Digital TV Converter Box ?

[bicker]

One of the neat things when I hooked up an antenna to a converter box connected to a television in my basement was that we got a few extra channels -- not like Kirby indicated (channels from adjoining areas), but instead actual different channels. One is This TV (which shows a lot of classic television shows). It rides on the same channel as our NBC station, and with the converter box we can tune them in separately. Our PBS station actually offers six channels, two on "Channel 2" (2-1 and 2-2) and four on "Channel 44" (44-1 through 44-4). The latter four are PBS Create, PBS World, PBS Kids and one other specialized PBS channel. There is lots more educational programming available over-the-air now. There are a couple of other channels that have "sub-channels" along with them, too.

 

[tinkerbell615]

"Bicker" Okay... here is the link. I hope this means something to you because once again... I am clueless.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=b32b24e1ce58dd

As I mentioned, when I looked up the television model it does say it has a built in digital tuner. Now I guess I just need to know what type of antenna to buy.

Thanks again for all of the help!!!

 

[bicker]

"Bicker" Okay... here is the link. I hope this means something to you because once again... I am clueless.

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=b32b24e1ce58dd

As I mentioned, when I looked up the television model it does say it has a built in digital tuner. Now I guess I just need to know what type of antenna to buy.

Thanks again for all of the help!!!

Yes, this graph does tell me a lot, and I'll try to explain as much of it as I can.

First, the graph is based strictly on data gathered and published by the FCC. Unlike a lot of things on the Internet, this data is actually pretty reliable.

Second, you've got channels coming to you from different directions: Richmond to the north, Cincinnati to the east, and Oxford to the south east. What that means is that either you have to choose between the advantages of a directional antenna and a whole bunch of television channels. (By contrast, here in Burlington, practically every channel I could want come from three towers 18 miles southwest of here, all in the same direction. I make great use of a directional antenna.)

I'm going to assume that you're going to want the extra channels, so you definitely want to avoid getting a directional antenna.

Third, you're close to the transmitters, but there are significant obstructions (hills, let's say) blocking a lot of your reception. The only channel you're going to assuredly be able to receive with "any old antenna" is WSTR, the MyTV channel for Cincinnati. Their transmitter is actually located very nearby, and you can probably even see it from the roof of your house.

However, other than that, the hills in your area are really doing a number on your ability to receive television signals. It seems that you home, specifically, is in a lower area surrounded by higher ground... really not ideal. (Probably very pretty in the fall though! )

Fourth, two of the "most important channels" (for most people), your ABC and CBS affiliates, are located on VHF. That's good for them (they save lots of money on power for their transmitter), but bad for you (it is more difficult to reliably receive VHF channels than UHF channels). This also means that you need to avoid antennas that are "UHF only". Note that many of the antennas that are billed as "HD antennas" are indeed UHF only, because for a while, the vast majority of HD channels were on UHF, and only in the last year have some moved to VHF.

I'm not going to lie to you: Your graph looks pretty troubling to me, and I think it goes a bit beyond my expertise to advise. I'm pretty sure that an indoor antenna is going to be problematic for you, and even sticking a small "portable" outdoor antenna on a deck or patio is probably not going to do the trick for you. If I'm reading this correctly, you need a "real antenna", one of those on-the-roof jobs, with all the poles sticking out of it. Even then, you may have trouble receiving the CW channel. I'm going to strongly recommend you following the link I provided earlier:

http://www.dtvusaforum.com/dtv-hdtv...cussion/18368-how-ask-dtv-reception-help.html

Register on that forum, and post your inquiry on that forum. There are several posters there who are much more knowledgeable about how to deal, specifically, with all the 2Edge paths you have.

And I find it surprising, because you're not in some remote area. The transmitters for your channels are all much closer to where you live than the transmitters are for my channels here. Its those blasted hills that's messing everything up.

Once you get the right advice vis a vis an antenna, I can help with the rest of it (here or there, no matter).

 

[tinkerbell615]

Thank you so much for your help. I have posted the link on the other site to see if they can help with the antenna.

 

[disney1990]

Good luck with your converter box. We have one television that refused to get ABC or CBS with the converter box. I've given up on it.

 

[Kirby]

Good luck with your converter box. We have one television that refused to get ABC or CBS with the converter box. I've given up on it.

We had that problem with the tv with the rabbit ears. We just kept working with it, exchanging to more expensive ears and moving them around until we got what we wanted. Don't know if that is an option for you though.

One of the neat things when I hooked up an antenna to a converter box connected to a television in my basement was that we got a few extra channels -- not like Kirby indicated (channels from adjoining areas), but instead actual different channels. One is This TV (which shows a lot of classic television shows). It rides on the same channel as our NBC station, and with the converter box we can tune them in separately. Our PBS station actually offers six channels, two on "Channel 2" (2-1 and 2-2) and four on "Channel 44" (44-1 through 44-4). The latter four are PBS Create, PBS World, PBS Kids and one other specialized PBS channel. There is lots more educational programming available over-the-air now. There are a couple of other channels that have "sub-channels" along with them, too.

We only get one extra PBS station but we get This TV which is really good to watch. We get an extra sports channel off of NBC. This TV is attached to ABC here. CBS has a couple of extra channels too. Plus all those extra Spanish channels. My husband tunes into them occasionally to watch the girls in the skimpy clothes. The game shows can be quite entertaining. We probably gained 20 new different channels when everything changed over to digital.

 

[bicker]

Good luck with your converter box. We have one television that refused to get ABC or CBS with the converter box. I've given up on it.

And with that same antenna connected to an HDTV you have no problem? It is true that different converter boxes are of different quality, with regard to their ability to tune in difficult channels. Often, purchasing a better converter box is the remedy.

 

[tinkerbell615]

Just wanted to thank you again for all of your help. "Bicker" I visited the forum that you recommended and ended up purchasing a "Terk HDTVa" antenna. It is working fine and we now have at least all of the basic channels. That is exactly what I wanted!!

 

[FireDancer]

We get an extra sports channel off of NBC.

It's Universal Sports, isn't it.
Ugh, we are a pretty big city (Cleveland) and we don't have that subchannel, at least not from all the sites I have checked out. Now that DirecTv has dropped Versus I was hoping I could pick up the subchannel for cycling.

Alas, I have been foiled in my plot.

Sorry for the tangent, I just had to get that out.

 

[bicker]

Just wanted to thank you again for all of your help. "Bicker" I visited the forum that you recommended and ended up purchasing a "Terk HDTVa" antenna. It is working fine and we now have at least all of the basic channels. That is exactly what I wanted!!

Great! That's the antenna I use.

 

[Kirby]

It's Universal Sports, isn't it.

If the US in the top right corner means that then that's what we get. If I just can't find anything to watch in the numerous selections we have, then I can always go there for something.

I counted and with the digital conversion, I get 24 different "new" channels. Of course, with the way the wind is blowing today, some of them don't come in.