BEWARE OF SIGNAL SPLITTERS THAT ALSO ACT AS RF FILTERS
Early in the DTV days, I ran into someone with a reception problem that was traced to a splitter that rolled off the high end of the UHF band. Remember the world revolves around cable TV, and some cable systems move the UHF stations to lower frequencies. So, a splitter intended for cable use may be worthless when used with an antenna.
Also beware of coax from a certain national chain of stores. I ran into a roll in which the shield wasn't braided -- it was just wound around the center conductor and they improperly called it RG-6.
Roy Trumbull, roy547 (at) msn.com
VANISHING DTV COUPONS
While RV traveling, I ordered DTV converter coupons. When they shipped in March, I had forwarding activated from my home address to a private mailbox handling our mail while we were away.
I waited and checked the Internet, then called the toll free number and was told that since I had my mail forwarded, the coupons would have been returned... and, no, I couldn't order replacements!
I was told I could appeal to DTV 2009 Coupon Program Comments in Portland, OR. I wrote. So far, no response! If my experience is typical, there will be a LOT of upset former viewers!
Raymond Voss, KG0DK
Retired Broadcaster, Edina, Minnesota
RayVoss (at) aol.com
One additional mention...
I have been receiving called from viewers who have purchased SO CALLED digital antennas such as an amplified pair of rabbit ears claiming to be 45dB gain.
These viewers live within ten miles of the station and claim that they can't get WLIO. I believe them, but it's not the TV stations fault. The problem is that they have been sold a product which looks good, but doesn't work worth a darn.
Please! Be aware that there are people out there profiting from folks being sold products that are defective and misrepresented! As the Romans would say - Buyer Beware!!
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( 2.9 / 206 )From the C.G.C. Communicator....
DTV RECEPTION REALITIES START TO SINK IN
As government officials campaign to offer the facts about DTV reception, millions of over-the-air viewers are going to be faced next February with a harsh reality: install a sophisticated new outdoor antenna or subscribe to a pay-TV service:
Broadcast Engineering Story
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( 3 / 220 )If you have thought about purchasing an antenna, you know that specifications can be hard to interpret. This is why the WLIO engineering department has been testing antennas to see if they meet the claims.
Quoting one of our engineers:
“Harry and I tested the Winegard HD-7694P. The most interesting results for this High-band VHF and UHF antenna that we tested on ch10, then ch11 (in order to get away from local interference from our own ch8 digital signal).
This antenna shows very good attenuation of the side-lobes, around 25dB, and a front/back ratio of about the same amount, 24 to 27db.
It has a very sharp forward beamwidth that we have yet to measure, but I suspect it to be around 20 degrees (+/- 10 degrees) at the 3dB points.
We will take another look at it next week when we have more time, along with any other antennas you would like us to look at.
Dick Knowles, N8IJ
WLIO Engineering”
This antenna seems to be a rather good pick for a simple "in town" to medium fringe signal.
Later we will mount this antenna on the side of our tower to see how it does with a little height.
The "related" link will take you to a site to buy one, but as always.... shop around for best results and deals!
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( 3 / 214 )If you are looking for more information on DTV, the Federal Communications Commission has several publications that are good reading.
A simple guide to the Digital Television Transition
A one pager on the basics of the Digital Transition
The DTV Transition and Over-the-Air Viewers Along U.S. Borders
Helpful if you live near Lake Erie and watch Canadian TV
Setting Up Your Digital-to-Analog Converter Box
Antennas and Digital Television
DTV Transition, Cable Systems to Switch to Digital
DTV: What Every Consumer Should Know
DTV Fact Sheet
Buying the Right TV: What Every Consumer Should Know
Closed Captioning for Digital Television
Closed Captioning and Digital-to-Analog Converter Boxes
Compatibility of Cable TV and Digital TV Receivers/"Plug-and-Play"
FCC web page
DTV Tip Sheet
DTV Shoppers Guide
The documents below are notices that any television sold after June 1st, that receives analog only must be disclosed to the buyer BEFORE the sale.
Advisory on Mandatory Labeling of Consumer Electronics Products with Only Analog Broadcast TV Tuners.
Advisory on Mandatory Labeling of Analog Tuners
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( 3 / 278 )This appears to be the FINAL DTV tables for the area. The list shows the stations in our immediate area, based on the viewer from Henry County to the north, Van Wert to the west, Miami to the south, and Marion county to the east.
