New to DTV

[ssetta]

I just got my first DTV converter box yesterday from Radio Shack. I used one of my coupons for it. It appears that the brand would be "Digital Stream," and it actually did not come with RCA cables for some reason, I don't know why. But anyways, as far as reception goes, it's pretty good for the most part (I'm in Natick). I can get 2, 4, 5, and 7 with pretty much no trouble at all. 25 usually comes in good, as do 27 and 66. 38 is kind of hard to receive, as are 44, 56, and 68. For Providence stations, I can get 64 amazingly well. 10 and 6 come in pretty good too. However, no matter what I do, I cannot seem to get 12 at all. Is there a reason why this is?

 

[bostonmediaguy]

Do you have a VHF antenna? WPRI-DT is on Channel 13.

 

[ssetta]

Yes, I'm using a set of rabbit ears purchased from Radio Shack about 10 years ago.

 

[Skynet74]

I just bought three DTV boxes, plus one of my TV's is HDTV ready. From the Providence area I am able to get 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 ,12, 28, 36, 38, 44, 56, 64, 69. The antenna will make all the the difference. I bought this antenna from Amazon.com and was so happy with it that I bought another one.

http://www.amazon.com/Terk-Amplified-High-Definition-Antenna-Reception/dp/B0007MXZB2

It's an indoor antenna that outperforms many outdoor antennas. I am extremely happy with it. You also can't beat the price with the free shipping too. Under $40.00. Order one of these suckers and I bet that you'll pull in even more stations than you get now! I still can't get FOX 25 though. So they must be operating on very low power right now since I get everything else in. I expect that one day the signal for FOX 25 will suddenly pop up on my screen.

 

[necrat123]

I just got my first DTV converter box yesterday from Radio Shack. I used one of my coupons for it. It appears that the brand would be "Digital Stream," and it actually did not come with RCA cables for some reason, I don't know why. But anyways, as far as reception goes, it's pretty good for the most part (I'm in Natick). I can get 2, 4, 5, and 7 with pretty much no trouble at all. 25 usually comes in good, as do 27 and 66. 38 is kind of hard to receive, as are 44, 56, and 68. For Providence stations, I can get 64 amazingly well. 10 and 6 come in pretty good too. However, no matter what I do, I cannot seem to get 12 at all. Is there a reason why this is?

You indicate you are in Natick, then you are not very far from the tower farm there in Newton/Needham. As was stated above WPRI transmits digitally on 13. I know of people who get normal reception of our channel up near Lowell, so it's not a matter of coverage. You are either dealing with receiver overload (so much RF getting into it from other sources such as paging, the other stations, FM stations, etc)., or something locally (such a motor noise) causing problems with the VHF High signal. While Skynet's antenna suggestion would work well where he is, it would not where you are. That amplifier would amplify signals all ready coming in very strong at your location, and the rf overload from the amplification would just kill your receiver.

 

[Markxxx]

I was disapointed with my reception in Chicago. I even got a silver sensor but all I can get is 3 station with digital, and I am only 5 miles from Sears Tower, so I guess it really does depend on buildings and such, as I get 16 stations in analog and three of them 26, and low power 23 and 48 come in better than my digital reception. Only one of the digital works the other two are too pixilated to watch.

So count yourself lucky with what reception you get if you can't get an outside antenna