Will broadcasters make their HD signal stronger when analog transmission has ended ?
Question:
In the Raliegh/Durham area i only get four strong HD channels the other channels break up and drop out .
This whole HD stuff is such a big fraud to sell expensive televisions when people cannot get a decent HD signal into their homes .
The FCC should guarantee that everyone should be able to get a strong signal with no drop outs from the broadcasters .
Analog does not drop out where you lose audio and video just ghosting .
Answer:
Each "strong" HDTV antenna broadcasts at around 100,000 watts...That gives you one heck of an electric bill...But with the addition of High Definition, you have to have TWO multi-thousand watt antennas flipped on all day.
Those 4 stations you can pick up probably have enough money to run their digital and analog at 100,000 watts...But the smaller (poorer) stations don't have the money to turn their power up so high on the digital feed.
I haven't heard anything officially from the FCC, but it would make sense to turn up the power on the digital after the analog gets flipped off...Free TV signals aren't going anywhere any time soon.
And don't worry about the "fraud"...The government is issuing FREE $80 gift certificates to every house hold in America
(that asks for one) towards buying an HDTV converter box for all those useless analog TVs (up to two per house hold) out there in 2009.
In the mean time, try a 25-foot, solid-conductor, 14-gage length of wire for your antenna...Strip back and file down one end to fit in the center of your antenna jack on your HDTV...Attach a few 6-foot lengths where you've stipped it back.
Send the main run up the wall and along the ceiling...You can get in white so it won't show up...Place the extra lengths around randomly to get those hard-to-reach stations...It's only 7 cents a foot at Home Depot.
It's a bit of work, but it works much better than our old rabbit ears...We get over 30 HD channels with these wires...I've had to play with them a bit, but it's definately worth it...Give it a try and see for yourself.
As I understand it in February 2009 they will stop transmitting in analog, so the original TV channels will become the HD ones and the extra ones will be dropped.
All true however, broadcasting TV in itself is a dying business. There will come a day in the not too distant future where receiving signals via an antenna will be next to impossible because of lack of signals available. Your best bet right now is to find a suitable cable or satellite provider with HD service and have the set you up. You will be MUCH better off because no longer will you have to rely on over the air signals.
Most TV stations in my area have already moved their HD broadcasts to the UHF band, as the signal goes farther. Call your local brodcasters and see if they are going to move anytime soon to UHF. Also, check out this website below, it will tell you what type of antenna you need in your area to get your stations.
http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/address.asp...
not likely. make sure you have the proper antenna and it is positioned properly. just like any other signal Digital needs signal path and a pair of rabbit ears are not going to cut it you may need a exterior mast and antenna!
More Questions & Answers...