If you are a Time Warner Cable (TWC) customer, you may, or may not, need a Digital Cable Box to receive HD transmissions on an HD set. Some sets will receive QUAM transmissions over the cable. The channel numbers might not be right, but you can get non-premium HD signals on your TV. For example, on my Sanyo DP19657 set, WLIO-DT (advertised as being on TWC channel 735) is on digital cable channel 101-1.
Not all cable companies are taking WLIO’s digital signal. When we did our last test, (Friday, 10/10/08 @ 6:08), several viewers in the Celina OH area reported that they lost signal. WLIO can not resolve this for you. Please contact your cable company and ask them if they are prepaired to take the WLIO-DT feed in preparation for February 17th 2009.
If you have a Dish/DirecTv service, your set top box may, or may not receive over the air digital broadcasts. You need to check and verify digital operation. WLIO was to be carried on both satellite services, but they both backed out in lat 2007 deciding not to carry WLIO. (See the link in the upper right "DISH CUSTOMERS") Ask your satellite provider to install the proper antenna so you can receive WLIO-DT. If you live in this area, you should be able to get WLIO-DT with no problems.
There is no such thing as a Digital Antenna! An antenna is an antenna, analog or digital. In fact, if you still have a VHF antenna from the 50s or 60s that is complete, corrosion free, and good wire to the set, IT WILL WORK. See my recommendations for antennas on this site. (BTW I'm accumulating viewer stories for a future article).
Boosters can sometimes cause more problems if you install a cheap antenna and try to boost the gain ro pick up signals. The reason is that local high power transmitters will saturate the amplifier causing interference. Your BEST bet is a good antenna above the roof of your house and local obstructions. Also use good cable to the set.
If you have an old analog TV, (which is the 4:3 format), you can view a 16:9 picture if you have a converter box, BUT you will have black bars on the top and bottom of the screen.
If you receive WLIO on a antenna, you will probably have to add a VHF antenna to continue to get WLIO. WLIO’s analog channel is 35, which is a UHF channel. WLIO’s digital channel is 8, which is a VHF channel. Unless you are in a VERY strong area of VHF signal, you can not receive a VHF signal on a UHF antenna. If you live in this area, you should be able to get WLIO-DT with no problems by using a VHF outdoor antenna.
If someone tries to sell you “amplified rabbit ears” or “halo antennas” be very skeptical of performance! Recently a viewer was sold a, “50 dB amplified satellite antenna” which was nothing more than a pair of rabbit ears with a wide-band amplifier. The viewer was told that it would "get all the DTV signals in the area, even in his basement." It didn’t. The viewer lives 3.1 miles from WLIO, and this wonder antenna barely gets our DT signal. No other stations can be picked up. Such a deal!
If it seems too good to be true … proceed with caution! Remember, you get what you pay for.
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( 3 / 283 )Rabbit Ears has information on the technical aspects of digital television transmissions.
Titan TV has programming information on stations by entering your zip code.
Stark Electronics is located in Worcester MA and has TV antennas and other equipment. Ken's Antenna is another source, as is Winegard Direct
HD Antennas gives you comparisons on antennas.
How does an antenna work? HDTV Primer separates the sales BS from the truth. Don't get sold a gimmick that won't help. Get the straight scoop.
Do you need tower to hold your antenna? See Antenna Systems, American Tower, or Solid Signal
Looking for someone to install a professional tower for your home, one that will be trouble free and last years? Try Great Lakes Tower Company of Monroe MI.
Note: Installing a tower is an investment! Made sure you don't cut corners, or have Larry, Darryl, & Darryl do the work. It needs to be done right, with quality materials.
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( 3 / 255 )The FCC has released a document called Entering The Final Stretch.
This report from August 18, 2008, provides the data on the transition of analog to digital.
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( 2.9 / 226 )Judging by the number of comments we keep receiving about DTV converter boxes on Consumer Reports' Electronics Blog, it seems many consumers are still confused about DTV set-top boxes—and the transition to digital TV, in general.
We produced a new online video guide to DTV converter boxes that should help those who are using their $40 government-issued coupons to shop for DTV boxes. You can watch the 5-minute-long video by clicking on the embedded player at right.