Ease of receiving these stations is based on location, viewer antenna height, type of antenna, and performance of receiver. For example, a viewer in Putnam County with a 40-foot antenna, having a gain of ten, properly installed, would see Angola, Ft Wayne, Bowling Green, Lima and Toledo, (possibly S. Bend and Ann Arbor, Detroit)
NTSC = Analog channel they are on.
DTV Chan = Their new channel after 2/17/2009
DTV ERP = Effective radiated power in kilowatts
DTV HAAT = Their antenna high above average terrain.
DTV Area = Coverage in square miles.
DTV Pop = Population served by signal (in thousands)
St City NTSC DTV DTV DTV DTV DTV
Chan Chan ERP HAAT Area Pop.
IN ANGOLA 63 12 16.5 132 17294 874
IN FORT WAYNE 33 19 285.0 239 19941 1027
IN FORT WAYNE 21 24 335.0 224 20240 1052
IN FORT WAYNE 15 31 1000.0 242 21871 1106
IN FORT WAYNE 55 36 1000.0 219 19630 1048
IN FORT WAYNE 39 40 90.0 221 16043 835
IN INDIANAPOLIS 8 9 19.5 284 26105 2488
IN INDIANAPOLIS 13 13 15.1 299 26707 2510
IN INDIANAPOLIS 40 16 225.0 284 19773 2154
IN INDIANAPOLIS 20 21 200.0 236 16842 1912
IN INDIANAPOLIS 6 25 898.0 294 29516 2604
IN INDIANAPOLIS 69 44 215.0 167 14297 1830
IN INDIANAPOLIS 59 45 700.0 285 24873 2432
IN MUNCIE 49 23 79.1 246 17374 1494
IN RICHMOND 43 39 500.0 281 20981 3107
IN SOUTH BEND 22 22 192.0 332 24663 1521
IN SOUTH BEND 34 35 50.0 333 18549 1202
IN SOUTH BEND 16 42 695.0 299 26344 1633
IN SOUTH BEND 46 48 300.0 295 20015 1214
MI ANN ARBOR 31 31 106.0 328 18881 4073
MI DETROIT 2 7 11.2 305 24569 5547
MI DETROIT 50 14 50.0 293 18484 5122
MI DETROIT 20 21 500.0 324 25252 5597
MI DETROIT 7 41 1000.0 305 27193 5767
MI DETROIT 56 43 200.0 318 22343 5247
MI DETROIT 62 44 345.0 323 22657 5131
MI DETROIT 4 45 973.0 281 22741 5397
MI EAST LANSING 23 40 50.0 296 16787 1481
MI JACKSON 18 34 130.0 299 18640 1398
MI LANSING 6 36 663.0 288 25555 3054
MI LANSING 47 38 1000.0 281 20865 1458
MI LANSING 53 51 900.0 300 24069 1807
MI MOUNT CLEMENS 38 39 1000.0 170 16235 4698
OH BOWLING GREEN 27 27 110.0 320 21416 1313
OH CINCINNATI 9 10 15.4 305 27029 3082
OH CINCINNATI 12 12 15.6 305 26169 3013
OH CINCINNATI 64 33 500.0 337 24994 3100
OH CINCINNATI 48 34 400.0 326 23378 2979
OH CINCINNATI 5 35 1000.0 311 29790 3176
OH CLEVELAND 8 8 15.7 305 27926 3964
OH CLEVELAND 5 15 1000.0 311 31477 4147
OH CLEVELAND 3 17 1000.0 296 30387 4263
OH CLEVELAND 25 26 100.0 313 18860 3498
OH CLEVELAND 61 34 525.0 334 25232 3931
OH COLUMBUS 6 13 59.0 286 26405 2526
OH COLUMBUS 4 14 902.0 264 28164 2467
OH COLUMBUS 10 21 1000.0 279 28074 2497
OH COLUMBUS 28 36 1000.0 271 25893 2312
OH COLUMBUS 34 38 250.0 291 21605 2191
OH DAYTON 16 16 126.0 320 21274 3118
OH DAYTON 45 30 425.0 351 22696 2885
OH DAYTON 7 41 1000.0 290 24364 3196
OH DAYTON 2 50 1000.0 323 29198 3497
OH DAYTON 22 51 138.0 351 21345 3050
OH LIMA 35 8 27.5 148 22513 995
OH LIMA 44 44 47.4 207 14071 556
OH MANSFIELD 68 12 14.0 180 19484 1109
OH OXFORD 14 28 400.0 268 20730 2781
OH SANDUSKY 52 42 700.0 213 18330 1542
OH SPRINGFIELD 26 26 50.0 291 15181 2003
OH TOLEDO 40 5 10.0 155 18262 2235
OH TOLEDO 11 11 13.1 263 22521 2387
OH TOLEDO 13 13 14.6 305 22715 2547
OH TOLEDO 30 29 50.0 314 18428 2208
OH TOLEDO 36 46 110.0 356 18875 2041
OH TOLEDO 24 49 59.0 409 18182 1915
Source: FCC's 8th Report & Order.
