DTV countdown: The antenna dilemma

On June 12, 2009, television broadcasts in the U.S. will switch from analog signals to digital. Ensuring that your television set will receive those digital broadcasts may require some adjustments to your television's antenna.
[ stock photo courtesy of: Agata Urbaniak ]

The DTV transition that culminates this Friday, June 12, is putting antennas back in the spotlight. But getting good reception with digital broadcasts can be a tricky business, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution. It depends on your location, the topography around your home, and the distance to the TV station's transmitting towers.

Getting the right antenna for your situation is the first step. (See our previous post, DTV Tips: Choosing and using an antenna for our advice and read the tips and comments from other readers.)

You'll also find very useful info at:

• The FCC web site about antennas: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/dtvantennas.html
• The CEA and NAB web site: AntennaWeb (http://www.antennaweb.org)
• HDTV Antenna Labs (http://www.HDTVAntennaLabs.com)
• Antennas Direct (http://www.AntennasDirect.com)

A set-top antenna is the simplest and cheapest solution and should be your first try.

If you're lucky, an indoor antenna will get you all the channels available in your area, with a clear, continuous picture and sound. But it's possible you'll encounter some glitches, because the UHF band is more directional than VHF and more sensitive to obstacles that lie between your antenna and the broadcast tower. About 20 percent of DTV adopters we surveyed said they had trouble with reception.

Here's a recap of our advice on adjusting your antenna.

Make small adjustments and give the tuner in the converter box or DTV a moment to "catch up" and detect the signal. Use the signal-strength meter on the converter box or DTV to see what position is best for a specific station. Moving the antenna even a few inches, or placing it higher up, can help.

Try physically relocating your indoor antenna around various parts of the room—preferably near a window facing the direction of your local TV transmitters. Get some long antenna cables and experiment. In some cities, most or all towers are in the same vicinity. In other areas, or if you live between cities, towers may lie in opposite directions, so you might have to adjust the antenna whenever you switch from one channel to another. Alternatively, you can get an omnidirectional antenna so you don't have to readjust the antenna every time you change channels.

When signals are hard to pull in, a set-top antenna with a built-in signal amplifier may provide better reception. This type of antenna can help if you have a 20-foot or longer cable connecting devices, because signals weaken with distance. It may also help if your particular setup calls for splitting the signal—to simultaneously feed two converter boxes or a TV and a VCR, for examples.

Rather than using a regular cable splitter, you might want to try a powered amplifier with multiple outputs, to avoid losing too much signal strength to each device. But keep in mind that you still have to adjust the antenna for optimal reception. You'll find additional tips from HDTV Tuner Info (http://www.HDTVTunerInfo.com), a web site started by an enthusiast.

There are cases in which an indoor antenna won't be enough. Then it's time for an outdoor model. Again, check the Web sites mentioned above for advice.

Share your experiences here as well. Your solution might work for someone else. —Eileen McCooey

Comments

[everett whitney]

Richard - " Signal is not as good on new HDTV..!"

Not the signals at all ... That simply shows that the internal ATSC tuner of the new HDTV is NOT as technically-good as was the one inside that Converter Box. What's that TV, please?

No "universal-one-fits-all" outside antenna at all . . . go to:

.. www.antennaweb.org

input her ZIP / address .... listed will be her available Channels, which band between VHF or UHF { some few cities utilize Both}, the Compass Headings & Air Distances of these & by a color code, the suggested "gain" or electronic strength recommended.

www.solidsignal.com is just (1) of Many web stores - - - it shows essentially every outside antenna available.

Mount the appropriate unit high atop her roof ridge, connect it w/ new Quad RG-6 cable directly to the "RF" terminal of the new HDTV ... unfortunately, "toss" that Converter away.

www.monoprice.com has 50 feet coax for under $8 ...

everett

[everett whitney]

TO: Ms. Anne S. -"Do I need Wal-Mart's digital antenna?"

Certainly not! Outside antennas are NOT .. digital vs analog vs HD at all. Strictly .. VHF Band or UHF Band, period.

Your friend IS simply repeating those slick adverts seen near the check-out lanes of her local TV store - - utter rubbish & strictly HYPE!

* since your current arrangement/equipment DOES at times receive 100% of all your Channels, stop fretting about that.

* if you already know where each TV Tower is located relative to your outside antenna, it should be an easy task to use that Rotor to exactly aim it properly for each Broadcasting Tower.

www.antennaweb.org + your ZIP / address will confirm the Compass Heading "IF" you might not be certain.

