How to use a converter box & antenna to get DTV

Digital TV offers potentially better picture quality and more channels than analog over-the-air broadcasts, but getting digital signals might not be as easy as plugging a converter box between your antenna and TV. Here's why.

Most analog stations are in the VHF band, channels 2-13, while digital signals are transmitted mainly over the UHF band, 14 and higher. (However, digital stations in some areas may move to the VHF band next February, when analog channels vacate their station frequencies.) The UHF band is more directional than VHF and more sensitive to obstacles (such as trees, tall buildings, and mountains) that lie between your antenna and the broadcast tower. So getting good UHF reception can be more difficult than pulling in VHF, affecting your ability to get digital broadcasts.

The all-or-nothing nature of digital broadcasts also comes into play. With analog stations, a weak signal can still yield a watchable picture—it might be snowy or have ghosts, but you'll get a continuous picture and uninterrupted sound.

If you're getting marginal reception of digital signals, both the picture and sound might freeze or break up to the point that it's not watchable. If you're really on the fringes—either too far from a tower or with too many obstacles in the way—you'll see a black screen that says "Weak or no signal."

You don't have to wait until next year to get an idea right now as to what kind of reception you can expect after the transition. Here's what you can do right now:

• If you have an analog TV but no converter box yet, you can test UHF reception for analog channels 14 and higher, provided any are broadcast in your area. That will give you some indication of the reception you can expect with digital signals. If they're fairly clear, odds are you might be OK. But if they're snowy, you might have trouble.


• When you get a converter box, try it as soon as possible. Most areas currently have access to at least a few digital stations, so see how well you can pull in digital signals. Reception is likely to vary by channel, depending on the location and broadcast power level of a given station.


• Even if you have a digital TV that's connected to cable or satellite, you might want to try it with an antenna to see whether you could get over-the-air broadcasts in the event of an emergency that shuts down other services.

With any of these scenarios, you should first try a basic indoor set-top antenna designed to pick up both VHF and UHF. If you're close to a broadcast station and there are minimal obstacles between your antenna and the tower, you should see a clear, continuous picture that might be better than what you get with analog. (Sound quality will be about the same, though.) Basic indoor antennas start at about $10, though some cost much more.

If reception isn't great, move the antenna around the room or close to a window. Most converter boxes indicate the signal strength you're getting as you adjust the antenna position. If you can't get a strong signal from any position, try a set-top antenna that has a built-in signal amplifier. No luck? Try an antenna mounted on your roof or in your attic. The most effective type of antenna is a rooftop model equipped with a rotor, which can point the antenna in different directions to pull in broadcasts from various towers. Basic outdoor models start at about $50.

You'll find information on antennas and more at www.antennaweb.org, www.hdtvantennalabs.com, and www.antennasdirect.com.

Unfortunately, there's a chance no antenna will work for you. Recent reports indicate that some households are in fringe areas with poor reception, and for them, off-air digital TV might not be a good option.

In any case, start soon. If you encounter problems, there will be plenty of time to resolve them before next February so you're not left out in the cold.

For more helpful advice and links to other DTV resources on the Web, check out our Digital TV Transition information center on ConsumerReports.org.

—Eileen McCooey

Comments

[everett whitney]

TO: NM-E Dupree / Seattle / Apartment / Converter ....

Yes, there IS one "absolute certain " solution - but - NOT always possible for all to be sure.

Federal Coupon Converters are Not a permanent, 100% successful "fix" for DTV .... these Must have an appropriate antenna system for 100% dependable in-all-weather O.T.A. reception.

Your Seattle area has many days of heavy rain - these will cause differences in the way your Indoor Antenna functions.

And, as you posted, even though definitely allowed by federal Regulations, to "legally demand" the Complex Management for your Right to have a Satellite system IS costly!

That "certain" solution involves carefully searching for a new HDTV with an internal "QAM" tuner.

With that, one may have the new very least-cost, basic, limited channel local cable service.

NOT widely-advertised at all. However, it IS available, usually for a very modest monthly fee and NO Converter & No Cable Set Top Box of any sort at all !

Our's is COX with 22 channels Plus all 8 local networks in "HD" for just $11 / monthly total ! Comcast has it for $18.75.

Eventually - ALL must "give up" on these federal coupon Converters - only a "stop-gap" item at best - sad, but that IS the situation!

everett

[n/a]

I bought a omni-directional antenna from Radio Shack that is meant for RV's and I can hook up multiple tv's. My first tv is getting every channel in CT and a couple from Springfield, though my second tv is only getting two channels - still working on the second one. Though my first is great, and there is no interference. I just put the omni-directional in the attic on the floor and hooked up the cables - I was done. Good luck.

