REMARKS OF FCC COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J.COPPS
FCC-WILMINGTON TOWN HALL MEETING ON DTV
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
MAY 27, 2008
Chairman Martin, Mayor Saffo, Distinguished Guests. Thank you all for being here today to talk about and plan for one of the most important initiatives the FCC has launched in a long while. I want to thank Chairman Martin, without whose leadership this effort would not be happening. He not only ran with the idea but he did so with full-fledged commitment to find a really good market to run the test and then to devote the resources necessary to make it work as seamlessly as possible. But a huge—and I mean huge—share of the thanks goes to Wilmington—its broadcasters, its elected leaders and many others who are stepping up to the plate in a high-stakes enterprise.
Broadcasters make a bargain with the citizens who own the airwaves that their stations will serve the public interest. In participating in this test market initiative, your local broadcasters breathe life into that public interest commitment. I thank them for it. I thank the good people of Wilmington more generally. From your point of view, you'll be getting to the digital Promised Land a few months before everyone else, but I realize it will take some doing to get it done right.
Now, there are some who wonder why we're spending so much time on Wilmington when there's a whole big country out there to prepare. There are a couple of answers to that. First, the efforts won’t stop in the rest of the country. In fact, I’m looking for them to speed up. There are still a lot of Americans who don’t know precisely what they have to do to make this transition work for them and their TVs.
Truth be told, no one has all the answers. That’s one big reason we’re so interested in running a test market—so we can identify any unanticipated problems. And the idea is that we will have the resources here on the ground in Wilmington to fix any such problems as quickly as possible and then be able to prepare for them when the rest of the country makes its transition.
What kinds of things will we learn here? I divide them into four categories - technical, consumer, partnerships and the dreaded unknowns.
First, as hard as it is to believe this late in the process, there are still a lot of technical things we don't know. Engineers can run the numbers until the cows come home, but until you actually get out into the real world, you don't really know how things are going to work. How well do those new digital signals travel? Do they travel the way analog TV signals travel? How many people will need new antennas to receive digital? And if they do, are those outdoor antennas for digital when they only needed rabbit ears for their analog sets?
Second, what about consumers? Which messages reach them and which don't? Are there harder-to-reach groups like the elderly, the disabled or non-English speakers who need special outreach? What kind of outreach? What difficulties do consumers have installing the converter boxes and getting a picture? How many consumers won't do anything no matter how much you tell them in advance? And how do consumers who lose TV on the switch-over date recover? What are the stations’ plans for dealing with any interruptions?
Third, partnerships. By that I simply mean the FCC can’t make this happen alone, nor should we expect Wilmington’s citizens, officials and broadcasters to make it happen alone. This is uncharted territory, and our nation functions best when we venture into that kind of territory with both our private and public sector resources at-the-ready. Take outreach, for example. There are a lot of folks to prepare for September 8. It will take not only the FCC, NTIA and your broadcasters and local governments to bring this off. It will take your service clubs and membership organizations, your other media and community organizations, your schools (even your churches will be affected), it will take the combined resources of this community.
Everyone stands to gain from this; everyone wants to avoid service interruptions; that’s why I am confident everyone will work together—but it won’t happen on autopilot. It will take real and comprehensive commitment.
Finally, in any effort of this scale, there are unknowns that no one anticipates and you find out about only when you throw that switch. That's the category that really keeps me up at night. That’s why this test is so important. And that’s why we need other broadcast markets to step up and run tests like this, or at least field tests on more limited parts of the problem, such as robustness of the DTV signal; whether sometimes indoor antennas might have to be replaced by outdoor; and whether there are differences in performance among the various kinds of set-top boxes, to name a few.
The bottom line is that the more real world experience we can get in the next six months, the better off we'll be on February 17, 2009, when the rest of the nation hopefully goes digital.
I know that if anyone can make this happen, it’s the good citizens of the Tar Heel state. I’ve lived in North Carolina; gone to school in North Carolina; worked for a while for a North Carolina company; gotten to know most of your very able Congressional delegation and, more recently, your fine mayor—and I just know that if you all come together, this is going to work. Thank you again for what you are doing.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a ... 2438A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a ... 2438A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a ... 2438A1.txt
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( 3 / 223 )Do you have your coupon yet? Have you purchased your converter? Remember, your coupon has a VOID date. You must purchase your converters before the VOID date.
