wsdepa
Raleigh, NC
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Joined: 12/22/2004
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I thought I would share my little TC project that I did today.
As most of us know by now, analogue tv channels are susposed to go away next month leaving only the new digital channels on the air. If you have a tv made in the last two years or so then you are ok since it has both the NTSC (analogue) and ATSC (digital) tuners. My Lance came with a nice little LCD tv that we use a lot when traveling for DVD's and local off air broadcasts to pick up news and weather. Unfortunately, the 15 in. Sharp did not have an ATSC tuner. I thought about buying a new tv, but 1) They are expensive, 2) I could not find one that ran on 12v except for some models sold for truckers with built in DVD that were quite expensive. 3) There was nothing wrong with my little Sharp except the tuner and it was already installed.
Solution:
I ordered my two government voucher cards for analogue to digital converter boxes. This took me about five minutes online and I received them in the mail about a week later. I did some research and ordered a highly rated converter - an Artec T3AP Pro from Solid Signal The total cost plus shipping minus $ 40 for the voucher came to $19.94.
The unit comes with a remote and a 12v power supply which I threw away after clipping off the plug with a few inches of wire. I replaced the 12v plug powering the Sharp tv with a twin outlet siamese plug I had laying around. I inserted the male plug in the Lance/ Winegard outlet and cut off the two female outlets. I spliced one of these pairs of wires for the tv and the other for the converter. As you can see, this converter is also one of the most compact available at about 3.5 by 5.5 inches. I will further clean up the cable mess by making a very short coax jumper instead of the long one you see in the picture.
The digital channels are very sharp and I am amazed at how many there are. I can get about twenty-five channels without even cranking my antenna up! The converter remote allows you to size the picture to fit your screen. The converter also automatically switches to the tv's analogue tuner when you tune it off. The remote will operate pointed in just about any direction since the IR signal easily bounces off of the light walls and ceiling of the camper.
This set up looks neat and sure beats buying and installing a new tv.
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wsdepa
Raleigh, NC
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Joined: 12/22/2004
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I meant to add that I opened the converter case so that I could drill two keyhole shaped holes in the back of the plastic case so that I could securely mount it to the wall. Also, it is importand to make sure that you maintain the correct polarity when you splice 12v wires.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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Delay until June 12 could help the 6.5 million not converted.
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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People who haven't converted by now would probably still not be converted by the NEW deadline. They've had over a year already to get the job done.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Well per the article 12 June would be a drop dead date. We are one of the 3 million awaiting coupons but educational TV is about the only channel we can pick up with rabbit ears. 
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camp4
SF Bay area
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Joined: 04/18/2004
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Great job and looks good.I like the strap that holds the tv in when moving.Just the thing i need.
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wsdepa
Raleigh, NC
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Joined: 12/22/2004
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BradW wrote:
I thought that I had read that you couldn't run the digital signal through the Winegard outlet and you had to run the coax directly from the converter to the antenna, but your is working fine.
Brad
The digital signals are encrypted on analogue radio waves in the same general vhf and uhf spectrum as the the "old" tv signals, therefore they will be received and processed by the old antennas and pre-amps, like the Winegard, without any problem. Even if the deadline is moved back, it's worth it to go ahead and convert since there are so many new channels and better picture quality. Most broadcasters are already up with their digital signals, but some will not be activated until after the analogues are turned off and the spectrum reallocated. Also power levels will be increased for some of the digitals which will mean more and sharper channels after the switch.
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wnjj
Cornelius, Oregon
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Joined: 01/11/2007
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wsdepa wrote:Also power levels will be increased for some of the digitals which will mean more and sharper channels after the switch.
That's precisely why I wish they would switch when they said they would. I'm waiting on a finally antenna solution for my house once I find out how everything comes in. Some of the locals here are switching back to their original VHF after the switchover. Others will probably use stronger transmitters for their digital signals, etc.
If you haven't paid attention for the past year and got the coupons when they said all along that they would eventually run out then I'm not sure how more time will help.
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BradW
Flat Rock, Alabama
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Joined: 10/29/2001
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Quote: I inserted the male plug in the Lance/ Winegard outlet and cut off the two female outlets.
Great job and write up.
I thought that I had read that you couldn't run the digital signal through the Winegard outlet and you had to run the coax directly from the converter to the antenna, but your is working fine.
Added to the TCU Thread.
Brad
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INSAYN
NW Oregon
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Joined: 12/29/2003
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Too bad I snoozed on the coupon deal.
Looks like could get that same unit for $1.99 with the coupon.
Deal at Buy.com
I didn't feel that I watch TV enough to bother. We watch Dish500 at home, and DVD's in the camper. Oh, well? I went ahead and signed up for a coupon anyways and got put on a wait list. No hurry or worry for me.
If they put off the convertion till June, I'm sure they'll continue to push it out.
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