Digital TV is coming and is here now. There are 3 ways to cope with the change to digital TV.
1. Either have or purchase a digital TV.
2. Subscribe to a cable or satellite service.
3. 3. Hook up your old analog TV to a digital to analog converter box. They cost between $40 and $70 and there is a $40 government coupon available (2 per household) to help offset the cost.
An added benefit for those that have a digital TV or a TV with DTV converter is the multiple sub-channels being broadcasted. Digital TV is very efficient with spectrum bandwidth. This means that TV stations can transmit multiple programs at the same time. Channel 2, KTVU has 2. Channel 4, KRON has 3. But channel 5, KPIX has only one program. Channel 9, KQED has 3 and KTEH has 5 programs. KQED and KTEH are sister stations and so the 9-2 program is the same 54-1 and 54-2 is same as 9-1. Cable companies only pick up the main TV program of each TV station, so those customers loose out.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
When do we go all digital
February 17, 2009 was the defined date to switch to digital TV by turning off the analog signals for all high power TV stations in the country. The recently passed DTV Delay Act postponed that date to June 12, 2009. However one of the provisions of the act was that TV stations had the option to turn off their analog signal at any time between Feb. 17th and June 12th. Approximately 39% of the stations will turn off their analog transmitters on Feb. 17th as originally planned. In the Bay Area, KOFY, channel 20 and KICU channel 36 have shut down the analog signal on Feb. 17th. All others will continue until June 12th.
Coupon program
Coupons, what’s the latest. The federal coupon program ran out of money several weeks ago, however they have a waiting list for people waiting wishing to receive up to 2 $40 coupons per household that can be redeemed for converter box purchases. The coupons have a 90 day expiration so don’t let them expire. The recently passed stimulus bill has money for the coupon program, so we may see new coupons very soon for the people on the waiting list. To order coupons, go online to http://www.dtv2009.gov/ or call 1-888-388-2009.
Why are we going digital
Manufacturers have been working on digital TV for 20 years. The goal was to improve picture and sound quality. It turns out that digital television is also more efficient in using frequency bandwidth. This means that TV channels can be placed closer together and thus freeing up channels. Congress liked this feature and sold off some of this space for future wireless applications. Congress also allocated some of the frequency space for police, fire, and emergency communication needs.
Digital picture and sound are excellent , but…
With analog television that we have been used to for the last 60 years, the further away from the TV tower, the poorer the reception or picture quality. The picture gets noisier, full of so-called snow and just disappears. Usually the sound holds up fairly well. Digital television is different with reception. See Figure 1. (click image for larger size)
The picture quality stays excellent even as viewer gets further from the TV tower. In fact the picture quality is the same as it left the studio. As one gets a good distance away, the digital receiver starts to pick up bit errors because of the low signal input. The TV receiver can actually correct the errors, but only up to a point. At some with a still lower signal level, the receiver cannot correct any more errors and the viewed picture will pixilate, large squares appear on the screen and the sound will go away. This is the so-called “cliff affect.” Digital TV is also more sensitive to multi-path interference. Multi-path is when the TV signal bounces off trees, buildings, or even airplanes. The digital receiver can get confused for specific TV channels causing the picture to pixilate or disappear altogether. But with a good antenna you should get excellent coverage in our area.
Setting up the DTV converter
Instructions on how to set up your DTV converter box from NAB (PDF) Instructions on how to set up your DTV converter box from NAB (video)
Antenna Issues
1. An outside antenna is better. Make sure antenna is made for both VHF and UHF as most of the DTV stations broadcast on UHF channels.
2. Best to use RG-6/U coax cable from antenna to TV or converter box. If you have old fashion twin-lead cable, replace it. Twin-lead cable is more lossy at the higher UHF frequencies.
3. Check antenna alignment, use a compass to make sure it is pointed in correct direction. Check http://www.tvfool.com
4. Make sure you can receive DTV channels 2 and 4. They are at the top of the UHF band before June 12th.
5. Apartment and condo complexes: you may have a community antenna. Specific analog channels are filtered and then amplified and transmitted throughout the complex. When you connect your DTV converter to the TV wall outlet and try to scan, you may get zero channels, no signal. You may need to set up an antenna on your balcony. This is OK per FCC rules, just stay away from railings or any common areas.
