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DTV Converters, etc

Y

yragha

For any Houston area viewers that are familar with what's going on I'm having to setup my parents house with one of these gadgets.

I set up the converter last night for them so that everything would be good for the transition over to digital. Only thing, where's KPXB TV49/33 & KNWS TV51? These stations are the ones they watch the most and the converter does not acquire them but does get everything else, even the analog weak TV55 KTBU from Splendora.

Secondly, they also have a "pre cable ready" TV which I can't figure out how to "OR IF" a converter will work with it. It's one from like 1982 that has no coaxial connections, just the clip on's for the antenna.

Your help would be appreciated.
 
KPXB-DT is on channel 5 (will be on 32 after the transition) and low-VHFs are a real pain to receive digitally.

As far as KNWS-DT is concerned, it looks like they might be at low power under an STA, but I'm really not sure. That would explain it, though, since their construction permit specifies 1000 kW.

- Trip
 
Why would I get Houston NBC affiliate without a hitch at 2.1, and PBS 8.1 and not ION at 5.1?

And pardon my ignorance, what is STA?

I'm hoping you mean ION will move to 32 after Feb. 2009 cause again that's an important channel to them.

Thanks for responding.
 
They're not actually on those channels.

KPRC-DT is on channel 35, not 2. It just shows on your receiver as 2-1 so as to make it easy to find.

Similarly, KPXB-DT is on channel 5, but if you received it, would show on the receiver as 49-1.

An STA is Special Temporary Authority. Basically, it allows them to operate at reduced power or lower height than they're otherwise allowed to. The FCC allowed them initially so stations could sign on at low power. While most have since built out their final facilities, the FCC said that stations that are moving to new channels in Feb 2009 can keep their STA.

KNWS is one of these, it's moving from digital 52 (which has been auctioned off) to digital 47 after Feb 2009.

Yes, ION is moving to channel 32 in February. They'll be replacing KTRK which is presently on channel 32.

This list might help you out. For the sake of full disclosure, it is from my website, but hopefully it'll help you. Note that clicking the links expands the boxes and provides more information.

http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?mktid=13

- Trip
 
yragha said:
Secondly, they also have a "pre cable ready" TV which I can't figure out how to "OR IF" a converter will work with it. It's one from like 1982 that has no coaxial connections, just the clip on's for the antenna.
Click to expand...

You need a 75 ohm to 300 ohm transformer. Can get them at Radio Shack or Wal-Mart or almost anywhere. As long as the tv can tune to channel 3 or 4, it should work just fine.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103912&cp=&sr=1&origkw=15-1140&kw=15-1140&parentPage=search
 
Well after setting up my parents house I have some comments...

At first glance the picture is great, very little tuning is needed but I don't think some of the older generations that do not have cable/ sat will enjoy this longterm. While it is true, the picture is much improved the steps to get that picture can be discouraging.

For instance here in Houston, the RCA which I've read from numerous customer reviews on store websites rates ahead of others cannot pull in KPXB, KNWS and when it does pull in KUHT-8 you have to mess with your antenna settings that work perfect for almost every other channel just to watch this one channel. I've had to fiddle around waving the UHF/ VHF antenna rotator back and forth during the "startup" process just to pick up a channel that the tuner missed on first pass. This can be discouraging, not only to myself but that you can't just add a frequency manually. Instead you have to go back thru the channel scan once more with another chance of losing a channel you already had in memory.

Now, they have a "RCA amplified INDOOR antenna" so this could be some of the problem I guess. But I would think many of the older generation again do not have an outdoor or access to installing one. I've seen KRIV-26 with more than 60% power and still have pixelization problems. While we're not latino, TV-47 is basically unviewable. Even with a full power bar showing, it says signal is not viewable.

These past few days have cause some major headaches and what if's down the road. The digital age while on the average pull in a better picture than before, sure has it's ups and downs. I'm not sure that people without access to cable/ sat will in the long run be very happy. Confused yes, happy maybe.
 
Does this residence have antenna/cable wiring in the walls? If so, buy a Channelmaster 4221 from Fry's and put it in a closet or attic. It will give all channels (except KUHT-DT) with great reliability. KUHT-DT has been a challenge for any setup I have tried. If this is typical of digital VHF, I do not like it. While I understand there is substantially less power consumption for VHFs, what good does it do if no one can easily receive it OTA. I wish KTRK & KHOU would rethink moving back into the VHF band.
 
StevenNOLA said:
Does this residence have antenna/cable wiring in the walls? If so, buy a Channelmaster 4221 from Fry's and put it in a closet or attic. It will give all channels (except KUHT-DT) with great reliability. KUHT-DT has been a challenge for any setup I have tried. If this is typical of digital VHF, I do not like it. While I understand there is substantially less power consumption for VHFs, what good does it do if no one can easily receive it OTA. I wish KTRK & KHOU would rethink moving back into the VHF band.
Click to expand...

It's typical of digital VHF if people keep buying UHF-only antennas....
 
w9wi said:
StevenNOLA said:
Does this residence have antenna/cable wiring in the walls? If so, buy a Channelmaster 4221 from Fry's and put it in a closet or attic. It will give all channels (except KUHT-DT) with great reliability. KUHT-DT has been a challenge for any setup I have tried. If this is typical of digital VHF, I do not like it. While I understand there is substantially less power consumption for VHFs, what good does it do if no one can easily receive it OTA. I wish KTRK & KHOU would rethink moving back into the VHF band.
Click to expand...

It's typical of digital VHF if people keep buying UHF-only antennas....
Click to expand...

Yes. I am aware. However, I can see the antenna farm from my backyard. They should be able to be received with a paperclip.
 
StevenNOLA said:
Yes. I am aware. However, I can see the antenna farm from my backyard. They should be able to be received with a paperclip.
Click to expand...

I would suggest there's something else going on there... I can reliably receive a 40kw channel 10 DTV 30 miles away on a UHF antenna. KUHT may be only 8kw but if you can see the antenna it should be plenty strong enough.
 
I have the same problems with KTMD-47, yragha. Full bar, no signal. Now, as far as KUHT goes I receive all 3 digital signals with ease. I live in the NW area of SE Texas (Austin County) and simply positioned my antenna due South. Only stations I can not pick up now are channels 47, which the box acquires on every channel scan, 51 and 22. 49 actually has 4 channels which I find odd since a major network station like KRIV has only one. I would think that KRIV would at least have a 26.2 for FOXRAD and news replays like 11.2 and 13.2 currently does.
 
purpledevil said:
49 actually has 4 channels which I find odd since a major network station like KRIV has only one. I would think that KRIV would at least have a 26.2 for FOXRAD and news replays like 11.2 and 13.2 currently does.
Click to expand...

Why is it odd? ION does four subchannels in 480i (SD), whereas the other stations you point to in this quote are doing 720p or 1080i (HD). HD requires much much much more bandwidth than SD does, and the more subchannels you try to pack in, the more it degrades the existing feeds.

- Trip
 
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