The DTV Conversion's Dirty Little Secret
Most of the nation is excited about the switch from analog to digital broadcasting. Stations around the country have been trying to get the word out that viewers need to make sure they're ready for the big change by either subscribing to cable or satelite, or by getting a digital television or converter box. Most communities have cadres of volunteers to assist senior citizens with the new technology. No one, however, is talking about the thousands of people who will lose access to television signals all together because of this switch. No one is raising a fuss on behalf of the viewers who do not have the luxury of preparing for the switch. I'd love to hear from others about what we can do to help!!
DTV Signal Strength
I have heard from various reliable sources that the new digital signals are just not as powerful as the outdated analog ones. I've seen it first hand here at our house. One local station made the switch to all digital ahead of schedule, and so we've had ample opportunity to see how the new system works out.
To set the stage, let me tell you about our situation. We live within about 15 miles of a populated area with about six broadcast stations. Our rural home does not have access to cable, and the satelite providers we've spoken with sort of laugh at us since we are fairly wooded in our yard and neighborhood. We use a converter box purchased with one of the government coupons, and we have a giant antenna on our roof.
I've been disappointed, to say the least. The signal strength of our digital stations is not nearly what it was when they broadcast in analog. Even at this close of range (about 15-20 miles), we lose our digital signal when the wind blows too hard. Reception that used to be a bit snowy was slightly annoying, but the digital reception under those circumstances is unwatchable-it pixelates and freezes parts of the screen but not others. The audio cuts in and out to the point that it is unintelligiable.
The local experts tell me this is to be expected, since DTV signals are not nearly as strong as analog. I hadn't given this much thought; we don't watch much tv anyway, and giving up a few more shows when the weather is bad didn't seem to be that big of a deal to us.
I've since learned that this isn't the half of it. There are far more serious problems for others around here.
Update January 2010
Guess what! We just spent an entire week without 7 of our 8 local channels coming in. The weather was bad (snowy, imagine that in Michigan!), and we lost all but our FOX network. I think this is a sign of things to come. And now I hear that there's a movement afoot in Congress to get rid of free, over the airwaves TV all together??
To set the stage, let me tell you about our situation. We live within about 15 miles of a populated area with about six broadcast stations. Our rural home does not have access to cable, and the satelite providers we've spoken with sort of laugh at us since we are fairly wooded in our yard and neighborhood. We use a converter box purchased with one of the government coupons, and we have a giant antenna on our roof.
I've been disappointed, to say the least. The signal strength of our digital stations is not nearly what it was when they broadcast in analog. Even at this close of range (about 15-20 miles), we lose our digital signal when the wind blows too hard. Reception that used to be a bit snowy was slightly annoying, but the digital reception under those circumstances is unwatchable-it pixelates and freezes parts of the screen but not others. The audio cuts in and out to the point that it is unintelligiable.
The local experts tell me this is to be expected, since DTV signals are not nearly as strong as analog. I hadn't given this much thought; we don't watch much tv anyway, and giving up a few more shows when the weather is bad didn't seem to be that big of a deal to us.
I've since learned that this isn't the half of it. There are far more serious problems for others around here.
Update January 2010
Guess what! We just spent an entire week without 7 of our 8 local channels coming in. The weather was bad (snowy, imagine that in Michigan!), and we lost all but our FOX network. I think this is a sign of things to come. And now I hear that there's a movement afoot in Congress to get rid of free, over the airwaves TV all together??
Check on Your Friends!
If you have friends who are poor or in very rural areas, be sure to check on their experience with the DTV transition. Maybe if we all speak up, a solution can be found.
Check These Websites for More Information
- Consumer Facts for DTV
- Basic questions answered right here.
- 8.5 MILLION Households Face Poor DTV Reception
- Here's a study that shows the depth of the problem. Nothing can help households with poor signal reception!
The Poor are the Big Losers
I think it's really sad that persons with low incomes and those in rural areas are the biggest losers in this transition. Someone seems to have forgotten that not everyone has access to cable or satelite. Some are still receiving tv signals with rabbit-ear antennas. In our town, I've spoken with numerous families who cannot receive the new digital signals even with their converter boxes, because they simply cannot get the signals inside their homes like they used to.
Is this going on around the country? There are thousands of people who are too rural for cable and too poor to afford satelite. They don't have the money to set up elaborate antenna systems. What are they going to do? Stay out of touch with the rest of the world indefinitely?
If anyone sees a solution that I'm missing, I'd love to hear about it.
Is this going on around the country? There are thousands of people who are too rural for cable and too poor to afford satelite. They don't have the money to set up elaborate antenna systems. What are they going to do? Stay out of touch with the rest of the world indefinitely?
If anyone sees a solution that I'm missing, I'd love to hear about it.
Learn More About DTV
What's Your Experience with the DTV Transition?
Please share...how is it going for you? How about your friends, neighbors and loved ones? Know anyone who has lost access to television?
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Leo
Oct 3, 2009 @ 4:53 pm | delete
- I live in downtown San Jose, CA. A major metropolitan area. I don't get the affiliates for NBC, CBS, or ABC. I cant afford cable and I rent a room in a house so a rooftop antennae is not an option. I want my analog signal back. It may have been crappy reception, but at least I got something. Another point, how come the non-English stations come in but not the regular English stations?
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tutor1235
Apr 6, 2009 @ 10:57 am | delete
- I agree! We lose our stations whenever the wind blows, which is frequently around here. Three low power stations are still broadcasting in analog, but the rest are totally digital. And we live relatively close to the broadcast towers and have a high-end antenna! I hate to think what it's like farther out in the country.
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Deb in Massachusetts
Apr 4, 2009 @ 6:42 pm | delete
- It's been horrible....we lost more than half of our stations when we switched to the new box, and every time the wind blows or if it rains, we lose them all. It pixelates, freezes, and cuts out to the point that it simply cannot be watched. If I want to get any reception at all during these times, I have to switch back to analog. Problem is, when the official switch happens, I will no longer have this option, and we won't have any TV at all. This stinks.
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by tutor1235
tutor1235
Sandy is an experienced tutor and special education teacher. Visit the site at All Info About Reading! more »
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