Seems the antenna I have now isn't strong enough to pick up the signals on certain local stations, even with the converter. I mean, I can get 3 different versions of ABC, for example, yet stations like MyNetworkTV won't come in at all. For those who have had to upgrade their antennas, any advice? I know people who have bought newer antennas and are still having problems. Aside from getting a cable subscription (which I really don't want to do right now), I hope to be able to figure this out by February.
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To those with a DTV converter box...
- Thread starter Adam
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Doing better then I.
After getting the converter I get zero stations. I'm apparently in a HDTV signal 'dead zone'.
I've been talking with the chief engineer at the local NBC affiliate and he's suggested antenna setup that he is sure that should give me at least NBC and CBS back like I had before. If it works I'll report back. If not then TV ends for me on Feb 17th. But it's $60 and a trip to Radio shack, and possibly a wait for it to be ordered.
Myriads
After getting the converter I get zero stations. I'm apparently in a HDTV signal 'dead zone'.
I've been talking with the chief engineer at the local NBC affiliate and he's suggested antenna setup that he is sure that should give me at least NBC and CBS back like I had before. If it works I'll report back. If not then TV ends for me on Feb 17th. But it's $60 and a trip to Radio shack, and possibly a wait for it to be ordered.
Myriads
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Get the box now, so you can work out issues like the one I am having.
There are signals out there now. A friend of mine has got about 20 stations with his box, where he only had 8 before.
The basic rule is IF you get a station now with rabbit ears you should be able to get the same stations signal with the right new antenna. But you may need to upgrade it. Outdoor ones are best but there are a lot of solid inside ones also. It takes some knowledge and research to figure out.
Online there is lots to help with outside stuff. (They are color coded) inside it's a wing and a prayer. Without the NBC guys help I'd have been guessing.
Myriads
There are signals out there now. A friend of mine has got about 20 stations with his box, where he only had 8 before.
The basic rule is IF you get a station now with rabbit ears you should be able to get the same stations signal with the right new antenna. But you may need to upgrade it. Outdoor ones are best but there are a lot of solid inside ones also. It takes some knowledge and research to figure out.
Online there is lots to help with outside stuff. (They are color coded) inside it's a wing and a prayer. Without the NBC guys help I'd have been guessing.
Myriads
D
Deleted member 66627
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To check whether your TV set can receive over-the-air digital broadcast signals, review your owner's manual or examine the set to see if it has a built-in ATSC tuner. You can also visit the manufacturer's web site and find out the capabilities of the set using the manufacturer model number.
If you currently use an indoor or rooftop antenna to receive over-the-air analog broadcast television signals and you already get good or excellent reception quality, you should be able to get reception of digital television broadcast signals with the same antenna. For more information about using an antenna to receive local television broadcast channels, visit
http://www.antennaweb.org/
After hooking up a converter box to your TV set, or installing a new digital TV set, you will need to scan (also known as autotune) for new channels to make sure you receive all of the digital stations broadcasting in your area. While some boxes do this automatically, you may need to select scan manually.
Because some digital stations that are already on air are moving to different channel numbers after the DTV transition, you may need to rescan again after February 17 to ensure that you receive all of the digital stations broadcasting in your area.
You should rescan your converter box or TV set for channels when installing equipment for the first time, after repositioning or moving an antenna around and once again after February 17. Since some digital stations are still coming on air, you may want to consider rescanning on a periodic basis to get all of the digital programming available.
Coupon website -- https://www.dtv2009.gov/
If you currently use an indoor or rooftop antenna to receive over-the-air analog broadcast television signals and you already get good or excellent reception quality, you should be able to get reception of digital television broadcast signals with the same antenna. For more information about using an antenna to receive local television broadcast channels, visit
http://www.antennaweb.org/
After hooking up a converter box to your TV set, or installing a new digital TV set, you will need to scan (also known as autotune) for new channels to make sure you receive all of the digital stations broadcasting in your area. While some boxes do this automatically, you may need to select scan manually.
Because some digital stations that are already on air are moving to different channel numbers after the DTV transition, you may need to rescan again after February 17 to ensure that you receive all of the digital stations broadcasting in your area.
You should rescan your converter box or TV set for channels when installing equipment for the first time, after repositioning or moving an antenna around and once again after February 17. Since some digital stations are still coming on air, you may want to consider rescanning on a periodic basis to get all of the digital programming available.