6. Use the converter box remote control and hit the “Signal” button to show or indicate received signal level. Try to get this to indicate 75 to 80% across the screen. This indicates a good quality signal. A lower signal level means you need add an amplifier, adjust antenna, etc.
2. Best to use RG-6/U coax cable from antenna to TV or converter box. If you have old fashion twin-lead cable, replace it. Twin-lead cable is more lossy at the higher UHF frequencies.
3. Check antenna alignment, use a compass to make sure it is pointed in correct direction. Check http://www.tvfool.com
4. Make sure you can receive DTV channels 2 and 4. They are at the top of the UHF band before June 12th.
5. Apartment and condo complexes: you may have a community antenna. Specific analog channels are filtered and then amplified and transmitted throughout the complex. When you connect your DTV converter to the TV wall outlet and try to scan, you may get zero channels, no signal. You may need to set up an antenna on your balcony. This is OK per FCC rules, just stay away from railings or any common areas.
6. Use the converter box remote control and hit the “Signal” button to show or indicate received signal level. Try to get this to indicate 75 to 80% across the screen. This indicates a good quality signal. A lower signal level means you need add an amplifier, adjust antenna, etc.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
What about VCRs
This is where things get complicated if you want to record DTV signals using your analog VCR or/and DVD recorder. For convenience we will assume that the VCR and DVD recorder are the same and refer to just VCR, except as noted. In order to record a DTV signal on a VCR, you need DTV converter box as input to it. The most simple solution is to use one converter box with the RF Output (TV) connected to ANT input on the VCR and the output of the VCR connected to the TV antenna input. See Figure 2. (click image for larger size)
Remember that the Input Setting to the VCR must be set to channel 3 because that is the channel set for the converter box output, at least for us in the Bay Area. You can also use the component outputs on converter box (red, white, and yellow connectors) as input to the VCR. In this case you set the VCR input to L1. This setup is the most simple, but has limitations. You must be there to set up the VCR and set the channel on the converter box. Also if you want to watch TV, you must watch the same program as you are recording. So for most of us, this is not a solution we want.
The cable from the antenna is connected to a TV splitter. A splitter has one input and 2 outputs and you can purchase it from Fry’s or Radio Shack for a couple dollars. One output on the splitter is connected to the ANT input on the converter box for the TV and the other output is connected to the ANT input on the converter box connected to the VCR. Use the component cables (red, white, and yellow cables) to connect the converter box for the TV and connect them to the Video 1 input on the TV. The output of the VCR converter box can be either the TV RF to VCR ANT connector or use the red, white, and yellow component cables. If you use the RF cable then set the input on the VCR to channel 3. If you use the component cables, then set the VCR input to Line 1. With this setup you watch one TV program and record another, however you need to be in the vicinity in order to set up the channels on the VCR converter box and turn on the VCR.
VCR with ATSC tuner
There is another solution if a converter box for VCR and Timer Events, etc is too complicated for you. Get a DVD/VHS Combo unit with an ATSC tuner. There are 4 units available for us in the United States. They are JVC DR-MV100B , Sony RDR-VXD655 , Toshiba D-VR660 , and the Panasonic DMR-EZ48VK . Only the JVC has feature to record both to the DVD and VHS tape. With the other 3, you can record to a DVD, but only play-back on the tape side. See Figure 4.
For a really old TV
TVs older than 20 years or so don’t have component cables and only have a single ANT input. If this is your TV, there is still a solution. See Figure 5.
This gets more complicated because you need an A-B switch. Again these are available from Fry’s and Radio Shack for a few dollars. You need to manually select whether you want to watch TV live or watch something that was recorded. That is the only difference.
Remember that the Input Setting to the VCR must be set to channel 3 because that is the channel set for the converter box output, at least for us in the Bay Area. You can also use the component outputs on converter box (red, white, and yellow connectors) as input to the VCR. In this case you set the VCR input to L1. This setup is the most simple, but has limitations. You must be there to set up the VCR and set the channel on the converter box. Also if you want to watch TV, you must watch the same program as you are recording. So for most of us, this is not a solution we want. Watch and record different TV channels
Most people want the ability to record one program and watch another channel. See Figure 3.
