The Truth About HDTV Signal Strength Reception Issues

Everyone must understand that when I originally made this video, it was just a small part of a long DVD that I was making for a relative. I actually hadn't intended to put it on YouTube. I made it several months before everybody 'had' to receive digital TV signals. When ever I would speak to people about DTV, most of them had never tried it yet. That's when I decided to upload this video as an example of what I had been experiencing (WITH a roof mounted antenna). It has now been over a year since all stations have made the full conversion to digital. I guess today I can say I receive acceptable signals about 80% of the time. The following is my original description of this video:

On Feb 4th 2009 the government decided to push the transition date up to June 12, claiming the poor and rural areas are not ready. I personally think it is the TV stations that are not ready. The apparent problem is that the digital signals do not travel nearly as well over long distances as do the analog signals. My neighbors and I have spent over 6 months trying to find a good way to recieve HDTV signals. Originally my analog reception was received with rabbit ears and it worked fine. When I got a digital converter box that antenna was totally useless. I then obtainned an HD antenna. With the HD antenna, inside of the house the reception was unsatisfactory. So I moved it to the attic, which was a little better. Eventually I had to errect the antenna onto the roof of the house. The roof mounted setup is the one that was used for both the analog and digital examples contained in this video. With the analog signal, yes there is a little snow in the picture, but you can see and hear what's going on. With the digital format, when the signal is not perfect you lose large blocks of time. Is this the kind of signal you want when watching a footbal game, or a murder mystery? It is very annoying to get interested in a show and then the signal disolves and sometimes you can't even finish the show. 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. This was never a problem with analog signals. Some of my local stations I can no longer recieve in the digital format. So far this has not been an improvement for over the air television viewing.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Larry
• Dean
• Stover
• HDTV
• abc
• Brad
• Paisley
• Keith
• Urban
• HD
• antenna
• sarcasm
• humor
• comedy
• dead
• pan
• sarcastic
• county
• music

[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.

[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

[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

[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.

[Lively0101]

This is the only video that varifies that digital is weak and unreliable, thanks for posting this years ago. People will give you negative comments no matter what you post. to say your "whining" was wrong, I have been frustrated with my reception and throw my antenna on the floor and broke it. Becasue I was used to the ananlog that came in ans stayed on that channel. Its easy for people to make statements when they havent expericned the same pain or frustration. Thanks for posting this. GOOD JOB

[Lively0101]

@cryptoki the FCC got paid from some corperation to get rid of that signal. wait until theres a nation wide attack and people that dont have cable arent going to be able to get warnings

[xdrfox]

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

[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..

[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.

[cuggyuggy]

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

[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.

[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.