Converting from analog tv to digital tv

[mrdimsum]

so in february of 2009, the FCC has enforced this rule where all broadcasting sations must change from analog output, to this digital output

welli just got this freakin digital receiver...... and i'm getting low signal strength and its PISSING ME OFF.......... POS.......... anyone know how to increase the signal strength? POS.........

i think its a scam............... when signal strength weakens, it starts to freezes and crap, hella, i mean HELLA annoying

[Elmacho]

It's not a scam, digital is better than analog. If you can give more information, maybe someone can help you out with the problem. Who is your carrier? Where (in general) do you live? How do you know you are getting low signal strength? What do you mean "freezes" the screen just freezes? And then what? You can't shut your TV off? It might not be the digital receiver's fault...

[habitat]

That is the nature of a digital signal. While analog will look progressively fuzzier/noisy. Digital will freeze up and loose picture. If you want stronger signal then don't buy satellite service, use a company that will install a hardwire.

[mrdimsum]

i'm running off an old schoo antenna, i dont have cable...... i can push a button on the remote for the digital receiver, and it'll show me my signal strength, i'm in San Diego............

i thought the signal would all be the same...... but no.... if its not strong enough......... it'll start to freeze up and the sound would freeze up....

[habitat]

Originally Posted by mrdimsum

i'm running off an old schoo antenna, i dont have cable...... i can push a button on the remote for the digital receiver, and it'll show me my signal strength, i'm in San Diego............

i thought the signal would all be the same...... but no.... if its not strong enough......... it'll start to freeze up and the sound would freeze up....

Well all this will improve over time and is exactly why the switch is mandatory... it essentially forces the television networks to upgrade all their analog broadcasting towers to a digital one

[mrdimsum]

do you think i need one of those expensive antennas, i'm workin with this cheap 10dollar one...... hahaha with the converter box..... you think i need like one of those 80dollar + type of antennas for better signal?

[habitat]

I doubt it, antenna receives a signal, converter box converts a signal. If you can see the signal from your antenna you should not need a converter. If you want better signal, put your antenna on the roof. What kind of TV do you have and what kind of antenna?

[mrdimsum]

i got a panasonic tv, its like 3-5 years old, and i got this cheap little rca antenna, 2 prong with a round thingy

[Toxis]

signal strength means nothing on the TV, it's the quality of tuner and the actual strength. Get a better tuner or deal with it. Maybe a booster but they only add distortion.

[habitat]

Originally Posted by mrdimsum

i got a panasonic tv, its like 3-5 years old, and i got this cheap little rca antenna, 2 prong with a round thingy

Wait a moment... do they even broadcast digital tv that is not in HD?

[mrdimsum]

all the digital channels i'm receiving are HD haha....... i dunno, i guess i have to angle my antenna all weird and like hook up 10hangers to it

[volvo9]

Yeah, as said it's the nature of Digital signals. When analog signals are weak they can still be heard/viewed even though all the information isn't getting to the tv, it just gets all snowy. With digital unless all of the signal is getting to the tuner the picture will get all screwed up and stop till a clean signal starts coming in.

My dad has a 20 year old pair of rabbit ears hooked up to his HDTV for local channels, even the HD ones come in fine. I'm not sure if you need a better antena though.

Now my pocket TV I've had for over 13 years isn't going to work anymore, no more watching the ball game by a fire till I get a new one.

[Toxis]

Originally Posted by habitat

Wait a moment... do they even broadcast digital tv that is not in HD?

Yes but the majority come in HD. For anyone with Satellite, you see the difference in HD and the other channels which are all digital. Cable has analog, digital and HD channels. There's a huge difference in all of them.