DTV tip: How to pull in those new channels

Yesterday, as more than 400 of the nation’s full-power TV stations converted to all-digital broadcasting, the Federal Communications Commission says many of the calls it received (Note: Link requires Microsoft Word or other compatible word processor) on its 1-888-CALLFCC (1-888-225-5322) help line involved the need to scan or rescan for channels after stations made the switch from analog to digital. The topic also came up a lot in blog comments on how DTV's big day went, on sites including The Consumerist.

Such rescanning should be among the first steps to getting over-the-air television signals through a new DTV converter box, or via a built-in tuner in the TV itself.

After connecting the antenna to the digital TV set or the DTV converter box (and the DTV box to your old analog TV), you need to scan for digital TV channels (usually in the converter box's setup menu) and see what comes in. If a specific station doesn't come in, reorient the antenna and run another channel scan, or enter the channel number (if the box allows that). Adjust the antenna in various directions or move it closer to a window, which might require a long cable. Use the signal-strength meter (many DTV boxes have one) to adjust the antenna to the optimal position. You might have to tweak the antenna each time you tune in a station with marginal signal strength.

Still no luck? Try an amplified antenna or a signal booster. Last resort: a rooftop antenna. In our tests, we use a standard residential rooftop antenna we've had for years, not a special "digital" or "HD" model. In general, the website AntennaWeb.org notes, bigger is better, higher is better, and closer (facing the transmitter) is better. The site recommends the type of antenna you'll need, based on distance from the transmitter and details you provide on obstructions and dwelling type.

Still confused? View our video (above), How to set up your DTV converter box. And for much more information on the digital television transition, including free DTV converter box Ratings and advice on buying a DTV box go to Consumer Reports' Guide to the Digital TV Transition.

Comments

[Jodi]

I am trying to find a way to get more stations without paying for cable. Currently I only receive PBS and CBS. I no longer receive any other channels. During the conversion process I received alot more channels in digital format, nbc, abc, cbs, fox and cw. Once the conversion was complete I received only PBS and CBS. I went to one of the website from another post www.antennaweb.org and put in my area. It told me I would only get channel 5.1 (CBS) and 19.1 (PBS). I don't understand how I can only or supposed to get only 2 channels. I hate this conversion. It really has caused a problem for people who live in the country. My zip code is 48766. Ugh very dispointed with conversion. Any suggestion on how to get more channels.

[everett whitney]

Ms. Glenda ..." OLD was Better ...!"

Your post did not state whether you are using a federal coupon Converter .. or .. a new HDTV, which doesn't require any converter?

In either case, it's apparent that you ARE still trying to make an indoor "unit" work . . . "way-out-in-the-country", these never do!

www.antennaweb.org will list your TV Stations, how far & what type of Outside Antenna is needed.

www.solidsignal.com illustrates essentially every Brand / Model on the market.

Mount an appropriate one outside, atop the roof ridge, connect it with RG-6 Quad Coax Cabling & you WILL have perfect displays every channel / each time the TV set is turned on / day or night.

Whenever circumstance allow, DO plan on & get (1) new HDTV - the Closed Captions will work much better than with any Converter Box.
everett

[Glenda]

I am not happy with this switch, tried to get to like it but i cannot recieve any channels during day but at night is better, i think we should have left it alone it was back then. WHen storm comes and we are unable to see what is going on ( I am deaf and cannot use radio or any thing )We also cannot afford satelite dish and do not have dsl or cable hook ups here either in our area because we live out of city limits. Everything has became tougher on people and what was the inventor thinking any way. it didnt get any better.. I thought we would have a clear picture and yes we did get clear pic but they all dont stay on that long. poor interferance. It would be easier if it switched back to the orginal way it was. more channels where I can see storms or news or movies at other locations. This ones is IMPOSSIBLE. :(

[barbara cowan]

I HAVE TWO OLD ANALOG T.V'S . I HAVE THEM HOOKED UP TO A BOX AND THEY WORK WELL, HOWEVER I HAVE A PORTABLE THAT I HOOKED TO A BOX , GETY A GOOD PICYURE BUT THE SOUND IS SO LOW YOU CAN NOT HEAR IT. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM.

