Get Ready To Change the Channel

The FCC is in the process of realigning the TV broadcast channels again.  Not too long ago you might remember we were all required to get new TV sets in order to enjoy the new digital HD TV channels.  At that time most TV stations, both commercial and public were required to use new channels on which to broadcast.  So locally Channels 5, 9, 12, 48 and 64 built new digital transmitters and for the most part began broadcasting on new channels.  Because the new sets were able to display the old channel numbers even though the actual channels had changed, few of us even cared that Channel 5 was actually broadcasting on channel 35 or that 48 was really channel 34.

There is a good reason for these changes.  The FCC is trying to develop a plan to use all the broadcast channels in the most efficient way so additional bandwidth can be opened up for the exploding wireless market.  Today in this country there are many more wireless devices than there are people.  Take an inventory of your house.  The smartphone, tablet, gaming device, hands free telephone, blue tooth speakers and headphones, wireless doorbell, baby monitor and your garage opener all compete for bandwidth space which is a finite resource.  By moving TV broadcasters to lower frequencies, most in the VHF Band (Channels 2-13), large portions of bandwidth will be available to auction to the Verizons and AT&Ts of the world for wireless devices.

Most likely this first phase of the transition will not require the purchase of new TV sets.  However, at the same time this reorganization of channels is going on, the industry is developing new technology to replace the Digital Broadcasting technology adopted just about 15 years ago. You will remember needing to buy a new Digital TV or connect one of those DTV convertors to your existing set.  You may need to do it again.

This new TV technology will provide higher resolution, more robust over-the-air reception and many features similar to those now found only on internet- connected smart TVs.  How quickly this will happen is anyone’s guess but for sure it will roll out much faster than the roll out of DTV at the beginning of this century.  Whether it will be a shot in the arm for local broadcasters is still unknown.  Many local TV stations are finding it harder and harder to compete with the plethora of non-broadcast options.  We will have to just stay tuned.

Recording Digital TV Programs With Existing Equipment

Over the past few months several people have asked me how they might be able to continue to record TV programs on a VCR or PVR (Personal Video Recorder) after the analog broadcasts are shut off in February. The short answer is that if you are a cable or satellite subscriber nothing will change. You will be able to continue to record and playback just as you do now. If, on the other hand, you receive your TV channels over the air using an antenna, you will need to make some changes.

The simplest solution for over the air households is to get a video recorder that has a built in digital (ATSC) tuner. You can connect it to an antenna and to your analog TV set and record just as you do now using the controls and auto-programming features of the recorder. The least expensive of these recorders uses a DVD disc to record. There are two types of DVD discs. One type can be recorded to only once. The other can be erased just like a VHS tape and reused. Be sure that the DVD recorder you buy can record to both types of discs. I have seen several models that will work just fine with prices beginning at $170.00. Also your analog TV must have input jacks for either S-Video or composite video signals. You should not use the antenna input on your TV for this set up.

For those who choose to use a Set Top DTV Converter, it gets a bit more complicated. You can use your analog VHS VCR or DVD recorder with your DTV converter. Connect the antenna to the DTV converter and connect the DTV converter to the analog TV. You can use either the composite video input or the antenna input on the TV. The composite video input is best.

While this is the least expensive option, there is one big drawback. You can not use the auto-programming features on the VCR. You can set the VCR to record a program in the future by setting the day and time. You cannot auto-program a channel change.

So if you decide to record a program on Channel 48 on Monday evening and you want to set the system to record the program before you go to work on Monday morning you will need to set the video recorder’s timer to the time the program begins. This is the same process that you do now. However, instead of programming the channel on the video recorder to Channel 48 it needs to be set to “line” or “video” input if that is the connection between the DTV Converter and the video recorder or set to Channel #3. Channel 3 is the channel that the video recorder uses to receive the signal from the DTV Converter. Finally, you need to make sure that the DTV Converter is turned on and set to Channel 48. As you can see this is a bit of a hassle and does not allow you to record several programs from different channels without manually changing the channel on the DTV Converter.

As more and more of us get digital sets and analog equipment is phased out, things will get a bit simpler.

DTV over-the-air, an inexpensive option

With more and more people buying Digital TV sets, some are confused about needing a cable or satellite service to receive the local stations’ digital channels In fact over a one week period I had two callers ask me about receiving digital TV channels over-the-air and what antenna they should get. Both wanted to get the new HD digital programs from the local stations in Cincinnati. Both wanted to know if an antenna, either indoor or outdoor, would be required.

Well, there is no easy answer. One caller noted that he lived about 40 miles north of Cincinnati. That distance places him within the potential coverage area but there are many other factors that can impact on his ability to receive DTV from the Cincinnati stations. In fact, the only way to know for sure is to actually install an antenna and see if it works. Another is to hire a technician with a signal strength meter. He or she can measure the quality of the signal and recommend an antenna. There are several models available that can work. There is absolutely no way to know “for sure” without actually installing the antenna.

Let me explain. An often overlooked by-product of the new Digital TV transmission format is the “cliff effect.” Simply put, the digital picture on your new DTV is either perfect or non-existent. With older analog broadcasting, the farther you lived from the TV transmitter the more the picture degraded, i.e. got snowy. Eventually it would be too bad to watch. With digital signals the new DTV tuner locks on to the TV signal and keeps the picture perfect until it no longer has enough “bits and bytes” of information to make a perfect picture. When that happens the picture vanishes. “It falls of the cliff.” From perfect to non-existent in an instant.

Since I don’t know if there are hills or buildings that might block or reflect the signal for the Dayton caller, there is no way of telling what, if any antenna, will work. We have two CET staff members who live in the Fairfield area of Butler County. While they live only a few blocks apart, one gets perfect reception from all Cincinnati DTV stations and the other gets none, no matter what antenna he tries.

As discussed in past posts, most people in the Cincinnati area do not receive local channels off the air. They subscribe to cable or satellite services and as such reception of local channels is part of the package. These individuals can also receive hundreds of other channels. As we get closer to the analog cut off date in 2009, more and more channels will be delivered in HD. Time will tell how many will choose to continue over-the-air only reception with the plethora of other options.