[N-E Dupree]

I hooked up my converter box about four days before the switch to digital.
I can not receive a signal for NBC. ABC, CBS, or CW11 (basic television stations in the Seattle area). I have not seen the daily news since the switch to DTV.

The antenna that I have is supposed to work but it does not. I am also unable to see any help commercials that could be on the television - I am not able to see the channels. I get some sub channels 9.2, 9.3, 9.4 and 13. One of the 9.? channel is in a foreign language. The television does not pick up any regular channels, not even the real channel 9.

What is this?

I live in an apartment so I am not able to get a dish and $60 a month is not a price that is a reasonable amount for basic cable.

I was told that I didn’t have to purchase cable with this converter box.

Is there a sure fix for this issue?

[everett whitney]

TO: Patrick -"New Antenna w/ 90 miles Radius?"

PURE hogwash! Even that ..48 miles.. would be a "stretch" for different seasons / weather conditions on UHF.

UHF Band transmissions can ONLY go as far as the curvature-of-the-earth, NO Matter What Antenna!

That will limit the technical capabilities to a Maximum of 60 miles, even atop an extremely-tall mast!

One MUST go first to www.antennaweb.org, input ONLY their ZIP Code (ignoring all the rest) & obtain the data pertinent -i.e.- Which Broadcasting Band(s), Compass Directions, Miles to TV Towers, Color Code recommended, etc..

NEVER buy a unit simply because it happens to have all-manner of "gibberish" printed upon the outer box!

Perhaps it might have been better to have gotten a box with analog pass-thorough.

BUT - no Converter Box will EVER be a 100% permanent "fix" or solution . . . listed herein at Many different places IS the comment by C.R. that ".. Converters are ONLY a temporary solution ...."

Eventually, to receive 100% dependable O.T.A.-DTV, one MUST plan on simply buying an appropriate HDTV, with it's own, internal ATSC digital tuner & "toss" the then failed Converter.

everett

[everett whitney]

TO: tt -"No NBC or ABC on my digital DVD..?"

Then, it must be your particular antenna system!

Look up your Broadcasting Band(s) ... then, compare whatever your are using to those of an appropriate type w/ "views" of the ones @:

www.solidsignal.com

By-the-way - "IF" whatever you ARE using is NOT mounted outside, atop the roof ridge, it should be, as well as connected bu Quad RG-6 Coax . . . 50' lengths are < $8 at:

www.monoprice.com

everett

[Patrick]

We just hooked up to a New Outside Antenna which is
UHF/VHF/HD with a 90 Mile Radious.
Back in May 2008, we bought a "Magnavox Converter Box"
Model #TB100MW9 without "Analogue Pass Thru" !
Before the transition date June 12th 2009, We could
get about 30 channels and now we can only get (6) six !

We usually watched channel (3) WFSB in Hartford, Ct,
which according to their Tech is broadcasting at
1000 watts of power !! We are only 48-miles away !!!
We even tried a Pre-amp from "Radioshack" and no
results !!

We live in a trailer Park so an Indoor Antenna is out of the Question !! I have scanned and rescanned and rotated the
antenna and No Luck !!! Radioshack suggested buying a
Converter Box with "Analogue Pass Thrue" to pick-up
Low signal TV broadcasts ? Someone even suggested to
Double-Scan and empty the memory on the Box and TV
and We did that and No-Luck ?? Any suggestions ?

Patrick,

[tt]

I live in a city with nearby local channels ABC and CBS, but my dvd recorder cannot get them either. If I do the rescan, the tuner skips over them as if they didn't exist. If I manually add the channels 30 and 47, I get no signal. CBS and ABC had the most programs worth watching. What a crock!{My dvd recorder does have a digital tuner by the way, so it's not the tuner being strictly analog!!!}

[everett whitney]

TO" Judy - I'm 60 Miles away ..."

That Much too far - DTV over the UHF Broadcasting Band will NOT "carry" for that distance. Half , yes.

Your Sister's In Chicago IS sent via VHF and, so so needs that type of antenna unit .... BUT ... because of their absolutely horrible weather most of the time {either howling winds, tremendous Winter Storms or intense raining} .... any appropriate outside antenna system WILL be very troublesome + high maintenance. I went through that while living there.

For those in such DTV Markets and / or in a condo or other situation w/o reasonable possibilities for an outside, high antenna, the better solution in my experiences IS to get the Most Simple, very cheapest or basic local cable service ... I mean the Non-Advertised, limited choice, such as COX's for 22 channels @ $11 or a similar service @ COMCAST for $18.75, etc..

