The Truth About HDTV Signal Strength Reception Issues

[xdrfox]

They went digital to prevent over ride pirating of stations for promoting cause's !

[cuggyuggy]

Thank you very much;you're are absolutely right. I tried to get vhs stations from the air using an antenna and I can't get any of them. I can't get the news and I missed the basketball playoffs. I can only get foreign language or public TV. I'ts mighty funny how you demonstrated with ABC television. When there was analogue, ABC was the strongest signal I could get and even if some VHS stations came in snowing, at least I got them nontheless. With Digital I can't get any of them.

[PrinceMio49]

"There is nothing wrong with you TV set, we are controlling the transmission, we can control the horizontal, we can control the vertical", welcome to the Outer Limits.

I made my own antenna and I get 97% signal strength in town and a city 119 miles away. I just installed it outdoors with a rotor.

[cuggyuggy]

@PrinceMio49 Hey Guy, I would like to know how you did it.

[PrinceMio49]

@cuggyuggy Better Outside HDTV Antenna by Jwwm2. I put mine on a Rotator on my patio. Your strongest reception will be after you program channels. I also used a signal booster.

[nathan40000]

yes, better reception, but I believe the only reason for the switch was to gain money. They should enable analog tv again. They want you to buy digital converters. It gives them money.

[dramaherald]

If your dad has an enclosed area in or outside his home try pointing the antenna to that enclosed area such as an air well, or similar, as the hdtv signal tends to bounce around. This has been my experience after 7 antennas all around in the lower financial district of San Francisco. If the enclosed area has for metal walls and open at the top, it should work well. Move the antenna a few inches right or left and he should pick up different stations.

Hope this helps & great video!

[StovetopLife]

@dramaherald Thanks, but my grandfather only used the DTV for a day or 2 then just decided to buy cable. And since then has now moved away, but the suggestions sound interesting for future use though. Thanks.

[dramaherald]

If your dad has an enclosed area in or outside his home try pointing the antenna to that enclosed area such as an airwell, or similar, as the hdtv signal tends to bounce around. This has been my experience after 7 antennas all around in the lower financial district of San Francisco. If the enclosed area has for metal walls and open at the top, it should work well. Move the antenna a few inches right or left and he should pick up different stations.

Hope this helps & great vid!

[1L6E6VHF]

Why does everybody talk about "range" and signals being "weak" or "strong".

Depending on the circumstances, someone can have perfectly reliable reception in DTV at more than 50 miles,. but someone less than a mile away from the transmitter can be doomed!

The problem with indoor antennas is not signal strength,it's MULTIPATH!

DTV will give you trouble if a brick or metal wall is between the antenna and the station, that simple.

[KingfisnPunk]

i wander wut the gov going to do with the old anolog channles ,hhhhuuuuhhhh???? hhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrpp­ppppppp mabye

[farronfolbright]

@KingfisnPunk Exactly! What will we do when we can no longer be sure that the thoughts we are thinking are our own?

[painfultone]

it's too bad for you buddy, but it truly has improved my own experiences, maybe if you were asking for help, instead just throwing a fit (with bad sarcasm) you might get somewhere. seriously, men conquer and overcome, use that bean in your skull, your making everyone else look bad... DTV gives more channels for free, and your going to whine cause you can't adapt and overcome...hugh.

[StovetopLife]

@painfultone Ok, I hear the 'bad sarcasm'. In all actuality, when I shot this, it wasn't with the intention of putting it on YouTube. It was actually a family video I was making for a relative with an hour of content of birthdays, sunsets, recitals, and the like. After I made it I then got inspired to share it with the world, because at that point, a lot of people had still not begun to switch yet. I have thoughts of making a video about antennas, but I'm involved in other things right now...thx

[ngot74]

Digital TV is the future and it's here to stay. We're all sorry that you don't live near a city but I live near one and my reception is rock solid and the picture, simply amazing. Wouldn't have it any other way. Goodbye fuzz...forever!

[teeelo]

Analog, however only a stepping stone toward a limitless digital system should never truly be abandoned.

[MoonCrashed]

I miss the old fuzz...