The following is a list of converters now available to the public. WLIO nor I can recommend which one to buy. When you buy a converter, always ask the seller if you can return the converter and exchange it if it does not work to your expectations.
When in doubt, select a name brand.
DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERTERS
Alpha Digital AT2016 AMTC AT-2016
Apex DT150 Avion ATB 7707
AccessHD DTA1020U AccessHD DTA1020D
AccessHD DTA1010U AccessHD DTA1010D
Apex DT1002 Apex DT1001
Artec T3APro Artec T3A
Cadence DTVC-9 CASTi CAX-01
Coship N9988T Coship N9900T
Channel Master CM-7000 Clear Tech CTDCB100
Daytek CAX-01 Denca TBX1005A
Denca NL8119 Denca NL8118
Digital Stream DSP6500R Digital Stream DSP7500T
Digital Stream DTX9900 Daewoo DAC-100
Fuyai ATSC 630 GE 22730
GE 22729 Goodmind DTA900
Goodmind DTA1000 Goodmind DTA980
Gridlink GLT-200 Gridlink GLT-300
Insignia NS-DXA1 Jiuzhou DTT6000
Kingbox K8V1 Kingbox K8V8
Lasonic LTR-260 Lasonic LTA-260
MAG CCB7707 Magnavox TB100MW9
MicroGEM MG2000 Microprose MPI-500
Mustek MAT-K50 Olevia DTA100
RCA DTA 800B RCA DTA 800A
SVA DAC100 Sansonic FT300RT
Sansonic FT300A Skardin DTR-0727
Synergy Global Supply SYN2009 Tatung TDB3000
Tivax STB-T9 Tunbow Electronics E60010
Venturer STB7766G Winegard RC-DT09
Zinwell ZAT-970 Zinwell ZAT-856
Zenith DTT900 Zentech DF2000
Zinwell ZAT-857 Zinwell ZAT-756A
jWIN Electronic Corp JD-TV1000
DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERTERS
w/analog pass through
Apex DT250 Apex DT500
CASTi CAX-02 Digital Stream DSP7700T
Digital Stream DTX9950 Digital Stream DX8700
DISH Network DTVPal (see below) Jiuzhou DTT9001
Magnavox TB-100MG9 Philco TB100HH9
Philco TB150HH9 RCA DTA800B1
Skardin DTR-0727L TATUNG TDB3001
Venturer STB7766G1
The manufacturer has indicated that these models are
capable of passing analog signals through to the TV set.
The Dish DTVPal is what your Dish Network provider should
give you to make sure you will not loose your local stations!
Again, you are entitled to your local channel. Do not let
your satellite provider tell you that you need a Waiver.
WLIO does not give out waivers. Tell your satellite provider to
fix the problem.
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( 3 / 305 )Since the article appeared in The Lima News, and people have discovered this web site, I've had more than a few calls about the coupons. One of the more frustrating series of calls is from people whom have filed for their coupons, but have yet to receive them.
You should receive your coupons within 30 days of filing your request.
If you have still not received your coupons, check the web site https://www.dtv2009.gov/CheckStatus.aspx
If all else fails, send a letter to the converter program, with a copy to your Congressman. The letter should look like this.
Administrator
TV Coupon Box Program
P.O. Box 2000
Portland OR 97208
(date)
Dear Sir or Madam,
On (date) I applied for (number of coupons) coupons for my household.
My family is one of the households whom will be denied local, free, over the air broadcast service unless I receive assistance in purchasing a converter box.
I have waited for 30-45 days for the delivery of my coupon, but it has yet to be delivered.
I am requesting that you review your records and determine if you have sent the coupons to me.
If they were sent over 14 days ago, I have to assume that they have been lost in the mail. I am requesting that you void the old coupons and send me new ones.
Please contact me at (preferred method phone/e-mail/mailing address) if you have any question.
I look forward to receiving the necessary coupons to fulfill my viewing of television.