We also have more, free information about the DTV transition—including our latest Ratings of DTV converter boxes—at ConsumerReports.org. You can find further help in the digital TV transition section of Consumer Reports discussion forums on Electronics and Computers.
Have a question about DTV converter boxes or the digital TV transition you'd like to see answered? Leave a comment here on our Electronics Blog.
Read More on the CONSUMER REPORT web site.
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( 3 / 195 )A couple of times I've talked with callers, or exchanged e-mails, with people who have have said, "I thought all digital stations are UHF." This is not true.
Several stations have been assigned, or have asked for VHF channels. In the case of WLIO, when we were initially granted our DTV channel, we would have received Channel 20. Based on the engineering data we would have LOST coverage of our station. By moving to Channel 8, we increased our reach into several communities. There are some other stations following this trend.
If someone tells you that digital TV is only UHF, then you're not getting good information. Digital TV runs from channels 2 to 52.
If you are within 10 miles of WLIO, you may only need a small VHF antenna. Anything from 10-30 miles we recommend at least a 4-element VHF antenna. Anything over 30 miles, a standard 7-10 element should be used.
One other comment about antennas. While you might be able to get a VHF station like ours on a UHF antenna, it's not right. You will likely experience problems when it snows, or there is heavy rain. A good VHF antenna should have elements that are at least 18" long on both sides of the mast. Anything shorter, and performance is compromised.
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POST-TRANSITION DTV TABLE OF ALLOTMENTS, 47 C.F.R. 73.622(I), DANVILLE, KENTUCKY. Proposed substituting DTV Channel 31 for DTV Channel 4 for Station WDKY-DT. (Dkt No. 08-104, RM-11442). Action by: Chief, Video Division, Media Bureau. Adopted: 09/25/2008 by NPRM. (DA No. 08-1499). MB
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a ... 1499A1.pdf
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( 3 / 208 )If you are not getting The CW on channel 8.2, there is a very good reason.
WLIO has ceased being a CW affiliate on September 17th. This was not an engineering decision.
For comments regarding this change please contact our General Manager, Bruce Opperman, at 419-228-8835 x1017 or by e-mail at bao@wlio.com
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( 3 / 208 )Here's a report on a problem someone had getting the converter box coupons.
Chicago Tribune Article
I set up my father-in-law's box Sunday. He bought the Magnavox at Wal-Mart without a coupon. He said he just wasn't all that worried about $40, but methinks he was more worried about falling for a scam.
Anyway, I hooked it up to the simple little UHF antenna up on the roof, one of those $15 jobs, connected to 300 Ohm leads that terminates to a combination UHF/VHF spliter and 75 Ohm converter. The antenna is aimed at Fort Wayne at a location north of Convoy. He gets WANE, WPTA, WISE, WFWA, but nothing from WFFT. Their analog signal on channel 55 has always been weaker, so maybe there's an obstruction in the way of the digital, or their digital is still running at low power.
The El Cheapo antenna must have a pretty good back lobe, as he gets WTLW. But not WLIO. That may be due to the UHF/VHF spliter. I have a simple "all pass" 75 Ohm converter I can hook up, and we'll see if WLIO makes the grade. He gets WLIO via WATCH TV, so there's no loss here.
I put in an A/B switch that lets him switch from converter box to WATCH TV. Since both boxes are sending an RF signal on channel 3, he gets a little RF bleed-through, but not bad enough to worry about. This is on his 13" kitchen TV, after all.
Steve
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( 3.1 / 240 )On Monday, September 1, 2008, 14:40, Greg Oen wrote:
Hi Fred. I recently upgraded my brother-in-law's antenna for DTV. Since they have 4 TV outlets they wanted all the channels they could get without using a rotor. They're located a couple of miles west of Philothea wich puts Dayton and Ft Wayne nearly back-to-back with each other.
The signals are roughly the same between the 2 cities. Lima signals are no problem. Since we wanted to avoid a rotor I decided to try a 4-bay UHF with the reflector screen removed. I figured I still had 4 stacked dipoles! This would cover Dayton and Ft Wayne. For Lima, the Winegard HD7695 looked like a logical choice since it covers the high VHF as well as the UHF band and had decent gain.
