Digital TV PSA's

[Kitesgot]

I'm more than a little perplexed about the ads running during viturally every syndicated TV show concerning:

"getting your box" -----so you won't be left out --- (whenever the dead-line is)


THAT is all well a good, but------noboby is saying ANYTHING about the fact that the new digital spectrum is in UHF, and I bet less than 25% of the people getting the boxes have a UHF antenna. i mean----most put up something in the VHF area to get 3, 13, and 11. If they're a little 'fringie'-------they're not going to be able to use that antenna, box or not.

I think their delivery concerning this huge switch-over is a little pitchy-----dog.

[Mr. Tom Jones]

Thank your friends at the FCC. AFAIK, this super PSA campaign was mandated by them as part of the changeover.

I forgot to mention channels 2-6 go away. IIRC, digital TV will be on channels 7 to 56.

UHF transmitters at TV power levels are not much fun at times.

[Dave Loudin]

Low-VHF is very much a part of the DTV spectrum. WDTV-DT will be on ch. 5.

By the way, a UVa engineering student put together a DTV tech site here. Subchannel details included.

[genlock]

UHF transmitters at TV power levels are not much fun at times.

I always thought UHF xmtrs were easier than VHF.

[Big Media]

I always thought UHF xmtrs were easier than VHF.

It takes a lot more of them to produce the same TPO, though.

The best thing about it is the redundancy. If you have a tube blow up in one cabinet, at least you have another cabinet or two that you can over power to compensate.

[Kitesgot]

Low-VHF is very much a part of the DTV spectrum. WDTV-DT will be on ch. 5.

By the way, a UVa engineering student put together a DTV tech site here. Subchannel details included.

oh.

Well it sure has been wet this summer huh?

[Mr. Tom Jones]

Low-VHF is very much a part of the DTV spectrum. WDTV-DT will be on ch. 5.

You're right, my bad. The whole DTV thing has dragged out long enough.

OTOH, less than 40 stations will be on low-VHF when the DTV transition completes.

[Dave Loudin]

In WDTV's case, I suppose they're betting on people being able to use the same antenna they always have to pick them up. Otherwise, why be the only reason to have the big elements on a TV antenna? WBRA in Roanoke is requesting to move to 26 instead of 3 for DTV, for example.

[genlock]

WDTV is cheap.
They want to use the same antenna they have now.
A cheaper solid state transmitter about the size of a refrigerator that has low power consumption.
They are banking on the cable companies ability to pick up a good picture and not be killed by impulse noise.
Sporadic e is not so much of a factor at channel 5 but it exists. They will have to live with it.
Not many low-vhf stations are going to opt for staying there.
Time will tell if the decision is correct.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Still can't figure out why Analog 2-6 weren't just blown away with Digital Refarming.

Start at 7 and go up, renumbering the channels so they make sense.

Give 54-72 MHz to business and public safety for two way comms.
76-88 MHz to expand the FM broadcast band.
Digital TV gets a new FREE channel from 174-698 MHz .

Everybody's happy.

[Dr. Whiplash]

oh.
Well it sure has been wet this summer huh?

Yep, sure has.
I'm glad my TV works.