(name)
(address)
(city, state zip)
(telephone number)
CC: (your congressman)
CC: Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Complaints
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554
The wheels of government turn slow. I expect that as more people discover that they need coupons, the delays and problems in delivery of coupons will increase. I can only urge viewers to be proactive in making sure your needs are addressed in time for the conversion to digital.
Frederick R. Vobbe
IMPORTANT
* Remember, you have 3 months from the time
you receive the coupons to buy your converter.
* The address verification the NTIA uses to verify
you is the USPS address database. If you are
rejected due to a bad address, check with the USPS
for what the government thinks is your correct
address.
* WLIO can not apply for you, get you coupons, or
mediate with the administrators of the coupon program
on your behalf. We have no say in the application
process or whom is given coupons.
* WLIO can not force a cable or dish service provider to
get you the necessary equipment to receive our signals.
Just a thought, could they have not used the IRS's database. They have no problem finding us! :)
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( 2.9 / 244 )The following is a Satellite Editorial by Bruce Opperman, President and General Manager of WLIO Television. Mr. Opperman can be reached at WLIO Television, 1424 Rice Avenue, Lima OH 45805. 419-228-8835 x1017, or by e-mail at bao@wlio.com.
Are you a satellite customer of DirecTV or Dish Network? NBC Lima has been working for years to get satellite carriage. This is contrary to what many of you are being told by your satellite company. We have been proactive in our efforts to allow satellite customers in west central Ohio the ability to view their hometown stations. Over 90% of the local television markets nationwide have satellite carriage. The Lima Ohio television market is one of the less than 10% that doesn't.
Contact your satellite provider TODAY and tell them you want the Lima, Ohio television stations on your DirecTV or Dish Network service.
Bruce A. Opperman
President/General Manager
WLIO-TV/NBC Lima
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( 3 / 240 )
Today we tested a Winegard model HD7694 antenna (seen to the right). The test was performed by the WLIO engineering staff. As before, the antenna was mounted on a 10-foot mast pipe, in a 3-foot tripod, and then placed on the roof of our technical facility which is 15-feet off the ground. Therefore, the total height was 28-feet. No "booster" was used. Just antenna, RG-6 coax, going right to the TV.
The antenna weighed 7 pounds. It's still light enough that it could be mounted on a chimney or soil stack.
The Winegard web site claims that the antenna was optimized for channels 7 to 69. It has a turning radius of 43.25"
Winegard's list price is $89.99 with $10.95 for a total of $100.94. We found ours at Stark Electronics for $72.95 plus shipping.
The antenna was hooked to a Sanyo model DP19657 19" Diagonal Wide Screen Integrated Digital LCD HDTV. I got this TV at Meijer's for $377.95.
How did it compare to the HD1080 antenna tested yesterday, what can you get with it?
DIGITAL STATIONS
8.1 - WLIO-DT Lima NBC
8.2 - WLIO-DT Lima The CW
8.3 - WLIO-DT Lima NBC Weather Plus
27.1 - WBGU-DT Bowling Green PBS
27.2 - WBGU-DT Bowling Green Create
27.3 - WBGU-DT Bowling Green
27.4 - WBGU-DT Bowling Green Kids Channel
44.1 - WTLW-DT Lima (Ind)
ANALOG STATIONS
11 - WTOL Toledo (no signal received at all)
13 - WTVG Toledo (Better but still with some noise.)
15 - WANE Fort Wayne (Better than HD1080)
16 - unknown station very weak.
(Updated 5/17/2008: Finally caught an ID. WPTD Dayton)
18 - WLQP-LP Lima
21 - WPTA Fort Wayne (very good signal)
24 - WNWO Toledo (weak to moderate)
25 - WOHL-CA Lima
33 - WISE Fort Wayne (interference from WLIO but better)
35 - WLIO Lima
38 - WLMO Lima
39 - WFWA Fort Wayne (weak to moderate)
40 - WLMB Toledo (weak but much improved)
55 - WFFT Fort Wayne (moderate)
61 - W61CZ Lima (translator for the 3 Angles Network)
63 - WINM Angola IN (moderate)
Distance to Angola: 80 miles (129 km)
Distance to Fort Wayne: 59 miles (96 km)
Distance to Toledo: 75 miles (121 km)
This was an improvement over the HD1080 antenna.