The cable from the antenna is connected to a TV splitter. A splitter has one input and 2 outputs and you can purchase it from Fry’s or Radio Shack for a couple dollars. One output on the splitter is connected to the ANT input on the converter box for the TV and the other output is connected to the ANT input on the converter box connected to the VCR. Use the component cables (red, white, and yellow cables) to connect the converter box for the TV and connect them to the Video 1 input on the TV. The output of the VCR converter box can be either the TV RF to VCR ANT connector or use the red, white, and yellow component cables. If you use the RF cable then set the input on the VCR to channel 3. If you use the component cables, then set the VCR input to Line 1. With this setup you watch one TV program and record another, however you need to be in the vicinity in order to set up the channels on the VCR converter box and turn on the VCR.Record TV programs unattended
This is the way to use your VCR to record programs unattended. In this case you have a specific TV converter box. It is a Zinwell ZAT-950A converter box. You can purchase it from Amazon.com and you use your coupon too. Use the same diagram as in Figure 3. The ZAT-950A converter box has programmable Timer Events that you can set up so that the converter box will turn on a set time and a set channel. You can set the event for one time, daily, weekly, or monthly. There are up to 8 events that can be set up. But you also need to set your VCR to record on either channel 3 or L1 at the desired times too. Don’t forget this, the VCR and converter boxes are separate machines and they don’t ‘talk’ to each other.
This is the way to use your VCR to record programs unattended. In this case you have a specific TV converter box. It is a Zinwell ZAT-950A converter box. You can purchase it from Amazon.com and you use your coupon too. Use the same diagram as in Figure 3. The ZAT-950A converter box has programmable Timer Events that you can set up so that the converter box will turn on a set time and a set channel. You can set the event for one time, daily, weekly, or monthly. There are up to 8 events that can be set up. But you also need to set your VCR to record on either channel 3 or L1 at the desired times too. Don’t forget this, the VCR and converter boxes are separate machines and they don’t ‘talk’ to each other.
VCR with ATSC tuner
There is another solution if a converter box for VCR and Timer Events, etc is too complicated for you. Get a DVD/VHS Combo unit with an ATSC tuner. There are 4 units available for us in the United States. They are JVC DR-MV100B , Sony RDR-VXD655 , Toshiba D-VR660 , and the Panasonic DMR-EZ48VK . Only the JVC has feature to record both to the DVD and VHS tape. With the other 3, you can record to a DVD, but only play-back on the tape side. See Figure 4.
For a really old TVTVs older than 20 years or so don’t have component cables and only have a single ANT input. If this is your TV, there is still a solution. See Figure 5.
This gets more complicated because you need an A-B switch. Again these are available from Fry’s and Radio Shack for a few dollars. You need to manually select whether you want to watch TV live or watch something that was recorded. That is the only difference.Useful Websites
| URL | Features |
| http://www.dtv.gov/ | FCC web site with DTV information. |
| http://www.dtv2009.gov/ | NTIA web site for DTV converter box coupons. |
| http://site.dtvboxanswers.com/reviews | Reviews DTV converter box features. |
| http://www.tvfool.com/ | Get information on pointing TV antenna for best reception in your area. |
| http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=186 | Forum that discusses DTV antenna converter boxes, compares units, problem solving, troubleshooting, can ask questions. Just need to register and it’s free. |
| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_CECB_units | Comparison chart of DTV converter boxes. |
| http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/resource-center/dtv-transition-1-08/dtv-transition/dtv-transition-hub.htm | Comparison of DTV converter boxes and other DTV information. |
Glossary
| NTSC | Analog television standard |
| ATSC | Digital television standard |
| CECB | Coupon eligible converter box |
| DTV | Digital television |
| FCC | Federal Communications Commission |
| NTIA | National Telecommunications and Information Administration, operates the DTV coupon program |
| EPG | Electronic program guide |
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