* install a new Quad RG-6 coax cable in an appropriate length and buy an antenna-mounted amplifier . . . www.solidsignal.com or www.monoprice.com are just (2) of many, many web stores.

Very economical . . . under $8.00 / 50 feet coils with weather-proof compression terminals already applied.

Good Luck! And, do please lets us know? everett

[Richard Jackson]

I have been assisting an elderly relative with the new change over to digital TV signals. She obtained a converter box that required an additional remote control for her old TV. That was very confusing for her so she wanted a new TV with only one remote. The signal(# of channels) recieved on the new TV is not as good as her old TV with the converter box. I am wondering what is the best antenna for the new TV she has just purchased in Sept 2009?

[Anne Spencer]

Now that I have a digital converter box for my old TV set, some of the time I get all local free channels, sometimes get just a few; it varies with time of day and date. A neighbor tells me I should get a digital set-top antenna, but, one, I don't know which antenna is best (Walmart has three or four types), and two, I already have a rotatable rooftop antenna and won't I have to disconnect that to connect the set-top antenna? And wouldn't a rooftop be better than a set-top? This whole conversion has been a nightmare; I can't afford satellite ($40/month and up) and cable isn't available to me; and I don't really want more channels than I was getting before.

[everett whitney]

TO: Mrs. Diana M. & Husband -"Our rabbit ears won't work on new HDTVs"

And, your DTV reception will not be 100% dependable, in all weather & conditions until / unless an appropriate outside antenna system IS installed, high upon the roof ridge for all to see!

There never has been 40 - 50 different TV Channels - analog or now . . . may well have presented the appearances of different programing since these were emanating from different cities w/ different timing.

BUT - there are only 7 - 8 national O.T.A. networks in the aggregate. The rest is weather, home shopping , "save the earth" & the like . .

Sounds like you may also need to acquire a Rotor Unit to properly aim that outside antenna system, "IF" your TV Towers are widely-dispersed.

This nation is now heading back to the late '50s / early '60s wherein all the roofs looked like a huge maze of metal clothes drying racks!

BUT - since you did but new HDTVs, consider the all-new, limited channel service and simply utilize those internal "QAM" tuners INSTEAD!

We do - COX has 22 channels for exactly $11 / mo AND it also provides all ( 8 ) national O.T.A.-HD networks for zero additional fee and NO Set Top Box whatever on either of the new sets.

Not-at-all advertised - but - all have it ... Comcast costs about $18.75 for it in most TV Markets. FAR less costly / more satisfactory than your required, new antenna system & Rotor when commercially installed plus zero maintenance.

everett

[Diana Mayernick]

This transition from analog to digital broadcasts is the worst joke played on the american public in decades. We bought two digital HD TV's and neither one of them works better than our old TV's with a converter box.

The only thing I can see is that Congress is in the pocket of the cable and satellite companies. The last truly free thing we had in this country was our TV. We live between Baltimore and DC and used to get between 40 and 50 channels - with rabbit ears! We even scanned for all of the new digital channels that when on air months before the changeover. We've been watching them for 8-9 months and enjoying them. Once June 12th came and went - so did all of our channels. I'm not talking about the analog ones only - most of our new digital channels went too!!! Now we are lucky if we get 8 channels - and that is only after my husband rants and raves about having to constantly move the antennae. Even then, we don't always get the channel in well enough to watch it.

And "snow" - in digital terms that doesn't exist. I would rather watch a station with snow that the digital version of snow - broken up blocks of pictures and sound!!!

Thanks a lot Congress - you managed to screw up free lunch. Now we HAVE to go to cable or some other outrageously expensive TV provider or have nothing to watch.

And as for being near the broadcast towers - where we live, we aren't more than 15 miles from any of the towers in Baltimore or DC - with most being under 10 miles away.

Like I said - thanks for nothing.

[everett whitney]

MARK - " New TV w/ a built-in Antenna ?"

You have most of the information within you 'post' very mixed up or confused-at-the-least!

#1 - This DTV is NOT a new item - WAS signed into law in 1998 ! So, most of those are already out-of-office!

Surf . . . "Digital Millennium Copyright Act - 1998" ...

#2 - NO, you Kitchen unit does NOT need to be "tossed out!"

#3 - NO, there are zero HDTVs with a " built-in Antenna!"

#4 - Relax / Have Patience / Surf a bit / Learn your facts!

#5 - One definite possibility IS to acquire you local cable's new limited Channel Service . . . NOT widely-advertised at all - BUT - ALL do have it! Our COX has this for exactly $11 / monthly . . . Comcast costs $18.75.

