I can't remember if this subject ever had a separate thread.
Anyway, there have been numerous discussions about how for those without cable or satellite, over-the-air digital TV is useless when you need it for weather bulletins. Especially if you happen to be watching low-VHF.
At one time, I had never had serious problems with the digital channels I pick up during thunderstorms. One time, though, I was gone and taped "The Simpsons" and during a storm that caused significant damage just north of here, I could see a lot of pixillation as I rewound. I could tell I had seen both episodes. Skip over the next two paragraphs unless you want to ask me why about anything related just to "The Simpsons".
I rewind while watching because one TV/VCR I had would misbehave if it rewound at full speed, plus I can see certain details that tell me if I have seen an episode. I have a new TV/VCR (used) which has fewer problems, but disconnecting the old TV and hooking up the new one has introduced signal problems I didn't have before. That's on another thread. At long last, I believe I have solved those problems at least on the channel with "The Simpsons", which I keep the TV on so I can always be sure of recording that show. I can't set the channel I record any more. Equipment that would do so with a digital channel costs too much. My TiVo only works with cable or satellite, but the vast majority of my recording off cable is TiVo now.
Why go to all this trouble? The station with "The Simpsons" is not on my cable system, though where I live, the stations from that market are actually clearer over the air than the ones on the cable system. And the station on the cable system that airs "The Simpsons" airs only the same few episodes over and over. The other station airs episodes I haven't seen in years and can't remember seeing, so I actually enjoy them like it's the first time.
Now, on to the topic at hand: last week, after having solved new signal problems that resulted when I hooked up a new TV, I had significant pixilation during Ida's winds and rain. Should we have this much trouble even with distant stations? In good weather this station is perfect. Bad weather is when we NEED it. Although many of us just enjoy TV and wouldn't want this. Channel 8 was acting up too, and I get that on yet another converter box so I don't have to change channels (for a local show not on cable). It's not as perfect but the antenna has less gain.
Cable was the only option for me when I found out it would be necessary for recording certain shows, and I knew I'd have trouble with the stations I get that way otherwise. I have had little or no trouble with the broadcast channels on cable. I get the cheapest package. But if bad weather is going to cause this much trouble, I NEED cable.
Pixilation, for those who don't know, doesn't just mess up the picture. If it happens, the sound messes up the sound too. Why can't sound still be on when there are signal problems? Sound was often perfect on analog TV when the picture was bad.
Anyway, there have been numerous discussions about how for those without cable or satellite, over-the-air digital TV is useless when you need it for weather bulletins. Especially if you happen to be watching low-VHF.
At one time, I had never had serious problems with the digital channels I pick up during thunderstorms. One time, though, I was gone and taped "The Simpsons" and during a storm that caused significant damage just north of here, I could see a lot of pixillation as I rewound. I could tell I had seen both episodes. Skip over the next two paragraphs unless you want to ask me why about anything related just to "The Simpsons".
I rewind while watching because one TV/VCR I had would misbehave if it rewound at full speed, plus I can see certain details that tell me if I have seen an episode. I have a new TV/VCR (used) which has fewer problems, but disconnecting the old TV and hooking up the new one has introduced signal problems I didn't have before. That's on another thread. At long last, I believe I have solved those problems at least on the channel with "The Simpsons", which I keep the TV on so I can always be sure of recording that show. I can't set the channel I record any more. Equipment that would do so with a digital channel costs too much. My TiVo only works with cable or satellite, but the vast majority of my recording off cable is TiVo now.
Why go to all this trouble? The station with "The Simpsons" is not on my cable system, though where I live, the stations from that market are actually clearer over the air than the ones on the cable system. And the station on the cable system that airs "The Simpsons" airs only the same few episodes over and over. The other station airs episodes I haven't seen in years and can't remember seeing, so I actually enjoy them like it's the first time.
Now, on to the topic at hand: last week, after having solved new signal problems that resulted when I hooked up a new TV, I had significant pixilation during Ida's winds and rain. Should we have this much trouble even with distant stations? In good weather this station is perfect. Bad weather is when we NEED it. Although many of us just enjoy TV and wouldn't want this. Channel 8 was acting up too, and I get that on yet another converter box so I don't have to change channels (for a local show not on cable). It's not as perfect but the antenna has less gain.
Cable was the only option for me when I found out it would be necessary for recording certain shows, and I knew I'd have trouble with the stations I get that way otherwise. I have had little or no trouble with the broadcast channels on cable. I get the cheapest package. But if bad weather is going to cause this much trouble, I NEED cable.
Pixilation, for those who don't know, doesn't just mess up the picture. If it happens, the sound messes up the sound too. Why can't sound still be on when there are signal problems? Sound was often perfect on analog TV when the picture was bad.
