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tv change to digital

wmn luv me walleye fearme

Asked by wmn luv me walleye fearme,

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wmn luv me walleye fearme Collaborator

wmn luv me walleye fearme

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not sure if this rambling is going to make any sense but i've been seeing commercials about the change from analog to digital in 2009 i believe. Finally have a cheap tv/dvd player lined up for my ice house. Trying to avoid buying a tv that's going to be worthless in a year though. Does anyone have any idea what this change is? Will a regular antenna not work after that date? thanks

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CJH Grand Master

CJH

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From my understanding, the antenna will work fine. However if you are buying an analog TV or a digital one without a digital tuner, you will need to buy an aftermaket digital tuner. It basicially works like a cable box, just converts it to a signal the older TV's can use (analog). I think I read that the FTC is going to be sending out coupons to each household, to make the purchase of the boxes cheaper. Not sure when they are coming out.

So if you have an existing analog TV or are getting one really cheap, you could still do that. If you are going to spend a little bit of money, get one with the tuner built in. The new HD signals are much better!

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LMITOUT Grand Master

LMITOUT

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The problem I see with this switchover for people with TV's in their fish houses is that they'll need to buy a digital ready TV. These converter boxes are most likely not going to be DC powered at first, and unless you have a generator or some other arrangement the box isn't going to be a lot of help. I'm guessing they may eventually have a DC powered converter box, but it'll be another expense item and another item to pull load on the battery. It may be cheaper and easier in the end to buy a TV with a digital tuner built-in.

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Freewheeler Contributor

Freewheeler

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Will this digital changeover have any effect on the UHF signal needed to get reception on L.O.W? VHF just doesn't make it out on the big pond, so a UHF antenna is required to get good reception out on the ice. They have towers that put out a fairly good UHF signal around Williams and Baudette so at least you can get the big three major networks out on the pond. Or will we need a converter box hooked in line also? Hopefully this doesn't spell the end of UHF TV out on the ice!

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LMITOUT Grand Master

LMITOUT

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The digital signal is carried on the UHF band, but the analog UHF (and VHF) is the one that is going bye-bye next February. That's why a TV with a digital tuner, or converter box for those who wish to use their old analog TV, will be needed.

One thing about the digital signals is either you have it or you don't. Gone will be the days of watching a show on a snowy screen if that's the best reception you can get. You'll need to have an almost perfect antenna alignment to get the signals.

Now starting to think about this, I'm doubting that I'll be able to get any TV signal where I'm at west of the the Cities about 50-60 miles. At my house the UHF antenna is on a 6' mast on the peak (two-story house) and also need a booster to get a reliable signal from the tower farm in Shoreview for HD/digital. With the digital signal, terrain is an issue (hills, buildings, etc) and you need a decent line-of-sight from the receiving antenna to the transmitting antenna. Think about where lakes are at.....the lowest elevations. Unless you're fairly close to the signal origin this could be a bugger in 2009...

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MNice Mentor

MNice

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Quote:

One thing about the digital signals is either you have it or you don't.

I'm not so sure about that. I live just south of new Prague and just bought a HDTV. I have no cable of dish, just an antenna. We get all the digital perfectly 2,4,5,9,23,29,& 45, except channel 11-1 and 11-2. The last few days there is no signal at all, and some days its "jumpy". I'm going to call 11 to see what's going on.

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fivebucks Mentor

fivebucks

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Mnice,

I have an HDTV with antenna also but I get all the channels, including 11.1 & 11.2. When I was aligning my antenna various channels would go in and out so I think you might have to play with the antenna a little bit.

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LMITOUT Grand Master

LMITOUT

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Quote:

Quote:

One thing about the digital signals is either you have it or you don't.

I'm not so sure about that. I live just south of new Prague and just bought a HDTV. I have no cable of dish, just an antenna. We get all the digital perfectly 2,4,5,9,23,29,& 45, except channel 11-1 and 11-2. The last few days there is no signal at all, and some days its "jumpy". I'm going to call 11 to see what's going on.

That's exactly what I mean...either you have it or you don't. With the analog signal you could still see the TV program if the antenna wasn't exactly perfect...with a little snow on the screen of course. No snow with digital....either on or off, or "jumpy" as you call it.

When aiming the antenna I've found that it's best to try for Channel 5 first....if you can get that you typically can get the rest since that seems to be the worst one to bring in.

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wmn luv me walleye fearme Collaborator

wmn luv me walleye fearme

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thanks for the advice, I've found some combo tv/dvd players on a trucker HSOforum that run off 12 volt at a decent price. The ones that are listed as digital reciever are about 30 bucks more but seems like it would be dumb not to spend the extra on it so will be getting one of those

thanks

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CJH Grand Master

CJH

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For that price, spend the money and be done with it. I am sure a few stations will have to work out a few kinks, probably why they have started broadcasting that way already.

Good Luck!

CJH

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BobT Grand Master

BobT

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Here's a question maybe someone can clear up.

I was checking into digital systems and noticed some say "HDTV Ready" and others say "HDTV capable". I found a place that tried to explain the difference but I'm still confused.

We currently do not recieve digital signals and we are receiving our VHF and UHF signals via rooftop entanae.

If I decide to get a digital TV, I'm thinking I might as well be prepared for HD but which way is my best option, HDTV ready or HDTV capable since I don't know where I would get the HD from at this time?

Bob

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LMITOUT Grand Master

LMITOUT

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I'd ask if there is a digital tuner built-in.

If you already have a rooftop antenna, all you need is that new TV with built in tuner and you can enjoy free HDTV from the local stations. I'm not sure what would be available in Osakis though. The range for TV transmission is around 45-60 miles from the antenna depending on the terrain between your antenna and the TV station's antenna.

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