OT/digital channel download

I hadn't given it any thought,but the other night on the 10 o'clock news,they recomended that you download new channels to your TV now and then since new channels were being added all the time. We've had our digital TV for quite a while now,so I did it this morning. Gained several new channels,including 2 digital versions of the one I prefer to watch the 10 o'clock news on. I'd been watching their analog signal and thought I'd loose the channel when they stop the analog broadcast. I guess doing a new download every month or so might not be a bad idea. I'm getting 33 digitals now.

I'm on the fringe, so weather has a _lot_ to do with which channels come in any particular day.

Unfortunately my TV does not allw you to add more channels; it scans from fresh when you tell it to look for new channels. So I'm as likely to lose some that I have, as gain any new ones.

Only one channel went to digital only in my area.

--->Paul

Now that some have gone on to finish the transition, daily scans may be more appropriate at last until after June 12.

Gerald J.

We gained several channels after 2-17 and most of the stations in the Wichita area went to digital only. I'm not sure what is on all of them yet though as I haven't had time to watch much this week.

I'm nowhere near the fringe, and the reception in the rain the other evening really sucked. All pixelated and with the screen notation that the signal stopped and was not found.

I am running a large multi-element beam on a telescopic mast with rotor and amplifier, about 15-20 miles from the giant towers.

I understand that they may be at reduced power while they install new antennas or make their changes, but this has been a big pile of crap so far.

One of the channels data files are so corrupt to my tuner that if I try to surf it hangs on that channel for 30 secods or so with no sound, freezing up the box, then comes back alive as many clicks away from where it started as I have input while waiting. LIKE MAGIC, or the devil.

The local channel 10 and 13 choose to make it even more fun by shutting down the 10-1 and 13-1 during daytime redistributing it to their 10-4 and 13-4 then returning in the afternoon.

So around 8 in the morning I have to reprogranm the tuner and again at 4pm. If I don't wait till they change both back over I might have to do it twice, twice a day.

This sucks.

I do like widescreen HD but what the cost in hassle points.

It's possible to have too strong a signal and overload the tuner.
Is your dtv tuner and external box or built into the tv?
Some of the convertor boxes on the market would better used as fishing tackle boxes rather than convertor boxes.
Somewhere on a the net is a side by side comparason of the convertor boxes. I'd wager a bet that 1/3 the dtv viewing problems are directly related to a convertor box built with the $40.00 coupon in mind. Rather than being built to be both selective and sensitive.

Giltz: "am running a large multi-element beam on a telescopic mast with rotor and amplifier, about 15-20 miles from the giant towers."
You shouldn't have problems that close to towers.
I use to play with amplifiers and I think they caused more problems that good. Some exceptions, of course, like the little co-ax in line with long co-ax spans. Could very well be, like some one said that you are over loading the receiver.

Everything went digital-only Tuesday where I live. I had some trouble (weak signal) getting the local CBS affiliate for about a day after the change, but I'm guessing they had to fine tune the transmitter power or something. It's fine now.

I found the FCC's website is really helpful for aiming your antenna and finding out details about the digital conversion of specific stations.

Just go to http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=XXXX

where XXXX is the call sign for your station. They even have some nifty "Service Contour Map" which tells you where the tower is broadcasting to. Really helpful for aiming a directional antenna too.

I live only a few miles North of rrlund. We have three tvs with converter boxes. We get marginal signals on several tv stations that are OK on analog. And we have good antennas, complete with preamplifiers, etc. I am convinced we are in a marginal area, signal wise. We have three ham operators in this house, and we do know antenna systems. It"s my considered opinion that the digital is going to be a dismal disappointment. If you don"t have a perfect signal with a digital signal, you have nothing. With analog, you can put up with a little snow! Come spring, I plan on doing a little antenna tuneup, but I don"t have much hope.