This antenna shows a lot of promise for viewers in areas outside the metropolitan area, and for those people that need a little better quality signal.
I believe that this antenna would work better once it's above 28 feet. Another issue is that we have been trying to pick up the Dayton stations, but I think we're hampered by both a low profile, the ridge that runs through Shelby County, and the distance of 65 miles (104 km). I also think the reason we can't get channel 7 (WHIO) is due to our digital transmitter being just 450 feet away from our receive antenna on channel 8. With 27,500 watts of power, I think WLIO-DT is swamping out the receiver of our TV.
Another thought about channel 11 is, that we have a local FM station on 97.7 within .25 miles of our site, and it is possible that the reason we're not getting channel 11 is that the FM station is also swamping the receiver of the TV.
The antenna is being given to one of our employees to try at his home halfway between Lafayette and Beverdam. So hopefully we'll have some test results from out in the country to share.
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( 3 / 297 )The FCC has sited two more major stores for not telling customers that they are buying "analog only" TV sets. Stores must disclose to consumers any analog product so they don't buy something that won't work after Feb 17th.
VALUE CITY DEPARTMENT STORES, INC. Notified Value City Department Stores, Inc. of its Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $216,000 for failure to place the required Consumer Alert label. Action by: the Commission. Adopted: 05/06/2008 by NALF. (FCC No. 08-123). EB
PDF Report
TOYS "R" US, INC. Notified Toys "R" Us, Inc. of its Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $248,000 for failure to place required consumer alert label in violation of Section 15.117(k) of the Commission's Rules. Action by: the Commission. Adopted: 05/06/2008 by NALF. (FCC No. 08-124). EB
PDF Report
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( 2.9 / 272 )
An initial test of the Winegard model HD1080 antenna (seen to the right) was performed by the WLIO engineering staff. The antenna was mounted on a 10-foot mast pipe, in a 3-foot tripod, and then placed on the roof of our technical facility which is 15-feet off the ground. Therefore, the total height was 28-feet.
The antenna was very light, and could have been mounted to a smaller length of pipe that could have been attached to a chimney or soil stack. At first I had my doubts.
The Winegard web site claims that the antenna was optimized for channels 7 to 69 for a range 0 - 40 miles. The antenna is 34.5”W x 18.25H”, and weighs 2 pounds. Winegard's list price is $69.99 with $7.95 for a total of $77.94. We found ours at Stark Electronics for $34.95 plus shipping. The antenna was hooked to a Sanyo model DP19657 19" Diagonal Wide Screen Integrated Digital LCD HDTV. I got this TV at Meijer's for $377.95.
So the next question is, what can you get with it?
DIGITAL STATIONS
8.1 - WLIO-DT Lima
8.2 - WLIO-DT Lima
8.3 - WLIO-DT Lima
27.1 - WBGU-DT Bowling Green
27.2 - WBGU-DT Bowling Green
27.3 - WBGU-DT Bowling Green
27.4 - WBGU-DT Bowling Green
44.1 - WTLW-DT Lima (Ind)
ANALOG STATIONS
13 - WTVG Toledo (weak)
15 - WANE Fort Wayne
18 - WLQP-LP Lima
21 - WPTA Fort Wayne
22 - WBKA-CA Bucyrus (weak)
24 - WNWO Toledo (weak)
25 - WOHL-CA Lima
33 - WISE Fort Wayne (interference from WLIO)
35 - WLIO Lima
38 - WLMO Lima
39 - WFWA Fort Wayne (weak)
40 - WLMB Toledo (weak)
55 - WFFT Fort Wayne
61 - W61CZ Lima (translator for the 3 Angles Network)
Distance to Fort Wayne: 59 miles (96 km)
Distance to Toledo: 75 miles (121 km)
Not bad for a small antenna!
This would not be my first choice for an antenna, but it certainly surprised me that I could pull Fort Wayne and Toledo. With a little more height all the signals could be solid.
As I mentioned, the antenna is small so it could be a nice choice for someone that wants something small, reasonably efficient, and low cost. Total with pole, tripod, and cable to hook up: $74.24.