[COCO WHITLEY]

i have 2 old tvs. i have 2 converter boxes. i have a $200.00 out door antenna and a $60.00 stelth antenna. Both tvs programs come and go, no signal, it is a mess.
i did some reasearch (so all the people who think americans should spend money upgrading). THE US GOV. CAN SELL OUR AIR WAVES TO CELL PHONE COMPANIES FOR BILLIONS, WITH A B.
SO to congress i say, hope you have to watch dtv programming.

[Jane EH]

It's a big loss for me that the switch to digital TV reception has eliminated audio TV on my AM/FM radio. I've lost late night listening to news on channels 2,4,5,7,11,13, including PBS movies and talk shows (Bill Moyers, Charlie Rose), other programs that were worth listening to with eyes closed. Is the only alternative satellite radio? I'd appreciate some guidance on this.

[everett whitney]

TANYA - " NO TV ?"

Hello - I "wish" that we all had to sign on / enter a POST with our zip code! That way, a constructive reply could be accomplished at the very outset !!

You simply Have an incorrect antenna for your specif TV Market / region!

PLEASE do re-post, listing the postal zip code & suggestions will follow!

everett

[tanya]

i am not happy with this switch.. i cannot recieve not one channel since this switch. i live in pa. and apparently i am in a dead zone. i used to get 4 channels via rooftop antena (which i have a booster) and 3 channels on my tv upstairs via rabbit ears. well i have tweeked my rooftop many times and rescanned and still nothing. and when i called the help line all they said was i have to manually go threw all the channels and rescan well suprise suprise still nothing.. i do not have access to local cable channels as i live on a dirt road with nothing but amish around me so they wont even brinbg it down my road.. so after spending the money for this box i guess i have to wait till i can afford the satilite systems.. ny family is not happy at all.. my kids have to watch movies all the time and cannot watch there programs that they look forward to watching.. again NOT HAPPY...

[everett whitney]

Thanks Mr. Eng ! Now, her question makes much more sense ...

Still another means of obtaining those "sub-channels" will be to install / connect an appropriate antenna system .... all HDTVs of the larger displays HAD to contain an internal 'ATSC' tuner beginning early 2006 which allows this ...

no set top box, no local cable, no satellite needed ... OR - totally possible while simultaneously having either of those other services, too { in addition to }.

[Paul Eng]

To Vicki (and all):

I do not have AT&T U-verse so I can't speak directly to your question about the "blank channels"... However, as Everett Whitney pointed out (and from my own experiences with DirecTV satellite service) local TV stations will be carried by your local cable (and satellite) TV service providers.

HOWEVER... From my personal experience with DirecTV (and in asking my local cable TV service provider, Time Warner) I know they also will NOT be offering the new SUB-channels of local stations.

What are "sub-channels"?? Under digital transmissions, your local stations have an option to divide the portion of the broadcasting frequency into several channels. (Up to 4, I believe.) So, your Channel 4, for example, could offer (in digital) Channel 4, Channel 4.1, Channel 4.2, Channel 4.3 and Channel 4.4. (Or they could use the whole "bandwidth" for one channel.)

To carry all THOSE channels for EVERY local station, cable TV and Satellite TV services would need extra electronic "space" in their transmission facilities, too. (And more money, of course, from subscribers.)

Does that help answer your question, Vicki?

-Paul Eng
Web Sr. Editor, Electronics

[everett whitney]

TO: Vicki-DO local cable customers get digital?

I MUST be misunderstanding your "post" ... of course, we DO @ COX . . . in fact, for the past three years now, whenever we initially had it installed, it was our choice to have only 100% digital service, so, all our channels have been via digital only signals {never have had analog} for that entire interval, "IF" that might have been your query ?

IF you meant "HD" channels - "yes" to that as well - currently we have 64 HD channels, with approximately 4 more due at the start of the new shows for the Fall Season . . . Cox adds more periodically, w/o any fee increase or the need of any new "Tier" payment, etc..

Please do ask again since I'm still not sure what you needed to know.

everett

[vicki]

I was just wondering if people with get cable or satellite will receive the new digital stations as part of their packages. I have AT&T U-verse and there are a lot of stations that are blank and have the word free on them. Can anyone give me an answer.

