[TechAssist] Re: HDTV outdoor antenna reception

No that is not correct.  Each broadcaster still has the analog channel 
(13 in your example), but has also been assigned a digital channel 
(usually a UHF channel).  Of course the time when the analog licenses 
expire is still being debated.  In our area we do have a channel 13.  
Their digital signal is being transmitted on channel 38.  This was a 
problem for the 1st and 2nd generation HDTV tuners, as they would find 
the signal, but the consumer would have to know what the analog channel 
that matched up with.  Presently, all the HDTV equipment I know of 
converts the digital (ch. 38) to display as 13-1.  The dash and 
following number are the indicator you are watching a digital signal.
Multicasting is a entirely different thing.  We have two very good 
examples in our area.  Analog channel 2 in Baltimore is broadcasting 
digital on UHF channel 52.  Therefore their digital signal appears as 
2-1, because of the tuner conversion.  In addition, they retransmit ABC 
News Now (an ABC National Feed) on  2-2.  This particular TV station 
also owns their own doppler radar , so they transmit that as a live feed 
on 2-3.  Therefore, they are multi casting 3 different things in the 
digital bandwidth they have been allotted.  The PBS station in Baltimore 
is analog ch. 67.  Digital is broacast on UHF  ch. 29.  They multi cast 
4 different feeds during the daytime (67-2, 67-3, 67-4 and 67-5).  
However at night they multi cast only 2  digital channels (67-5 and 
67-6).  This is so, they have the bandwidth available to broadcast on 
full  HDTV (1080i) signal, along with their regular signal converted to 
digital.
Hope they helps you understand it  a little better.



Phil Bader wrote:

>As I understand HDTV broadcast, if I am viewing VHF channel 13, say, in 
>normal mode I am watching channel 13 on a VHF carrier. But if channel 13 
>is simul-broadcasting in HDTV, If I wish to see the channel 13 program 
>in HD, and select the set to do so, the set automatically goes to a 
>predetermined UHF frequency that chan. 13 uses to transmit HD. Is this 
>correct? (as opposed to an additional VHF carrier piggybacking over the 
>normal VHF info)
>Correct?
>Using channel 13 as my example, I thought if I had a good antenna 
>capable of recieving a strong ch. 13 VHF signal, then I would also 
>automatically get a good ch. 13 HDTV signal as well.
>Phil Bader
>
>Don's TV wrote:
>
>  
>
>>We've had good  success with UHF multi-bay antennas.  Of course, all the 
>>broadcasters in our area (Baltimore/Washington) are on the UHF band.  
>>The signal is definitely much more directional, so a motor is almost a 
>>necessity.  It must be nice to receive signals from 100 miles away.  
>>With the terrain we have in our area  (rolling hills and many trees), 
>>we're fortunate to receive from much more than 60 miles.  Trees have 
>>been no trouble for us, not the problem they are for DIRECTV, but we 
>>have very few pine trees.  The other surprising thing is how much 
>>tweaking and adjust our broadcasters do.  We've had  some digital 
>>signals on the air for over 3 years now.  One day the signal will be 
>>great, but the next day no signal at all.  Many broadcasters in our area 
>>are testing or have gone to multicasting.  I believe this is probably 
>>why there has been the issues with the signals being on/off.
>>
>>
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>
>  
>

-- 
Michael Goodwin
Don's  TV
18 W. Main St.
Westminster, MD  21157
(410) 848-6622
FAX  (410) 848-6622
donstv@xxxxxxxxxxxx



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