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( 3 / 260 )Since this past Sunday, I have received over 100 telephone calls from worried WLIO watchers that they would miss WLIO this February 2009. Here is the not so short answer, and some additional answers to questions I have been asked.
If I'm on CABLE do I need a converter?
The answer is NO, as Bruce Opperman explained in the May 4th Lima News. (See a transcript of it on this blog page). All cable companies presently carrying WLIO have said that they will pick up our digital signal, and convert it to analog for those with basic cable and cable boxes. What is not known is how long they will do this. I think people will have analog TVs for a while, which will need the conversion.
HOWEVER, keep in mind that you are entitled to 2 set top converter boxes per household. You might as well get the coupons, and you might as well get the converters, and then stick them away. Or, they could make nice Christmas gifts this year.
If I'm on SATELLITE do I need a converter?
I don't know. Here's why. If you have a newer satellite box, chances are good that you may have an 8VSB/ATSC tuner in it for your local stations. This will allow you to receive WLIO-DT, and you should get it now if you want to force scanning to find us.
If you have an older box, they you probably will need a converter. The older satellite boxes do not have the digital tuner in them. So, you will need a converter.
If you don't want to get a converter, and have one more piece of electronic gadgetry on top of your TV, call the guy who sold you the satellite and get a new satellite receiver. You may also want to get a small antenna to pick up our signal.
Note: You are entitled to your local stations. WLIO is the local NBC and CW station for this region. Do not let a satellite provider talk you into getting a waiver. WLIO does not give out waivers. It's the satellite companies responsibility to get you your local NBC & CW. Besides, your missing local news, weather, sports, and information as well as emergency weather information which we provide.
BTW, speaking of satellite, both Dish and DirectTV had planned to carry WLIO, but backed out last year. If your satellite provider tells you that WLIO is not giving them permission to carry us, they are full of ..... signals. WLIO has offered to pay a portion of expenses to carry us on the satellite so the digital conversion would not be a problem to anyone. Both companies turned us down.
If I'm on a MATV system do I need a converter?
If your trailer park or apartment house has a "master antenna TV" system, you will need a converter as most operators of those systems do not have an interest in the equipment to receive a digital signal and convert it to analog. You need a converter box.
What type of antenna do I need?
WLIO-DT (channel 8) is a VHF station. WLIO (channel 35) is an UHF station. The antennas are different. If you have one of the old "bow tie" or "screen" antennas, it might not work.
First of all, keep this in mind when you're buying an antenna. There is NO such thing as a digital antenna. An antenna is an antenna. There are some charlatans out there selling plated gold color antennas for 10X what an antenna costs. Buyer beware! Here is a simple guide.
If you live in Lima, and only watch our station, you might get away with nothing more than a pair of rabbit ears antennas.
These are basic, and will work in most homes within 5 miles of the transmitter on a first floor, and 8 miles on the second floor.
The problem with rabbit ears antennas is that they often pick up reflections. This will cause signal breakup and sometimes loss of signal when someone moves around in the room.
You can find these for less than $25.00 at various stores in the surrounding area.
A small Yagi style antenna often works well in Allen County and some of the surrounding areas.If you're within 15-20 miles, you might be able to get away with mounting it on the soil stack on the roof of the house. The soil stack is the 4" round pipe that sticks up about 1 foot on your roof.
If you don't get a good solid signal, then you might have to extend it up 10-feet with a mast pipe or piece of water pipe.
With pole, brackets, wire, and antenna, you should walk out of the store having paid about $50.00-$60.00.
A large Yagi style antenna works well out in the distant counties. By distant I'm talking the counties to the west in Indiana just on the other side of the state line, south to Shelby and Logan, east to Marion and Wyandot, and north to Wood and Fulton.For viewers in Allen County and north, this should also work well for picking up the Toledo stations.
A large VHF antenna is going to run you about $75.00. With pole, brackets, and wire, you're looking at around $100.00.
Tower?If you get a tower, get something decent. One viewer related a story that his neighbor resurrected a tower that a neighbor gave him that was put up in the mid 70s. The neighbor sanded all the rust off it, (hint of first problem), then dug a hole and put the tower in it and bolted it to the side of his house. The first good wind came, and the tower was laying across the telephone lines in the driveway. It was rusted out from the inside.