[cryptoki]

The FCC must be in total denial. This is the experience Im hearing from everyone all over the Country. -- This also reduced the effectiveness of the Emergency Broadcasting System and therefore these weak signals should be illegal. I wonder if there are lawsuits coming? What a waste of Taxpayer money. We want our Analog back. But i think its too late for that, because they auctioned off the old frequencies already. This is about money and/or Cable company kickbacks it seems. Lamed !

[FenderGibsonWashburn]

What annoys me is before the changeover I bought the digital boxes, hooked them to my outside antenna and built a coat hanger one. I was pleased I could receive 19 channels with either one, most with very high signal strength. The day of the changeover I lost 6 of those completely and lost signal strength in all the rest. The coat hanger one can now only receive about 4. Did all the stations cut power to their digital signals after the change over?

[gr8fzy1]

I feel you man...with analog TV we had 4 stations. Digital came along, and it dropped to one...and we have to stick the antenna in our window. Tried mounting the antenna outside on our second floor back porch, but we live on a hill in the city, and our NEIGHBORS are blocking the signal!

So we are stuck with one station on our set, that freezes and loses sound any time a car drives up our street. Thanks Big brother...

[Skibble5150]

"These signals may work well if you live in the same city that the TV tower is in, but my house is completely surrounded by trees, and if those leaves are wet you can forget about getting a signal."

CHOP DOWN THOSE FUCKING TREES.

[Skibble5150]

Interesting, but not necessary to include a 1 minute clip of a hillbilly playing a guitar in a hat.

[StovetopLife]

@Skibble5150 That 'hillbilly' has been named entertainer of the year more than once (I think). And he's actually a ripping guitar player. In hindsight, I cut his song off right as he was going into the solo, and I probably should have included that. I know you're a metal head (and so am I ) but you really ought to check him out. His name is Brad Paisley, and he has a YouTube channel. thx

[girotube]

SIR!!! make one with your dad and have good father and son time making a better antenna (FOR FREE) with a free 2x4 from the basement and some hangers. I'm sure you have a VHF-UHF to Coax converter from an old TV too. thats all you need.

Maybe you are tooooooo far from the stations.. so MAKE an outside antenna and yahoooo!

Look! The antenna I got from radio shack ($40) I was getting 34 ch.

I plugged my converter to the outside antenna and now I get 60 channels and with no signal drops.

[TheAngryAmericanwon]

@girotube you are right, in a small town of Vermont. I live around mountains and the only type of television I can watch is Sat TV thru DirecTV, I have tried the over air in my neighborhood and the mountains are blocking the signal. I figured out a way to get over air but it would consider the whole town of mine to be hooked up, a massive antennae and lots of wire! Everyone of course would need converter boxes unless they have upgraded their TV to flat screens..

[micklail]

I agree with the message this video is about. I love the digital signals when they come in, but weather plays hell with them. I would rather receive 20 analog signals than 10 digital ones.

[Vagextrol]

StovetopLife, you are a N00B

1. Get a Yagi antenna with a high gain (for long range)

2. Put it outdoor (a lot more reception since waves gets blocked easily)

3. If you want more long range stations situated in different directions, use a rotor.

4. Find your poorest channel reception and adjust your antenna on it.

[StovetopLife]

I know that's what I need. The problem is that all of this crap is a lot of expense and installation time. All of that isn't even so bad, it's just the that the govt 'sold' us this transition with the insinuation that all we needed was the converter box and then flowers would come out of our screen. They never said "Oh by the way, you have to add all of this other expensive crap to the top of your house - you like ladders right? Well you can just call a service man & pay him whatever he asks."

[fred30680]

I understand what you were saying But let me tell you. People only care about things when it affects them personally. I have dish network but I may have to cancel. $65 a month is insane. I remember back when this digital TV idea was being pitched to the people. "Superior picture over vast distances. " I knew there had to be more to, the , Rest of the Story.

[Firebirrd85]

Why should us Rural Folks have to go through all this hassle though Vage? Why? When before, all we had to do was stick a piece of wire into the back of the tv and get everything? This was a mistake by congress.

[psiguynow]

Horrid reception. Took me 4 different antennas before I got one that works. The "150 mile reception" antennas on ebay are junk. Radio Shack took both my coupons, sent me one antenna, and now plays dumb about the other after a year. Bring back analog and let the government get their money somewhere else. This is as dumb as crushing cars in the name of fuel economy. It would be nice to have someone in govt on OUR side.