Now, w/ a new Top Tier HDTV & the included "QAM" tuner, one WILL also get all those local networks in "HD" for not a cent more + NO Set Top Box whatever !

everett

[Judy Hanson]

I used to get ABC clearly before the conversion to digital. Now I do not with my new RCA converter box. I have tried adjusting my antennae and use a booster, but no luck. I live about 60 miles from Portland, OR and have to get it line of sight rather than the transmitter that some people can use (mountain in the way). Strangely my sister in Chicago also can not get ABC either. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks,
Judy

[Earl]

For TommyB:
At the conversion time, I lost one of the channels (11) on both TVs. I've scanned and rescanned to no avail. However, in frustration while trying to adjust the antenna, my wife yanked the rabbit ears out as far as they could go (even though I said "they won't pull in UHF") and suddenly we were getting channel 11, but we had now lost 32! Pushed the ears back in, we lost 11 and got 32 back.

A simple, but adequate, explanation is that the wavelength of channel 11 is longer than that of channel 32. With the antenna pushed in, the antenna responds better to the length of the channel 32 wave. Pulled out, to the length of channel 11. Neither one is "blocking" the other, but it is the antenna response. Kind of like a red filter and green filter respond to different wavelengths of light.

[everett whitney]

A (P.S.) to " yobebe " please ?

Also explain what is meant by a "..cable to the cottage from the main house ...?"

I.E. - A connection to to the roof antenna @ THAT roof ?

{OR}

Local cable service entirely ?

everett

[everett whitney]

YOBEBE - " Cottage has lost TV ...?"

Surely hope so !

Please re-post, stating that cottage postal zip code in order that www.antannaweb.org might be used to obtain the data necessary.

Listed there will be your TV Stations available channels, Compass directions, Distance & which Broadcast Band(s)

Then, it's very straightforward to use any of the many safe web sites to explore appropriate outside antennas - (1) is :
www.solidsignal.com

HOWEVER - "IF" that is no means to locate an outside antenna, HIGH on the roof ridge plus an 8'- 10' mast as well Without "aiming & looking" thru dense Summer foliage, THEN, no - perhaps there is NO solution, sadly !

everett

[yobebe]

Frustrated...am using cable from a main house, am in the cottage. About two and a half weeks ago lost channels 42-62. after the switch I decided to rescan my channels and now only have 2-11. Anything I can do about that?

[everett whitney]

TO: TommyB - Old Rabbit ears allow 11/32..?"

Don't mean to be "ridiculous" at all - but - have you considered using a digital (2) way splitter from that upstairs antenna which IS doing "O.K.?" NOT a left-over analog, either.

Also, since it's cheap enough, ONLY use { Quad RG-6} coax to connect the two - I can not include it here but "go" to:
www.monoprice.com - insert [ Quad 25' RG6 ] & it will come up, under $8.00 !

everett

[TommyB]

I have been receiving all of my over the air local digital stations for 6 months without any problem. On the old TV downstairs, I use a converter box and rabbit ears/loop combo, on the digital TV upstairs I use an RCA flat antenna.

At the conversion time, I lost one of the channels (11) on both TVs. I've scanned and rescanned to no avail. However, in frustration while trying to adjust the antenna, my wife yanked the rabbit ears out as far as they could go (even though I said "they won't pull in UHF") and suddenly we were getting channel 11, but we had now lost 32! Pushed the ears back in, we lost 11 and got 32 back.

My theory is that the signal from 32 is blocking 11, and by pulling out the rabbit ears we're blocking 32, thereby allowing 11 to get through. Is this possible? And if so, are we stuck with only getting one channel or the other? (We can't do this trick with the flat antenna.)

Thanks for anything anyone can add to this.

[everett whitney]

TO: TOM - " Hooking up my Many TVs ...?"

Certainly no guaranties or means to specifically address your problem from afar - BUT - there definitely IS a limitation to how many can be successfully connected to a single outside antenna system !

Simply stated - in your instance - the third connection WAS too many !

everett

[everett whitney]

TO: Terrell - "Converter needs Which antenna?"

It's YOUR location that determines what antenna IS appropriate, NOT any Converter...

Step# 1 - www.antennaweb.org - input ONLY your Zip

Pay strict attention to which Broadcast Band(s) your TV Market will use - i.e.- Hi VHF / UHF only or Both ?

Step# 2 - Many safe web stores - (1) is www.solidsignal.com

Step# 3 - Either "D.I.Y." or hire Professionally it's Outside Installation, atop the highest part of your roof.