Towers can be expensive, but a well kept tower will last for years. First, you don't just dig a hole an put it in. You dig a 24" x 24" hole, 3 feet deep, put gravel in the bottom 8-12", then put the tower in and fill with concrete. Also, make sure the concrete that touches the legs is higher than the edge of the concrete so water doesn't pool by the metal legs.
A ground rod should be driven in at least 4" from the concrete, and a #8 wire run from the tower from 1-foot above the concrete to the rod, in a straight line. Don't run grounds through the concrete as a lighting hit will shatter the concrete.
Any tower needs some supports. If you put the tower next to the house, at least install a bracket from the house to the tower at roughly the halfway point. For high towers, use the rule of thirds. If the tower is 60 feet high, you should have it braced at the 20 and 40-foot levels. Use guy wires or some attachment that is solid.
Also, keep in mind the fall rule. If the tower should fall over, would it contact any power lines? If so, you need to take more precautions.
If you want a professional tower, get a professional to install it. If you want a large tower, get a commercial tower installer. Yes, it is a more money than Bubba down the street, but you'll have the satisfaction and confidence of a job well done.
BTW, I had my tower installed by Great Lakes Tower out of Monroe MI, 734-782-3249. There are also some local Lima companies, but I have not had them do work at my home.
Do I Need a Booster?
Probably not. A booster is like putting a high performance engine in a Ford Fiesta. However, some people get talked into getting one to overcome the design flaws of a poorly installed antenna system. You should only use a booster if; a) you live out in the country, away from local FM and TV stations. b) if you have a high tower and big antenna system and you need a little more help to get Toledo or Fort Wayne. If you live in Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Putnam, or Van Wert County, and someone sells you a booster to get WLIO-DT, you're being taken!
Again, I would like to urge everyone to get their coupons, and get your converters.
Every household is entitled to 2 converters, so get yours before the federal government runs out of coupons. And don't forget, you have 2-3 months to buy your converter. So if you have coupons, don't let them sit around and expire!
Here is to a safe, and pleasurable conversion to Digital Television.
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( 3 / 292 )Test market switching early to digital TV
North Carolina city will shift in September
Dia Sarkar, Associated Press - Friday, May 9, 2008
Any glitches in the nationwide switch to digital television will be felt first in Wilmington, N.C.
The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday formally announced that the North Carolina TV market on would be the first to switch from analog signals to an all-digital format. It said five local stations will begin broadcasting only digital signals Sept. 8 - five months ahead of the much-advertised Feb. 17 nationwide flip.
"This experience will help us to spot issues that we need to address elsewhere in the country before next February," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said in a release Thursday.
The agency said Wilmington is one of "only a limited number of potential test markets," but did not say how many others or if they would also make the early switch.
Wilmington, which volunteered for the switch, was one of eight communities with technology in place to go all digital, an agency spokesman said.
Wilmington is the 135th-ranked TV market in the nation, said Jason Oxman, a spokesman for the Consumer Electronics Association, a trade group for electronics manufacturers and retailers.
About 93 percent of Wilmington's households subscribe to cable or satellite TV, while only 7 percent - or about 12,600 households - still watch over-the-air programming, he said.
While about half of the nation's households own a digital set, it's unclear how many of those 12,600 over-the-air households in Wilmington do. But Oxman said getting the word out will be easy to do in a small market.
All full-power broadcast television stations on Feb. 18 will stop transmitting an analog signal. Viewers with cable or satellite television will not be affected, but over-the-air viewers will need a converter box, which the government is helping subsidize.
Michael Copps, one of the FCC's five commissioners, two months ago suggested the idea of switching some small markets before the nationwide transition.
"Broadway shows open on the road to work out the kinks before opening night," he wrote in a letter to Martin. "The DTV transition deserves no less."
He had noted that other nations, notably the United Kingdom, have made the digital TV shift in stages.
Lawmakers have expressed concerns that TV viewers with sets that get over-the-air broadcasts may be left with a blank picture once the nationwide switch takes place.