[Vagextrol]

psiguynow, sorry to decieve you with reality facts but 150 miles is impossible since THE CURVATURE OF THE EARTH permits only a 60-70 miles range.

Look on wikipedia.

Fuck analog you archaic ignorant, get a better antenna and go digital.

Fuck Radio Shack too (Electronic for retards).

A good setup works flawlessly.

I live in Montreal and I get all Vermonts channels with a 41$ Yagi antenna bought on eBay (shipping included).

[CCRider100]

@Vagextrol

"THE CURVATURE OF THE EARTH permits only a 60-70 miles range"

This has been stated as FACT on the internet, and is NOT true. I am getting 10 channels from 115 miles away, with 4 channels at 85-100% signal strength.

Oh, and the antenna is in the attic.

Yes, it does depend on your location, but If people seriously want to get the VASTLY improved HD quality, then some effort is required. Get the best antenna for your locations channels and put it high as possible, is a good start.

[CCRider100]

I forgot to mention that at my location, the same stations in analog were an unwatchable snow filled mess. With digital, the video quality is consistent and the HD is jaw dropping. I do understand that unfortunately some people are having a harder time than with analog getting their channels, but you can't stop technological progress. Converting to digital saves the broadcasters on energy costs, while putting out a higher quality product. OTA HD is amazing.

[gr8fzy1]

I completely agree, we got an $80 dollar, 50+ mile antenna from Radio shack...it worked a LITTLE bit...bring us back to two of the 4 stations we got....then the signal amp that the antenna NEEDED shorted out. And they wouldn't take it back. We are back to a set of amplified rabbit ears, and are getting one station now.

[stonedog5858]

@psiguynow i would like to know if there is an `class-action lawsuit` for this . The gov. lied to us about receiving over 100 channels. And i wish they would have inform us earlier, i wouldn`t have gotta rid of my rooftop antenna. And to think in 2010 we still need a damn rooftop antenna... We`re going backwards in time.

[BIGJ46227]

I hate dtv. And the cable the apartments charge us for if we add it to our lease which I got rid of because the cable sucks as bad as this dtv shit. I cant really watch football unless I use my laptop. So when the superbowl does come around I am hitting a bar screw it. The government did something right by screwing over the people like they always do. Screw dtv bring back analog.

[joemorgantunes]

I find this all especially irritating because I live in Florida where hurricanes are a constant threat. In the big season in 2004 I lost cable but I had my little RCA 2" and I could at least see the radars and get an idea how bad it was going to be at my house. I bought a portable digital earlier this year but when the switch came I lost everything. Tried building some of these antennas on here but so far none work. Lucky we haven't had a storm this year--yet.

[eimac4x1]

UHF doesnt travel as well as VHF. Thats a fact, no way around it. I got one of the best outdoor antennas out there with a booster. I still have trouble with digital. Im only 50 miles from the towers.

[johnkennedy007]

I have a small TV antenna had maybe 2-3 Stations I could hardly get, same antenna and I get 6 now, much better picher.

its not rocket science.

[StovetopLife]

Well, I'm glad you got more channels with the same antenna. However everyone I know has gotten poor results while AGONIZING over antennas, but you just don't want to hear that at all. You think your results should be the same for everyone else in the country, and they can't be. If you live in the same city (or at least county) where the TV stations are, I could see you getting these results, but friend, as I have stated elsewhere, not everyone else in the country has that luxury.

[johnkennedy007]

man, you need to get a new Antenna mine works real good, no need for cable anymore, more channels

do some research before you do a video

[StovetopLife]

For you to throw out a comment like "do some research before you do a video" displays that you obviously didn't read the long description in the upper right corner of the page. So to you I say, Do some reading before you make a comment! At least a third of my description is about antennas!! You could also read the other 30 comments here from people that agree with me, but apparently you just don't have the time for that. You make some bold statements for someone who hasn't even uploaded a video.

[BennyBeezyMoney]

Just wait until you're ass is driving that solar powered golf cart to work! Getting a check-up from that gov doctor ...... Woooooooo Weeee! I love the government .......da boot, after that you get home, kick back & get watch TV like a 3rd grader with a speech impediment ....

