[HoustonHam] Digital TV - too technical for public??

[chas]

vaclav sal wrote:
> I have read the article and my deduction is - digital TV won't work in 
> Texas!
> The technician mentioned in the article states that in his experience it 
> won’t work when "...especially when it’s windy or hot and sunny..." 
> He describes "normal” everyday weather in TX!
> But I was under the impression that they not only going digital but are 
> changing "channels" to UHF! And since UHF has not been the "network" 
> channels the antenna issue would be valid but for wrong reason! I guess 
> it would be too technical for the general public!
> Also I do not buy the "all or nothing" signal theory explanation 
> either.  Digital supposed to be relatively immune to signal strength as 
> long as it meets some minimal level.
> But if you are on the edge of this minimal strength – then you are out 
> of luck.
>  
> 
> Back to ham radio - anybody experimenting with digital TV ?? Or is it 
> too early??
> 
> 73 Vaclav AA7EJ


FYI and fwiw, there has been discussion on Channel 2 going away (being 
abandoned to our 160m? and lower...??  with the point being that it 
(in Houston... KPRC)  has been on UHF Channel 35 for quite a long time 
and will continue to be there.  UHF really sucks with an external 
antenna with analog.. it is going to be incredible to get a decent 
signal with the same antenna with digital under normal Texas 
weather... I certainly agree with your statement.

during the 30 days that Comcast was unable to provide me service for 
TV during and following IKE, I was enjoying both Ham, MARS and 
streaming download (dsl, I am NOT stupid enough to have cable 
internet!!!)  live from several of the major local stations as very 
few of them were knocked out by the storm.
I hate Satellite TV because it does not work whenever there are clouds 
in the sky.  I hate Comcast because their service sucks... of the 4 
boxes in my house, only two are working at this time... problem is the 
lines outside the house.  When they are working.. all of them are 
pixilating at any one time on virtually all but the local channels.

Has anyone every tried to end run thru the telephone lines for TV?

Not sure how we would get the Encore and other channels but we would 
certainly be able to get the local channels I should think?  I mean, 
there are I don't know how many companies selling telephone service 
via the internet... why not TV service???  it is only a question of 
bandwidth and download speed.

well this is off topic to ham radio but it still makes me wonder WHY 
we have to tolerate the poor service of Satellite and Cable. I really 
cannot believe that Internet TV does not exist to some degree now.


back to waiting for the Comcast repair guy...
chas, houston
k5dam