Digital Television Changeover

[Switch Kit]

Was just wondering what others thought about this change over ? looks like it will open up more bands for other operations , no more TV antenna's or dreaded rabbit ears , I can see this really helping others in rural areas with crappy reception to begin with. Although IM a collector of many radios , (not just cb) all my TV receiving radios will no longer work. IM guessing this might be slightly costly to some that can't afford new TV's and converter boxes ? I wonder if my TV radios will pick up other things in the future ? Could these turn into freebands like on CB ? (although illegal) I have a really nice Casio hand held color TV , I don't see where a converter box would help me there )-: , I guess you win some and you lose some. Maybe the Government will reinverse me ? Yah Right !

 

[IMD262]

no more TV antenna's or dreaded rabbit ears

DTV is just a diifferent mode, you'll still need an antenna for over the air reception.

I can see this really helping others in rural areas with crappy reception to begin with.

I'm no guru , but I think just the opposite.I know on a semi-local public saftey system that recently went digital,the signals seem to be be lighter and I've heard users on the system talk about poorer coverage.

I wonder if my TV radios will pick up other things in the future ?

If the service that "buys" this part of the spectrum uses anolog I would think you TV would pick them up if they were using the TV channel's audio frequency.If the TV has a tuner instead of being channelized you could use it as a receiver, but remember analog TV audio is WFM.People used to be amazed and shocked when I would show them that cell phones could be picked up on the higher UHF frequencies on an old TV.

IM guessing this might be slightly costly to some that can't afford new TV's and converter boxes ?

The converter bioxes I've seen would run $10-$20 after using the $40 government voucher.

73
Carmen

 

[Switch Kit]

thanks for the info Carmen , as much as I can understand it to this point.

 

[park]

Me and my wife had to replace the living room TV after 18 years of service. Bought a Sony 24" for $189.00 it is our first digital TV. I must say the four digital channels we can pickup have a better pictures than analog.

Next Feb. we will have three TV's that will retire, there to old to get converters for.

 

[mackmobile43]

cable is the only way to go.

 

[C2]

Negative!

I've gone totally OTA digital. Of the 60+ channels that I receive free over the air, at least half are full quality NTSC. A quarter is at least full DVD quality, and the remaining quarter is a mix of the current full HD quality 720P or 1080P.

I've custom built three different antennas to receive this, and my received programming rivals some cable subscriptions, and mine is free.

 

[mackmobile43]

Negative!

I've gone totally OTA digital. Of the 60+ channels that I receive free over the air, at least half are full quality NTSC. A quarter is at least full DVD quality, and the remaining quarter is a mix of the current full HD quality 720P or 1080P.

I've custom built three different antennas to receive this, and my received programming rivals some cable subscriptions, and mine is free.

pictures please

 

[C2]

pictures of what?

 

[555]

pictures of what your talking about
the 3 custom built antennas

 

[mackmobile43]

pictures of what?

what 555 said

 

[C2]

This was my first attempt...

 

[C2]

This one is not mine, but I made one just like it for the southern stations. I have another one that is like a double bi-quad for the east. And the third is a pair of multi-element yagis cophased for the two main stations up north. I used the yagi for the wider beamwidth to get both towers on one line.

notice this one below has small lips.

 

[KingCobra_CDX882]

"Was just wondering what others thought about this change over ?"
It will cause much confusion at first
When the dust settles finally....i am sure most will like and prefer it


"looks like it will open up more bands for other operations"
yes and no

," no more TV antenna's or dreaded rabbit ears "
totally wrong there
antennas are even more important (especially if you do not have cable,satellite and or say fios)

currant tv service is on the vhf band
the new HD TV is on UHF band
because UHF band is used....there will be a slight drop as to how far those UHF signals can be picked up (VHF travels a bit further typically)

, "I can see this really helping others in rural areas with crappy reception to begin with. "
Again totally wrong....i people using currant tv's are so far away as to be on fringe of receiving currant non digital/HDTV then it will become slightly harder to receive the HD channels (will require more specific UHF antenna and to compensate would likely require higher gain antenna...that is a higher gain then was needed on VHF band)

"Although IM a collector of many radios , (not just cb) all my TV receiving radios will no longer work."
Not persay true
already the conversion boxes are available to enable analog tv to receive digital reception on their older tv's (but will not enable to see the super high sharpness quality as if one compared it to the picture from a actual HDTV


"IM guessing this might be slightly costly to some that can't afford new TV's and converter boxes ?"
why is that for the boxes are fairly cheep
i just got in stock ones costing $60 and if you use a $40 govt coupon then effectively costs you only $20
and when all the boxes are out there some will start at $40 and those will wind up costing you nada



"I wonder if my TV radios will pick up other things in the future ? Could these turn into freebands like on CB ? (although illegal) I have a really nice Casio hand held color TV , I don't see where a converter box would help me there )-: , I guess you win some and you lose some. Maybe the Government will reinverse me ? Yah Right !"

oh well.\cant win them all LOL

 

[KingCobra_CDX882]

Now as far as the Antennas

There are many one can by or make

even with good store bought rabbit ears (say $30)
in major cites at least (me in nyc/nj metro area)
one can get 60-70 channels

as already said earlier
such reception rivals pay service
yet is free

you would be surprised how many channels are currant working and available right now

Even if one has say cable,satellite,or fios
those service providers will indeed give you many HD channels
However they will give you all the national feeds

So even with the major service providers bring their connection right into your home
there are still many other local channels you likely only will get by using either rabbit ears
(please do not kill any of those cute rabbits) or using roof antennas

even if using a roof antenna (be it vertical or horizontal)
they need not be hugely big for we are talking UHF not HF or VHF

then combining the major national feeds and local feeds
well quite nice
also those you receive over antenna (rabbit or roof antenna)
will be at least as good if not better then those piped into the house

 

[C2]

Except, the governmet got their hand in it...

one "kids" programming for every multicast.

At least it is the best ota so far, and we have not even seen the blackout...