Paul the switch to digital TV is very frustrating right now for
everyone but the satellite and cable companies.
1. Some stations will remain VHF and may even be on their
present channels is my understanding, depending on the frequency. I
don't have that information. I am not sure about channel 3.
2. TVI immunity will depend on where it originates. All the box
contains is a new tuner for your set that converts the digital to
analog. It will work like a DVD or VCR. Set the output to channel
3 or 4 and use the remote with the set top box. If you have TVI
from channel 3, then set the output to channel 4. If for some
reason you have TVI in the TV then it probably will pixelate the
picture or block something. I don't have TVI so I am not really
sure. Still you are dealing with a VHF signal and depending on
where the TVI enters, it could cause some trouble.
A. The switch will be a sudden thing February 19th of next
year. Stations have been instructed to go dark with their analog
transmitters some date in Feb. Currently stations may not be
broadcasting at full power which could explain why you are not
receiving many stations. For the income they have they may be
running the digital transmitter at reduced power to save KWH. They
will up the power when they turn off the analog transmitter.
Depending on your location you may get more. I live in a rural area
over 50 miles from any station and the analog station I receive very
well (ch 12) does not register on the DTV, but the poor analog
signal from another station is good on DTV.
B Your present antenna probably will work fine if it is
VHF/UHF version. Some of the stations will be required to vacate
their present frequencies and will move up to the UHF range is my
understanding. My present rabbit ears work on the one station I can
see and I get three channels from them.
C. The boxes have been on the market for several weeks. The
government ran a program to provide coupons valued at 40 dollars for
anyone who wanted them. Most of the boxes are 5 to 15 dollars more
that that and should be available at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Circuit
City ect. the Caveat is you must purchase in person because of the
way they redeem the coupon. Call the electronics stores in your
area to see if they have them before you go. They are not stocking
many of them because most people are just replacing their sets.
When they get a customer in the store they try to sell a new set,
naturally. Given there isn't a "BIG" market, your stores may not
advertise them but have them in stock. Check Radio Shack stores
they are pretty good about stocking this type of stuff.
D. You are not the only one who is frustrated. At my
location the picture and sound are not any better than analog, in
fact the picture is not as good and I have an HDTV TV with an analog
tuner. I really wonder if this is not a government scheme to
bolster the economy to make us think they are creating jobs
somewhere. Here is a link that describes what to look for in a box.
It is not really technical but does explain the differences in set
top boxes. You should read it so when you go shopping you will know
what to look for in a box.
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/hdtvbox.htm
73
Jim/W5JO
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Walcott" <pcwalcott at att.net>
> Has anyone heard the technical details of the upcoming
> switch to Digital TV? I'm not looking for an
> engineering level treatise on the subject, but I'm
> looking for a little more information than what I see
> in the 30 second announcements that run on the local
> TV.
>
> As a ham I'm wondering about several things such as:
>>
> I admit that maybe I'm more touchy on this subject
> than others as in the late 1960's and early 1970's I
> made my living in TV repair, but I've since moved on
> and am finding this present situation irritating.
>
> 73's,
> Paul
> WD8H