OT: Digital TV

17 years ago

I live just outside of Wilmington, NC. Our area went to all digital broadcasting in Sep and we were totally unprepared even though we had already bought the digital converter boxes.

All of the information we were being given said that if your regular tv got good reception then you would get better reception with digital. NOT TRUE! Our tvs got NO reception at all after the switch.

I went out and bought a digital tv and could only pick up 1 channel. I went back out and bought an "expensive to me" antenna that was highly recommended. Most of the time the reception is good, but there are lots of times that we get the dreaded "no signal" screen. Or we get the picture with no sound. Last night 2 of our channels were out for over an hour. Of course, I missed the last few minutes of "House".

They say that roof-top antennas are the way to go. I think a lot of our problems are with the broadcasting and not our personal set-up, but you won't hear that info. We even lost a couple of PBS channels because they can't broadcast them all at full-strength.

Yes, the digital pictures are amazing, but it's such a pain. When do we lose signal? Not too often...only when it's windy, when it rains, when it's hot, when it's cold & when it's perfect...

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Comments (7)

yachter123
17 years ago
Basically, they are trying to force everyone into a sattelite system, such as Direct TV or one of the other ones, or a cable system.

I think if you stay with antenna only, your service will be less than desirable, unfortunately!! I thought this wasn't supposed to happen til Feb. and I thought it was supposed to be nationwide, how did your area do it now???

Sounds like the converter box is not going to do the job they promised!!!!
jamie_mt
17 years ago
Yikes! That's a scary thought. We have a rooftop antenna, and so far the converter boxes work fine to bring in the digital signal just as regularly as the analog signal. But we don't use the converter box most of the time yet, simply because channels like Fox and our PBS station haven't switched to digital yet.

I've always had a rooftop antenna though - without it, we wouldn't be able to get Fox, ABC or PBS, even on analog. They aren't that expensive...might be something to consider. Mine was $50, I think...but that was 8 years ago (when I bought my first house). Pretty easy to install too, really.

We won't be buying a digital TV anytime soon...our analog sets work just fine, and the new TV's are way overpriced. I'd go without first, I think...and hubby agrees.

Head over to the Fox web site - you should be able to catch the last few minutes of House there (I know it's not the same, but still - it was a good last few minutes!).
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bettyd_z7_va
17 years ago
Oh my goodness!
Did I understand that you don't have an outside antenna at this time? Maybe if you bite the bullet and get one it will help the problem.
We will be digital here in Feb. Got the coupons from the gov. for our $20 savings, but haven't bought the boxes yet. I'm in no hurry because I'm not a tv person. But you can be sure the 2 guys in my house will have those boxes in place before Feb!
Betty
Sandi_W
Original Author
17 years ago
One of our neighbors has a satellite system and they have as many problems with digital as we do & they're locked into an expensive system. In fact, we've been told that satellite systems may not be the answer. Another friend has Direct TV with many problems also. It seems cable is the best way to go, but then you don't get ANY service when cable goes out which can be often around here. I've never had an outside antenna, never needed one, but will be buying one now. I heard that the best one to buy is a cheapie old-timey one.
Our viewing area was chosen as the test site for digital broadcasting. We had many, many shows on local tv advising how to be ready for digital and NONE of them mentioned needing anything any different than what we already were using except the converter box.
I am going to watch House online today. Love that online tv expecially since we went digital.
kathleen_li
17 years ago
We have cable because we HAVE to. We can't get any signals with an antenna, as we are too far from the city. I hate the extra 100 bucks a month, but we have no choice.The cable co will take care of the switch in Feb., so they say, we'll see!
catiecupcake
17 years ago
Cable here is HORRIBLE so we have Direct TV...Right now because of DH's NFL Sunday Ticket, we pay close to $200 and you can bet I curse every month when I pay that...Just seems over priced but he loves it so whatcha gonna do?
donnawb
17 years ago
I have cable because when I moved here I had an antenna and didn't get but two channels. Got cable but that cable you couldn't get the local channels. They said I needed a larger and higher antenna. I live in the lighting capital. Still didn't get the local channels in that great. It was fine if you wanted to move your head from side to side.

Finally real cable came and stayed with it. Been looking into getting a dish but everyone I talked to said that they always go out. My DH is disabled and that is all he does all day.

I don't have cable in my kids rooms so don't know what they are going to do.