Q&A: VHF or UHF?

Kathy in Baltimore writes:
John, I hooked up the converter box yesterday. I now get channel 2 where I didn’t used to but the signal strength is low. Is there anything I can do to improve it? The picture is good but it flickers and is very annoying.

Hi Kathy,
You’ll probably call me Captain Obvious, but the first thing to try is reorienting the antenna. Since you’re in Baltimore, you should be able to receive that channel with no problem if you have the right antenna. Is it possible to move it around a bit, maybe try it closer to a window? Try watching the signal strength meter while you’re doing this to find the best spot.

There’s also the issue of whether your antenna is designed for VHF or UHF. Right now, all the digital signals in Baltimore are UHF, so if your antenna is VHF-only, that may be the source of your problems. Since you’re so close to the transmitter, a VHF antenna will still work a little bit, which may explain why you’re getting some channels but not others. UHF antennas come in various shapes, but our engineers have told me the ones shaped like a wedge with fins are the best for picking up digital TV.  But you may get by with the simple and cheap hoop style as well.

If that doesn’t work, you’re left with the option of upgrading your antenna. If you’re using rabbit ears now, you can go to a bigger tabletop antenna. Or you could try something on the roof, though that may be probably overkill if you’re in the city.

Q&A: Reception Problems

Regina in Freeland writes:
Why can’t I get Ch.11 with the converter box?

Hi Regina,
I’m sorry you’re having some trouble receiving our digital signal.

If you’re receiving other Baltimore channels but not channel 11, your situation may improve in February when our effective power on our digital signal will increase.

I will say, though, that you’re far enough from Baltimore that an outdoor antenna may be required to pull in those digital signals reliably. If you’re having problems with all the Baltimore channels, this may well be the case.

But at least for WBAL-TV 11, you may want to wait until February to see if your reception improves when we increase the effective power on our digital signal.

Q&A: Finding Distant Stations

Michael in Brooklyn Park writes:
Is the digital broadcast going to be line-of-sight (like FM) or is it going to be a troposcatter system (similar to AM)? Reason being, although I am on cable, the cable often goes out. I can see the TV Hill candleabra antenna from my house. I can pick up all the TV hill stations when my cable is out by this means. However, I can’t pick UP DC stations that well. If the TV stations braodcast line-of-sight, hopes of pulling DC in are dim.

Hi Michael,
You’re smart to be preparing for the need to revert to over-the-air reception when cable goes out.

Since I’d never heard the word “troposcatter,” I’ll defer to your knowledge of electromagnetic radiation. But I’m not sure I’d call FM transmissions “line of sight.” They don’t propagate as well as AM because they’re on a higher frequency, as I understand it, but they do bend across the horizon and don’t require an exact line of sight like the microwave transmitters on our news live trucks. It’s more about frequency than modulation. But i’m no engineer, so take that with a grain of salt.

That said, though, the DTV signals will exist in the same RF spectrum as current broadcasts. WBAL’s digital signal will ultimately be back on VHF channel 11 right where we’ve always been. If you can see the tower from your house, there’s little reason to worry about Baltimore stations.

DC stations, however, may be a problem. An “ok” analog signal often translates into no digital signal at all. You may need to juice up your antenna setup to pull those in.

Q&A: Expired Coupons

Roger in Ft. Meade writes:
I sure wish ALL the TV stations would have STATED in the beginning of their ADS to get these Converter Boxes that they expired in 90 days. I ordered mine early in 2008. I thought I had plenty of time to use to didn’t even open it and then heard that they expired and I’m out of luck. What can I do now?

Hi Roger,
This is definitely a problem and you’re not alone. More than half of the coupons issued have expired before being used. You cannot reapply in your own name if you have already requested coupons. The advice I got directly from FCC Commissioner Michael Copps was to apply for more coupons using the name and address of a friend or relative who has not yet ordered them. Not a perfect solution, I know, but it should work.

Sorry you’re having some trouble, but I hope that helps. And thanks for watching!

Q&A: Reception Problems

Barry in Chambersburg writes:
I am on antenna with a new DTV. I get alot of Digital channels. My question is: I get channel 2, 11, 13, 45, very clearly on analog. Now on my tower antenna 40′ I can’t pick up digital signals. What would cause this and how might I correct it. I sure do not wish to lose channel 11 as I have been a fewer for 40 years.

Hi Barry,
We’re delighted you’ve been a viewer for so long. You go back almost to the beginning of the TV station!

If you’re using a 40′ antenna that’s correctly aimed toward Baltimore and is currently picking up our analog signal, I’m guessing you should be able to pull in our digital signals. Though for the record, the website AntennaWeb.org seems to believe you’re outside the dependable coverage area for most Baltimore TV stations.

