[opendtv] News: Many Obstacles to Digital TV Reception, Study Says
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:50:40 -0500
And now reality begins to set in...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11analog.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
Many Obstacles to Digital TV Reception, Study Says
By ROY FURCHGOTT
Published: February 11, 2008
Nearly six million people with digital receivers may still lose TV
signals when digital-only broadcasts begin next February, a new study
says.
The study by Centris, a market research firm in Los Angeles, found
gaps in broadcast signals that may leave an estimated 5.9 million TV
sets unable to receive as many channels as they did before the
changeover. It may affect even those who bought the
government-approved converter boxes or a new digital TV. To keep
broadcast reception, many viewers may have to buy new outdoor
antennas, the study found.
The Centris study predicts greater disruption of service than
government agencies like the Federal Communications Commission have
acknowledged.
The federal government estimates that 21 million American households
have primary TV sets that receive only over-the-air signals. But it
says most will continue to get a digital signal by means of a
digital-to-analog converter box, which costs about $50 to $70. It is
helping to underwrite the cost of a converter box by issuing $40
coupons.
Centris said it looked at a more detailed method for predicting the
coverage pattern of TV signals than the government had used.
However, the problems with reception could be far worse, according to
engineers who have taken signal measurements. One study of the first
HDTV station by Oded Bendov, the consultant hired to replace the
broadcast antennas on the Empire State Building, found that digital
signals did not travel as far as either model had predicted.
"For the people with rabbit-ear antennas, I would say at least 50
percent won't get the channels they were getting," Dr. Bendov said.
"I would say a lot of people are going to be very unhappy."
Digital reception is more affected by hills, trees, buildings and
other interference than analog has been. An analog TV picture
degrades gradually, getting more snow or ghosting as a signal becomes
weaker.
But digital TV is subject to the "cliff effect" - the picture is
excellent until the signal gets weak and the picture suddenly drops
out.
The number of sets that the Centris study projects will fail varies
from city to city, based largely on the landscape. In Las Vegas,
which lies in a flat basin, the study estimates that 2.5 percent of
over-the-air TVs would lose at lease one of five major networks. In
Philadelphia, which has more hills, 5 percent of over-the-air TVs
would lose reception, while in St. Louis, 10 percent would lose
reception.
Centris says, based on the F.C.C.'s data, a digital signal would
travel 60 to 75 miles in those three cities. However, Centris says
its own model showed that the signals would degrade at 35 miles.
Whether a TV gets a strong digital signal may depend on seemingly
minor impediments, said David Klein, executive vice president of
Centris. "Are there big trees in your area? Is there a big retaining
wall next your house?" he said. "It's not a matter of, 'is reception
good in your neighborhood'; it's a matter of, 'can I get the signal
in the bedroom?' "
Centris also estimated that of the 117 million TVs not connected to
cable or satellite, up to 80 percent have set-top rabbit-ear antennas
that may not be able to pull in an adequate digital signal. Many of
those sets will require a better antenna or a cable or satellite
connection to do so.
Electronics manufacturers say the quality of the TV's receiver and
converter will play a role.
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