[tvdxrools]

good video digital sucks .. my hobby is long distance tv reception here in scotland and no way i could do that with digital . i have received usa weak pictures and audio here in scotland but no chance with digital .. check out my videos for the usa/canada reception not much too see but canadian audio coms up at end ...

[KateLiger]

Yes, at first i was like "hey, this picture is great!" but then you watch it for two seconds and it becomes totally unwatchable....

[davenwin1973]

My area is overall flat, & signal isn't a major issue in my area. I get all my Chicago stations, though it's been a problem for those on the Sears Tower than those on the John Hancock. 2 stations are on the JH, and the rest are on the S.T. Some of them are still tweaking their signal from the S.T. Before June 12th, my CBS station was on 3 (got it), but moved to 12, & moved to Sears Tower, using WTTW's old antenna for DT12. Had 3 not been an issue, CBS would have stayed on the John Hancock.

[Milkbone15]

Aye DTV sucks Even after a outdoor 100 mile ant. I still only get 1 spanish station!

I got over 30 stations analog with indoor rabit ears!

[yngar10]

Yes indeed, that little box, in my case, needed $200 worth of new antenna, mast, booster, and lead-in wire. Used to get good reception, but now I only get it before sunrise or after sunset, especially with the stations now using VHF band (another little secret the Feds failed to tell us about when we were out buying new antennas last year!) Anyone else have this experience? It's the case for almost everyone in our town.

[ArkansasAnalogTV]

It is very difficult, sometimes impossible, to receive a digital signal more than 60 miles away. Maybe if you go to this forum

avs [dot] com

someone can help you. You have my sympathy.

[fifthking4down]

i agree i agree i made a video on how i felt the old man what the hell? if it aint broke dont fix it

[laiger06]

o yeah what song is that i dont know the name but i hear it alot

[StovetopLife]

Brad Paisley is performing 'Waiting on a Woman' and Keith Urban is performing 'Better Life'; but you can't understand most of the Keith Urban song...

[jwwm2]

HDTV is better for most people. Yes, it's different, and you need a properly aimed HD antenna. Get the information you need to aim it on the tvfool website.

[CrochetCatskills]

I cant even watch a program any longer and forget about recording something on the DVR, all you get is THAT junk.... I have started to watch all of WABC's shows online because they stink on tv.... and I heard they may want to charge you to watch online... if that happens I will no longer watch

[bigal8631993]

I heard them converter boxes have cameras in them.

[laiger06]

i took care of a old cia vet ...he said the boxes where just crap to spy on population. i saw open it and check it out see if there anything fishy.

[rep0eagle]

the advertisements say all you need to do is hook your box and antenna up and BAM......No......it's not that easy, they fooled alot of people with this, including me, but I learned the truth about it

ha, I think I came up with a name for it.... the 'D' in DTV = Disaster Television

DTV = Distaster Television

[StovetopLife]

That's a great name for it!!

[GregoryPunzo]

we had those same problems, you need a better antenna or just need adjustments. for one try putting one on your roof or in your attic. if your using rabbit ears then try wrapping aluminum foil around them and put it near a window and higher up from off the ground

[StovetopLife]

Sometimes all the antennas in the world can't help this situation. The results shown here came from a roof top antenna (Be sure to read the description in the upper right hand corner of this page).

[cybermiguelo]

That's because of the crappy system the ATSC is. You know...Japan has its own DTV system (it's called ISDB-T) and it works in every possible condition that Japan has (which are storms, buildings, mountains, etc.).

The E.U. as well have their own DTV system called DVB-T, which works much like the one that Japan has (in the way that you can receive it even if you're on a valley and on a stormy weather).

Of course, ATSC is cheaper to implement to the TV stations, as the others aren't. ...

[StovetopLife]

It has only been recently, in the last month or so, that there have been a lot of advertisments about upgrading your antenna. This information is too little, too late, because for the longest time, thae advertisments implied that the purchase of this magical little box (with the aid of our governmet) would make our wildest dreams come true. (BTW make sure you watch my video all the way to the end)

[CCRider100]

@melann2009

'The key to DTV reception is not the tv or even the tuner. It is the antenna. An outside antenna is a must anywhere over 20 miles from the transmitter.'