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( 3 / 248 )Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20554
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Clyde Ensslin 202-418-0506 - clyde.ensslin@fcc.gov
FCC EXPANDS NATIONAL DIGITAL TELEVISION EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, TARGETS OUTREACH IN WILMINGTON, NC
Commission Dedicates Team of Experts to Wilmington, NC to Assist Public and Launches Regional -- First in Flight, First in Digital -- Campaign that includes New Public Service Announcements, Billboards and Educational Materials in Partnership with Communities Washington, DC – In a concerted effort to ensure that Americans have the information they need to make a smooth transition to digital television, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin today announced that the Commission has expanded its national Digital Television (DTV) Education and Awareness Campaign to include the release of newly developed public service announcements (PSAs) that will be distributed nationally to full-power television and radio stations.
More specifically, the FCC is providing more than 11,000 radio stations across the country with public service announcements on the transition. The 15, 30 and 60-second radio PSAs highlight important information for consumers to adequately prepare for the transition. High quality audio and MP3 versions of the PSAs are available for listening and downloading at http://www.dtv.gov/video_audio.html.
Chairman Martin also announced billboards are slated to be placed in approximately 45 of the nation's television markets announcing the completion of the switch from analog to digital television on February 17, 2009. Billboards have already gone up in Philadelphia, Tampa, San Francisco and Seattle. The billboards are expected to be placed on highway signs, buses and subways in the nation's largest metropolitan areas.
As part of the overall campaign, the Commission has dedicated a team of experts to assist the five-county Wilmington, NC area with the digital switch set for 12:00 noon on September 8, 2008. This will include the release of specialized, First in Flight, First in Digital, PSAs and billboards, as well as educational materials, to assist the Wilmington television market with the transition.
The Wilmington television market will be the first market in the nation to make the DTV transition. Beginning on September 8th Wilmington-area stations WWAY (ABC), WSFX-TV (FOX), WECT (NBC), WILM-LP (CBS) and W51CW (Trinity Broadcasting) will broadcast only digital signals to their viewers in the Wilmington, North Carolina Designated Market Area (DMA), which includes New Hanover, Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus and Pender counties.
The Commission continues to coordinate and partner with Congress, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), local officials, community groups, broadcasters, cable and satellite companies, manufacturers and retailers to accelerate and broaden consumer education outreach efforts throughout the nation.
In addition to the new PSAs, billboards and educational materials, the FCC's national DTV Education and Awareness Campaign includes:
• Outreach specifically tailored to reach consumers who receive their television signals "over-the-air" via antennas; as well as those who are hard to reach and may be unaware of the upcoming transition, including senior citizens; non-English speaking and minority communities; people with disabilities; low-income individuals; and people living in rural and tribal areas.
• The creation of advisories, fact sheets and other publications to inform consumers about a variety of important DTV issues that may impact them.
• Participation in media events, conferences, town hall meetings, workshops, and other public events.
• Grassroots community outreach in senior centers, libraries, retail stores and other public venues.
• Coordination with a broad range of Federal, State, and Local entities and Community stakeholders, including, for example, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, state DMVs and health departments, sports leagues, and the National Association of Broadcasters. The DTV transition should not affect TV sets that are connected to a cable or satellite service.
However, viewers who watch free, over-the-air television and receive signals with the help of rooftop antennas or rabbit ears will require converter boxes to receive digital signals on their existing analog sets. The FCC is encouraging these Wilmington area viewers to immediately order their coupons for analog-to-digital converter boxes.
The converter box program is run by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Each household can receive two free coupons good towards the purchase of two converter boxes. The coupons take a minimum of two weeks to be processed and mailed. For more information on the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program, visit www.dtv2009.gov, or call 1-888-388-2009 (voice) or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).
News and information about the Federal Communications Commission is available at www.fcc.gov.