DO please be aware that - as of today, 13th June - for very many on the Fringe, behind a nearby taller building, in a valley, on the Far Side of a hill, within dense hard wood trees w/ all that Summer Foliage, simply too many miles from TV Towers, etc., there is NO appropriate antenna system that will ever provide 100% dependable OTA-DTV reception!

For these peoples, there must be local cable or (1) of the two satellite subscriptions - OR - simply, do w/o TV !

everett

[Terrell Taylor]

What type of antenna do i need for this converter box?

[TOM TORRISI]

I HOOKED UP CONVERTER BOXES TO TWO TV'S, AND WHEN I
HOOKED THE THIRD ONE UP I ONLY GET CHANNEL 2 AFTER A SCAN.
WITHOUT SOUND. IS THE BOX GOOD OR MY CONNECTIONS WRONG.
TOM TORRISI

[everett whitney]

TO: Toby - "Only get 1 clear Spanish Channel...?"

OBVIOUSLY, there's something not yet correct w/ your "set up!"

Have you yet used www.antennaweb.org or that new FCC site? That's always a preferred Step #1.

After that data IS in hand - with which Band(s) are used in YOUR specific TV Market, etc.. - you can go to any of the fine web sites dealing w/ "O.T.A.-DTV" supplies ... one of which IS - - -

www.solidsignal.com

That will offer the info on which Outside Antenna IS best for your situation, to be mounted atop the very top of your roof & connected via Quad RG-6 Coax in a single length, no splitters, please!

www.monoprice.com has it in 50 feet coils w/ prepared, weather-proof Compression "F" connectors @ Under $8 ... longer available , too.

ALL major TV Markets should have by now all (8) of the major, local networks in DTV signaling, as well as quite a few "sub-channels."

everett

[toby]

I get one really clear Spanish speaking channel, and three channels with colored bars and that's pretty much it. I'm hoping to get get something of substance after the conversion; otherwise, I'll just switch to radio.

[everett whitney]

Cathy - " Terrible spelling mistakes !"

Apologies - but - No Editing Possible ... very sorry.

everett

[everett whitney]

TO: Cathy - " TREES . . . ?"

Alredy saw you @ another ?

"IF" your specific TV Market DOES strictly use the UHF Transmission Band ONLY, that really bodes for some "intermittent" issues for sure, by-the-way.

As soon-to-be-experienced by EVERYONE, the 100% Dependable, In-All-Weather, All-Seasons UHF reception is Very Much More difficult/tedious/unsuccessful than our soon-to-be-dead Analog VHF ever was !

Very strong winds, extreme & sudden temperature changes such as we do have prior to sever storms, leaves in the Summer, even air traffic in their landing-take off patterns in ANY place between your antenna & th TV Towers will & do interrupt UHF signaling !

It's for these + many more reasons that some feel so strongly about this switch to DTV as being a "conspiracy" or "very dark plot" to make many need to have Satellite {or local cable} service after 12 June . . . .

NOT the case, of course - BUT - still the one solutions for very many that used to have only O.T.A. reception for years !

everett

[everett whitney]

TO: Cathy - " TREES all around me ... ?"

That would be one solution - but - a costly project, as the proper "cabling" needed to be run underground from the base of any such pole / mast over to your HDTV set will be most-likely shocking as well as prohibitive !

As to what antenna proposal, this switch to DTV has NOTHING at all to do w/ the very old technology of adequately receiving O.T.A. signals!

Many have been convinced otherwise & ARE spending TONS of monies on essentially-useless " .. Special Amplified HD Set Top Units ..!"

FIRST . . . one should always go to this web -

www.antennaweb.org

... input ONLY your ZIP, check digital (for another few days) and listed WILL be the available TV Stations, Compass Direction(s), Distances & - CRITICAL - their Transmission Band[s} !

Next, go to any of the very many good web sites offering O.T.A. supplies / antennas . . (1) is -

www.solidsignal.com

IF you TV Market happens to be one of those few which IS going to be still using Hi VHF and UHF broadcasting after 12 June, one appropriate unit Might be the Channel Master # 5646 which IS exactly the very same unit inside the highly-decorated outer carton of the C.M. #3016 @ $20 more money!

Also needed will be a proper earth grounding of any such outside installation - - - all-in-all, undoubtedly a VERY costly set up in your specific situation!

For those in various "Fringe" and / or unique situations such as yourself, the end of available O.T.A.-DTV will be the case come 12 June for certain!

everett

[cathy]

What do I do when I live with all trees around, move the antenna to the closest open space? I can get some HD channels yet not all in my area and was thinking of buying a new outdoor antenna, yet have no clue as to which one to get. Any thoughts?