Now that Wilmington, NC went all digital today, any plans for an early full-market conversion in New England?
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When will NE markets go all digital?
- Thread starter Bill-in-CT
- Start date
Bill1820 said:
None that I've heard of.
Wilmington was something of a special case - because all of its stations are remaining on their current digital channels post-transition, the "conversion" was exceedingly simple at the station end, consisting of just turning off programming on the existing analog transmitters. (They're not even turning off the transmitters themselves, instead leaving them on with a slide alerting viewers to the transition.)
Wilmington is also an exceedingly small market, making it easier to promote the transition.
The rest of us get to wait for February...
Just curious as to why you ask? Are you watching most fo your TV with an antenna these days?
Walter Graff said:
Not exactly. I am a cable subscriber but did use my two coupons to buy both a DigitalStream and an Insignia DTV converter. As a life long "radiojunkie", I was just curious with the quality of the digital signal. It does seem a little more crisper than any analog signal I've ever seen. And this is only on standard NTSC set (SONY Trinitron, circa 1987). The sound (Dolby Stereo) is fantastic. I even used my AUX input on my Boston Acoustics HD Radio. (I rarely use the HD component).
Now, as for New England market going all digital, 99% of the stations will stay on the air until the 2/17/09 drop dead date. A few LPTV's and a few TV translators will stay analog for a while. According to published reports on line, the only station I know that is going to leave the analog domain early (at least in Massachusetts) is WGBY-TV (Channel 57 in Springfield, MA). The WGBH Educational Foundation will shut down analog Channel 57 early in November. The Channel 57 transmitter is pretty much on it's last legs, being operated on reduced power to prolong the life of the final "tube". But tower space is at a premium on Mt. Tom in Holyoke. So to cut costs, they plan to shut down 57 early and get things ready for their final transition to Channel 22. WGBY-DT will stay on the air on Channel 58 until the final transition is completed. This allows WGBY-TV to make the move to prepare the digital facility to Channel 22 (after WWLP/Springfield, MA closes their analog service in 2/09). 'GBY will be using the tower space presently occupied by the analog 57 antenna to mount the Channel 22 antenna. Currently, WGBY-DT is operating on Channel 58, an "out-of-core" channel. Since WGBY-TV is seen on all cable systems in the Pioneer Valley and Berkshire County, MA, I'm sure the cable companies have already made arrangments to receive and to distribute the WGBY signal via alternative means (microwave, satellite or the over-the-air DT signal). Sure, there are going to be some disgruntled 'GBY viewers who are going to be inconvenienced by the shutdown of 57. It will be interesting how it plays to the viewing public on the day after WGBY makes the move to take 57 silent.
I was out in Western MA last weekend to visit my daughter in Amherst (at college). I did check the snowbands to see what was available OTA using my color Watchman. Of course both WGGB/40 and WGBY/57 were strong as ever. WWLP/22 (located several miles South of Amherst) was not as strong, but was easily viewable. WCDC/19 in Adams, MA (atop Mt. Greylock) and WVIT/30 from New Britain, CT were there, but were quite ghosty and were in the mud. Same with WUVN/18 and WTIC/61. But considering that Mt. Tom is in the way, it didn't surprise me. Didn't see WSHM/67 at all. Imagine, this trusty Watchman of mine will be useless in less than 6 months from now. I can only imagine how well a digital signal will propagate (or not propagate) if they ever decide to begin producing a portable digital TV set that won't kill the batteries in less than 30 minutes.
Portable TV....... it was nice while it lasted! (sob, sob....sob.......)
(Soapbox mode out!)
"
I was out in Western MA last weekend to visit my daughter in Amherst (at college). I did check the snowbands to see what was available OTA using my color Watchman. Of course both WGGB/40 and WGBY/57 were strong as ever. WWLP/22 (located several miles South of Amherst) was not as strong, but was easily viewable. WCDC/19 in Adams, MA (atop Mt. Greylock) and WVIT/30 from New Britain, CT were there, but were quite ghosty and were in the mud. Same with WUVN/18 and WTIC/61. But considering that Mt. Tom is in the way, it didn't surprise me. Didn't see WSHM/67 at all. Imagine, this trusty Watchman of mine will be useless in less than 6 months from now. I can only imagine how well a digital signal will propagate (or not propagate) if they ever decide to begin producing a portable digital TV set that won't kill the batteries in less than 30 minutes. "
Forget portable, over the air is almost gone with digital. I have a very high gain antenna on a rotor mounted high on a barn and only get 40 digital from Amherst. I can get channel 19 too if I rotate 80 degrees. Digital is great in a lot of ways but real bad if you actually want ot watch TV.
I was out in Western MA last weekend to visit my daughter in Amherst (at college). I did check the snowbands to see what was available OTA using my color Watchman. Of course both WGGB/40 and WGBY/57 were strong as ever. WWLP/22 (located several miles South of Amherst) was not as strong, but was easily viewable. WCDC/19 in Adams, MA (atop Mt. Greylock) and WVIT/30 from New Britain, CT were there, but were quite ghosty and were in the mud. Same with WUVN/18 and WTIC/61. But considering that Mt. Tom is in the way, it didn't surprise me. Didn't see WSHM/67 at all. Imagine, this trusty Watchman of mine will be useless in less than 6 months from now. I can only imagine how well a digital signal will propagate (or not propagate) if they ever decide to begin producing a portable digital TV set that won't kill the batteries in less than 30 minutes. "
Forget portable, over the air is almost gone with digital. I have a very high gain antenna on a rotor mounted high on a barn and only get 40 digital from Amherst. I can get channel 19 too if I rotate 80 degrees. Digital is great in a lot of ways but real bad if you actually want ot watch TV.
Walter Graff said:
That hasn't been my experience. I have a DTV stick that I plug into my USB port on my laptop and get great DTV reception. Maybe where I'm at it's just because the towers are high up with mainly flat terrain, except for an occasional high mountain, but I pick up DTV signals from up to 100 miles away with only a 2' telescoping antenna.
dhett said:
And that's the beauty of digital. It has been so difficult to create coverage that works well in all places. When we were first doing tests of transmitters in NY there were cases where we could see the transmitter's antenna out the window but couldn't get a signal, yet across town we got 90% signal. There are countless hair pulling stories by both the engineers who try to get proper coverage and the consumers frustrated because they can not maintain integrity in signals in every market in the US. When your in the right spot with the right type of receiving equipment it IS fantastic. Right now the problem is finding that spot for many and having equipment that actually does what it is supposed to do. And when we go completely digital, odds are good we will have serious issues with reception nationwide.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11analog.html?fta=y
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/11/technology/digital.php
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11analog.html?fta=y
http://dtvfacts.com/latest/81/will-digital-tv-reception-problems-doom-broadcast-tv/
http://www.hdtvexpert.com/pages/reception_sanyo.htm
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...corner/stories/wfaa080709_wz_cc.3e361ac9.html
etc
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