I mounted the 4-bay as high as I could get it on the mast pipe on the top of their 40 ft tower and aligned it NW and SE for Dayton and FT Wayne. About 3 ft below it I mounted the Winegard and pointed it NE for Lima and Bowling Green. They already had a Channel Master 0264DBS preamp (separate UHF and VHF 300 ohm inputs).
I used it on the 4-bay. For the Winegard I used a 0064DSB preamp. It has 1-75 ohm all channel input and matched the HD7695. Of course I ran a separate length of RG-6 for it. With the tower work (hopefully) done, I decided to sample signal levels. Not surprizingly, all the Lima signals, including WLIO, were blowing us away. Dayton and Ft Wayne weren't doing too bad eithor, with signals in the 50 to 80 range (on a scale of 0-100).
My last challenge was to combine the 2 antennas. I couldn't afford to lose very much from the 4-bay and I had more than enough from the Winegard. I decided to use a 7dB drop tap as a signal combiner. I ran the 4-bay in one of the thru ports and connected the other thru port to the distribution system. The Winegard went to the -7dB port. IT WORKED! The signals from the Winegard were strong enough to survive a 7dB loss and the Dayton and FT Wayne signals are strong enough as well.
We are using a distribution amplifier to make up for the splitter and line loss through the system. Just for curiosity we looked at the analog signals and were surprised to see very little in the way of ghosting and co-channel interference on most channels, with the exception of Dayton channel 16 and 22; South Bend IN is running those same 2 channels in analog. Anyway, on the digital side it looks like we got by with breaking a few rules, and all appears to be well. Sorry I got a little long, but I thought you'd be interested.
Greg Oen
Minster OH
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( 3 / 215 )FCC ANNOUNCES EXTENSIVE NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE FOR DTV OUTREACH
Agency to Focus on Markets with High Levels of Over-the-Air Television Viewers
FCC News Media, Clyde Ensslin, 202-418-0506, clyde.ensslin((at))fcc.gov
Washington, DC – FCC Chairman Kevin Martin today announced a nationwide initiative to increase awareness about the upcoming transition to digital television. The FCC identified target television markets for specific DTV outreach, including all those markets in which more than 100,000 households or at least 15% of the households rely solely on over-the-air signals for television.
Chairman Martin announced that the five FCC Commissioners and other Commission staff will fan out to these and other markets to raise awareness and educate consumers in the days leading up to the digital television transition on February 17, 2009.
At each stop, there will be a public event, such as a town hall meeting, workshop, or roundtable with an FCC Commissioner to highlight the digital transition, and be available to local press. In coordination with these visits, the FCC will work with local broadcasters and radio stations to increase the broadcasts of Radio and TV DTV PSAs. All combined, this outreach is designed to educate consumers in these DMAs and especially those groups that are most vulnerable in the transition: Seniors, People Living Tribal and Rural Areas, People with Disabilities, Individuals with Low-Incomes, Minorities and Non-English Speakers.
Chairman Martin was joined by representatives from the National Association of Broadcasters, Consumer Electronics Retailer Coalition, Consumer Electronics Association, and the National Cable Telecommunications Association for the announcement at the Newseum in Washington, DC, one of the television markets identified. The NAB and members of the DTV Coalition will be assisting the Commission throughout this nationwide tour.
“As part of our efforts to prepare consumers for the transition, we have identified television markets in which the largest number of viewers will have to take action to be prepared for the transition six months from now,” Martin said. “This unprecedented nationwide tour by the entire Commission is part of our commitment to prepare and educate consumers about the digital television transition.”
Recognizing the challenges many viewers in these communities may face, Commissioners unanimously agreed to travel coast-to-coast to hold public events, meet with community leaders, broadcasters, and other stakeholders to highlight steps consumers need to take to be prepared for the transition.