Coupon website -- https://www.dtv2009.gov/
D
Deleted member 66627
Guest
lolwut?
D
Deleted member 66627
Guest
I thought we were the only ones with Rabbit ears...Still waiting for our coupons...
Don't just sit on those vouchers. They expire, and you can't get new ones if they do. However, if your vouchers have expired, then you perhaps you can have someone else give you theirs.
One thing to keep in mind is that there is limited space on the transmission towers where television signals are broadcast from. The existing analog stations occupy the prime locations at the top of the tower that have the best line of sight transmission distances. The digital stations are currently broadcasting further down on the towers, which means they can't broadcast as far.
After February 17th, the digital signals will move to the tops of the transmission towers, which should significantly enhance the signal availability.
This certainly won't help everyone, and you can't really test it out before February, but it might help out some of you who are having trouble receiving an over the air digital signal.
After February 17th, the digital signals will move to the tops of the transmission towers, which should significantly enhance the signal availability.
This certainly won't help everyone, and you can't really test it out before February, but it might help out some of you who are having trouble receiving an over the air digital signal.
kered
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I got them a couple days ago and I have ninety days to redeem them. They actually look like credit cards.
Hey, thanks for that. 🙂 Having just browsed that site, seems the strongest antennas (no surprise) are the outdoor types. Personally, I'm hoping to find a quality indoor antenna. Let the trial and error begin. 😀
D
Deleted member 66627
Guest
When I got my first apartment I couldn't afford cable, so I bought two different antennas. One of them looked like the ones you see outside of people's homes, the other one was more of a fancy box type lookin' thing.
The box style one was more expensive, it had no 'rabbit ears' like the first one did and surprisingly; it was crap. The first one I bought had the rabbit ears and worked a million times better.
But make sure you do the auto tune. I only had like 6 channels, but before I auto tuned I had like 2 or 3. And I kept the antenna closest to the TV. (on top of my entertainment center), where the more expensive one I had mounted on my wall in the dining room which was just off the living room.
The box style one was more expensive, it had no 'rabbit ears' like the first one did and surprisingly; it was crap. The first one I bought had the rabbit ears and worked a million times better.
But make sure you do the auto tune. I only had like 6 channels, but before I auto tuned I had like 2 or 3. And I kept the antenna closest to the TV. (on top of my entertainment center), where the more expensive one I had mounted on my wall in the dining room which was just off the living room.
Duly noted. Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like February 17th is going to cause a lot of people some serious frustration? Hope I find the right fit.
D
Deleted member 66627
Guest
Yeah, most likely. But there's a shit load of sites I think that'll explain a lot for those that need it.
Just talk to to the folks at the stores you go to. I got both of mine at Wal-Mart.
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Well this weekend I went out and bought the antenna that the chief engineer from the local NBC station said should do the job for me. It looks like a large outside antenna but it can be used inside in an attic or loft space (which I have) to the same result.
The results were:
For regular TV like we have now it made a huge difference. I got much better reception on what I had, and even got two channels (ABC and FOX) that in 30 years I never got before.
On the HDTV front I got squat.
No signals at all. So no change from the crappy rabbit ears I had before this.
So in February I'm expecting to wave bye to TV.
I'm not frustrated as much as saddened. I used TV as a background companion as I did other things (like surfed the web or played a online game) and got the weather and local news. I can always watch TV online, and follow any show I want, but that's not how I 'used' TV.
As I never paid for TV, I guess I'm not loosing anything, but I'll miss the background. I simply can't justify $40+ a month for basic cable, let alone the multi hundred fee that is charged to have it put in.
Myriads
The results were:
For regular TV like we have now it made a huge difference. I got much better reception on what I had, and even got two channels (ABC and FOX) that in 30 years I never got before.
On the HDTV front I got squat.
No signals at all. So no change from the crappy rabbit ears I had before this.
So in February I'm expecting to wave bye to TV.
I'm not frustrated as much as saddened. I used TV as a background companion as I did other things (like surfed the web or played a online game) and got the weather and local news. I can always watch TV online, and follow any show I want, but that's not how I 'used' TV.
As I never paid for TV, I guess I'm not loosing anything, but I'll miss the background. I simply can't justify $40+ a month for basic cable, let alone the multi hundred fee that is charged to have it put in.
Myriads
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I got DirecTV, so i don't have to worry about conversion