[everett whitney]

TO: Matt -"Does my antenna also need VHF?"

Yes - an UHF Only unit will NOT "see" or receive any channel signaling lower than Channel 14, although some in past years HAVE done "modifications" to the C.M. #4228 in order to 'cheat' / obtained #13 in some cases.

Get / try a "combo" band C.M. #5646 - exactly the same as their # 3016 except for the wild printing on the shipping carton AND $20 more costly!

Then, mount it outside, on the highest part of the roof, connected w/ Quad RG-6 coax in a single, unspliced run to the TV / converter.

Be sure to properly ground that, as well!

www.solidsignal.com

everett

[Matt from Fort Collins]

I live in SE Fort Collins. I was receiving very strong DTV signals before the digital transmission with my UHF antenna (with a signal booster) from all of the Denver TV channels. After the transition in April, the DTV signalS from channels 7 and 9 have been very spotty. Since they have switched the DTV transmission from UHF to VHF, do I Need a VHF antenna to recieve the new VHF 7 and VHF 9 signals?
Matt

[everett whitney]

TO: Jake - O.T.A.-H.D. recording ?

Sorry, but it's not that the various companies aren't willing to produce these units - I.E. - www.tivo.com has several plus many times, they also feature Web Specials on "Refurbs" at a lower pricing or reduced monthly fee.

O.T.A.-HD recording in the USA has been essentially stopped in it's tracks because of the prevailing (Do NOt Copy), "Digital Millennium Copyright Act of '98", and assorted fallout ...

Until / unless that IS modified or relaxed from it's current posture, there's very little / no chance of ANY new units coming to market!

everett

[Jake]

I made the digital transition watching ota tv for several years already. Some things I have learned are:

Antenna direction is important
Height is also critical
Buy good wire that is shielded
Amplify the signal

One user complained about spending $500 to upgrade. That is minimal considering the better picture. HDTVs are really much improved over the first ones that came out.

I live in Houston, I can currently pull in over 2 dozen stations in HD. All the channels look great also.

My big complaint...no easy means to record HDTV programs that are OTA. I think some companies will pick up on this once all the analogs are gone. There is a market, maybe not as large as they would like.
With the recession, maybe more will be going to OTA HD recording.
So is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY! By the way, that old VCR will play on an HDTV, but get ready to throw it away. It looks horrible!

[Luke]

Allow me to explain a few things to people who think this is a hoax or a retail marketing gimmick.

Firstly, as everett so pointed out, you like having emergency services? How about cell phone service? The TV stations broadcasting in analog took up WAY too much space on the radio frequency spectrum and by switching to digital they now have MANY free airwaves to use for the aforementioned services. Europe has already made the transition way before the US did. Canada and Mexico are scheduled to follow.

Secondly, we have been using this antiquated analog TV technology since TVs came out - talk about out-of-date. Analog is more susceptible to interference and hi-jacking (much as we do to the countries we invade). We are in a digital age and must deal with this.

Thirdly, for those of you having reception issues. Ask yourself this, "Did I have issues with reception before the transition?" - and an issue would be ANY static or ANY snow or ANY rolling of the picture. If this is true of you, the signal was ALREADY too weak by the time you received it so you WILL NOT get the signal - this is the nature of digital, it is ALL or NOTHING.

I work for an electronics retailer that sells DTV convertor boxes and will tell you that most people need AMPLIFIED antennas - even if you live in town. 2 out of 10 people may be able to get by with plain-old, cheapo rabbit ears but most will benefit GREATLY from an amplified antenna. For those that an amplified antenna does not work for will probably need to opt for a roof-mount as elevation will positively affect reception.

A retail scam to generate revenue? Hardly ... these convertor boxes sell for a few bucks above the cost retailers pay for them.

Oh, and by-the-way - the $40 government coupon is NOT meant to BUY you a box - it is meant to SUBSIDIZE your purchase of a box making it more affordable than paying full price. Also, DTV is NOT the same as HDTV. DTV means "Digital Television", HDTV means "High-Definition Television". One describes the SIGNAL type, the other the CONTENT type.

