Digital TV Conversion

[roberts459]

Over 480 stations were broadcasting digitally on the VHF spectrum after the transition, up from only 216 on the frequencies before. So yes depending on where you live you will need a UHF/VHF antenna. I should also add a there were some "glass tube" or CRT tv's with built in digital tuners built in I know I bought one for my camper they say were made until 2011.

[BDAJUDGEGIRL]

Channels 2-6 still exists in the US, since there are about 40 TV stations broadcasting digital signals in that frequency band.

[monkeyman1140]

Channels 2-6 don't exist anymore, as well as channels 53-108. this means not only can you get away with a smaller antenna, your UHF antenna only has to be sensitive to a narrower range of signals. Yagis tend to be best, but are highly directional compared to single bay bowties with reflector.

[ugmold]

Straight Talk..thanks

[bahabeauty87]

in the bahamas we being forced to get this converter box if u dont have these new plasma television set if we dont get these boxes are cable services will be disconnected my signal is fine i dont need dtv

[Myrtle791]

It's PICture, dammit, not pitcher! We've already got two different uses for the word "pitcher." More confusion not necessary. I know, I know, the late artist, Bob Ross said "pitcher." It's still wrong. Our grade-school teachers, 60 yrs. ago, would rage at such an obvious misreading of that word. Why do so many Americans speak in a deadly mono-tone, and so many American, adult women, such as Britney Spears, have voices like 6-yr.-olds? Yer' not daddy's little princess, any more, sweetie.

[davenwin1973]

For Indianapolis, Milwaukee, & Chicago, there's still stations broadcasting on the VHF. Lafayette, IN's only TV station switched to VHF, & covers more area than their old channel on UHF. So areas like those need VHF/UHF antennas.

As for DTV, I do notice an improvement in picture with DTV, even using the box with my old TV with NTSC tuner. So I don't buy the excuse that picture isn't better. It isn't HDTV, but better than what I had. I have my old antenna that I had from 2001& works fine.

[modeeb2]

Yeah, I think the converter box provides a better picture too. But that's comparing it too a 'so-so' analog signal. Also, if one does buy an HDTV with built in tuner, it will be total digital (no converter) and look really good.

Correct, any 'low power' station doesn't have to make the conversion (yet), so having the 'analog pass thru' feature is a good feature if you watch one of those channels that aren't converting.

Good points. Thanks for the comments

[coleman75]

damn can you show a nigga how to make that antenna you got ???????

[roadrage638]

Yo! how is i supposed to watch tv, i is got no money to buys me no fancy tv. No justice, no peace...!

[zoltan656]

actually you can connect VCR with coax to converter and TV with audio video cable or with SCART cable

[peperfacenagger]

u are so sexy

[BeasleyBiz]

So as not to get people further confused. When he says component video is the yellow red and white, that is actually called composite video. Don't go to your local Radio Shack and ask for a component cable or you will get a Red Green Blue set which is usually a little more expensive.

[fredyvideo]

what's that thingh? 300 something adapter at 2:00

[modeeb2]

It's 300 ohm-to-75 ohm adapter. You use to see them a lot for older TV's that didn't have a coax input. It converts the old brown, flat, 2-wire into a 75 ohm coax (cable wire).

[paulbreor]

Can a converter box

Gain more singal in any way.

Are there converter boxes that can output HDTV

[modeeb2]

No extra gain from a converter box. You either need an antenna that provides more gain or an amplifier. In which case you'll need to check out the different methods (more than one TV requires splitters etc. and is a little more complex).

I don't believe converter boxes provide HD signal output, since they convert a 'digital signal' to analog (480i). Although if you're using a CRT type TV, it's irrelevant since the CRT can't display HD. The 'converted' analog signal can't be HD, in other words.

[modeeb2]

I'll check but I'm assuming that there's an HD 'tuner' available (not converter box) that provides an HD signal output for an HDTV. The tuner would only work for TV's with HD inputs (which a CRT type TV wouldn't have).

[paulbreor]

oh yea i knew that about crt's

Cause im pretty sure that there are HDTV plasma's lcd that were made without DTV capibilitys.....Can you further explain amplifiers. what types are there...Isnt there ones that need a power input cause they are high end.

[modeeb2]

I would 1st, try to know the distance to the x-mitters and direction (antennaweb website). This will determine how big and whether your antenna needs to be single or multi directional. Also, go to "KYES" website but add /antenna/ampifier to the URL and read some on amps. There's various ways to use them but it depends on many variables as to which method you choose. Some amps are better mounted right on the antenna, others right before the TV.

[thoughtchallenge]

The amplifier on my antenna sends power up the coax from inside the house. The power is used to rotate the antenna and also amplify the signal, coming down from the antenna, through the same coax. There are amplifiers on the market which you can hook up to your existing antenna in this manner. I prefer this method, because I am not comfortable having outdoor AC power devices.

[modeeb2]

Yeah, this is definitely the preferred method. My antenna is in the attic so I could use either, but I agree, the type of amp that sends power through the coax is the way to go.

[Gunsnrosesistheshit]

Do you need an HD anntena to get digital and HD programming

[modeeb2]

No. You only need an antenna that can pickup UHF signals. Although some stations may still broadcast in VHF. But in either case, there's really no such thing as an HD or digital antenna. Check Antennweb org website to see if any stations will transmit in VHF in your area. If not, just a good UHF antenna will work. Also determine if all the transmitters are in one direction or in multiple directions because you'll need either an omni or uni directional antenna.

