DTV: A Few Tweaks Left - Stations, FCC working to solve VHF receptionsnafus

broadcastingcable.com ^ | 6/22/2009 | Glen Dickson

[Las Vegas Dave]

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[Las Vegas Dave]

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[fso301]

Since the June switchover, I've noticed stations doing some minor tweaks but nothing major. I picked up 1 new channel post switchover.

I now get 46 channels during daylight hours and depending on atmospherics can get quite a bit more at night. In April and early May I got as many as 80 at night but at the moment am adding about 6 per night.

The most distant station I've received has been 500 miles.

[MrPiper]

I use rabbit ears and a converter. I get three channels that can't be watched because while clear, it freezes up every 3 to 5 seconds and sounds just as bad. Also lines/boxes appear and constant "weak signal" box.

I now use the tv for dvd movies and thats it. Before the switch, the news and 5 channels were not as clear and small amount of static, but it was watchable.

[fso301]

I use rabbit ears and a converter. I get three channels that can't be watched because while clear, it freezes up every 3 to 5 seconds and sounds just as bad. Also lines/boxes appear and constant "weak signal" box.

Hmm? The quality of signals I receive is simply fantastic. Much better than analog cable. Signals at the very fringe of reception can pixellate but that doesn't happen very often.

Sounds like you have a problem that can be overcome with a little experimenting.

I love DTV/HDTV.

[mylife]

Most HDTV is UHF which is very line of sight dependant.

Get a UHF antenna and get it up up in the air

[mylife]

As an aside, last week I listened to WLS 890 AM all the way from Wi to Oh and often pick up that flame thrower in Tx when conditions are right.

[Vinnie]

WLS, which has also experienced DTV reception problems from viewers living close to its transmitter atop the Sears Tower, never had reception problems with Ch. 7 in analog, Hassan says. But while it used to broadcast analog VHF at 55 kW, it is only allowed by the FCC to transmit digital VHF at 4.75 kW to avoid interference with stations in Milwaukee and Grand Rapids, Mich.

Good Grief! That's less than 10% of its previous power.

If all the stations took a similar cut it's no wonder my reception tanked June 12.
Mine dropped from Apr.-June 12, 75-80% to 35-40% post June 12.
Our ABC affiliate's signal has really taken a dump since going back to its original freq, ch.11 VHF.
They are in touch w/ the FCC.

[wheresmycheckbarry?]

Had rabbit ears that picked up 6 standard stations

Didn’t bother with the converter...

Now I get 1 station..crystal clear...that describes how to transition to DTV...in Spanish...

Oh well....Television “jumped the shark” a while ago for me

[HHFi]

I'm right between Dallas & Ft. Worth and used to get all the channels on rabbit ears. Some weren't that clear, but who cares? It's only television.

Since the switchover, I now have plug-in boosted rabbit ears and a converter box, and I still can't get at least one UHF station I liked to watch. Plus the local NBC station, which should be one of the strongest, constantly freezes and pixilates. Also, changing channels takes forever, while the box scans to find the frequency. The picture is clearer on the stations that actually come in, but I wasn't complaining before. Overall, DTV has been a giant annoyance that has cost me money while reducing my viewing options. But I do hope all the cell phone junkies are happy with their expanded frequencies for watching dogs on skateboards.

[AlbertWang]

Would you offer a few tech tips?

We have a channel master antenna and a 29 dB amp, reception is iffy. It is on top of a 20’ tall pole. We have trees (maybe 50’ tall) between the antenna and the horizon, some as close as 60’ away, some a couple of hundred feet away.

[My hearts in London - Everett]

Does anyone have an opinion on how well this would work? The reviews on Amazon are favorable:

http://www.amazon.com/PowerQ-POWERHD-100-Portable-Digital-Antenna/dp/B001PLH60K/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1N5FU7P31VH13&colid=1RR9EVNZM1PP7

My daughter and I are looking for an alternative to cable in the middle of Jacksonville, FL.

[fso301]

We have a channel master antenna and a 29 dB amp, reception is iffy. It is on top of a 20’ tall pole.

My basic setup is a VHF/UHF antenna mounted in a third floor attic which is about 25' up. I have 100' of RG-6 cable from the antenna to the TV on the bottom floor. No preamp. The antenna farm the antenna points to is about 50 miles away over relatively flat terrain and the towers are about 1,000' tall. I have two story homes between my house and the antenna farm.

[Vinnie]

Have you tried a loop? Muuuuuuch cheaper.

[My hearts in London - Everett]

Have never heard of that...what is it??

[Vinnie]

It’s a wire loop, about 6-7” in dia. Usually in the middle of a set of rabbit ears.

[My hearts in London - Everett]

Not really looking for cheap. We’re looking for something that will work and doesn’t cost $70 every month to use. This device says it picks up channels 2 -69. Reviewers say they’ve been able to pick up 20- 25 channels with it. I’m wondering if someone on FR has experience with it (or similar) or knows enough to say that it is viable.

[savedbygrace]

Most of the viewer complaints have been within 10 to 12 miles [of the transmitter],” says WHDH's Shultis. “It's like we have distance—the people out 20 to 30 miles with outdoor antennas are getting us—but we have poor penetration

I recall reading in TV Technology or Broadcast Engineering 8 or 10 years ago warnings that this would most likely happen after the transition. Was nobody at the FCC listening?

[Gay State Conservative]

As an aside, last week I listened to WLS 890 AM all the way from Wi to Oh and often pick up that flame thrower in Tx when conditions are right.

While doing BCT at Ft Knox (late 60's) we used to hear either WGN or WLS (can't recall which) loud and clear in the early morning.I've also picked up WBZ radio (Boston) loud and clear in NC and not too clearly in FL.

[Gay State Conservative]

“Most of the viewer complaints have been within 10 to 12 miles [of the transmitter],” says WHDH's Shultis.

I live less than 10 miles from WHDH's tower and I can't pick it up worth squat.I get all the other Boston stations and even one or two from Providence.