This allows ALL sets to have ~ ~ 22 Channels w/o any hassles / re-scanning / messing about w/ silly Indoor Antennas / frequent Maintenance w/ Outdoor Antennas!

After this year - - sooner for some TV Markets - - a separate S.T.B. WILL be necessary for each set in the home.

Eventually [ like-it-or-not !] 100% will need to buy (1) new HDTV ... that's "progress" after ~ ~ 60 years . . . first change in our TV since it's inception, after all !

everett

[lisa d]

I have a new VIZIO digital tv. We use a rooftop antenna. Channel 55 doesn't come in on the digital tv but does on my other tvs with converter boxes. All tvs are hooked to the rooftop. Why would this be?

[Mark]

The quality of life and value in this country has been replaced by more expensive inferior technology. We had a nice television in our kitchen that had a color screen, picked up the local VHF and UHF channels and was working fine. We now have a television that does not work. No one has reimbursed us for the expense we spent to purchase this technology. Also, we can not simply go out and purchase a color television with a built in antenna that will do what our old television did. We have been heading in the wrong direction in this country. Who hijacked our economy and when did they take our freedom away from us? Globalization, what a concept.

I encourage everyone to do what we have decided to do. Don't buy into the HDTV hype and make the manufacturers do their home work and figure out that consumers simply want what they used to have and when they deliver it at a fair price, we should all then buy into this technology. After that, we should vote the people out of office who passed the laws DICTATING that HDTV be the only signal broadcast.

[Thomas Sheckler]

Shame! Shame! Shame! on the FCC, Congress, the telecommunications lobbyists and anybody else responsible for this major screw-up!

With one antenna I did not get ABC, CBS, NBS, etc, the major networks. Thinking the antenna was not good, I bought another, more expensive one. With this one I got the major networks, but not the local PBS, Channel 13, which I live by, except on Sunday morning when I watch CBS and NBC.

I have made charts of antenna placement in the apartment, minor changes in its direction, the number of analog and digital channels they pull in, etc.

I was about to buy another, yet more expensive antenna, then asked Do you guarantee that I will receive all the channels I want? Only to learn that the local PBS, Channel 13, the most important one, is very difficult to get. What?! Not get Channel 13?!

Now, every time I want to change channels, I have to turn off the TV, disconnect and unplug the antenna; reconnect the other antenna to the TV, plug in the antenna to the outlet, turn on the TV, scan, rescan, double-scan, etc.

And for what? To get Channel 13 sometimes for seconds -- not minutes or hours -- but seconds, at a time before pixilating into nothingness.

I spend more time fussing with the TV than watching it. And all this, after buying a new TV.

I'm about to throw out the whole damn mess and watch my programs on the Internet, and listen to the radio for my news.

Until, of course those guys start screwing that up too.

Will they not be happy till everybody signs up for cable?!

[everett whitney]

FOR: Russey - Houston - " A TOTAL MESS !"

HAVE Patience ! You've been either "talking" to "uninformed salespersons" or just haven't yet asked @ the right place?

Your TV Market IS a veritable Gold Mine of great DTV! (here is step #1) - -

http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Stations.aspx

Now, step #2 - scrap / stop buying ANY of those silly, cheap, inferior federal coupon Converters . . as NOW stated herein at many different places, these are NOT anything remotely approaching any sort of 'permanent FIX or DTV solution!' - - only a very temporary stop-gap to allow the short term, continued usage of a picture tube set.

step #3 - prepare / study / start searching now / etc., for whatever new top brand HDTV your family household situation will be able to "swing!"

I've used with total satisfaction both the web as well as the "Outlet Store" @

www.sonystyle.com

to acquire our various Sony HDTVs for a fraction of the usual MSRP costs, each STRICTLY with the Sony (5) years, In-home, 100% inclusive, extended Plans.

step #4 - two sub choices actually, each with benefits:

A)- get your local cable's absolute cheapest, limited channel cable connection - we have COX w/ 22 channels for $11/monthly - which on a new Top Tier HDTV DOES also give all 7 - 8 national networks in 'HD" w/o ANY Set Top Box, added Fees, extra HDMI cables/hookups / etc., etc..

Utilizes the internal "QAM" tuner of all new top Brand HDTVs.

B)- get / "D.I.Y." install atop your roof ridge a Channel Master # 5646 connected w/ Quad RG-6 Coax cable in a single length from antenna to "RF" terminal - again, No 'Box" whatever!

{ Your TV Market does require a "combo" antenna, since 13.1/ABC - 8.1/PBS - 11.1/CBS DO come on VHF Band . . . all others are on UHF ... yours ARE from a common Tower Farm, so no Rotor Assembly required.}

www.solidsignal.com under $30 plus no tax.

