The DTV Item

Oct 5 17:12 UTC 2010

   
    Is it just me or does the new DTV thing really suck? At the present 
moment, I can get channels 4.1, 4.2, 7.1, 7.2, 38.1, 38.2, 56.1, 56.2, 
56.3, and 62.1. 

   I am missing channels 2, 20 and 50. The odd thing is that all the 
antennae except for 38 are in the same area, and 50 shares a tower with 
62, so logically it should come in.

   The most annoying thing is that whenever a car drives by, there goes 
the picture. I have an indoor antenna, so that is expected. Bt by and 
large, DTV has been a failure.

   Anyone else?

response 2 of 4:

Oct 5 22:25 UTC 2010

   I bought a converter box and a powered indoor antenna. It really 
matters where you put it because in one place the signal is strong, and
in  other places it's nonexistant. You have to play with it to get it
right,  and then one channel will come in, and then you might lose
another one. I  really HATE DTV.

response 4 of 4:

Nov 22 17:58 UTC 2010

    I wrote an email to a fellow ham at WXYZ and he sent me some really 
useful data such as the frequencies they use. Ch 7 broadcasts on 635.000
Mhz which may explain the flaky signal. I plugged it into my Icom R-3 
and walked around the house and there were signal drops. 
   
    I guess it boils down to the higher the better. He used 30 feet off 
the ground, and my antenna is indoors so it really isn't all it should 
be. It also is weather dependent, that is, clear days may impede 
reception on one, and improve on an other. 

     I have noticed that chs 2, 20 and 50 were MIA during the summer. Of
     
late they have been coming in. I cannot explain why because the antenna 
has not moved.

     There is a program guide on the DTV box, at least mine there is. I 
have a Magnavox SDTV converter box.