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digital TV vs Directv

B

b344077

I have a place about 50 miles from Chicago and get a decent digital signal on my outdoor antenna until this Saturday. A cold front was rolling in and received NO CHICAGO TV for about 30 minutes! After the front passed, everything was fine again.

Somehow, this digital thing will be a problem.

It just like I'm watching DirecTV!
 
The frequencies used to transmit from a satellite are much higher (electrically shorter) than those from terrestrial TV. Therefore satellite signals tend to attenuate in heavy rain more so than longer wavelength signals, however they both can be affected given an intense rain. The size and type of receiving antenna also matter but, in general, digital signals seem to be much more affected by weather than analog.

Is it also possible the DTV stations aren't up to full power yet?
 
If you lose signal, it's because your signal level ("margin") is......marginal.
What kind of antenna are you using?

Also, I'm trying to do some experimenting......I've always heard that much of the RF energy in lightning crashes (that "static noise") is concentrated in the VHF (and FM-type) bands. I'm wondering if, when the signal is already a bit marginal, nearby lightning crashes just overload the RF tuner.

Anybody noticed whether it's worse with a VHF+UHF antenna, than with a UHF-only antenna?
(I'm also wondering if loose, or "press-fit" antenna elements are more likely to vibrate and be a problem in strong winds.)
 
b344077 said:
I have a place about 50 miles from Chicago and get a decent digital signal on my outdoor antenna until this Saturday. A cold front was rolling in and received NO CHICAGO TV for about 30 minutes! After the front passed, everything was fine again.

Somehow, this digital thing will be a problem.

It just like I'm watching DirecTV!
Click to expand...

My suspicion is that we'll find digital signals having less of a usable range than analog ones - even with the same power. People could always watch a slightly snowy picture from a distant signal. That will no longer be an option. Also, if there's interference or a weakened signal due to atmospheric conditions, what happens is a lot harder to tolerate. Rather than a slightly snowy picture as in analog, you just freeze up in a bunch of little boxes and/or the screen goes blank.

Digital is clearly better in some respects, but not all. This whole switchover is a huge trade-off, rather than the total win-win it's advertised to be. Add it all up, and digital certainly does get the edge. However, it's not "better" in every respect.

One of the clear negatives was illustrated in your complaint above. Those who get their TV over the air need to do a lot more than buy a converter from Wal-Mart. A lot will find that the simple rabbit ears they've been using for 20 years aren't going to cut it anymore. Many will find it necessary to set up a rooftop 'dx machine' to get TV. However, folks in condos and apartments can't do this.

In the end, the real victors will be the cable companies. Clearly, the entire digital conversion favors them the most.
 
kenglish said:
If you lose signal, it's because your signal level ("margin") is......marginal.
What kind of antenna are you using?

Also, I'm trying to do some experimenting......I've always heard that much of the RF energy in lightning crashes (that "static noise") is concentrated in the VHF (and FM-type) bands. I'm wondering if, when the signal is already a bit marginal, nearby lightning crashes just overload the RF tuner.

Anybody noticed whether it's worse with a VHF+UHF antenna, than with a UHF-only antenna?
(I'm also wondering if loose, or "press-fit" antenna elements are more likely to vibrate and be a problem in strong winds.)
Click to expand...
I've never had lightning problems myself.

One time I saw lightning that was relatively close and just saw a bunch of squares but I don't even think the sound was affected. That was on either channel 29 or channel 32. I can't remember which because I tune to 48.

On the other hand, it was windy and channel 20, which someone on this site said was not at full power until June 12, was nearly unwatchable.
 
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