Lots more, please do ask?

everett

[Russey]

Around here, in S. Texas, this is a nightmare. I live in Houston,Tx, and no one is happy with this mess. Have gone through 4 converter boxes, the first two, Magnavox, had shorts, then went to another place and got a Coby, which is not even listed on your "tested" site, sigh. Have been through 2 of those. Have an Amplified antenna, which is supposed to be fine, but only get one channel clear enough to watch, and can't get 3 of the local channels at all...it's a mess, and no one knows what to do about this mess.

[everett whitney]

TO: drewgo - "Where are my other channels?"

Please, re-post w/ your ZIP code?
OR - go yourself to :

www.antennaweb.org

And, then, check which Broadcast Band(s) that Market is using ? Ours uses Both Hi VHF & UHF, so, we need a "combo" antenna - - - a unit that receives each.

Use www.solidsignal.com to "view" enlarged pictures of my Channel Master #3016 or # 5646 - - - same exact unit except for the outer carton.

And, every channel should now be with a " - " or a " . " as well - - - as in 2.1, 5.1, etc..

everett

[drewgo]

Anyone know why I can receive channels 2-4-9. Am not recieving channels 7 & 11 & 13 with roof top antenna.
TV bought only about 6 months ago. My tv tells me there is no signal or weak signal. Suspect antenna is problem.

[bowler]

i've heard there are a few detriments to digital TV, such as when the signal is weakened by physical obstructions, but overall it's still a vast improvement

[everett whitney]

Mr. Eng, Sr. Web Editor, Electronics

Many thanks for the candor re:

... success & reception on portable wee DTV possibilities as well as that set of"links"...

Also, greatly appreciate that clarification on strictly 'ATSC' portables vs the literally hand-held units !

everett

[Paul Eng]

To Steven Nicholson (and Everett and all):

There are portable, battery-operated LCD TVs with built-in digital ATSC tuners that will reportedly be able to receive the DTV signals that will become the new U.S. TV standard by June 12, 2009.

Take a look at these models available through retailers such as Radio Shack:

Haier 7" portable LCD HDTV
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3324197

Accurian 7" portable LCD HDTV:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2855063

Both are about $150 and rated by users on the Radio Shack site as "mediocre" -- about 3, 3.5 stars out of 5.

Consumer Reports has NOT tested these TVs and (at the moment) has no plans to do so. HOWEVER, I would advise CAUTION if you are considering these as portable TV options.

After all, consider how many folks on this blog (and on the Internet in general) have reported difficulty receiving DTV with a full-sized, A/C-powered HDTV and a roof-mounted UHF-band antenna!!! Imagine what reception must be like on these small, battery-powered units which use a built-in collapsible rod antenna?

Again, Consumer Reports has NOT tested these portable HDTVs. But asking these reception-quality questions and doing more research would be my personal choice of action before spending 150 of my hard-earned dollars on these small LCD TVs.

If you're looking to receive DTV on OTHER portable devices -- such as your cell phone or Apple iPod... then as Everett has correctly commented, you'll have to wait.

Devices with the new mobile DTV standard, called ATSC-M/H, aren't widely available yet.

You can find out more information about ATSC-M/H here:

Free TV—on your cell phone?
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/08/free-tvon-your.html

WikiPedia: About ATSC-M/H
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATSC-M/H

And we'll have more information about mobile TV soon.

Hope that helps!

Paul Eng
Web Sr. Editor, Electronics

[everett whitney]

TO: Steven - "Portable TV ..?"

None Exist Yet - the all new standard for Mobile & Handheld ATSC regulations have not yet been approved ... WAIT until these have been published & wait some more before new sets which have been built upon these become available much later!

everett

[Steven Nicholson]

Anyone know of a good portable digital 2009 compliant TV set?
Thanks
Steve

[J-Man]

I'm extremely frustrated with the upcoming digital changeover. I've lived in my house for 22 years, and have always had excellent VHF and UHF reception using just rabbit ears, on multiple televisions. I'm located in the San Gabriel Valley near L.A., only about 8 miles from the mountain where all of the TV transmitters for LA and Orange County stations are located.

Despite my 22 years of success with analog signals, I am having very little success with existing digital signals. I've tried all kinds of antennas, with varying degrees of success, but nothing approaching the level of quality I had with analog. And of course with digital, you either get all or nothing-- there's no "snow" or marginal reception. I wonder how many other people are in the same boat, and how much of an impact this will have on television viewing habits. I may end up having to get cable or satellite service (an outdoor antenna is not really an option for me.)