Mobile DTV Reception
- 00:00:13
- YouTube
Mobile DTV Reception
Are you ready for the switch? After February 17, 2009 high power tv stations in the US will no longer broadcast analog signals. If you currently receive television on an older tv using rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna, and not through a cable or satellite provider, you will need to purchase a new tv with an ATSC tuner or an inexpensive digital converter box if you wish to continue receiving the free over-the-air transmissions after the transition next February. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the digital signals as they propagate to your location, what was once considered acceptable reception typically results in jumpy, choppy reception with a digital tuner, manifesting itself as blockiness and pixelated video and frequent audio dropouts. Millions of people who use rabbit ears to watch tv in the suburbs are going to be disappointed if they happen to live on the wrong side of the cities providing their tv broadcasts. They are going to find out that they will need to invest in a large antenna in their attic or on their rooftop, and then somehow run wiring from that antenna to the each of the sets that need it. Many of the people who can least afford to invest in these upgrades (those who live in cheap housing far from the city and can't afford pay tv) are the ones who are going to need to spend the most. This short video shows what digital tv reception looks like in my car, which is a perfect example of using rabbit ears about 20 miles line-of-sight from the transmitter complex serving the Philadelphia metropolitan area. What was once "snowy" but acceptable reception now looks like this. I encourage everyone who knows they will be making the switch on at least one tv do it now and preview what their reception will look like after the transition. This will tell you well ahead of time whether or not you need to take additional steps to ensure continuous reception of your free tv stations after the transition next February. Save yourself the frustration and do it now, people!
YouTube | December 7, 2008
