Montrose - Daily Press

We have made a big jump in the last few days. We have two TV sets & two converter boxes. Finally the converter boxes are working -- we discovered that the set has to be tuned to channel 3 just like using a video or DVD player. But now our indoor antennae are driving us nuts. The old "boosted" one that we have used for several years still works the best. Of the new ones: one is useless (I draw more signal with my body), one seemed to be working fairly well but suddenly quit (the pilot light went out never to return), and the third seems to work best hanging at the end of one of the blades of the ceiling fan while it is on low speed. When the helicopter landing at the hospital flys between us and the broadcast signal transmitter, or a car with "blaster stero" drives by -- our reception goes nuts.

At this point we receive 8-1, 8-2, 8-3, 10-1, & 10-2 well. Of course we have to fiddle with the exact position of the antenna between 8 & 10. Channel 50-1 & 50-2 register on the converter box survey, but show-up only as "weak signal" or "no program". The PBS channel has yet to appear in DTV, but we can still get the old signal with the converter box turned off. The digital life is exciting. I am beginning to enjoy the 'Telemundo' channel because I understand what is said in the commercials and the programs at the same level -- not very well at all -- but the pictures are great (attractive people doing interesting things).

I wish someone would publish a map of the location of signal broadcast points. That might help in positioning the antennae. Does anyone have an idea about hooking more than one antenna to a set?

Advertisement

Comments

Craig wrote on Jun 14, 2009 12:13 PM:

" I just let my TV fade away to snow. The TV stations would not have made the investment into digital technology had the government not forced them to.
All the government was looking at was the money that the cell phone companies provided when the soon to be vacated frequencies were sold.
Only a small portion of the frequencies were provided to public safety.
Just business as usual in Washington, DC.
I for one will listen to radio.
That is until they become pay to listen. "




Report Abuse

cch wrote on Jun 10, 2009 7:38 PM:

" I love it but I can't get the telemundo channel. "




Report Abuse

mel wrote on May 28, 2009 7:03 PM:

" I have found that the best location to point the antenna with the funny flaps is towards Storm King which is in the completely opposite direction of Flat Top and dwarfs Flat Top.
Going to satellite tv isn't much of a solution either because certain providers don't have local channels available. Which I would love a legitament explanation for. "




Report Abuse

JWeee wrote on May 28, 2009 12:48 PM:

" I haven't watched TV since May '08. I'll rent movies and go to the bar to watch a game once in a while... I'm reading more, getting out, and talking to my wife more often... it's great - you all should try it. KILL YOUR TV! "




Report Abuse

jt wrote on May 28, 2009 9:18 AM:

" Got to admit that I'm not that impressed with HDTV. Signal strength is n't great.
Its good for the flat screen manufacturers, the converter box manufacturers and the cable TV guys. For everyone else..... not that great. "




Report Abuse

anti pc wrote on May 27, 2009 5:04 PM:

" Digital TV instead of Analog???? What is the world coming to? Next thing you'll tell me is my tube radio is obsolete because there are transistors now. What??? I can get my news and listen to the radio on the computer? It's all a conspiracy I tell you!!! "




Report Abuse

Digital Death wrote on May 27, 2009 12:59 PM:

" In my opinion, the DTV transition is a joke. The digital signal strength fluctuates too often and it's tough to watch anything on the 8's.

At least with analog, a person could at least still hear the sound when the signal weakened. Additionally, analog also allowed some visual, even if the signal was weak with a "snowy" television picture. Digital appears to be "all or nothing".

The transition will be good business for cable and satellite providers and bad business for local advertisers, as many viewers will just quit watching television. "




Report Abuse

BaldJim wrote on May 27, 2009 11:05 AM:

" Hi "anti pc" -- I sure know where the flat-top transmission site is.
I haven't found the manual for "aiming" the indoor antenna.
I appreciate the advice from a cable user. "




Report Abuse

Joke wrote on May 27, 2009 10:58 AM:

" Using just the Antenna we get about 6 channels. With the converter box hooked up we got 3 and one of which is Telemundo--HaHa. I dont think this change was about "better quality and MORE channels" It's about tracking digitly what the homes are watching as another step further to controlling our lives. Sounds drastic i know, but when put into comparison with all the other laws and changes happening without our vote, it certainly makes sense! "




Report Abuse

anti pc wrote on May 26, 2009 10:57 AM:

" Try aiming your antenna at Flat Top. You can tell it's the right one because with the Television transmission antennas on top of it. It's to the Northeast of town. I'm not sure why you should be having problems with the antenna on your tv since I assume you had to use an antenna to receive a signal before the transition. I had no trouble with the transition but then again I have cable tv. Cable or Sattelite tv would solve this... but then again it's not free. "




Report Abuse

BaldJim wrote on May 26, 2009 10:25 AM:

" Thanks Mel -- remember the B&W rabbit-ear + tinfoil days well.
Spoke too soon about getting 10-1 & 10-2 - can see their broadcast tower but cannot find the exact position for antenna. Had it once, but lost it.
I've found the long rods have nothing to do with the new signals; it's the circle or arc and the magical material in them.
Newer models are funny slabs hinged together using a transformer power supply. Again, magical material replacing tinfoil. "




Report Abuse

mel wrote on May 25, 2009 7:51 PM:

" Have you tried the tin foil on the end of the antenna? I would let you borrow a kid but they are busy holding up our antenna standing on one leg on top of the tv wearing a suit of tin foil.
When we did the "transition" we lost 1 of 3 channels we were receiving. Now all we get is 10-1 and 10-2. We also purchased a new antenna. The only way to avoid getting poked in the eye by the location of the antenna was to put it on top of a box on top of the TV. "




Report Abuse