High gain antenna is a must if you have weak digital signals to increase the signal over the digital cliff (anything over 1 db NM will usually work) A good TV tuner (built after 2007) can be just as important though, as they have lower noise figure, and deal with multipath much better. Excessive noise is the enemy of digital TV

[GermGreen]

Great demonstration man. You totally hit the nail on the head. Digital is more trouble than it is worth. It's so disappointing - the reality just doesn't live up to the hype. :(

[StovetopLife]

Thank You! Hey, just out of curiosity when were the transition dates for Australia?

[Eugbob]

What about Canada? Are the tv stations going to change from analog to digital or is it in the USA only?

[anirudthan]

In Canada i Heard it is in 2011 when it makes its leap towards digital only

[kibjohn]

It's no use! We have no other choice but subscribing to cable or satellite or just don't even watch television at all. Besides, what's really the worth of it watching TV nowadays anyways? About 90% of everything which is aired on there are unwatchable. Way to go, FCC! They really fucked things up this time!

[rep0eagle]

I lost our independent network, our CW network (analog crystal clear), PBS affiliate, ABC affiliate, and about all the others. I'm left with NBC, an old movies channel and an independent channel to the north of me. That's my lineup....3 channels...

[rep0eagle]

I feel your pain. I get bad reception too. Analog signals can really go farther then digital. But I really don't watch tv that much anyways so it's not much a big deal for me.

When stations start losing viewers and their ratings go down because nobody can pick up the damn channel, they'll do something. Hopefully....

[StovetopLife]

I don't watch very much TV either, but the point is, When I had a 'crappy' antenna, I got a mediocre signal; Now I have a BETTER antenna, on TOP of the house, and I get a USELESS signal. Once again; thank you federal gov, for improving our lives for us. We appreciate it!

[cybermiguelo]

Don't forget to thank the greedy TV stations of yours that doesn't spend money or time in using a waaay better technology as the ISDB-T (from Japan) or the DVB-T (from the EU) are.

ATSC is crap. It's wave modulation technology sucks!!

[AzOutLawz9]

sorry i was to quick to judge..good job take care

[ZombieRyushu]

There was a critical mistake made when they went with 8SVB modulation. There was a fix in the works for the blocky signal loss problem, it was called ESVB, but it arrived too late to the party.

[eimac4x1]

Sneadron has it right! There are no provisions to limit subscription broadcasting. What else would explain all these TV stations losing half the viewers and paying huge amounts of money for new transmitters and antennas? They are looking to sell programming, its about the money, not quality.

[koz303303]

I dont think the TV stations are ready for the change. There'

s just to many convert signal problems, Maybe in 2012 it will be ok? Well also thank the FCC they probaly keep the TV stations power low, when they need to raise the power so everyone gets a good signal. Well back to reading books for the next 3 years.

[StovetopLife]

If the digital signal only travels about half as far as the analog signal before dropping out, then it stands to reason, to get the same broadcast coverage, one must increase the signal strength accordingly. We'll see....

[Sneadron]

I Don't believe it. I believe that the FCC plans to go through with it.

I just don't believe the sales pitch,

Especially that part about FREE over the air digital

signal. I feel also that you better hang on to your VHS.

[Sneadron]

These will be as tough to crack as digital

satellite systems. It may be a situation where a few

of the early converter boxes can receive signals that

later boxes will prompt you for an access code, or it

may be that many signals will be inaccessable to the

older boxes.

[Sneadron]

The DTV switch is a back door to T.V. Licensing.

This superbowl and the next will be free to watch,

but by about superbowl #45 or 46 most if not all of

the action will be a pay-per-view event. Don't like cookies on your computer?

You won't like them on your T.V. even worse.

I am predicting that there is a digital encryption

device (scrambler) on most of the DTV's and converter

boxes.

[Sneadron]

There is no such thing as DXing a digital.

with an anlog signal one could tune to the place where the signal should be and wait for conditions to change. A digital tuner does not attempt that. It takes one look around and says there is nothing to tune to. My uncle in Matagorda TX could point a Giant Yaggi antenna back towards Houston and get marginal signals from halfway down the coastline. I wrote the following this morning, and your video follows my sentiments.