TV broadcasters and others have begun an aggressive advertising campaign to educate viewers about the impending transition and their options, which include getting government coupons to help pay for converter boxes.
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( 3 / 228 )Steve Faul is one of our Master Control operators. He is also a prolific writer, and has his own blog at http://www.stevefaul.blogspot.com. Here is what he posted a few days ago about his experiences with digital TV.
Monday, May 5, 2008
"The Digital Revolution"
By Steve Faul - sfaul@wlio.com
Sunday, I entered the age of digital television.
The federal government, always diligent about the use of our natural resources, has noticed that in the first decade of the 21st century the best use we seem to have for the public airwaves is to produce an updated version of “The Ted Mack Amateur Hour” minus the Geritol called “American Idol.” This has stirred a national debate among the broadcasters and the regulators. If we used the “white spaces” between the channels and sandwiched in some emergency radio calls between the first round of “Idol” and a rerun of “The Nanny” would anybody really notice the increased noise? If we replaced the audio of Idol with emergency radio calls would anybody notice the difference? Would 6MHz of analog bandwidth really clarify anything said by Paula Abdul?
The answers were obvious. And so, our vigilant government, the same folks who decided it was a good idea to go into Iraq, have decreed we shall have nothing but digital TV by February, 2009. And there was much rejoicing.
But wait, there’s more. Your government, the same benevolent body that created No Child Left Behind, has developed a program whereby each and every household may receive up to two discount coupons for digital converter boxes. Yay! Crystal-clear TV: The American Dream.
And so, I bee-lined for my friendly neighborhood Wal-Mart to pick up a Magnavox converter box like the shiny, happy consumer that I am and take my share of The American Dream. The converter comes in a cardboard box that states, “Made in China.”
Furthermore, the printing on the box, both in English and Spanish, states that this is “Free” TV.” OK. Let’s see. The converter box was priced at $49.88, minus the $40 coupon discount, but Van Wert County insists on getting their 6% in taxes on it, plus the $20 for an antenna, $5 for the wire that runs from the antenna to the converter box, plus mounting hardware, again, all this taxed by Van Wert County. And then figure in the cost of driving to Wal-Mart while gas is at $3.49 a gallon. If “Free TV” gets any more expensive, I’ll have to switch to radio.
Now, all my television engineer colleagues are going about this the professional way. They mount the best antenna in the best location, plug their boxes into surge-protected outlets, use filters, gold-plated connecters, and have it blessed by The Pope. I, however, seek the proletariat way. I huddle with the masses, hanging my rabbit ears on the wall with duct tape and plug the box into the same kitchen outlet with a coffee maker and a can opener. The engineering term for this is “field testing.” My wife calls it “Red Green Engineering.” But what does she know? She actually backs up her computer.
And so, I entered the Digital Age by connecting my converter to an RCA 12” black and white TV my dad bought in 1980 so my grandmother could watch TV in the nursing home.
The first thing you need to know about digital TV reception is that while any DTV picture is superior to analog, the receiver is very sensitive. The slightest disturbance in the signal will cause the receiver to black out. Therefore, absolutely nothing, no object if any kind can touch the antenna… including air.
Second, when a DTV receiver’s signal is disturbed, the decoding of the picture can be distorted. Usually, this takes the form of picture lock-ups or parts of the picture turning into blocks of color. But sometimes, this image distortion takes on the effect of human beings being rendered in moving masses of wrong colors and shapes. The transporter malfunction scene in “Star Trek I” comes to mind. This can give you nightmares.
Third, volume levels can vary greatly from channel to channel. Turn down your volume before changing the channel. Otherwise, on you may find yourself deafened by an infomercial for “male enhancement” while on the way to PBS Kids.
So, has the digital revolution come to Faul Manor? Well, not exactly. Yes, I get precisely TWO HD channels, downconverted to fit on my old technology TV, but one of those channels is NBC, so it doesn’t really count. It doesn’t do a thing for my DVD’s, and “South Park” is an experience that I highly doubt gains anything by a higher resolution picture.
And the cable still gives me two Fox channels on which I can watch “Idol.” And I still can’t figure out what Paula Abdul is saying.
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