[tarview]

It's great to see some people with real sense talking about this. I'm so tired of seeing the ads saying that if you use an antenna, you need a converter box. There are going to be lots of people with digital TVs watching analog quality because of this. Thanks for doing your part to destroy the myth.

[modeeb2]

You're absolutely right. I probably should have emphasized it more too. Seems like the 'transition' is not going to be as smooth as the gov't had hoped for.

Just to remind people, any TV made after March 07 that has a tuner, must be able to receive digital programming. And probably many TVs made before that date have digital tuners too, so it's best to check one's own TV before getting the box.

Thanks for the comment.

[jichus1]

what about hook up my DVD player? thanks

[modeeb2]

On my setup, the TV has multiple inputs (input 1, 2, 3, etc.), so the converter box is simply one of several inputs. Then you use your TV's remote to cycle through the input devices. So Input 1 may be your converter box, Input 2 your DVD player, Input 3 a gaming device, and so forth.

Does that answer your question?

[jichus1]

yep thank you

[jichus1]

thanks would you be willing to do a how to on that antennia?

[arroyogravel]

Thanks for taking the time to give some very good basic information on antennas, converters, etc. You add lots of class to a site that is all too often occupied by too many filthy mouth people seeking attention.

[firefighterus2009]

mo can u send me the plans for the antenna u held up at the start of the video?

[codaues]

I have a HiDEef antenna from Radioshack, it brings in local channels just great

[modeeb2]

Yes, the type of antenna will really depend on your location in relation to the transmitter/antenna. Height and distance are the biggest factors and if anything like building/mountains are in between your antenna and the transmitters. Some people can probably get by with a coat hanger, others will have a tough time no matter what because they live in basement apartments and such. In that case, they'll probably need a good antenna amplifier. And even then, it could be marginal.

[Aliendear]

I bought a DTA800 and plugged it in using video out jack. This converter box has DVD Quality. The picture is amazing. I suggest everyone use "video out" to thier televisions. I have a 'flat glass' tv that has an excellent picture, and so the picture is DVD Quality. I find the DTV converter superior to cable as there are no traces or double lines or fades or color washes. Commercials stand out, programs have vivid colors. Just an amazing picture. Absolute clarity. Using video out jack.

[modeeb2]

Yeah, I think if a person has a TV with the yellow, video-in jack (component video), they should use it. But I imagine there are still some TV's out there that only have the 75 ohm 'in' jack.

[murray727272]

cool antenna!

[modeeb2]

Lizziemcveigh, if you find that 90% of your transmitters are in one direction of town, think about a directional ant. like the DB2. They have usually more gain than omni directional but you have to aim them fairly accurately. The one I made is picking up signals 25-30 miles away and I'm getting 95% signal strength. Pretty good for a pizza box at ground level. Actually better than my 54" attic mount antenna (although there may be some loss from the long ant. cable run).

[lizziemcveigh]

I have an old Analog TV and i bought a converter box and it sucks! I only get a few channels and most of them pixelate and freeze. Im using a radioshack amplified ant. I live in an apartment building. ugh! i need great ant for less $

[PrimalSolution]

Thank you for making this video. So is a DB2 in my attic going to work better than my radioshack powered indoor one? 80 percent of my channels, by the way, are more or less transmitted from the same general direction.

[modeeb2]

That's a tough call. If the powered antenna is boosting the incoming signals, then it may be about the same as a non-powered antenna that is mounted higher up, with less obstructions (attic mounted). If your converter box shows the signal strength to be strong on the RS antenna, then maybe there's no need to buy the DB2. You can also use the signal strength to aim the antenna more precisely. So I would see how well the RS antenna works first, and go from there.

[GotRiceBish]

In the United States (USA), all analogue transmitter will have to be switched off by February 17, 2009 in order to begin TV broadcast exclusively in digital. In Canada, we must switch to digital television or HDTV right now before August 31, 2011. In the UK our TV sets there must be digitalized in 2012. For those you in the Philippines, we need to make our transition from analogue to digital by December 31st of 2015.

[modeeb2]

All U.S. transmitters except 'low power' transmitters which have not had a date set for digital conversion. That's why many of the DTV converter boxes have the analog pass-thru feature, to allow those low power transmitters to be viewed past the Feb 2009 date.

[Jacklistener]

Not TVs with a glass picture-tube, but specifically TVs with an older Analog Tuner & a TV antenna.

[modeeb2]

True. I assumed it was safe to say that probably 99% of all glass tube TV's came with analog tuners (up until March 2007). But a good point you make, a newer digital flatscreen that already has a digital tuner  won't need the converter box. It will already receive the digital signal through an antenna.

Thanks for the comment.

[modeeb2]

By the way, another good antenna I've read about is the DB-2 which also has some knock-offs at places like Amazon. It's a double bow-tie antenna that's only about 20 inches wide, so good as an indoor antenna.

[justmecoop]

they should make an antenna with a built in digital converter box

[modeeb2]

Yeah, I think this is just the beginning and maybe down the road some better options will come out. Still, I'm glad DTV uses such an old technology such as VHF/UHF antennas. It's been around so long that there's loads of info out there on them.

[rep0eagle]

amplified is the best way to go. it pulls in better

[markcal05]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video, it was very helpful/educational!