[Scott]

In response to the user who commented that portable televisions would be useless after the conversion...just wanted to correct that statement. There are now DTV boxes that run 18 hours on batteries. Enough to connect to your battery-powered portable television and watch some serious T.V.

[everett whitney]

TO: Karen H. - " Dislike this forced DTV change ..!"

Perhaps you've not had the occasion to listen to the literally thousands of explanations - but - the first time policemen or a fire truck or an ambulance, etc., might have the need of arriving in the very shortest possible interval . . . . then, you'll understand more! Many of our "First Responders" were terribly-crowded in their previous-assigned communication bands & this " DTV " switch will solve that issue. There are also improvements in many, many other areas as well - FAR too many for this blog.

IF you might be so kind as to repost, simply listing your ZIP Code & nothing else to protect your I.D. properly, a MUCH better antennas solution can be given, without a doubt !

No one should go from ( 7 ) analog channels to just (1) Plus, poor or intermittent reception at that !

There HAS to be something or several items inappropriate with your current antenna system !

Have a better day !

[Karen H.]

I dislike this transition quite a bit and am somewhat resentful that the American people are being forced into this position as well.

Why is the government involved in switching us over to "HDTV" and paying for it? Should we be paying attention to the Army studies on pixel-based brainwashing?

The government didn't help Americans buy regular televisions - so why the assistance for "every single tv and household" now?

I can not watch a single channel out of the pitiful 7 we used to get analog. Even with the best antennas we can get, the signal and sound constantly drops out.

We do not have the option of having cable.

I am disgusted with the change, it is unnecessary, expensive, inadequate and "suspect".

[doug]

Having set up two households with digital converter boxes and antennas and amplifiers, I have learned that there are many things that can make it hard to get a consistent signal and picture. The digital boxes can deliver nearly perfect picture and sound on a good analog TV, if everything is set up nearly perfectly, but the new signals and tuners are not as forgiving as the old analog system, that would give you a snowy picture, when the new system will give you none. There are many things that can go wrong to make it so that no picture or sound results.
1. Signal: I found that the new digital signals are on UHF frequencies and the signals are not as strong as the analog signals they replaced. This meant that I had to buy two new larger outdoor UHF antennas and amplifiers, where smaller VHF/UHF outdoor antennas worked before.
2. Trees - I had to move one antenna away from the trees that were between the antenna and the stations. The UHF signals won't go thru the leaves as well as the old and strong VHF signals.
3. Digital box reliability - I bought two boxes last year. Both of which died within 6 months. They were replaced by the manufacturer under the company's 1 year warranty, but I wonder if the two replacement boxes, both identical in looks and model number will die as well, after the warranty period had expired.
4. No more long distant market stations - We used to get stations from both Washington and Baltimore. The new digital stations from Baltimore are not strong enough, so they are gone.
5. Loss of TV band on battery powered radios and TVs. We have several of these, used in weather emergencies and outside. These will be useless once the analog channels are gone.
6. Analog tuner VCR and DVD recorders have lost their automated programming functions. Perfectly functioning units now need to be replaced with units with digital tuners, and they are not as available and they aren't as cheap as I thought they would be.

One more really annoying thing: the (temporarily bankrupt) coupon program does not pay for the the full costs of the digital converter boxes, the upgraded antennas, and other new equipment needed to restore my house's free TV service, yet the government is selling the old frequencies, that will no longer be used by the TV broadcasters, for billions more than they are spending on the coupon program. I had to spend nearly $500, beginning with $20.00 for the boxes; $120 for antennas; $50 for amplifiers; new antenna wires, and $200 for a new DVD recorder to replace the old VHS. This all kind of sucks.

[Mark M]

Note that, as the link above to "connecting the antenna" mentions, a combo VHF/UHF antenna is generally required post-transition (the simplest is a unit with both rabbit-ears and a loop). Up to now virtually all DTV broadcasts have been on UHF, and an antenna designed for UHF-only was desirable to receive them. However post-transition some stations are moving their digital broadcasts back to their old VHF frequencies while others remain on UHF, and a combo VHF/UHF antenna becomes desirable. When given a specific address, AntennaWeb.org lists the details of these "frequency assignment" changes post-transition.