater/translator stations need to be switched over and tuned.

It took almost 70 years to bring the NTSC standard infrastructure to where it was, the ATSC digital infrastructure isn't going to just snap to perfection overnight.