I guess you’ve checked your digital signal strength meter. It’s a menu selection in the TV. If it’s reading low, you may be in trouble since there’s not much you can do to upgrade your antenna. Perhaps a pre-amp could help with that if you don’t have one already.

But signal strength may not be your problem. Your TV may not be looking in the right place for our digital signal. Have you auto-scanned with the TV for over-the-air channels? Mine doesn’t recognize many channels until it’s scanned through the entire spectrum. Even if I punch in 11.1, I get nothing until I auto-scan. (This is because digital channels generally aren’t really on their apparent channel number. Our digital channel is actually on 59, but a code in the signal makes it show up on 11.1. So 11.1 doesn’t appear on my TV until the set has discovered the signal way up on 59 and then reassigned it to 11.1, if that makes any sense.)

Also, our effective power will increase in February when we shut down our analog channel 11 and move our digital channel to the real VHF channel 11. That may help your chances of picking us up. And, by the way, that move will likely require you to rescan those channels again with your TV on Feb 18th so it knows our digital channel has moved.

Hope that helps. And thanks for being such a loyal viewer over the years!

Q&A: Visually Impaired Viewers

Nancy in Baltimore writes:

I am legally blind. It is very comfortable for me to use the dial on my TV because I can feel the clicks as I turn the dial clockwise. Remotes like the converter box has are confusing to me because there are so many buttons.
Is there any other way that I can use the convertor box and still use the dials?

Hi Nancy,
I’m sorry to say there are few options here. There are some converter boxes out there that have buttons on the box themselves. You’d be able to feel the click as you go up and down the dial. But there’s simply no way to continue to use the TV dial after February 17th.

I will say that many remote controls place a bump on the “five” button to help visually impaired individuals orient their fingers on the keypad, and usually the channel UP and DOWN buttons are large and easy to find, but I know this still doesn’t entirely solve your problem.

I wish I had a better solution for you, but I’m afraid the trusty TV dial is going the way of black and white.

Q&A: Radio Stations

Carolyn in Baltimore writes:
What about radio stations? Do we need new radios?

Hi Carolyn,
Radio stations are not affected by the TV transition. Your AM and FM radio will continue to function as usual.
Some radio stations are adding digital programming, but this does not affect reception with the radio you have now.

Q&A: Unusual Antennas

Chris writes:
I saw you on a DTV forum on MPT. I was wondering about the use of a fractal antenna. I saw a NOVA epeisode on MPT regarding fratals and it talked about using self similar designs for antenna that have good reception and take up much less space. Do know where to go for resources in constructing a fractal antenna?

I hadn’t heard about fractal antennas, but it’s a fascinating idea. Funny, I was just thinking about fractals while I was driving home for Thanksgiving. I was looking at all the leaf-less trees and thinking about how they look the same as blood vessels and capillaries in the heart, and even road maps. But I digress into geekiness

I’m sure you can Google as well as I can, and that’s the only answer I can give you. I found this site…

http://www.fractenna.com/

…though it doesn’t seem to have much of a retail sales aspect to it. I suspect it’s still too expensive for individual consumers.

Thanks for the question, though. Definitely my first one on the subject!

Q&A: Portable TV’s

Joann in Baltimore writes:
What am I supposed to do with the little portable TV that was a costly gift to me from my daughter. A DTV converter box cannot fit on it and if it did it would be impossible to carry. Do they make mimi-converter boxes?

Hi Joann,
I’m afraid there may be no way to save that portable TV. If it has a built-in antenna and no way to plug in an external antenna cable, it would take some very serious technical tinkering to make it receive a digital signal.

If that portable TV does have an input for an external antenna, you could purchase a portable, battery-powered DTV converter. To my knowledge these are not on the market yet, but the FCC is pushing manufacturers to have them ready in time for the transition. You are correct, though, that you’d have to carry around the converter with your portable TV.

Some portable digital TV’s are available, but they’re not cheap. Here’s one:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2855063

A little browsing may come up with something in your price range.

I know that’s not the answer you were hoping for, but I hope it helps. And thanks for watching!

Q&A: Rabbit Ears with a New TV

Roxanne writes:
I am so confused about whether I need a box or not.
The TV I have now, has an antenna so I know I need a box for it, but I was planning on buying a new flat screen 19″ TV for my kitchen.
I only watch channel 11, so my question is can I receive the local channel without a box or cable hook-up, I have been told by Best Buy that I can pick up the local channels and my friends say that they are wrong!

Hi Roxanne,
I love that you only watch channel 11!

If you buy a new digital flat screen for your kitchen, it will *not* need a converter box. You should be able to hook up the same antenna directly to the TV and then tune us in using only your new set.

Hope that helps!