In the coming weeks, an FCC Commissioner will be in the following cities:
Anchorage, Alaska 8/27/2008
Fairbanks, Alaska 8/28/2008
Baltimore, Maryland 9/8/2008
San Francisco, California 9/11/2008
Austin, Texas 9/18/2008
Houston, Texas 9/17/2008
Memphis, Tennessee 9/19/2008
New York, New York 9/27/2008
Boise, Idaho 9/29/2008
Atlanta, Georgia 9/29/2008
Missoula, Montana 9/30/2008
Helena, Montana 10/1/2008
Bozeman, Montana 10/2/2008
Billings, Montana 10/3/2008
Nashville, Tennessee 10/7/2008
Charlotte, North Carolina 10/16/2008
Denver, Colorado 10/16/2008
Seattle, Washington 10/20/2008
Spokane, Washington 10/21/2008
Yakima, Washington 10/22/2008
Portland, Oregon 10/23/2008
Chicago, Illinois 11/20/2008
Phoenix, Arizona 12/29/2008
The Commission will release periodic updates on markets that the Commission will visit as future trips are finalized.
In the days prior to each visit, FCC staffers will be on the ground providing technical and outreach assistance to local broadcasters, community leaders, and other stakeholders, to prepare for the transition to digital. The FCC will also be coordinating with NAB to explore whether these DMAs may participate in a temporary turn off of their analog signals (“soft tests”) to determine consumer readiness of the DTV transition.
The following is a list of areas the FCC will visit prior to February 17, 2009. More information will follow regarding upcoming dates for the remaining cities.
Albuquerque-Santa Fe, New Mexico
Anchorage, Alaska
Atlanta, Georgia
Austin, Texas
Baltimore, Maryland
Bangor, Maine
Billings, Montana
Boise, Idaho
Boston, Massachusetts
Bozeman, Montana
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, West Virginia
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chicago, Illinois
Chico-Redding, California
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland-Akron (Canton), Ohio
Colorado Springs,-Pueblo, Colorado
Columbus, Ohio
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Dayton, Ohio
Denver, Colorado
Des Moines-Ames, Iowa
Detroit, Michigan
Duluth-Superior, Minnesota
El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces, NM)
Erie, Pennsylvania
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fresno-Visalia, California
Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Michigan
Green Bay-Appleton, Wisconsin
Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina
Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas
Helena, Montana
Honolulu, Hawaii
Houston, Texas
Idaho Falls-Pocatello, Idaho
Indianapolis, Indiana
Joplin, Missouri-Pittsburg, Kansas
Kansas City, Missouri
Knoxville, Tennessee
La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Lansing, Michigan
Laredo, Texas
Los Angeles, California
Lubbock, Texas
Madison, Wisconsin
Memphis, Tennessee
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
Missoula, Montana
Nashville, Tennessee
New York, New York
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phoenix, Arizona
Portland, Oregon
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia
Rochester, New York
Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, California
Saint Louis, Missouri
Salt Lake City, Utah
San Antonio, Texas
San Diego, California
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, California
Seattle-Tacoma, Washington
South Bend-Elkhart, Indiana
Spokane, Washington
Springfield, Missouri
Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida
Toledo, Ohio
Tucson, Arizona
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Twin Falls, Idaho
Washington, DC
Wausau-Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick, Washington
Yuma, Arizona-El Centro, California
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( 2.1 / 368 )FCC LAUNCHES DTV SPEAKERS BUREAU.
News Release. News Media Contact: Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0511, email: Rosemary Kimball CGB
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a ... 4632A1.pdf
FCC ANNOUNCES EXTENSIVE NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE FOR DTV OUTREACH.
Agency to Focus on Markets with High Levels of Over-the-Air Television Viewers. News Release. News Media Contact: Clyde Ensslin at (202) 418-0506, email: Clyde Ensslin MB
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a ... 4629A1.pdf
WILMINGTON BROADCASTERS WILL PROVIDE EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATIONAL MESSAGES ABOU THE DTV TRANSITION AFTER SEPTEMBER 8 ON TRADITIONAL ANALOG CHANNELS.
News Release. News Media Contact: Clyde Ensslin at (202) 418-0506, email: Clyde Ensslin MB
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/a ... 4633A1.pdf
Note: Wilmington NC will be the FIRST community in the USA to become 100% digital. What happens in Wilmington will be a good indication of what will happen in west central Ohio in February 2009.
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