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( 3 / 248 )Agreement may mean end of cable set-top boxes
By John Dunbar, Associated Press - 2:05 p.m. May 27, 2008
WASHINGTON – The set-top box, a necessary appendage for millions of cable televisions for decades, is moving toward extinction.
A leading television manufacturer, Sony Electronics Inc., and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association said Tuesday they signed an agreement that will allow viewers to rid themselves of set-top boxes, yet still receive advanced “two-way” cable services, such as pay-per-view movies.
In most cases, cable viewers also could dispose of another remote control since they could use their TV's control rather than one tied to the set-top box.
The agreement marks a significant meeting of the minds between cable companies and one of the world's dominant makers of consumer electronics. The two industries have been feuding for a decade about how best to deliver cable service to customers while allowing them to buy equipment of their own choosing.
Sony agreed to use the cable industry's technology in its sets as soon as possible but could not say when the first such televisions might be appear in stores.
The agreement is between Sony and the nation's six largest cable companies: Comcast Corp., Time Warner Cable Inc., Cox Communications Inc., Charter Communications Inc., Cablevision Systems Corp. and Bright House Networks. The six companies serve more than 82 percent of cable subscribers.
Cable subscribers are generally locked into renting a set-top box from their provider if they want more than the most basic cable TV service.
More than a decade ago, Congress ordered the cable industry to allow outside electronics makers to compete for the boxes. The industry developed the cable cards, which are inserted into televisions and add-on devices equipped to handle them.
The cards have been the source of frequent customer complaints and never proved popular. In addition, sets can only receive signals from their cable company, not vice versa. Subscribers were unable to enjoy “two-way” features such as video on demand, on-screen channel guides and cable company-provided digital video recorders.
Customers will still be able to attach their own devices – like TiVo digital video recorders, according to the NCTA.
Under the new system, customers will still need to get a cable card from their provider, but the agreement means, hopefully, technical glitches will be eliminated, “two-way” services will be available and there will be no need for the clunky boxes.
The cable association said it was hopeful other electronics manufacturers will also agree to use the same technology.
The industry hopes to head off action by the Federal Communications Commission to impose a two-way standard on the industry. The FCC declined to comment on the agreement Tuesday.
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( 3 / 243 )Ten million homes are considered "completely unready" for the DTV transition while 25 million homes have at least one TV set that will stop working post transition.
New York Times News Story by Brian Stelter, May 27, 2008.
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( 3 / 205 )Several questions have surfaced why someone in counties close to us, (Auglaize, Hardin, Putnam, Van Wert), can not get WLIO-DT. Yet we have viewers in Adrian MI, Upper Sandusky OH, and Sidney OH. In fact, one person just has a NEW antenna installed at their house, but still can't get us.
The most common reason. is that the antenna is not the proper type. The antenna you see to the left is a UHF antenna. It's designed for reception of stations on channels 14 to 52.Another antenna, (which satellite providers often recommend), are the ones that "wrap around" the satellite dish. These "may" work for local stations, but there are pretty ineffective for out of town reception.
The theory and physics of antennas has not changed in well over 75 years. Without going into boring mathematical calculations and design discussions, the ability of an antenna to receive and process signals efficiently has not changed in decades.
What has changed is the need of people to have small antennas, or for marketing people to sell antennas which are not as good as conventional antennas. When our parents put the first antenna on the roof of our family home, they were not trying to make a fashion statement. They were putting up an efficient antenna which could receive TV signals!
A VHF signal is best received on a standard Yagi antenna like you see to the right. This antenna is best used to receive signals on channels 2 to 13, as well as FM radio signals.These antennas are can be mounted in combination with UHF antennas. If you live in the northwest Ohio area the VHF antenna will be of use for other stations besides WLIO.
A couple things to remember when looking to install an antenna...
- There is NO such thing as a Digital Antenna.
An antenna is an antenna. The only thing that
is specific is that a VHF antenna must be used
for VHF reception, and UHF antennas must be
used for UHF reception. They are not
interchangeable.
- The shape and size of antenna can dictate the
distance and quality of reception. Small
antennas do an extremely poor job unless you
are with 10 miles of a station.
- Combining the signal of stations and signals
is tricky, and should be installed only
by professionals.
If you have any antenna questions, please feel free to contact our engineering department. However, when writing to us, please give us your real name, e-mail address, and contact information, especially if you want us to send you materials.
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( 3 / 258 )TECH NOTES is a one page newsletter that is sent to Cable Companies and MATV operators with technical information.
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